Coos Bay Public Library Economic Opportunity
Our Digital Literacy & Job Skills Trainer and AmeriCorps member at the Coos Bay Public Library, Jennifer Burkhard, has continued the outstanding work started by her predecessor and has expanded on these services to include our local small business community.
Jennifer quickly established a partnership with our local Small Business Development Center( SBDC), getting the Director to hold free quarterly workshops at the library. She also arranged for members of our small business community to participate in a panel presentation. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from a couple business owners, a city official from Economic Development, and SBDC’ s Director. Jennifer also made a fruitful connection with a member of our local Chamber of Commerce. This fills a large void in library partnerships and programming while increasing economic opportunity in Coos Bay. Given the limits of our local economy, members of the community often need alternative means for creating income such as starting a small business. Jennifer’ s programming and outreach helps inform the community as to whether starting a small business is their best option, hopefully preventing many businesses from failing due to misinformation. The activities mentioned above have led to our most diverse Job Fairs. Jennifer has arranged one of our best yet with jobs ranging from social networking to bus driving and welding with most everything in between.
In addition to assisting job seekers and teaching computer classes already established by the library and our previous AmeriCorps member, Jennifer has created seven new library programs including Introduction to Wix( website building classes for business and personal use), Windows 10 Workshop, Volunteer Fair, Resume Workshop, and the previously mentioned programs. If you would have asked me about Wix six months ago, I would have told you they were for candles.
Paul Addis Host Site Mentor Reference Librarian