The path to your current location in our website is:

Community College Training

**NOTE: We are still accepting requests for patron classes; however, scheduling has been placed on hold.**

One aspect of the BTOP grant are in-person training sessions for library staff and the general public within NJ public libraries, which will be scheduled and facilitated by a consortium of the New Jersey Community Colleges. The instructional component of the BTOP grant is aimed at improving workforce skills of those hardest hit by the economic downturn.

Target Audiences

Librarians
General Public

Instructional Offering

Professional Development Workshops for library staff – 4 hour PC based sessions aimed at helping library staff become better resource aides to their customers. The topics are as follows:

conducting an on line job search
making use of the NJ Department of Labor’s Real Time Jobs on Demand
locating other relevant commercial job web sites;
identifying the most popular job search web sites, such as Careeronestop.org and Monster.com
learning the key elements in an on line job application

To view all upcoming sessions, click here.

Job Readiness Computer Training Classes for the general public – all classes are aimed at improving individual’s ability to use computers during their job search. The content is all customized to the job search effort. Sessions will cover topics such as an on line job search, self-assessment, resume writing, employment applications, interviewing techniques, along with familiarity in the key computer applications that go hand in hand with each topic, i.e. web search engines (Google, etc.), using MS Explorer and MS Word.

To view all upcoming sessions, click here.

Content to be covered:

Windows – This is the foundation of any PC based usage.
Internet – Training in the basic usage of the Internet, understanding of web site addresses, introduction to the major web search engines, elements of a web search with specific emphasis on web based job searches.
Word – A class in the basic elements of MS Word. Emphasis will be on the development of a resume and cover letter.
Outlook – A class on the proper usage of web based email, email etiquette, responding to job listings, and on line applications. Each participant needing an email address will be assisted in the creation of a personal email account.

Options available for scheduling public courses:

Basic Computer Skills -- schedule 4-hour classes - each class covering ONE of the topics above. These courses will provide a basic understanding of how to use the Microsoft Office applications, while providing the job seeker with the ability to successfully create resumes and cover letters, perform an online job search, and respond to job listings.
Advanced Computer Skills -- schedule 4-hour classes - each class covering ALL of the topics above. These courses will be a more advanced class, for those jobseekers that have familiarity or working knowledge of the Microsoft applications, but may need a more in-depth understanding to create resumes and cover letters, perform an online job search, and respond to job listings.

**These courses can also be offered in 2-hour increments; however, our goal is to have each patron receive 4 hours of training**

Next Steps

Interested in scheduling these sessions at your library? Contact Natasha Peter, Compliance Officer at NJ State Library, at 609-278-2640 x133 or npeter@njstatelib.org.
Select which of the four Public PC classes that you wish to offer to your customers. You may select all four, or any combination of the four.
Decide how you would like to manage registration for the Librarian class. The registration can either be managed within the library or using the State Library’s online registration system.
Decide how you would like to manage registration for the Public PC class. The registration might be best managed by your staff. You know your customers!

Scheduling Sessions

Once you have contacted the State Library with your interest in scheduling sessions, your information will be forwarded to your local Community College and a contact from your Community College will reach out to you to begin scheduling sessions at your library.

Special Help

Don’t have a computer lab at your library? The State Library can arrange for the local County College to bring laptops* to your library for these training sessions. Please contact Natasha Peter, Compliance Officer at NJ State Library, at 609-278-2640 x133 or npeter@njstatelib.org for more information.

NEXT STEPS!

Once a training schedule has been developed with your local community college, please send an e-mail to Natasha Peter at npeter@njstatelib.org with the following information: