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Norwood library schedules job fair with MassHire, community programs and expanded immigrant-facing services
Summary
Library staff outlined upcoming programs including a MassHire job fair, Black History Month events, and expanded passport/notary outreach and translated materials for immigrant communities; staff also reported increased volunteer interest for English tutoring.
Library staff and trustees summarized a slate of upcoming programs and community services, and described expanded outreach to immigrant residents and other communities in need of translation and notary assistance.
Staff said the library will host a MassHire-coordinated job fair; registrants will receive a MassHire “job seeker ID number” through the MassHire registration process and the job fair organizers are managing employer registration. Staff advised pre-registration for the event and said the library will post a QR code and registration link on event materials.
Programming highlights listed in the meeting packet and read aloud to trustees included: a virtual program with WVU journalist Simon Rios scheduled for “Wednesday the nineteenth” (date in packet), a local-food/climate discussion on February 25, rose-gardening tips with David Castraro of the Rose Society, and a Black History Month presentation featuring original photos and commentary from Joel McCall, a Boston tour guide.
Staff said passport and notary demand has increased and that library personnel are working to translate passport and other informational materials into Spanish and other languages. Trustees discussed plans for targeted outreach and potential off-site passport/notary appointments in community locations to reach people with limited ability to travel to the library.
Trustees and staff reported a surge in community volunteers signing up to tutor English-language learners and work in literacy programs. The board also discussed statewide developments: staff said an “ebook summit” and bills to expand library ebook access have been reintroduced in the current legislative session, and that the Massachusetts Library System (MLS) and other groups are coordinating statewide responses.
Separately, trustees discussed staff participation in trainings on nondiscrimination and DEI concepts (Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and the Massachusetts Municipal Association training were mentioned) and reviewed resources the library is distributing on legal rights in multiple languages.
No formal votes were taken on programming or outreach; staff said they will continue to develop calendar details and community partnerships and will post registration links and flyers as programs are finalized.
