Green Road Community Library Proposal for Series on Surviving Unemployment

Germaine Hawkins
LIS 667, First Summer Session 2017

Contents
Introduction/Justification/Purpose 2
Format of Program 2
Promotion 4
Timeline/Duties/Responsible Parties 4
Budget 6
Surviving Unemployment Program Evaluation 7
Introduction/Justification/Purpose
Wake County, North Carolina is located in the Piedmont area of the North Carolina. According to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2015 unemployment rate for Wake County was 4.6% compared to 5.1%
for the entire state of North Carolina. The unemployment rate in Cary, NC, which is an affluent suburb
of Wake County, was 3.5% and the rate for Wake Forest, NC, which is also a relatively affluent section of
Wake County, was 3.5%. According to the April 2017 AccessNC report, the greatest number of Wake
County workers (60, 836) were employed in Accommodation and Food Services which paid an average
weekly wage of $551.

These statistics suggest that while the more affluent neighborhoods in Wake County enjoy low
unemployment rates, other neighborhoods have higher rates of unemployment. The statistics also infer
that even though the Wake County unemployment rates are relatively low, this could be attributed to
large numbers of people working in low paying, part time retail jobs. In Wake County, neighborhoods
which have higher populations of lower income patrons are usually served by community libraries.
Therefore, it would be beneficial to the patrons of the community libraries to offer programs on coping
with unemployment.

Whether unemployment is short term or long term, the lack of a consistent income can have
devastating effects on individuals, families, and communities. The uncertainty and stress of
unemployment tends to contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders
and substance abuse. Physical ailments also tend to transpire as a result of the stress of being
unemployed. The lack of income also creates challenges for meeting basic needs such as food, clothing,
shelter, child care. As people look for ways to meet their basic needs, crime rates tend to increase as
burglaries, robberies, and thefts occur. Many who have recently been laid off or terminated do not
always know what their employment rights are in terms of filing for workmen’s compensation,
unemployment insurance, investigating wrongful termination, or other issues. While dealing with all of
these issues, the search for employment continues. This requires job seekers to be prepared,
competitive, and to project a professional demeanor when interviewing for full time positions.

Format of the Program

In an effort to support the needs of the unemployed residents of the Wake County community, this
proposal seeks to provide literacy on dealing with long and short term unemployment by offering a
series of workshops to address basic, legal, and employment needs. The proposed format and agenda
for the workshops are below.

Each hour long workshop will be presented at the Green Road Community Library on Green
Road in Raleigh, NC.

Presenters will include representatives from Legal Aid of NC, the Wake County Human Services,
Alliance Behavioral Health, the Employment Security Commission, Consumer Credit Counseling
 Services, and Capital Area Workforce Development.

The following sessions will be provided:

Session 1: Meeting your Basic Needs
Presenters: Alliance Behavioral Health, Wake County Human Services,
Topics:
Your mental health needs
Housing and Utilities
Child care/Adult Care
Housing/Utility resources

Session 2: Understanding the Affordable Care Act

Presenters: Alliance Behavioral Health, Wake County Human Services
Topics:
Types of plans and the cost of them
Pre-existing conditions
Out of pocket expenses
How to enroll
Terms

Session 3: Understanding your rights

Presenter: Legal Aid of NC
Topics:
Workplace harassment
Wrongful termination
At-will contracts
Dismissal procedures
Unemployment insurance
Workmen’s compensation
Neutral references

Session 4: Making Connections

Presenters: Capital Area Workforce Development, Employment Security Commission
Topics:
Resume writing/cover letters
Networking
Interview dos and don’ts
Dressing for success
Getting new skills

Promotion
Since the presenters for the Surviving Unemployment series will come from varies community agencies,
the promotion of the program should partner with those agencies. Attractive flyers and a promotional
website will be shared with the Wake County Human Services Department, Capital Area Workforce
Development, the Employment Security Commission, and Legal Aid of North Carolina. Receptionists,
counselors, service providers, and managers will have access to and will be asked to distribute flyers.
Library patrons who are interested in attending the seminars may register through the promotional
website or call a number printed on the flyer.

Timeline/Duties/Responsible Parties
Date Task Responsible Parties Deadline for
completion
August 14, 2017 Submit proposal, budget, Adult Services Librarian September 1, 2017
timeline, workshop
descriptions, and prospective
presenters to Green Road
Library Manager and
Regional Adult Services
Manager.
September 1, Present media/Promotion Adult Services Librarian September 15, 2017
2017 strategy to Adult Services
team (Adult Services
Manager, Adult Services
Librarians, Library Assistants)
September 13, Create invitations, flyers, and Adult Services Librarian September 15, 2017
2017 obtain approval
August 28, 2017 Reserve Room for Adult Services Librarian September 1, 2017
presentations
August 28, 2017 Reserve room for child care Adult Services September 1, 2017
Librarian, Children’s
Services Librarian
August 28, 2017 Reserve AV equipment Adult Services Librarian August 28, 2017
August 28, 2017 Arrange for child care – meet Adult Services Librarian August 28, 2017
with children’s services Children’s Services
manager Manager
August 30, 2017 Contact and confirm Adult Services September 13, 2017
speakers Manager
August 30, 2017 Contact media sources and Adult Services Librarian August 30, 2017
confirm deadlines for
submitting announcements

Date Task Responsible Party Deadline for

Completion
September 13, Recruit and contact library Various Library Staff September 15, 2017
2017 volunteers
September 11, Distribute Flyers to agencies, Library Assistants September 15, 2017
2017 organizations, and media
sources
September 18, Order chairs, food, banner Adult Services Librarian September 18, 2017
2017

September 11, Contact agencies and Library Assistants, September 15, 2017
2017 distribute flyers Volunteers

Post event to the library’s Adult Services

Facebook and Twitter pages Librarians

Contact and confirm media Adult Services

sources Manager
September 27, Collect RSVP forms and Adult Services Librarian September 27, 2017
2017 confirm dates and times of Library Assistants
attendance for patrons
September 28, Meet with Adult Services Adult Services Librarian
2017 Regional Manager about Adult Services
program progress. Express Manager
concerns, issues, needs.
October 2, 2017 Send reminder emails to Library Assistants October 2, 2017
patrons Adult Services Librarian
October 4, 2017 Pick up banners Adult Services Librarian
October 4, 2017 Meet with and train Adult Services Librarian
volunteers, go over agenda, Adult Services
procedures, and Manager
expectations
October 4, 2017 Confirm delivery of chairs, Adult Services Librarian
food
October 11, 18, Set up room with chairs and Library Assistants
25 AV equipment, hang banner Library Volunteers
October 11, 18, Set up refreshments Library Assistants
25 Library Volunteers
October 11, 18, Set up AV equipment Library Assistants
25 Library Volunteers
Budget

Item Cost
Chairs $150
Banner $ 75
Food/Refreshments $ 150
Flyers (Color printing) $ 300
Bottles of Water $ 75
Total $750
 Surviving Unemployment Program Evaluation

Please give us your feedback on the Surviving Unemployment Workshop Series. We want to make necessary
improvements, adjustments, and make the group a great experience for everyone involved.

First, tell us a few things about yourself

How old are you? _________
What is your gender? Male Female

Workshop attended: ___________________________________

Presenter’s Name: ____________________________________

Date: _______________________________________________

Your Name (Optional): _________________________________ Phone or email: _______________________

​Please rate your experience today using the scales below.

This program met my expectations poor fair satisfactory good excellent

Program content poor fair satisfactory good excellent

Ability of Presenter to communicate content poor fair satisfactory good excellent

Content and usefulness of handouts poor fair satisfactory good excellent

Area/room in which program was held poor fair satisfactory good excellent

Convenience of program day and time poor fair satisfactory good excellent

Overall, how would you rate this program poor fair satisfactory good excellent

If you answered “poor” or “fair” to any of the above, please indicate your reasons:

Would you recommend this program to friends and family? Yes No

How did you hear about this program? ____________________________________________________________________

What changes, if any, would you recommend for this program? ________________________________________________

Do you have any suggestions for us? ______________________________________________________________________

Are there resources that we can assist you to find? If so, what are they? _________________________________________

Additional comments:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________