During the past year, over 100,000 New Jersey residents lost their jobs, adding their names to a list that was already well over 200,000. Many families in our state are facing economic challenges, some for the first time. Businesses, both large and small, are closing their doors as their revenue stream is squeezed by a lack of available credit and reduced consumer spending. As families and businesses cut their budgets, they are turning to their libraries to make up for some of those cuts and shave expenditures.
In response to these harsh economic times, libraries are not just maintaining services, but adding programs to help those community members who have lost their jobs to learn new skills, to cope with new challenges, to ease their fears and to help their bottom lines. Some have little or no computer skills, have never created a résumé, and have never looked for a job online.
For those with laptops who have cancelled service at home, our libraries offer free Wi-Fi. Our librarians are reporting that computer use is up substantially — an average of 25 percent — as a direct result of the increase in unemployment.
Libraries all over New Jersey have transformed themselves to meet the needs of their communities by scheduling career counseling, résumé writing and networking workshops; English as a second language and citizenship classes; basic and advanced computer classes; and classes on financial literacy and management. Some have set up career centers and are working with their local employment service offices to bring in speakers in the evening. Libraries in Caldwell, Cranford, Princeton and South Brunswick have scheduled SCORE programs and counseling sessions for small business owners.
With this increase in demand, one of the things we realized was that many of our customers, now faced with economic challenges for the first time, might not know what assistance is available or where to get information about those services. In response to this need, the State Library created Get Help! at http://gethelp.njlibraries. org, which provides links to a spectrum of important service providers covering everything from applying for food stamps and children’s health care to veterans’ services and foreclosure prevention help.
In spite of the need and in spite of the increased usage, many of our libraries — 28 percent in our random sample — are reporting decreased operating budgets. This will result in a reduction of products and possibly operating and staff hours, occurring at a time when New Jersey families need their libraries the most. Your library is a valuable resource in your community — for adults, teens, children, seniors, businesses, organizations. It’s a vital resource at a very affordable price.
With their wealth of resources, variety of programs and increased services, our libraries are striving to make these difficult times a bit easier for small businesses and families facing economic and employment challenges. The personal service our users receive can relieve some stress, remove some doubt and increase confidence. Our libraries have never been more important to the citizens of New Jersey and are committed to providing the resources our users need to speed their personal recovery, which, in turn, will aid in making our national recovery much faster.
Norma E. Blake New Jersey State Librarian
Moorestown