Alabama Public Library Service

1. Alabama Public Library Service Workforce issues from our public libraries Annie L. Brown Alisa K. McLeod Project Compass February 8, 2011

2. Alabama

3. Unemployment in Alabama Compared to US

4. State of Alabama

5. Unemployment December 2009 – December 2010

6. Alabama CountiesUnemployment Alabama has 67 counties 15 counties 11.5 -14.9% 11.4% and below Wilcox County 25% 5 counties =/> 15.0% Black Belt Counties

7. The Black Belt

8. Alabama Public Library Service • Black Belt,  physical region in Alabama and Mississippi, U.S., so named for its soil. The Black Belt is a fertile plain, generally 25–30 miles (40–50 km) wide and stretching approximately 300 miles (480 km) across central Alabama and northeastern Mississippi. A region of dark, calcareous soils, it was one of the South’s most important agricultural areas before the American Civil War. Though corn (maize) was also grown, cotton was the most important crop until the destructive effects of the boll weevil encouraged agricultural diversification in the early years of the 20th century. Beef cattle and soybeans are now also raised in the area. • Though strictly the name of a physical region, the term Black Belt has been borrowed by social scientists to denote those areas of the South where the plantation system, with its large number of black slaves, predominated before the Civil War. Black Belt. (2011). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/67652/Black-Belt

9. Alabama Public Library Service

10. Alabama Public Library Service

11. How this effects Alabama’s Libraries

12. Selma-Dallas County Public Library • Unemployment • 12 19.4% • 01 21.0% • 2010 02 20.3% • 2010 03 18.9% • 2010 04 18.7% • 2010 05 17.9% • 2010 06 18.7% • 2010 07 18.2% • 2010 08 17.7% • 2010 09 17.3% • 2010 10 17.2% • 2010 11 16.8% • 2010 12 15.9% • Dallas County • Selma, Alabama

13. Selma-Dallas County Public Library • Selma-Dallas County Public Library • Partner with Dallas County Extension Agency • The Chamber Of Commerce • Library provides a Career Center • Computer access • Filing Unemployment • Resumes • Job searches • Building Relationships with local businesses • GED Tutorials and classes (Dropout %)

14. How this effects Alabama’s Libraries

15. Macon County Alabama

16. Macon County – Tuskegee Public Library • Largest employer closed • Classes once a month on Saturdays • How to post and attach resumes online • How to navigate the web to job sites • Computer usage increased due to the unemployed filing for unemployment benefits

17. Greene County – James C. Poole Memorial Library

18. Greene County – James C. Poole Memorial Library • Kelly-Temp Employment Service recruits @ the library once a month • Allows patrons to use computer for online classes • Computer usage increased due to filing of unemployment • Assist patrons with –Job searches, completing applications, cover letters & resumes • Usage of library resources in the collection

19. White Hall Public Library • Lowndes County • Hayneville, Alabama • Unemployment 17.50%

20. White Hall Public Library • No industry in community at all • Increased computer usage for filing unemployment benefits • Library robbed all computers taken • Computer illiterate patrons

21. How this effects Alabama’s Libraries

22. Wilcox County Public Library • Wilcox County • Camden, Alabama

23. Wilcox CountyAlabama • Unemployment Highest in state • Future Job expectation • Counties around are looking for an increase in job growth

24. Wilcox County Public Library • Wilcox County Public Library • The Chamber Of Commerce • Development Council • Alabama Tombigbee Regional Commission • Local Governing Agencies • Computer access • Filing Unemployment • Resumes • Job searches • On-line College Course • GED Tutorials and classes (High Dropout Rate) • Proctor test (700% more than 2 years ago)

25. Wilcox County Public Library County Overview • As of 2010, Wilcox County's population is 12,799 people. Since 2000, it has had a population growth of -2.86 percent. • The median home cost in Wilcox County is $42,470. Home appreciation the last year has been -1.65 percent. • Compared to the rest of the country, Wilcox County's cost of living is 29.70% Lower than the U.S. average. • Wilcox County public schools spend $4,352 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $5,678. There are about 16.5 students per teacher in Wilcox County. • The unemployment rate in Wilcox County is 25.10 percent(U.S. avg. is 10.20%). Recent job growth is Negative. Wilcox County jobs have Decreased by 10.70 percent.

26. Alabama Public Library Services • Increased Unemployment • Increased Job Searches • Increased Resume help • Increased patron usage • Check-outs • Computer uses/WiFi • Increased Computer skill classes • How to post resumes on-line • How to navigate the web • How to file for unemployment benefit • How to complete an application on-line • How to use and benefit from library resources- collection and AVL • How to use word processing • How to keyboard • How to download audio and E-books

27. Alabama Public Library Service • Services Provided • Alabama Virtual Library • Homework Help- Tutor.com • Learning Express Library • Support and training

28. Resources • http://www2.dir.alabama.gov/ • http://2010.census.gov/2010census/ • http://www.alabama.gov/portal/secondary.jsp?page=Working_UnemploymentInformation • http://www.bestplaces.net/city/alabama/selma • http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/67652/Black-Belt • http://www.census.gov • https://dir.alabama.gov/docs/ • http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/01000.html • http://www.trueknowledge.com/q/alabama%27s_population_in_2010 • http://www.wilcoxareachamber.org/

29. Alabama Public Library Service Rebecca Mitchell – State Librarian