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The following story was written by Dan Wehmer at the
Webster County Citizen.
Local library is only the second access point to open in Missouri.
Never let it be said that the Seymour Community Library is on the
outside looking in when it comes to new state programs.
In fact, the local library is on the cutting edge when it comes to
assisting its patrons who are looking for employment.
On Feb. 1, Seymour’s library became just the second access point in
Missouri, statewide, for the “Missouri SHARE Network,” an
employment-assistance website program affiliated with the Missouri
Career Center.
An official grand opening for the access point was held last Thursday,
an event that featured visits from regional Missouri Career Center
officials and even Donna Prenger, assistance director of administration
for the Missouri Division of Workforce Development in Jefferson City.
“It really does say a lot for the library and its director, Delores
Turner, that an access point has opened here in Seymour,” Prenger said.
“This program is a new one that just began last August, and it’s had a
lot of success in the short time its been in place.”
Initially set up only at Missouri Career Center locations throughout the
state, the concept of access points was unveiled earlier this year, with
the first one opening in the Hickory County community of Hermitage.
Seymour became access point No. 2.
“Delores made sure that Seymour was in on the ground floor of this
program, and the benefit will be to the people of Seymour,” explained
Donna Cole from the Missouri Career Center in Springfield. “After
Delores made the inquiry, we came to Seymour and trained her, and now
the access point is up and running here.”
The benefit of an access point?
Simply stated, it saves local residents time when they want to search
for employment.
“Instead of making a trip to the career center, (the job hunt) can be
made right here in Seymour,” noted Bill Dowling, director of workforce
development for the Missouri Career Center. “Essentially, a search that
previously might have taken up a day for a local resident has been
reduced considerably.”
The SHARE Network is a U.S. Department of Labor initiative, with the
acronym standing for “Sharing How Awareness of Resources Empowers.”
In Seymour, Webster County Southern District Commissioner Denzil Young,
R-Seymour, helped get the local library on the ground floor of the
program.
“Denzil heard about this program on the state level, and he began
inquiring about it as an option in Seymour,” Dowling explained. “He was
very good abut volunteering Seymour into the program, and Delores
(Turner) then took the lead here.
“We had tried to set up access points in other communities, but in many
cases, it just didn’t work out. But here in Seymour, it was smooth
sailing, so to speak.”
How do local residents take advantage of the SHARE Network’s access
point?
“It’s very simple, really,” Dowling said. “Just come in to the library,
set at one of the computers dedicated to the project, log on and begin
searching.
“That’s all there is to it.”
For more information on the network, visit the program’s website,
www.sharenetworkmo.org, or call Turner at the local library at
417.935.4193.
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