State Library of NC Provides NC LIVE a Grant for Internet Based Job Search Platform to Aid the Unemployed Through NC Libraries

NEW YORK and RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As unemployment rates hover at nine percent statewide, each of North Carolina's 198 public and academic libraries will support their communities by providing continued access to Job & Career Accelerator™, an online resource from LearningExpress, LLC purchased by NC LIVE and funded through a grant from the State Library of North Carolina. Due to the continued demand for job-seeking resources, the State Library of North Carolina provided additional funding to NC LIVE to offer Job & Career Accelerator into 2011.

This innovative online resource provides job seekers everything they need to find their next job.  Users create professional resumes and letters using integrated tools, master interviewing and networking techniques, upgrade their current skills, and learn to use popular work-related software applications through the fully integrated interactive computer skills training.

Job & Career Accelerator enables North Carolina library patrons to search millions of job listings, both locally and nationally.  As is the case in many North Carolina counties, unemployment continues to drive library use, making tools like Job & Career Accelerator especially necessary.  Ruth Ann Copley, Director of the Davidson County Public Library, said, "Job and Career Accelerator is truly a core part of our job search program, here, where unemployment is still high at 10.6%. We use it all the time, and recently it was the focus of our Jobs Boot Camp at the library."

Access to Job & Career Accelerator is free to all North Carolinians through NC LIVE, an organization that gives North Carolinians access to online books, journals, and other media.  NC LIVE also offers a current collection of job and career-related eBooks and other resources through the NC LIVE Jobs Portal www.jobs.nclive.org.  Patrons of the state's public libraries, as well as students, faculty and staff from any of North Carolina's community colleges, independent colleges, and public universities can access all NC LIVE resources through www.nclive.org or library websites.

Barry Lippman, President and CEO of LearningExpress, LLC said, "We are pleased that NC LIVE will continue to provide Job & Career Accelerator as an essential workforce service to job seekers in the state of North Carolina."

The grant, administered through the State Library Division of the Department of Cultural Resources, is made possible by a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a federal grant-making agency.

North Carolina is one of six states partnering with LearningExpress, LLC, along with Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and New Jersey, to provide Job and Career Accelerator's career and job search solution for its residents.

About LearningExpress Job & Career Accelerator™

ABOUT LEARNINGEXPRESS, LLC Founded in 1995, LearningExpress is a leading e-learning technology company that provides career advancement and education solutions to thousands of colleges and libraries, currently helping more than one million students and adult learners annually to meet their professional and academic goals. The company offers comprehensive and fully integrated web-based platforms designed to help users assess, explore, find, prepare, pursue, and achieve their career endeavors.  Visit LearningExpress, LLC at www.learningexpressllc.com or Job & Career Accelerator at www.jobandcareeraccelerator.com.

About NC LIVE

NC LIVE is North Carolina's statewide online library.  With nearly 200 member libraries across North Carolina, NC LIVE is dedicated to providing North Carolinians with online library and information resources that support education, enhance statewide economic development, and increase quality of life. Designed for at-home use, NC LIVE eBooks, magazines, newspapers, journals, media, and other online materials are available from any Internet connection via library websites, and through www.nclive.org.  NC LIVE offers free electronic access to resources for all ages on topics ranging from careers, business, and investing, to auto repair, health, history, and genealogy. NC LIVE resources are available to all North Carolinians through their local public, community college, or academic library.  Contact your local library for access to NC LIVE resources.  For more information, please visit www.nclive.org.

About State Library of North Carolina

The State Library of North Carolina is a division of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources and works in partnership with communities to develop library service, coordinates statewide programs for all types of libraries, and offers direct library service to state employees, genealogy researchers, and people who have visual and physical handicaps.  LSTA grant programs administered by the State Library of North Carolina are made possible by federal Library Services and Technology Act State Program funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

SOURCE LearningExpress, LLC