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