USA Today highlights importance of libraries to job seekers

Contact: Jennifer Petersen


ALA PR Coordinator


312-280-5043


jpetersen@ala.org

NEWS


For Immediate Release


September 8, 2009

CHICAGO – The American Library Association (ALA) provided sources and background information for a USA Today story on the surge in Internet use in America’s libraries.

The article, “
Internet attracts job seekers to libraries,” focused on how libraries are answering the demands of job seekers using the Internet to fill out applications, write résumés and look for job openings.

The ALA’s Public Information Office (PIO) made sources and statistics available to USA Today for the article, which appeared Sept. 1.

Larra Clark, project manager in the ALA’s Office for Research and Statistics (ORS) was interviewed for the story and discussed findings from a new Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study (PLFTAS) set to be released on Sept. 15.

"Libraries are really the first responder in this economic crisis, and particularly for job seekers," said Clark.

The PIO also worked with CNN.com on an article entitled “
The future of libraries, with or without books” which appeared online Sept. 4.

For more information on the PLFTAS, visit:
http://www.ala.org/ala/research/initiatives/plftas/2008_2009/index.cfm.