Developing Need‐Based Job and Career Information Services in Public Libraries

The United States has suffered in recent years through periods of severe recession resulting in the loss of jobs. While libraries are located in most communities in the nation, the majority have not yet made a serious commitment to respond to the needs of job seekers and career changers. A 1990 Gallup survey found that almost two‐thirds of Americans would seek more information about career options if they had the chance to do it over again. Nearly one in four adults found that information was not available when they were making a decision about jobs. The survey found that “an estimated 12.5 million U.S. adults (seven percent of the adult population) needed help last year in selecting, changing or getting a job.” Minorities, people with less than a high school education, and older adults were more likely to have these problems than college graduates.