Rural Resources Partnership

1. Rural Resources Partnership An Employment Resource Centre in every village George Stock Oxford County Library For OLA Super Conference 2004

2. . Harrington HRDC (in transition to HRSD) ERC Oxford County

3. Oxford County Library 18 branches: • one town Ingersoll population 11,000 • 17 villages populations 2,500 to 109 • floor space 12,000 to 370 square feet

4. Rural Resources Partnership • Since 1998 • Funded by Human Resources Development Canada (to be Department of Human Resources and Skills Development) • Use library branches as channels for government information delivery • 2 components: • technology outreach: group training to support web-based employment resources • community outreach through branches

5. Role of Library Information and Resources and Support -not counselling or advice

6. Information and Resources Internet for patrons to access job banks and other on-line job-finding resources and apply on-line

7. Information and Resources Computers, printers and photocopiers for patrons to develop resumes and cover letters

8. Information and Resources Fax machines for patrons to send applications

9. Information and Resources Forms and publications for distribution

10. Information and Resources Books for information and inspiration

11. Information and Resources Referral to local programs and services

12. Support

13. Job Seeking Resources Portal

15. Training Promotes Internet Use • Net a Job • Career Horizons • Applying On-Line • in partnership with employment service providers (e.g., job finding club)

16. Tavistock Princeton Innerkip Job Seekers’ Corners • Enhance visibility • Create a starting point

17. Staff Training • ongoing • essential

18. Promotion • bulk mail flyer • fall fair displays • in-library displays

19. Pamphlets

20. Benefits to Community • Access to job finding resources close to home • Library usually the only public access to computer/internet, sometimes the only fax/photocopy service available in small communities • Familiar “non-government” environment, personalized customer service • Children and other family members are made welcome • Non-traditional hours: evenings and Saturdays

21. Benefits to Library • Funding for staffing, training and promotion • Enhanced sense of library’s role in community • New users attracted to library, including non-traditional populations • Increased use of services already offered

22. Use of Library for Employment Purposes Survey of library users - Spring, 2003

23. Survey of library users • 747 responses / 593 separate users • Over 10 % reported some form of employment activity (7 % checked job opportunities; 3 % prepared resume or cover letter; 3 % sent job application) • Around 50 % used jobs@ocl.net web site

24. Who uses employment information? • 32% were unemployed • 27% were employed but seeking different job • 21% were employed but seeking extra work • 8% were returning to work after long absence

25. Who uses employment information? • 1/3 of job seekers were males but only 1/5 of all library patrons were males • Male job seekers most likely age 40-55 • Females most likely <25 and 25-40