Filing for Unemployment--an Opportunity

Consider developing a partnership between the literacy program and your library to help with a new demand.  Beginning August 1, 2011, some of the rules changed for filing for unemployment.  Adults now have to file for benefits online.  Previously they had the choice to file online or make a phone call.  New applicants also have to complete a skill survey--which is being called discriminatory by some-- for those who cannot read well enough to complete the survey.  Adults are scrambling to meet the requirements and are waiting inline at computers in libraries.  Learn how you can help....

What can you do???? Your literacy program's trained tutors could help staff library computers set aside for E-Government.  Adults usually need longer than the time limits in libraries for their regular computers.  Libraries need to set up E-government and adult literacy computers to allow two at a station.  I know volunteers are in short supply, but there will be some out there who would be interested.  Tutors may be able to volunteer monthly to staff a computer to help someone apply for unemployment --when they cannot  tutor weekly.  They could come in one day a month. Mondays and Tuesdays are busy days for filing.   Snowbirds who get some training in working with those who cannot read well are another pool a literacy program can tap in partnership with their library.

Free Webinar on Library Partnerships

The California State Library is sponsoring a free webinar on Jan. 26 on library partnerships.  It is from the library perspective...not literacy, but could give volunteer literacy programs an understanding of how libraries work and issues related to building partnerships. You don't have to register.  Put it on your calendar and go to
http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/364/index.html  at the time of the session.
Sandy Newell,
President
VALF