Washington Talking Book & Braille Library helps people find jobs

New Connection Site of WorkSource Seattle-King County

The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL) announced it has joined WorkSource Seattle-King County’s network of WorkSource Connection Sites. As a Connection Site, WTBBL can help patrons connect with the WorkSource community of resources, providing them with a portal for electronic access to career planning tools, training programs, and job-search resources.

WTBBL staffers can now work one-on-one with patrons in the computer lab to write or refine resumes, identify in-demand occupations, and explore the Self-Sufficiency Calculator, Jobscan, and other career-building tools. Staff may also assist patrons by phone and make referrals as part of an integrated system of WorkSource Seattle-King County sites.

“The Washington State Library has been actively supporting public and tribal libraries across the state to help meet their local workforce development and jobseeker needs,” State Librarian Cindy Aden said. “We’re thrilled to have our own branch libraries provide direct service to populations with so much to offer employers, but who sometimes struggle with how to showcase their skills and land that perfect job.”

A priority of WorkSource Seattle-King County is to serve all community members, reaching specific populations through strategic partnerships like this.

“We recognize the immense contributions made by the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library for serving individuals with varied communication modes and needs,” said Dot Fallihee, interim CEO of the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County which oversees WorkSource. “WorkSource is able to serve all members within our region, bringing quality services to individuals as they seek to become self-sufficient, thanks to partnerships like this one.”

For more information about WorkSource Seattle-King County, visit WorkSourceSKC.org and the WorkSource Seattle-King County map and menu of services here.

“Because so many of our patrons ask about ways we can help them find jobs, we were inspired to pursue becoming a WorkSource Connection Site,” WTBBL Director Danielle Miller said. “This is another way we can work with our community in a tailored, accessible way to help open doors, make an already difficult process as smooth and equitable as possible, and advocate for inclusion in the workplace. It also adds to WTBBL being truly a full-service library, evolving to meet the range of needs for our diverse patron base.”

WTBBL is a program of the Washington State Library, which is a division of the Office of Secretary of State Kim Wyman. It will be exploring opportunities to collaborate with other WorkSource sites to offer in-person training opportunities, and develop the WTBBL Connection Site to meet the needs of the community it serves.

“We are excited that WTBBL has become a Connection Site,” said Mark Adreon, employer consultant for the Washington Department of Services for the Blind, “and we look forward to discovering opportunities to partner and collaborate for the benefit of our shared community.”

– Office of Secretary of State

 

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