More job hunt help

Like me, you were probably startled and concerned when the Des Plaines Journal reported that the unemployment rate in Des Plaines was at 10.5% - higher than the state average of 9.9%. Neighboring communities like Elk Grove Village, Niles and Wheeling also have high rates of unemployment. Don't forget: your public library is here to help.

• Use our free computers and low-cost printing to get your resumé up to speed and posted online.
  
  
• Resumé need some editing? Use our free online service, HelpNow. You can submit your resumé online and in about 24 hours, it will be sent back to you with helpful suggestions. (HINT: you need a DPPL card to use this service from home.)
  
  
• Brush up your networking skills and share tips with our new, free Job Seekers Group. The next meeting is on August 12 at 9:30 AM. Licensed career counselor Edie Kleinman leads the group and offers advice, support and motivation.
  
  
• Are you a Twitterer? Sign up for our weekly Job Tips Tweet! Go to DPPLBusiness.pbworks.com and you'll see the link to follow us on Twitter.
  
  
• Browse around our Business site, too: it's packed with subscription databases that can help you pinpoint prospective employers by industry, size, location and other criteria. You'll also find the best job listings on the Web on the "Job Searching/Counseling" page.

Your tax dollars and donations support us - let us support YOU during this difficult time!

What a great day!

Des Plaines - we had a blast singing, dancing, book carting (is that verb?) and celebrating the 4th of July with you during this year's parade. Check out photographs from the parade, taken by some of our staff members, in the video below. See you next year!



If you enjoyed our entry in the parade, you can see additional footage of the book cart drill team and Singing Librarians on YouTube.

Let freedom ring!

Wow, it seems like summer just got started but here comes the 4th of July! It's been a tough year for our country and our world, but I think it's great that Des Plaines is continuing its traditions of a 4th of July parade and fireworks. When the going gets tough, it can be a very good thing to get outside, mingle with your neighbors, see your children smile and celebrate the freedom we can too easily take for granted.

Two reminders: First, the Library will be closed on Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5, so our staff members can enjoy the holiday with their families and friends. We'll reopen at 9 AM on Monday, July 6.

However, many of us will be here anyway, participating in the fabulous 4th of July parade down Center Street! When we heard that the parade might be canceled, we were really saddened, so we're doubly excited that it's back on and we'll be able to participate. Our minds usually work overtime trying to come up with a new and unusual way to entertain you while we march in the parade. This year, members of our book cart drill team, The Cart Wheels, will be out in perfect formation. We've also got giveaways, including Summer Reading t-shirts celebrating the "Wild Women of Literature," thanks to our sponsor, Bishop Plumbing.

And speaking of wild women, the famous (or infamous - you make the call) Singing Librarians will also perform in the parade. You may have seen us Christmas caroling at the History Center or at Prairie Lakes, and may have caught our musical adaptation of The Wizard of Oz last April. Now we're taking our act on the road, literally, so watch for our float in the parade. We'll be singing great classic rock songs, a few disco favorites and, yes, even a tribute to that music legend the whole world has been talking about for the last week. We hope you'll join in with us, move your feet, clap your hands and sing along, because it's the simple pleasures like music, dancing, family, friends and the 4th of July that make life worth living.

Can't wait to see all of you on the 4th! The parade begins at 10 AM on Saturday, all along Center Street from Oakton Street to Prairie Avenue, rounding the corner over to the History Center on Pearson. Speaking of the History Center - don't forget their ice cream social. Enjoy root beer and ice cream right after the parade. Get full details from the City's Web site.

Printing Made Even Easier

I fondly remember all the talk, 10-15 years ago, about a "paperless society." We certainly rely on electronic communication more and more these days, but paper remains a cold, hard fact of life. Homework assignments, resumés, photographs, driving directions - sometimes it's better to have a piece of paper on hand. However, buying and maintaining a printer at home can be expensive and frustrating, especially when your printing needs are infrequent.

Did you know that you not only have access to printers here at DPPL but that you can now send print jobs from your wireless computer, even from your home computer, to the library for printing? Betcha didn't. :) It's a fairly new service, which we've rolled out without much fanfare.

Printing at the Library is inexpensive - $0.10 for black and white, $0.50 for color. Your DPPL card acts as a debit card for the printers, or you can buy a copy card. Printing from the library's computers is pretty standard: select "Print," your print job goes to a print workstation, and at that point you need to swipe your card, pay for your printouts, etc.

Now, what about when you want to bring your laptop to the library and print, OR, what if you are on your home computer and would like to send an item for printing to the Library? Here are some links to the instructions:

Instructions as a Word document
Instructions as a PDF

I would suggest you begin with opening up one of those files and saving it permanently to your computer for easy reference. Once you've tried it a time or two, you can also bookmark the printing service Web site directly.

I think if you try it once, you'll find that it is very straightforward. Do remember that if you are at home, you will have to come to DPPL, 4th floor computer area, and pay for/pick up your copies during our normal business hours.

Have questions about printing @ DPPL? See our friendly, helpful IT techs up on the 4th floor, they are the workstation wizards! Oh, and speaking of normal business hours, don't forget that we are closed Saturday, July 4th and Sunday, July 5th in celebration of Independence Day. But do look for us in the 4th of July parade - I'll even be there as part of the sensational Singing Librarians!