Mobile Reference for Job Searching

The JobsBus
3
stops/day

5
days/week

JobsBus

by Betsy Summers

813OX Reference

Look for us in your area

Learn * Improve * Reinvent

Career Counseling Unemployment Help

Computer Programs * Internet * Coffee * Snacks

Proposal Description

This reference collection proposal is being sought for the mobile reference service called JobsBus. The target audience include populations unable to access our brick and mortar library resources. Mainly, we will focus on those patrons from highly unemployed or un- der-employed rural areas. These patrons will have the opportunity to utilize the ca- reer/counseling services offered by the bookmobile, including: * Internet Access and Instruction: getting an email address/applying for a job * Computer Programs: Word for resume templates * Printers * Online Job Sites: Monster, CareerBuilder, or Indeed * The brand new Collection of Reference Books * Educational Advancement Information * Librarian/Counseling Services The JobsBus will carry the proposed reference collection as well as select popular fiction and non-fiction titles, serials and patron holds. The JobsBus will also have a childrens ar- ea stocked with picture books and soft seating. The JobBus will include the following items in its inventory: * 4 Wi-Fi Computers * Printer * 2 Childrens Computers, loaded with age-appropriate software * Coffee/Expresso Machine * Desk w/chair(s) * Soft adult seating * Handicapped Accessible The JobsBus will be a workhorse: 12 hour days, including three different stops; parking for a maximum time of 3.5 hours at each designated location. 1/2 hour will be allowed for breakdown, transport, and setup between stops. Five days a week. Requests for stop- page will be open to the general taxpayer public. Stops will be re-evaluated based on us- age, need, and interested, on a quarterly basis. * Free Cafe/Snacks

NOTE TO DIRECTOR: I have listed these reference materials in the order of how badly I want them to be included on the JobsBus. This collection comes in well under the $1500 cost allowance; but given the budget cuts our library is currently facing, I also understand the need to prioritize. 1. [BIBLIOGRAPHY] Job Hunters Sourcebook: Where to Find Employment Leads and Other Job Search Resources; Karen Harper, ed.; Gale/Cengage Learning, Farmington HIlls, MI (2011). 3-vol. set $212.00; ISBN 978-1414459

This three volume set is an up-to-date, easy to use resource for the job hunter. Volumes 1 & 2 offer over 200 specific job titles, from Acupuncturist to Zoologist, listed alphabetically for intuitive browsing. Each occupation then has scores of helpful resources, including help-wanted ads, job referral and placement services, employee directories, specific handbooks and manuals, employ- ment agencies and search firms, online sources for job searching, trade shows and professional associations. There is an insert at the end of each occupation which cites a see also reference for alternate, synonymous or popular related job titles. Volume 3 includes a handy index to all resources in the set. It contains over 30 employment related topics, such as career assessment tests and tools, career transitions and alternatives, government employment opportunities, relocating, networking, working for a nonprofit, opportunities for military personnel and veterans, disabled workers, woman and minorities, self-employment, interviewing skills, resume-building and writing, and other job related correspondence. The patrons the JobsBus will be serving should find this 3-volume set, with all its useful resources, a great discovery and informational boon. Imagine, an unemployed auto mechanic empowered by the fact that there is indeed hope of finding a job in a related field. Or, envision a single mother of two, perusing the volumes, and having the grand realization that going back to school for the education she always wanted really is possible. The most impressive thing about this bibliography is its seemingly endless list of resources on any given occupation, or job interest. These volumes with be the JobsBus reference anchor. RECOMMENDED BY: ARBA

2. [ENCYCLOPEDIA] Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance; Infobase Publishing, New York (2011). 5-vol. set $249.95; ISBN 978-0816083 This comprehensive 5-volume set, sets out to describe in detail every occupation you could ever think of, and succeeds in doing so. Volume 1 is divided into three parts: Career Guidance, Career Fields, and Appendixes. The Career Guidance section deals with everything from choosing a ca- reer, the actual job search, applying for positions, what happens at the interview, follow up re- sponses, and what happens when you are offered the position. This section includes a Webliogra- phy for further reading. Career Fields is an overview of 100 categories of jobs, which includes cur- rent statistics, industry status of employed, and a brief history of the occupation. Entries de- scribe the framework for jobs in the field and discuss the outlook for the future. Each section con- cludes with relevant organizations and recommends further reading. The Appendixes are broken down into the following categories: Internships, Apprenticeships, Training Programs, Career Re- sources for People with Disabilities, career articles indexed by the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, career articles indexed by the Guide for Occupational Exploration, career articles indexed by the National Occupational Classification System, and finally by ONET-SOC. This volume also includes an index of organizations and their websites with a job title index. Volumes 2-5 explore in greater de- tail each of over 750 specific occupations. Each article contains a sidebar, which includes Quick Facts about the job, related acronyms and meanings, and alternate job titles. Entries include for following details: Educational Training Required; Certification or Licensing; Career Ladder; Earn- ings; Work Environment; Outlook. The entry concludes with detailed information on related orga- nizations, where to write, call or whom to contact. Selected entries include transcripts of individu- als working in the field, photos, or interesting facts about the job. A perfect companion to the JobsBus anchor reference Job Hunters Sourcebook, this encyclopedia would allow patrons to ex- plore in further detail any occupation; some, theyve only dreamed of having. RECOMMENDED BY: ARBA

3. [HANDBOOK] 2011 College Handbook; CollegeBoard, New York (2011). 48th ed. $29.95 ISBN 978-0874479 This seemingly simple book contains an enormous amount of valuable information, perfect for anyone interested in exploring the possibilities of continuing their education to afford themselves a better future. Coming in a 2214 pages, the handbook is divided into 3 sections, each page printed with a tab indicating either 4-Year Colleges, 2-Year Colleges, or Tables & Indexes. The first section, 4-Year Colleges, contains over 2,100 listings of colleges and universities in the United States. The second section, 2-Year Colleges, lists over 1,700 U.S. community colleges and technical schools. Each of these sections is organized first alphabetically by state, then alphabetically by school. Each school is described by the following points of interest: General Info (including year founded, enrollment, percentage of full-time faculty, special facilities, degrees offered and calendar), Freshman Student Profile, Basis for Selection, High School Prep, Annual Cost, Financial Aid, Application Process, Academics, Honors Colleges, Most Popular Majors, Student Life, Athletics, and Contact Information. The Tables & Indexes section includes the following subsections, which lists each school alphabetically under its state: Undergraduate Enrollment Size (Very Small < 750, Small 750 - 1999, Medium-Large 2000-7499, Large 7500-14,999, Very Large >15,000), Admission Selectivity (%), Admission Placement Policy, ROTC on Campus, Early Decision/Early Action Table, Wait List Table, College Type (Liberal Arts Colleges, Agricultural Colleges, Arts/Music Colleges, Bible Colleges, Business Colleges, . . . etc.), Special Characteristics, Colleges with NCAA Sports (Divisions I, II, and III), subcategories in each sport from Archery to Yachting. A comprehensive guide, the community colleges and technical schools section should be of special interest to JobsBus patrons. The handbook, although aimed at high school juniors and seniors, is applicable to JobsBus patrons as well. Not only will they get a good idea of schools in their area, degrees offered, costs and financial aid opportunities, it should also offer encouragement -- and a belief that a better education is possible for them too. RECOMMENDED: Princeton Review

4. [SOURCEBOOK] Consumer Sourcebook; Gale/Cengage Learning, Farmington Hills, MI (2011) $505.00; ISBN 141444589X This sourcebook is a comprehensive guide to over 23,5000 programs and services available to the general public at little or no cost. Services include listings from Federal, State, County and Lo- cal governments, as well as private sources, publications, websites, multimedia documents and services. There are 21 separate subject chapters such as automotive matters, health care, housing, and legal affairs which are then divided by type of resource such as Internet, governmental agency, publications, or forms. Text preceding each chapter assist the user, include guides, detailed chap- ter descriptions, and consumer tips. Entries are consecutively numbered and contain consumer affairs information, such as customer service addresses, telephone numbers, emails and URL ad- dresses. After these comprehensive chapters, there is an Appendix/Index section. Appendix 1 is titled Hotlines and Clearinghouses, and lists contact information on free to no cost benefits to consumers. Appendix 2 is named Testing Laboratories, again, offering a list of free to no cost bene- fits to those willing to partake in experimental/laboratory-type testing for FDA-type agencies. The Index contains extensive alphabetical and subject heading lists, for ease in looking up a specific agency. This will be the perfect resource for JobsBus patrons who needs information on how to file for unemployment, go about claiming welfare checks, applying for food stamps, how to understand housing subsidies, or even get the extra money needed for educational purposes. This sourcebook is a complete guide to understanding how much money is available through governmental agencies, if one is simply willing to look for it. These are trying times; this sourcebook will make finding and untangling the process of accessing government assistance just a little easier. RECOMMENDED BY: American Reference Books Annual

5. [DIRECTORY] Scholarships, Fellowships, and Loans: A Guide to Education-Related Financial Aid Programs for Students and Professional; Gale/Cengage Learning, Farmington Hills, MI (2010). $336.00; ISBN 978-1414258 A perennial, first published in 1949, this is the most comprehensive directory of its kind. In addition to the awards named in its title, the directory also includes grants, prizes, work-study programs, and internships, and encompasses all educational levels from high school through graduate school, to professional development. Sponsorships come from national and state gov- ernments, fraternal and professional associations, foundations, religious groups, corporations, as well as private not-for-profit organizations. The directory is made up of two distinct sections: the Main Section and a comprehensive Index. The Main Section is arranged by the sponsoring organi- zations name, with each individual award listed alphabetically under it. The organizations are each given a number, resulting in over 7,000 entries. Individual entries describe type, purpose and study level of each award, qualifications needed, funds and number of awards given, and each provides detailed contact information, including website and email address. Enough information is supplied to allow a user to decide about applying as well as how to apply. The extensive Index is divided into four sections. Field of Study, Place of Study, and Legal Residence are arranged alphabetically by state. The Special Recipient section targets specific ethnic or disabled groups in a Sponsor & Scholarship index. The index also lists numerically the organizations given number. Although this index is expensive and very detailed, it is the best companion available to fit in perfectly with the collective resources on the JobsBus. This directory would provide the final piece of that collection, forming a comprehensive reference group enabling the JobsBus patron access to the finest re- sources available to them as they perform a job search or educational development inquiry. RECOMMENDED BY: ARBA

Brief Reflection

Ok, it may be corny, suck-upish, or whatever you want to call a student who tells the teacher I actually enjoyed my homework!; but, it happens to be true. I really did enjoy this project. I guess I liked the idea of pretending. I could actually see myself presenting this proposal to my director, having her agree that its a fantastic idea, and letting me order each piece of the collec- tion. I like the whole JobsBus idea. I think it could be a useful outreach program for any library to implement. Its essentially my harebrained idea of following my husband around the Habitat for Humanity Van-Along circuit in a refurbished school bus, colorfully painted by artists who donate their time, bringing books and internet access to the underserved -- all paid for by a Gates Foundation grant. I liked learning more about how to find and decipher reference resource reviews. I didnt know about ARBA or Choice Reviews before this assignment, so it was great to learn, first hand, about the pluses and minuses of both databases. It was somewhat disturbing; on those books I couldnt physically locate (which happen to be two of my five reviews), to sort of mesh together reviews from different sources. Id read ARBA, Choice, Amazon, and usually I could find it on the publishers website as well. But, I didnt like not having the book in front of me. Im sure this happens a lot, when youre ordering for a library; you really do have to trust the reviewer(s). Actually, writing this reflection seems to be the hardest part of the assignment, for me . . . have I reached 1/2 page yet?