Westerly Sun Column

By Nina Wright, Reference Librarian

I’m sure it isn’t news to anyone that times are tough these days. Everywhere you look, you can find articles, books, or television programs focusing on how to tighten your belt, cut expenses, or find work.

Difficult economic times put libraries in an odd position. There are communities in which libraries are being forced to close, because there isn’t enough money to sustain them. There is a perception among some people that libraries are outdated, because there is so much information available on the Internet.

The flip side of that coin is that when times are tough, the library is more essential than ever. Aside from our devoted regulars, we get new patrons every day. These are people that want to try to economize by checking a book or DVD out instead of paying full price or a rental fee. There are those who have canceled their Internet account at home and now come to us to take advantage of the two hours of free Internet they can have every day. Some still have Internet at home, but want to save by not buying a printer and expensive toner, so they come in when they need to print something out. Among our Internet users, there are many people using our computers to file online applications for unemployment benefits, or to search job websites and apply for jobs.

Rhode Island has the third highest unemployment rate in the entire country, at 12.9%, behind only Nevada and Michigan (according to the December 2009 rankings by the Bureau of Labor Statistics). You may recall that last November, thanks to the sponsorship of the Westerly Pawcatuck Joint Development Task Force, we were able to host Gary Gekow, an employment specialist in the Boston area. He gave two very popular talks here, one on resume writing and one on interviewing for jobs.

I am very happy to report that we have been fortunate enough to book Gary for one more program, again due to the generosity of the Westerly Pawcatuck Joint Development Task Force. He will be here on Monday March 15th, at 6 p.m. This time his focus will be on changing careers and reinventing oneself in today’s job market. His program will be an informal discussion on various strategies to help make a smooth transition from one industry to another. Everyone’s experiences and opinions are welcomed. This is a great opportunity to learn from someone who has worked for over 20 years as a recruiter and staffing specialist. Please join us on Monday the 15th for this valuable program.

The library is still in the midst of our capital campaign, so if you are interested in making a donation, please visit our website at www.westerlylibrary.org and click on the Donate Now button on the right.