Through the job fair TLCPL sought to address the entire patron job search process.

Issues such as transportation and the time needed to seek employment can make searching feel like a job. So has the shift from in-person to what is now primarily an online intake process. This can be a challenge for those new to online applications or who last gained employment through face-to-face interaction.

We brought 38 well-respected employers to one space, allowing patrons to build rapport with managers who otherwise may not be able to unearth unique experiences and potential that do not neatly fit into predefined categories.

Leading up to the fair, we offered programming led by an Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) Child Care Coordinator who provided jobseekers with childcare needs information for free or reduced care.

Partnership with OMJLC created a layer of support by connecting patrons with free services such as certification programs, and apprenticeships.

We began with the belief that all are entitled to wages that allow a satisfactory standard of living. As such, and with reliance on the MIT Living Wage calculator, we began with the stipulation that employers attending the Library Job Fair offer at least $15 per hour, a 43% increase from the State’s current minimum wage for non-tipped employees. Most employers invited were able to offer more than this minimum.

With a focus on quality, we utilized data from our Chamber of Commerce to seek out and invite major employers in retail, biohealth, government, higher education, advanced manufacturing, logistics, and food sciences, to name a few.

All employers in the region were given the opportunity to participate by submitting to a vetting process that prioritized employers with the best responses to enquiries related to company values, culture, positions available, growth and development opportunities, and additional benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.

We began job fair programming in October 2022, with community reception and attendance improving incrementally with each offering. The most recent Job Fair, held in March 2024, drew significant participation from both employers and job seekers alike. Our average number of library users in the Main Library increased by more than 38% on the day of the event.

Many participating employers are nationally recognized by other notable institutions for their work in employee satisfaction, garnering accolades such as the Forbes list of “America's Best Small Companies,” Forbes' “Best Employer for Diversity,” and Times’s “World’s Best Companies Award based on Employee Satisfaction.” There were Four winners of the Toledo Blade Award for Top Places to Work 2024, including TLCPL itself winner of the 2023 National Medal for Museum and Library Services.

The success of the Job fair bodes well for the future of employment initiatives at the Library, as well as for supporting a need for quality employment in the region.