Text and Photo by  SATORI MARAT

Contact: Tedi Latte

Warm and inviting, the USA Job Resources Center of Cybrary Square offers job seekers a comfortable place to find employment resources in Second Life. Unlike many real-life counterparts, the Center provides a non-threatening atmosphere and uplifting messages to inspire residents in a difficult situation.

Tedi Latte created the Center in the backdrop of one of the worst economic downturns in the past few decades. Latte, who has four years experience working with the State of Maine Department of Labor's Bureau of Employment Resources, was aware of the need for a place such as this in Second Life. As real life state government offices are facing budget and service cutbacks, state and city libraries are filling in the gaps by helping job seekers fill out unemployment claims, craft resumes, and complete job applications. While these agencies can do quite a lot to help the unemployed, Latte wanted to form a place in Second Life to aide those residents in need of online resources. In addition, Latte hopes that the library will provide employers with the resources to better attract future workers and other libraries and agencies with a model for an in-world and online source of information.

The USA Job Resources Center, which was constructed in association with the real life Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library in Presque Isle, Maine, currently offers various resources, including a notecard dispenser with tips on writing resumes, such as the preferred length of a resume and basic do's and don'ts. In addition, there are also links to web resources such as ONET, which provides information about various job descriptions, including the knowledge, skills, and abilities required; and the average wage information and possible future growth or decline for the jobs listed. There are also links to official websites that include the Workforce Investment Act and Trade Adjustment Assistance, along with the North American Industrial Coding System (NAICS). Job search sites such as USA Jobs are also among the resources provided by the Center.

To organize all of these resources, Latte has used a web tool called Linkagogo. This allowed her to condense many of the related web links into separate folders. When a resident clicks on one of the many inspirational posters, bookcases, or computers in the Center, they are provided with a single Linkagogo URL in which Latte has collected all of the related websites and resources. This provides the user with an easy way to access the information and Latte with a simple means to update the available websites and collections. Latte would also like to utilize Google Books for suggesting print resources so that residents can preview the books online before they either buy the books or find them at their local library.

Latte hopes to expand the services over time and is very open to suggestions and requests. She hopes soon to offer an IM bell for residents requiring additional help. In addition, the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library will soon have a collection of materials related to grant information. Latte hopes to incorporate these resources into the USA Job Resources Center of Second Life.

Definitely a necessary resource in uncertain times, the USA Job Resources Center of Cybrary Square will provide unemployed and searching residents with the information and tools they might need for a job search. Comfortable and yet informative, the Center will surely become a well-used and visited center for Second Life residents, whether job seekers, librarians, or employers.

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