SCLA Part 3 - Anatomy of a Library Job Center

If you're from a small library system like me, you can get pretty darned annoyed by what's going on at the Richland County Library.  Just when you think you have a brand-spanking-new library to be proud of, you see another over-the-top presentation and slink from the session dragging your tail between your legs.
Well, they're at it again.
They decided they needed to help job seekers and so they went about it with the relentless planning and enthusiasm we have come to know and envy.  They plan, they partner, they collaborate, they write grants, they totally redesign their reference area, they hire.  Then they make you sit through a mind-boggling power-point presentation and sit and wonder at what on earth you could possibly adapt to your 834 square foot branch in the middle of a massive job shortage.
Well, let's look at some of the easy stuff, such as the self-paced stations.  You put out a desk, a chair, and a telephone book with a little tip sheet telling them to look up companies or with a sample work portfolio.  You make tip-sheets specific for area companies on filling out on-line applications, which are apparently all the rage.
No money?  Partner with area technical colleges, public and private agencies.  Have speakers come visit.  Hold weekly job club meetings for mutual support.
They have three dedicated job specialists who can sit down one-on-one with a person and help them: create an e-mail account, fill out an online application, create a résumé, practice their interview techniques.
In the end, we were each handed the power point presentation ... on a 2G flashdrive, the same flashdrives they apparently provide to their customers with a completed résumé (and one hard copy on résumé quality paper).  
They have job-search dedicated computers, they don't ask to see library cards.  And for some reason it was thought necessary to say that the job staff don't answer the phone (but the reference staff helps with job search).  They aren't trained.  
There was more (and the power point presentation is available on request - but I want the flashdrive back), but - it was just too much to take in.