Bloomberg Chooses Grand Army Plaza For Conference on Library Job Centers

February 21, 2012 Brooklyn Eagle Staff
C%20for%20jump%20C%20story%20bloomberg%2C%20library%2C%20etc%20IMG_3732.jpg
Share this:

GRAND ARMY PLAZA — Speaking at the Brooklyn Public Library’s central branch, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other officials Tuesday announced a partnership between the city’s three public library systems and the city’s Workforce1 Career Centers.

The Brooklyn Public Library has recently opened two Workforce1 Centers, one at Grand Army Plaza and at its Sunset Park Branch. The other two systems, the New York Public Library and the Queens Library, also have opened Workforce1 Centers at several of their branches, and the number is expanding.

In addition to housing Workforce1 Centers, the two Brooklyn Public Library locations have also worked with Workforce1 to train librarians on how to better assist job seekers. The training, delivered by the Workforce Professionals Training Institute, has provided librarians with skills to help serve customers who are seeking employment.

At Tuesday’s news conference, the mayor was joined by Brooklyn Public Library Board Chairman Anthony Crowell, Brooklyn Public Library President and CEO Linda E. Johnson, Borough President Marty Markowitz and Brooklyn Council Members Steve Levin and Letitia James, among others.

Subscribe to our newsletters

“The Workforce1 Expansion Centers at Central Library and Sunset Park Library [meaning expansions of the program] have given us a wonderful opportunity to expand upon the services we offer to Brooklynites who are job searching,” said Johnson. “In the past, the library has been an important resource for one-on-one job readiness help, resume writing and interviewing skills workshops, and print and electronic career resources. Now, in addition to these services, patrons can meet with Workforce1 representatives to receive valuable job placement assistance.”

“Libraries more than ever are proving their importance to New Yorkers by moving beyond traditional notions of service,” said  Crowell, who also serves as counselor to Bloomberg. “By co-locating Workforce1 Centers in our libraries, we are empowering New Yorkers who are seeking jobs by providing them with comprehensive employment readiness services – from resume-writing workshops to counseling to skill-building services – and the chance to be connected with real opportunities in the workforce – all in one location.”

“Like everywhere else in the country, Brooklyn is feeling the effects of this economic downturn,” said Markowitz. “To put it simply, jobs remain ‘job one.’ And that’s why the full range of services—from employment postings to workshops to job fairs—available to job seekers at Workforce1 are so critical.”

 “When something works keep doing it. Workforce1 works, said  Levin, who represents Downtown, Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO and Williamsburg.

“A Workforce1 Center in the Brooklyn Public Library central branch will provide the extra resources needed to help our community residents with job placements and necessary back to work support,” added Councilwoman Letitia James, who represents Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights and Prospect Heights.

Workforce1, sponsored, by the city’s Department of Small Business Services, prepares and connects qualified candidates to job opportunities in New York City. The centers use a combination of recruitment expertise, industry knowledge and skill-building workshops to strengthen candidates’ employment prospects. It is expected that the center at Grand Army Plaza will help people find 1,000 jobs a year.


Leave a Comment


Leave a Comment