Monday, January 23, 2012

State Senator Audrey Gibson Visits Brown Eastside Branch's Career Center

State Senator Audrey Gibson visited the Brown Eastside Branch Library January 5 to learn about the library’s Career Center. Library Associate Tony Williams outlined the services offered at the Career Center, including research for those interested in starting their own business. Tony said on average, 57 people visit the center each month and customers use an average of 97 hours of computer time to search for jobs, fill out online applications and work on their resumes. Sen. Gibson remarked at how impressed she was with the center and its offerings and opened up a discussion about the challenges the library faces in providing this much needed service to the community, particularly funding for staffing. A strong library advocate, Sen. Gibson pledged her continued support for the Jacksonville Public Library system.  (Sen. Gibson, standing in above picture, took time to assist a customer during her visit.)

During the Senator’s visit, a customer praised Eastside Branch’s staff for their professional help in her job search, adding if it were not for the library and access to the Internet, she would not be able to apply for jobs or fill out other online government forms.

Attending the presentation were Library Board Trustee Jackie Perry, Administrative Supervisors Michael Sullivan and Ava Barrett, Library Supervisor Marshelle Berry, Librarian Senior Daniel Kibler, and Assistant Director of Community Relations and Marketing Kathy Lussier.

The Brown Eastside Library Career Center is open Monday through Thursday from 1 p.m.—5 p.m. Appointments may be made for one-on-one assistance. As with all library programs, there is no cost for this service. The library is located at 1390 Harrison Street and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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