Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
(215) 567-7710
FAX (215) 567-7850
Contact: Communications and Development
Paschalville Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia Opens Job Readiness Center
Philadelphia, November 9, 2006-Today, the Free Library of Philadelphia celebrates the opening of the Paschalville Branch Job Readiness Center. The Job Readiness Center is a satellite of the Central Library’s Workplace and will expand upon the Free Library’s support of résumé preparation, interview and application advice, creation of work-related email accounts, and navigation of CareerLink and other job-hunting websites.
The Paschalville Branch, located in the southwestern region of Philadelphia at 6942 Woodland Avenue, serves a community in transition. The Paschalville Job Readiness Center will meet a vital need for both new and long-time residents in a neighborhood that has unemployment rates more than double the national average. It will also serve a growing immigrant populationwhose members are at a distinct disadvantage for making vital connections with the U.S. Office of Citizenship and Immigration Services, severely limiting their employment opportunities.
The creation of the Job Readiness Center was made possible in part by the support of the Lincoln Financial Group Foundation, which is dedicated to providing aide geared towards enhancing the quality of life of people in the Philadelphia region. Susan Segal, Program Officer for Lincoln Financial Group Foundation explained, “Lincoln Financial Group is committed to the Philadelphia community and as a result we are tremendously excited to be involved with this project that will support the Paschalville community. It is important to the Foundation to be involved with programs that create economic development and support lifelong learning for individuals of all age groups.”
The Center will be located in a meeting room in Paschalville’s ground level and provide one-on-one assistance to jobseekers who make an appointment. Elliot Shelkrot, President and Director of the Free Library, stated, “This generous grant from the Lincoln Financial Group Foundation is allowing us to increase our services to jobseekers, which is essential to our mission. It is a wonderful step forward in expanding the job-related resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia, and building upon the success of the Central Library’s Workplace. It also allows us to maximize funding we received from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to purchase the three computers dedicated to the Paschalville Job Readiness Center.”
Jobseekers can drop by the Paschalville Branch and pick up a personal inventory packet to maximize the efficiency of their appointment time. The branch is open six days a week, including evenings on Mondays and Wednesdays. Call 215-685-2662 to pre-register to use the Center.
2006 Job Readiness Workshop Dates:
- November 13, Job Hunting Tips and Techniques, from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
- November 14, CareerLink Tutorial with members of the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation, from 2:00-5:00 p.m.
- December 4, Interviewing Skills, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Background
The Free Library of Philadelphia system consists of 49 branches, three regional libraries, the Central Library, and the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. With more than six million visits annually, the Free Library is one of the most widely-used educational and cultural institutions in Philadelphia. Services and resources for people seeking employment are provided at every branch location, and at the Central Library’s Workplace, where nearly 7,000 job seekers develop better resumes, refine job searches and improve interview skills every year.
Lincoln Financial Group Foundation was established in 1962 as the charitable giving arm of the Lincoln Financial Group. It has inspired a rich tradition of giving over the past 40 years. Under Foundation guidelines, grants are made in the areas of education, arts/culture and human services. Lincoln sets aside up to 2% of its pre-tax earnings, averaged over a three-year period, for charitable causes that support philanthropic endeavors in the communities where its employees live and work. In 2005, the Lincoln Financial Group family of companies donated more than $10 million to a wide variety of philanthropic endeavors throughout the United States and the United Kingdom.
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11/09/2006
Department of External Affairs, Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
(215) 567-7710, FAX (215) 567-7850