I Can't Register for Unemployment

A very frustrated patron approached the Newton Falls Public Library staff, saying “I’m trying to register for unemployment and the site is saying I already have an account. I don’t remember doing this.” Unfortunately, at that time, the staff members were not able to resolve the situation, and he went home planning to phone the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (JFS).

While attending a Project Compass workshop, a staff member learned what may have caused this problem. When a client registers by phone with JFS an account is created. A selection may be made to access that account by mail and phone and/or online. If the former option is the one chosen, the account cannot be accessed through the Internet and the client will need to phone JFS.

The library has numerous books to assist job hunters including Guide to Internet Job Searching by Margaret Riley Dikel and Frances E. Roehm, Expert Resumes for People Returning to Work by Wendy S. Enelow and Louise M. Kursmark, and You're Hired!: secrets to successful job interviews by Sharon McDonnell.  Excellent free online resources are OhioOne Stop, Ohio Means Jobs and the Job & Career Accelerator at the Learning Express Library where more than five million up-to-the-minute local and national job postings can be found.  The Accelerator can be accessed by going to www.OhioWebLibrary.org, and selecting A+ LearningExpress. It is necessary to register as a user to access the information.

Later in the year, the library will also be offering Make It Work: job hunting, networking, & resumes. The program is for those still looking for a job or wishing to find a different one and includes how to network, job seek, and write a resume that will get you noticed.  The final session is a basic Word class that teaches how to create a resume using Word and is especially useful for those responding to those employers who wish to have resumes emailed. Anyone who is interested is asked to contact the library, leaving your name and contact information.

I'm Looking for a Job

“I’m looking for a job. I’m afraid my cover letter isn’t very good; do you have anything to help me write a better one?” The staff of the Newton Falls Public Library is aware that a well written cover can catch the attention of a prospective employer. The library has a variety of resources to assist this patron.

Our patron was uncomfortable using the computer, so we suggested browsing titles such as The Everything Cover Letter Book by Burton Jay Nadler, Vault Guide to Resumes, Cover Letters & Interviews by Howard Leifman, Marcy Lerner and the staff of Vault, Gallery of Best Cover Letters: a collection of quality cover letters by professional resume writers by David F. Noble and 7 Minute Cover Letters by Dana Morgan.

In order to become more comfortable with a computer, we recommended that our patron sign up for the program to assist job-seeking adults. The series of classes will be Fridays, October 22, and November 5 and 19 from 1 – 3 p.m. Registration is required as space is limited. Participants are encouraged to attend all three classes. The program has been made available through a grant from the First Place Bank Community Foundation

• October 22 - The first class is Networking and Job Seeking. In this class attendees will list people to network with and make a plan. The instructor will assist them in creating a 30 second “elevator speech” and go through some websites of interest.

• November 5 - The second will cover writing a resume. It will focus on the content of the resume and will specifically have the participants writing accomplishment statements and summary statements for their resumes.

• November 19 - The final class is Creating a Resume in Microsoft Word. This will include basic instruction that teaches how to create a resume using Word.

The Ohio Career Information System (OCIS) also has guidelines for writing cover letters on their website, http://www.ocis.org/. To have access to this site, our patron would need to use a library computer to register. Once a portfolio has been created, patrons can use the site from any computer with Internet access. There are Assessment Tools, Education and Training, Occupations and Employment resources, and an Employer Locater.

I'm Looking for a Job

“I need help. I’m looking for a job, my computer skills are poor, and I’m not sure how to go about writing a resume. Can you help me?” The Newton Falls Public Library has a new opportunity to assist this patron. Thanks to a grant from the First Place Bank Community Foundation, the library will be offering a program to assist adults who are job seeking. There will be three sessions of three classes offered throughout 2010. The first series of classes will be Fridays, April 9, 23, and 30 from 1 – 3 p.m. The classes will be offered again in July and October. Registration is required as space is limited. Participants are expected to attend all three classes. The R. J. Wean Foundation provided the grant monies allowing the library to purchase the necessary equipment for our wireless laptop computer lab.

 • April 9th - The first class is Networking and Job Seeking. In this class attendees will list people to network with and make a plan. The instructor will assist them in creating a 30 second “elevator speech” and go through some websites of interest.


• April 23rd - The second will cover Writing a Resume. It will focus on the content of the resume and will specifically have the participants writing accomplishment statements and summary statements for their resumes.


• April 30th - The final class is Creating a Resume in Microsoft Word. This will include basic instruction that teaches how to create a resume using Word.



While waiting for the classes to begin, patrons may want to examine some of the many materials available for borrowing. Some of the titles in the library’s collection are The Job Search Solution: the ultimate system for finding a great job now! by Tony Beshara, Gallery of Best Resumes: a collection of quality resumes by professional resume writers by David F. Noble , and Perfect Phrases for Cover Letters by Michael Betrus.



Online, library card holders may access the LearningExpressLibrary through the Ohio Web Library [http://www.ohioweblibrary.org/]. The LearningExpressLibrary offers unlimited 24/7 access to courses for computer skills; job search and workplace skills; resume writing; interactive targeted skill-building in math, reading, and writing; as well as hundreds of online interactive practice tests.

 The Ohio Career Information System [http://www.ocis.org/] assists people in making better career decisions including self-assessment, occupational information, employer locator, military employment, self-employment, job search files, and school and apprenticeship information. You must first come to the library to “Create My Portfolio.” Once an account has been established this site may be accessed away from the library.

Get Back to Work @ the Newton Falls Public Library Computer Skills Training Courses

“I’m trying to find a job. Can you help me? I know nothing about computers; they want me to apply online. I need to . . .” “Get back to work” are wonderful words for a laid-off employee to hear. The Newton Falls Public Library is trying to help people to do that very thing with computer skills training courses. The R. J. Wean Foundation provided the grant monies allowing the library to purchase the necessary equipment for the new wireless laptop computer lab.

Computer classes and labs will cover the topics of:
· basic computer skills
· setting up email accounts
· online job searching including the Ohio Career Information System [OCIS]
· resume and cover letter writing
· navigating government assistance sites such as Ohio Unemployment Benefits Online
· accessing the online tutorials at Learning Express, as well as LearningExpress Library‘s practice tests including the GED.
· MS Office Basics
· MS Excel
· OCIS for high school students, including interest and career assessment, and post high school education
· photosharing.

Trained library staff will teach and guide class attendees, so they can increase their opportunities to find a job. A listing of the classes and labs is available at the Newton Falls Public Library.

The library also has an extensive collection of materials to borrow with information to aid in job searching, cover letter and resume writing, interviewing, and skills improvement, along with handouts about getting an email account and resume writing, including online resources. Feel free to ask our helpful staff to direct you to these items.

I Need Help

“I really could use some help . . . I need to write a resume. The company I’m applying to wants me to do the application online. I need help finding financial assistance.” The Newton Falls Public Library staff recognizes the difficult situations many individuals and families are facing at this time and the variety of questions being asked because of the area’s economic condition.

The library has a wide assortment of books such as Vault Guide to Resumes, Cover Letters & Interviews by Howard Leifman, Marcy Lerner and the staff of Vault, The Damn Good Resume Guide: a crash course in resume writing by Yana Parker, and Over-40 Job Search Guide: ten strategies for making your age an advantage in your career by Gail Geary to aid people in all aspects of job searching. Once you examine the information and hints in these materials to understand what would be the best approach, you can use the library’s public access computers to type your resumes and cover letters. The word processing program loaded on the computers also has resumes which can be used as guidelines. All that is needed is a library card from one of the six libraries in Trumbull County (Bristol Public Library, Girard Free Library, Hubbard Public Library, Kinsman Free Library, McKinley Memorial Library, and Newton Falls Public Library) who have joined together as the Trumbull Independent Public Libraries [TiPL] Consortium. You can get a card by bringing in a driver’s license or photo ID with your current address. If it does not have your current address, bringing along a piece of mail or other official paper with your name and address will suffice.

Online applications, job as well as unemployment, require the applicant to have to an email address. The library staff cannot assist in filling out applications; however, we can direct you to a selection of email providers who offer free accounts. While online, checking your email, take time to examine the Trumbull Mahoning Columbiana Counties One Stop [http://www.onestopohio.org] and Ohio Career and Information Center [http://ocis.ode.state.oh.us/Default.aspx]. Both these sites are filled with valuable information, providing online job searches, ideas of where to look for a job, and information about cover letters, resumes, interviewing, and more.

Ohio.gov [http://ohio.gov] has numerous valuable resources for those needing assistance. There are links for Ohio Means Jobs, Home Energy Assistance Program, applying for unemployment, and the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. The latter includes information about unemployment compensation, health care, food and cash assistance, child care and support, and employment training. In Trumbull County, Community Solutions Association has Trumbull 2-1-1 [http://trumbull211.org]. There you can get connected to sources of food, clothing, shelter, and utility assistance and other services. They can be reached online or by phoning 2-1-1.