Library aids job seekers
By ASHLEY LUTHERN
The One Stop job database has listings of more than 30,000 jobs from around the state.
YOUNGSTOWN — A local government job placement agency has had more traffic lately, thanks in part to the increased awareness and referrals provided by the public library, said Mya Hasson, One Stop manager.
“In the month of June, we had over 3,000 visitors who came out to the One Stop office and I think that our partnership with the libraries has helped people find us,” Hasson said last recently.
The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County has partnered with One Stop, a government agency that connects job seekers with employers, since 2006, said Diane Vicarel, supervisor of information services in the library system.
One Stop is paperless system, meaning that everything is done online, and its location in the Boardman Plaza on U.S. State Route 224 houses computer labs for people of all ages and skill levels to search for jobs throughout the state.
“The problem is that One Stop is only open regular Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours,” Hasson said.
This doesn’t give people who already hold a job — but want to get a different one — an opportunity to use the computers there, she said.
However, each of the library’s 16 branches has computers with Internet access, is open later than One Stop and usually has hours on the weekend.
“All people need is a library card, which is free, and they can use the computers to complete the free registration for One Stop online,” Vicarel said.
The registration process takes about 45 minutes, and once an account is created, users can search through the statewide database of more than 30,000 jobs, she said.
“We’re also hoping to attract a lot of the walking and biking population of downtown that maybe doesn’t have transportation to Boardman,” said Janet Loew, library spokeswoman.
One Stop has worked with librarians to train them in using the job data base and helping applicants fill out registration information, Loew said.
Job seekers aren’t the only ones who benefit from One Stop, though, as employers are matched with future employees based on One Stop assessments.
“We encourage applicants to come in and take an assessment to find out what kind of job would be best suited for them and their interests,” Hasson said.
If an individual needs training or further education, One Stop employees work with that person to find a program that meets their needs, she said.
“One Stop offers weekly workshops on interviewing and writing r sum s, and there’s also computer classes offered,” Hasson said, adding that all One Stop services are free.
While those services are offered only on location, the One Stop job data base can be accessed from any computer with Internet by going to www.onestopohio.org, which now provides a link to the public library system.
In addition to working with One Stop, libraries across the county are offering informational programs as part of their Path to Financial Literacy campaign that cover everything from investments to saving for college, Loew said.
“We’re helping people find jobs to make money and helping them make smart decisions once they earn it,” she said.