Job seekers and small businesses in Greater Cincinnati have come to rely on the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County for essential resources. During the temporary closure to the public due to the COVID-19 virus, the Library is offering many of those resources online or over the phone. Individuals can book virtual, 30-minute one-on-one appointments to help with everything from finding a job to navigating small business loans through the online My Librarian service. The service is free and does not require a Library card.
"We adapted our My Librarian service to be virtual,” said Adult Learning Center Manager Keith Armour. “If you need one-on-one help with a Librarian during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order, we can set up an appointment to talk on the phone, through email, or some other type of technology and connect you with the resources you need, or help you with a variety of job help related questions."
Small business help from My Librarian may include:
- Help downloading business eBooks or other digital materials
- Research assistance, including our grant database
- Basic computer assistance, including setting up an email or social media account
- Recommendations for community organizations that can provide further resources or assistance
“Right now, there is a lot of uncertainty in the economy, and small business owners are taking things one day at a time, just like the rest of us,” said Information & Reference Manager Ben Lathrop. “We're starting to see the government roll out legislation aimed at providing relief and helping the recovery, so we'll be finding what those agencies and resources are and helping to connect people to them.”
Other challenges customers are facing during the COVID-19 crisis are being furloughed, signing up for unemployment, and job hunting. The Library’s has made many of the Adult Learning Center’s services digital, including the LevelUp jobs program. Job help from My Librarian's LevelUp may include:
- Job Now
- Online job application help
- Basic résumé writing assistance
- Help filing for unemployment
- Career Transitions
- Referrals to community organizations for further resources or assistance
Book your free My Librarian consultation today by calling our Virtual Information Center at 513-369-6900. For the latest Library service updates and resources, please visit our COVID-19 resource page.