VOA标准英语2012--NY Libraries Serve as Job Placement Centers

NY Libraries Serve as Job Placement Centers

Despite having a master's degree in finance, Sushana Guthrie was unemployed¹ for two years before opening her small tax consulting business this past December in New York. Mindful that many new businesses fail, she used a library as a resource to minimize her risk.

"I started there doing research while doing my MBA (Master of Business Administration degree) as well and looking into locations - kind of like digging up demographics, how would I be able to fare well or not be another statistic²; another entrepreneur who failed within one to two years," said Guthrie.

New York's public libraries are partners in a program with Workforce1, a public agency that connects the unemployed with private sector³ employers. The New York City agency placed 35,000 people in jobs last year, including more than 500 through recently opened library outreach centers. 

Last month, Workforce1 helped tax preparer George Espinal find a job at Sushana Guthrie's consulting business. Espinal says the library is a better resource for job seekers than newspaper or online job listings.

"Folks need to be connected, knowing what jobs are available, who is hiring, when are they going to be hiring, how to improve your skills," said Espinal.

Such specific information is the focus of collaboration⁴ between libraries and Workforce1. It involves the opening of agency centers in public libraries, or in some cases, opening a library affiliate⁵ at a Workforce1 center. 

Brooklyn Public Library President Linda Johnson says the institution offers a full spectrum⁶ of employment services, from literacy classes to recruitment. She says it required special training for librarians.

"Our employees were instructed on how to engage and assess the needs of job seekers, to provide resume cover letters, interview preparation, assist job seekers with employment barriers," noted⁷ Johnson.

Johnson says librarians can also help individuals set up an email account, which is critical to finding jobs in the computer age.

Sushana Guthrie says she already has 350 clients and is striving for 500. She and George Espinal say their aim is to help clients identify money-saving tax breaks that might otherwise be overlooked. And as newly employed individuals, they too will be paying taxes, eventually offsetting⁸ the government cost of helping⁹ them find employment. 

1 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

2 statistic   

n.统计量；adj.统计的，统计学的

参考例句：

• Official statistics show real wages declining by 24%.官方统计数字表明实际工资下降了24%。
• There are no reliable statistics for the number of deaths in the battle.关于阵亡人数没有可靠的统计数字。

3 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

4 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

5 affiliate   

vt.使隶(附)属于；n.附属机构，分公司

参考例句：

• Our New York company has an affiliate in Los Angeles.我们的纽约公司在洛杉矶有一个下属企业。
• What is the difference between affiliate and regular membership?固定会员和附属会员之间的区别是什么？

6 spectrum   

n.谱，光谱，频谱；范围，幅度，系列

参考例句：

• This is a kind of atomic spectrum.这是一种原子光谱。
• We have known much of the constitution of the solar spectrum.关于太阳光谱的构成，我们已了解不少。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 offsetting   

n.偏置法v.抵消( offset的现在分词 )；补偿；（为了比较的目的而）把…并列（或并置）；为（管道等）装支管

参考例句：

• Dealers, having concluded a forward contract, should always hedge with an offsetting contract. 外汇经营商在签订了一项远期合同之后总是应进行套头交易签订一项相抵合同。 来自辞典例句
• Where does Germany think offsetting shifts into greater external deficits might occur? 在德国看来，这么大的外部赤字应该转移到哪里？ 来自互联网

9 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。