In the personal crisis of unemployment, libraries and librarians are first responders. Unlike the police, fire department, or Red Cross, the library does not visit the homes of the unemployed to offer services. It’s necessary to take some initiative. When you go to the library, here is what you can expect to find.

• Resources for identifying career goals in order to decide what to look for
• Resources to help with writing a resume and cover letter
• Resources to help prepare for interviews
• Resources you can use if you decide to start a small business instead of looking for a job
• Computers you can use as part of your job search strategy
• Less wait time and social stigma than standing in line at the unemployment office
• A variety of opportunities to collaborate with other people, including classes, workshops, and one-on-one conversations with librarians

What if you don’t know how to use a computer? You can learn at the library. What’s more, you can learn using the library’s computers. Some people hesitate to ask a librarian for help, so some libraries have made a series of short videos showing how to turn the computer on, how to use the mouse, open and close programs, save work and other very basic skills. When you see on the video how easy these skills are, you can open a tutorial on the computer to work on them and learn other things.

What if you don’t know how to read? You wouldn’t be reading this, would you? But plenty of job seekers don’t read or write well. Libraries have long been involved in helping them.

Also, many people who are good enough at arithmetic generally don’t know how to handle finances. Libraries offer classes and workshops to help develop financial literacy, too. That’s something that will help you both as you look for work and for the rest of your life after you find it.

If you need more detail, check out some of my other writings, The unemployed find help at the library and Library services for the unemployed

Photo credit: Some rights reserved by Manchester Library

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