Union Public Library Offers Free Wi-Fi and Chromebooks for Job Seekers through NJ Career Connections Grant

(Union, NJ) Union Public Library (UPL) patrons who would like a connection to the internet and are seeking employment and professional development opportunities can now take home Chromebooks and mobile hotspots through a new Connect2Success library initiative. Mobile hotspots tap into nearby Wifi networks enabling users to connect to the Internet for free, while Chromebooks allow patrons to access online resources.

According to a Pew Research Center survey, “Among Americans who have looked for work in the last two years, 79% utilized online resources in their most recent job search.”

“We are hoping this new initiative helps provide important access to online information for all of our library patrons, whenever and wherever they need it most,” said John Daquino, Head of Adult Services at UPL.

Connect2Success is funded through a partnership grant from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Career Connections program and the New Jersey State Library. Through the Career Connections program, a career coach is available to UPL library patrons seeking one-on-one personalized career coaching. There are also monthly workshops on interviewing skills, networking, and a variety of other topics held at UPL.

Chromebooks and mobile hotspots are available to library cardholders, 18 years or older, without internet at home, for the sole purpose of conducting employment or professional development online. They may be borrowed for up to 28 days. For more information, contact John Daquino at 908-851-5450 ext. 2 or visit www.uplnj.org.

About Union Public Library
Union Public Library’s mission is to encourage reading and free access to information and to provide for the educational, recreational and cultural needs of its users. The Library wants patrons to connect, explore and discover by offering the broadest range of materials and programming in a balanced way to meet the needs of the diverse community of Union. The Library provides an extensive collection of current fiction, non-fiction and audio-visual materials on a wide variety of subjects. The Library is committed to using state-of-the-art technology to improve access to global resources. The Main Library  is located at 1980 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ, and the Vauxhall Branch Library at 123 Hilton Avenue, Vauxhall, NJ.  For more information please call (908) 851-5450 or find us on the web at www.uplnj.org.