online workshops for JOB SEEKERS – PA CareerLink Chester County

~ Sam Bardarik ~ Leave a comment
PA CareerLink Chester County is currently offering a number of different workshop opportunities to Job Seekers online through Canvas.
Current workshop opportunities available include:
Crafting a Marketable Resume:
This workshop is designed to give you all the tips and strategies that you would need to design a resume that represents you at your very best. Whether you have never created one before or you are looking to update, this workshop can help.
Creating an Effective Cover Letter:
This workshop will explain how employers use cover letters in the hiring process, share best practices, and identify cover letter writing errors to avoid.
Interviewing Workshop Series:
The Interviewing Workshop Series includes Interviewing Basics, The S. T. A. R. Method, and Panel Interviewing. These workshops are designed to prepare you for your next job interview. Craft your 30 second elevator speech and learn how to conduct targeted research to prepare for interviews. Whether you have been on a job interview recently, or are going on your first job interview, these workshops will help you to prepare.
If you have an interest in any of these workshops, please contact Graham Desmond directly at (610) 280-1031 or gdesmond@edsisolutions.com.

2-1-1 Referral Service

~ lshupp13 ~ Leave a comment

Chester County residents are encouraged to use 2-1-1 for accessing referrals to a variety of services and resources. This includes assistance for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
2-1-1 is a free and confidential service where you can speak to a live person 24/7. There are over 150 languages to choose from and an expert navigator will guide referrals related to:

  • Homeless Services
  • Housing / Shelter
  • Food / Meals
  • Health / Dental
  • Clothing / Household Items
  • Substance Use Disorder Services
  • Disability Services
  • Employment / Income / Financial Assistance
  • Family
  • Mental Health
  • Older Adults
  • Transportation

Kids’ Update: More Family Cooking

~ clancygirl1 ~ Leave a comment

Heads up, parents! Delish’s editorial director Joanna Saltz and her kids will be going live on Instagram every week day at 1pm EST to share cook-along videos ​for you and your little ones​. Or just you—we do ​not ​ judge. Come back here each week so you can sneak a peek at what they’ll be cooking (and make your shopping list). And don’t stress if you can’t join them in real time; the videos will be saved on their Instagram for 24 hours. Delish Live Kids’ Cooking Class.

American’s Test Kitchen is also making their Young Chef’s Club available for free at America’s Test Kitchen Kids.

Maybe you’ll whip up something sweet like Arnie the Doughnut! See you in the kitchen …

The Youth Services Staff at the Chester County Library and Hankin Branch are presenting Virtual Storytimes beginning April 27th. They will be for three different ages groups — 0 to 2 Year Olds, 3 & 4 Year Olds, and 5 & 6 Year Olds. Registration is required via the Events Calendar at https://chescolibraries.org/. Virtual Storytimes are not registered as multi-week sessions; you will need to register for each storytime individually.

Resources for Helping Children Navigate News, Stress, and Education During a Pandemic

~ makohl10 ~ Leave a comment

As we’ve discovered, life during a pandemic doesn’t resemble what we’re used to, especially for children of all ages. The Internet, however, is playing a large role in everyone’s experiences – whether it be working from home or doing school work from home. Common Sense Media assembled a useful list of resources for families currently navigating how to explain the world and region’s news to children, how to help children determine fact-based news vs. fake news, how to handle stress and anxiety, and how children can continue education using a variety of hand selected online resources and apps. The information is presented in a user-friendly and easy to digest format.

Free online business consulting with Kutztown SBDC

~ Sam Bardarik ~ Leave a comment

The Kutztown SBDC recognizes that their clients’ small businesses may be negatively affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 global outbreak. To that end, they stand ready to work with clients to navigate potential financial hardships. If you currently have any specific concerns or questions, reach out to your current consultant or complete their online consulting request form to schedule a time to meet.

Make Sure You’re Counted

~ Jamie ~ Leave a comment

Census website banner2

While we’re all at home practicing good social distancing, now is a great time to respond to the 2020 Census. Why does the Census matter? A report from Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN), citing data from a George Washington University study, indicates that should Pennsylvania’s population be undercounted by just 1%, the state would lose $221.8 million, or $1,746 per person, in federal funds each year for the next ten years. According to the study, Pennsylvania is the second most vulnerable state in the country in terms of federal funds that could be lost from an undercount.

You may have already received your invitation letter in the mail with your Census ID; you can use this ID to go to my2020census.gov and fill out your Census response (you can also look up your address if you don’t have your Census ID). You also have the option of responding by phone at 1-844-330-2020.

Please remember that everyone counts in the Census. Regardless of your status, if you are here in the U.S., you should be counted. Help shape our community in the years to come by participating in the Census.

Borrow books without joining a waitlist from the National Emergency Library

~ Sam Bardarik ~ Leave a comment

The Internet Archive has suspended waitlists for the 1.4 million books in their lending library by creating a National Emergency Library to serve the nation’s displaced learners. This suspension will run through June 30, 2020, or the end of the US national emergency, whichever is later.

During the waitlist suspension, users will be able to borrow books from the National Emergency Library without joining a waitlist, ensuring that students will have access to assigned readings and library materials that the Internet Archive has digitized for the remainder of the US academic calendar, and that people who cannot physically access their local libraries because of closure or self-quarantine can continue to read and thrive during this time of crisis, keeping themselves and others safe.

For more information, go to their announcement page and their FAQs.

Library Update March 28

~ Jenna P ~ Leave a comment

Welcome to Stay Connected with Chescolibraries. The Libraries are closed until April 13. Please do not return library materials at this time. All due dates have been extended to April 15, and current overdue materials will not continue to accrue fines until we reopen. To apply for a library card, please visit our Library Card Help page. For help with OverDrive, please visit our OverDrive Help page. For any other questions, please visit our Contact Us page.

New option for staying connected to our blog!

~ ccllauras ~ Leave a comment

You can now subscribe to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

To sign up, just scroll down the right-hand side of any page of our blog until you find the option to “Follow Stay Connected with Chescolibraries via Email.”

As part of the confirmation process, you’ll have the choice to adjust the delivery frequency to immediate (the default choice), daily, or weekly updates.

Kids’ Update: I Survived

~ clancygirl1 ~ Leave a comment

Join Lauren Tarshis, the author of the I Survived Series, for a daily read aloud on youtube, beginning with her first book — I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic. I Survived Read Aloud.

Now, wait till you see what Irene survives in Brave Irene.

The Youth Services Staff at the Chester County Library and Hankin Branch are presenting Virtual Storytimes beginning April 27th. They will be for three different ages groups — 0 to 2 Year Olds, 3 & 4 Year Olds, and 5 & 6 Year Olds. Registration is required via the Events Calendar at https://chescolibraries.org/. Virtual Storytimes are not registered as multi-week sessions; you will need to register for each storytime individually.