Adults

Job Seeker Spotlight: BlueCareer

Help your patrons discover BlueCareer: an all-in-one guide to the skilled trades.

Whether they’re a student looking to start their job path or a seasoned employee looking for a career change, BlueCareer is a helpful introduction into trade industries like construction, hospitality, tourism, landscaping, transporation & logistics. Whether they’re looking to become a crane operator, drone pilot, or arboist, BlueCareer has the resources to get them started on their new career path.

The career assement tool matches job seeker’s strengths with the right trade. Find in-demand trades in their area and dive into career-specific details for more than 100+ trades. Site content is generated from live-hiring data which keeps information current.

Job seekers can see what employers require in each field – from specific certification requirements and necessary skills to background check details.

Screenshot shows a synopsis of what a trade does, what necessary skills are required and what certifications are necessary for those positions.

The Explore the Community section lets job seekers watch curated videos and listen to industry podcasts to hear directly from people working in the field. Specific trade pathways are identified so job seekers can find schools, apprentice programs, or online training.

And the Salary Explorer lets seekers view real, localized pay data, so they know what the earning potential is for each trade.

Chat is available 24/7 to guide job seekers on the next step in their career path.

Get started exploring this resource!

BlueCareer

Want to promote BlueCareer in your library? Access EBSCO’s BlueCareer promotional kit here.

Happy learning!

– Richelle, Sewickley Public Library

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Resources for Jobseekers

One patron group that we see a lot in libraries is jobseekers. We’ve all assisted someone with an application, a resume, or a cover letter. Did you know that there are resources out there that can make this process easier?

One great resource to refer jobseekers to is available through POWER Library and the state- PA CareerLink. Users can create a free login, and after doing so, they’ll be prompted to create a resume using a free tool. Also available to users is ACCESS SKILLUP PA, an online learning tool that offers continuing education to help them grow their skills.

Another great resource is Tutor.com. Tutor offers resume and cover letter review that’s performed by a real person, and the site includes tips for a job interview. Even better, those tips cover all types of job seekers from high school students to those re-entering the workforce.

Erin Weaver, Bridgeville Public Library

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Travel Time is approaching…

It is already May and that means that our patrons will be looking into travel plans NOW! If you have patrons who are traveling abroad be sure to mention our helpful language learning resources for their travel needs – like Mango language.

It has never been a better time to learn with Mango because they now have a Chrome extension in beta that lets you practice language learning while you browse the web or even just watch a movie with Netflix! With the Mango extension installed you can double click on a word and have Mango instantly translate it for you or even hold down the Alt key, highlight a word and have it added to Mango for your next vocabulary practice.

They next time you watch a Netflix show in the language you are studying now the extension can help you translate and learn while you enjoy some quality drama. Now you and your patrons can have fun on the web and brush up your language skills for that next adventure abroad!

Have fun language learning,

Adrianne, Northland Library

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BookFlix

Have you heard about BookFlix? This resource, provided by the state, is a wonderful tool to recommend to parents and teachers. BookFlix offers a fun way for young readers to practice their skills and gain confidence in their reading ability.

The resource, created by Scholastic and geared toward readers in pre-K to grade 3, offers a variety of categories to choose from such as Animals and Nature, People and Places, and Music and Rhyme. Within each category, there are a variety of books to choose from, and there are multiple titles offered in Spanish. Each picture book is paired with a related non-fiction book. Young readers can either watch the story or read the book. Included are activities to reinforce comprehension such as Word Match and Which Came First.

For more content, parents and teachers can click on the Resources and Tools button to view the Title Library, which lists books by Grade Level, Lexile, and GRL. The Title Library also offers links to lesson plans with learning objectives, important vocabulary words, and before- and after- viewing activities.

-Erin Weaver, Bridgeville Public Library

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