Looking for Work? Try Job & Career Accelerator!

The library launches Job & Career Accelerator, a comprehensive online job search tool providing job seekers everything they need to find their next job, all in one easy-to-use application. This online database is available to patrons of the Worcester Public Library at no charge with their library card and can be accessed at the library or from home. Job & Career Accelerator™:

• provides personalized, step-by-step assistance for job seekers at all experience and education levels—from exploring and matching suitable occupations from over 1,000 detailed occupation profiles to finding available jobs in their area from a database of over 5 million up-to-date job postings.
• With Job & Career Accelerator, users can easily create professional resumes and cover letters, master interviewing and networking techniques, improve work related skills, and prepare for occupation related exams.
• In addition, it helps job seekers plan, tailor, and track multiple job searches at the same time while providing expert advice and tips every step. The end result is the most efficient and effective job search possible.

To access Job & Career Accelerator:

1. You need to have a valid Worcester Public Library Card, then go to http://www.worcpublib.org/.
2. Click on Online Databases under Quick Links
3. Select Jobs & Career
4. Click Job & Career Accelerator

Note: As a new user, you need to register with username and password. The system will also save your resume for your convenience. To find out more about how you can access Job & Career Accelerator, please call 508-799-1655 x3 or stop by and ask any librarian for more information.

Powerspeak Languages available at the library

The Worcester Public Library is excited to offer Powerspeak Languages - a language learning tool from Gale Cengage Learning. Designed to build proficiency in Spanish, French, German, Mandarin Chinese and English for Spanish speakers. Anyone with a valid Worcester Public Library card can access the database from home or in the library.

Powerspeak Languages is a breakthrough in learning foreign languages. Course activities are bound together with an adventure story containing rich graphics, audio, video, music and an intuitive way to track progress. Learners are challenged to practice speaking and writing in a variety of interactive modules designed to simulate real conversations with native speakers.

To access Powerspeak Language

1. go to http://www.worcpublib.org/
2. Select Online Databases
3. Select Language Learning
4. Click Powerspeak Languages
5. Type in your library card number when it asks you for your library password.

To set up an account:
A valid Worcester Public library card is required to access Powerspeak Languages.
As a new user, you need to sign up with Powerspeak by using your email account and by creating a password.
The Powerspeak system saves your practice history, so that you can return with your email and password to your account at your convenience.

If you have any questions, please call 508-799-1655 X3 to ask a librarian.

TAX Assistance Locations

• Worcester Public Library

Starting today the Worcester Public Library will begin taking appointments for the annual free AARP tax preparation assistance. For an appointment, stop by the library or call 508-799-1655, ext. 3. Appointments are available on Saturdays ONLY beginning February 6th. Please talk to a librarian and give your name, address, phone number and/or email address. Call this same number to cancel an appointment. A limited number of walk-ins can sign up in person between 9:30 and noon to wait for same-day assistance.

Other organizations that offer Tax assistance in Worcester are listed below
(For qualifying households with income of less than $48,279 & depending on household size)

• Main South Community Development Corporation 508-752-6181
  
• Plumley Village/Community Builders 508-770-0508 (Spanish translation available 508-831-9835)
  
• Worcester Community Action Council, Inc. 508-754-1176 x124
  Worcester State College 508-929-8424 or 8635
  
• For persons age 60 and over with moderate to low income
  At the Worcester Senior Center
  Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays by appointment from noon to 4:00 pm.
  To make an appointment, call 508-799-1232 between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm.
  You must bring a copy of your 2008 tax returns to the appointment.
  If you derive income from rental housing, you are not eligible for this service.

New! Chat with a Librarian Service Launched at the Library

Need help with your homework or research papers?

As of January 1, 2010, the Worcester Public Library has started a "Chat with a Librarian" service. The new chat service lets you ask questions and get answers online from a professional reference librarian.

The live chat service is available: Monday through Friday 3:00-5:30. During any other time, you may leave your question and email address in the chat box, a librarian will get back to you through your email address.

The chat box can be downloaded to iPhone, Android and Palm. If you would like to learn how, follow instructions here.

You can also use our email us or call us at 508-799-1655 to ask a question of WPL reference staff. For more information, please go to Ask a Librarian page at http://www.worcpublib.org/services/asklibrarian.htm

MassAnswers service has been discontinued

The MassAnswers 24/7 chat reference service has been discontinued as of January 1, 2010, due to budget constraints, in Massachusetts libraries.

Click here for information about the library's new chat service.

TXT 4 Answers Service Offered by the Library

The WPL participates in a collaborative reference service (of about 70 libraries) that allows you to text your question to an My Info Quest librarian and get a response from a reference librarian within minutes.

Text 309-222-7740

Step 1: Enter WPL

Step 2: TXT your question

Hours of Service

Monday - Thursday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Friday 9:00 A.M. - 7:00 P.M.
Saturday 10:00 A.M. - 7:00 P.M.
Sunday 2:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.

(The service is free of charge, but standard text messaging rates do apply.)

Add My Info Quest to my Contacts

This is called a QR (quick response code). It sends information to a cell phone equipped with a code reader. The QR code on this page will offer to add the phone number for our new My Info Quest: text 4 answers service to your cell phone contacts, so you can text us the next time you have a burning question and get an answer in minutes from a librarian. (You can add it or decline it.)

If your camera phone is equipped with a data plan, and if you have acquired a code reader, just point your phone's camera at the code and take it away.

About & Contact Us

 The WPL Reference Blog will keep you up-to-date on resources, services, collections, archives, public programs, and exhibitions of the Worcester Public Library. All blog entries are written by the WPL own experienced and knowledgeable reference librarians.

Contact us:

mywpl.org 
Ask a Librarian
508-799-1655x3