Rural Resources Partnership

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Rural Resources Partnership

• An Employment Resource Centre
• in every village

George Stock Oxford County Library For OLA Super
Conference 2004
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Oxford County
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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

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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

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Role of Library

• Information and Resources and Support
• -not counselling or advice

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Information and Resources

• Internet for patrons to access job banks and
  other on-line job-finding resources and apply
  on-line

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Information and Resources

• Computers, printers and photocopiers
• for patrons to develop resumes and cover letters

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Information and Resources

• Fax machines for patrons to send applications

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Information and Resources

• Forms and publications for distribution

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Information and Resources

• Books for information and inspiration

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Information and Resources

• Referral to local programs and services

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Support
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Job Seeking Resources Portal
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Training Promotes Internet Use

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

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Job Seekers Corners

• Enhance visibility
• Create a starting point

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Staff Training

• ongoing
• essential

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Promotion

• bulk mail flyer
• fall fair displays
• in-library displays

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Pamphlets
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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

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Benefits to Library

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

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Use of Library for Employment Purposes

• Survey of library users - Spring, 2003

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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_at_ocl.net web site

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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

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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 lt25 and 25-40

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