By Al Owens

At its regular session last week the Board of Trustees for the Helen H. Rayburn Public Library of Lewis County announced the purchase of property for a new library building. At a total cost of $74,000 the board bought the two houses and lots next to the Vanceburg Post Office.

Architects drawings have already been completed. The board will apply for a construction grant through the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives (KDLA) to obtain funds for the construction project.

Michael Jones, representative from the KDLA told the board that the Legislative Day for the department on February 8 went well. He said that about 200 librarians from across the state attended the session.

Jones informed the board that the money for two new Gates Computers still hasn't been released but should be out in the Spring.

He announced that a Library Manager's Institute would be conducted in Georgetown on Saturday, March 11.

Jones told the board that on February 15 the KDLA began a salary survey in order to learn the salaries for employees at different size libraries based on population and other factors such as employee classification.

He reminded the board that soon online classes will be available. The tentative dates for the course are set for May and July, but those dates will be confirmed in March. 

The courses are two-hour credit classes and can be applied to re-certification.

Jones informed the board that the KDLA is renewing and updating the Trustee Manuals and the Library Standards.

He distributed some new brochures entitled "Kentucky’s Public Libraries at a Glance".

An amended copy of the Policies and Procedures Handbook was presented and filed by the secretary. The amendments were approved at the January session.

Library Director Marilyn Conway reported that the fire inspection resulted in the installation of some new emergency lights. She said that the inspectors plan to return to test the alarm system.

The board moved to increase the rent for the upstairs room at the library from $25 per event to $50.

The board also amended the budget to add the purchase of the new site property to Capital Outlay.

The library director's report showed that in January 654 patrons used the library. A total of 4,735 books were checked out of the main library and 1,328 from the bookmobile. The computers remain a popular feature with 756 people registering to use the computers. Of those 395 accessed the Internet.

Before adjourning Gilbert announced that the next regular board session would be on Tuesday, March 21, at 1:00 p.m. in the library.

Dennis Brown/Lewis County Herald

 Members also toured the second floor at Ron's IGA, which still has the original murals painted on the walls and the sloping floor for the theatre.

Melissa Hardy with Buffalo Trace ADD gave an update of the Certified City Application for 2006 and Lewis County Tourism Director Sally Mineer gave updates on local tourism projects underway.

Unemployment issues have plagued Kentucky for years including counties such as Lewis, Fleming, Mason, Bracken, Rowan and Greenup.

The TENCO One-Stop Career Centers, Lewis County Chamber of Commerce, Maysville Community and Technical College, Kentucky Adult Education and the Office of Employment and Training have teamed up to combat this chronic problem. On Tuesday, March 28, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., the organizations will bring a grand multi-county job fair to Lewis County High School (located on Lions Lane in Vanceburg).

The job fair will consist of employment opportunities for citizens from Northeastern Kentucky and Southern Ohio who are looking for a job, looking to pursue/continue their education, or even start a business.

In preparation for the Lewis County Job Fair, we would like to offer a series of articles to best promote you! The four week series will include Applications, Cover Letters and Resume Writing; Dressing for Success; Interview Etiquette and Preparing for the Job Fair. It is our hope that you find much success through utilizing these tips and joining a wide array of employers at the Lewis County Job Fair.

Applications Pointers:

Read the entire application first so the directions can be followed to a tee.

Use a blue or black pen (erasable is best) and print or type application.

Make it neat, no errors in grammar or spelling.

Use not applicable (N/A) if the section does not apply to you.

Be positive yet honest about yourself.

Look for ways to target your qualifications to requirements.

Use the word "open" or "negotiable" to respond to salary requirements.

Give references that will talk honestly about your qualifications.

Writing a Cover Letter:

There are two types of cover letters: 1) Letter of Application -- Applying for a specific, advertising opening. 2) Letter of Inquiry -- Expressing interest in a company, but not sure if there are any openings.

Let the cover letter serve as a glimpse into your resume. Keep the look of your cover letter and resume consistent. The letter should contain: Reason for sending resume; how you learned about position or company; and place emphasis on your background or experience. Make your personality shine! Include any information that may have been included in job advertisement and let the reader know how and when you will contact them.

Thoughts on Writing a Resume:

The #1 goal to creating a resume is to get an interview! Think of your resume as a marketing tool. It needs to promote your best features. Keep your resume concise and consistent -- use bullet points. Don't abbreviate and keep to a maximum of two pages.

Keep references on separate page. Have them available if needed. Proof read -- Mistakes, typing errors, etc. are not acceptable on a resume. Have someone else proof read -- no mistakes (this can not be stressed enough). Many Human Resource managers view mistakes as sloppy and will not consider the resume.

These are a few ideas on what is important to include in a resume. There are many accepted ways to write a resume and some may be specific to the position. The ideas below are only recommendations. Visit www.tenco-onestop.ky.gov to view sample resumes.

Heading: This is basic information -- name, address, phone number, email address. Make yourself accessible! The header should be visually appealing, professional, and bold because it is the first thing the reviewer will see.

Objective: This is a brief statement (one to two sentences) about the type of position you are inquiring (nursing, mechanic, etc). It does not need to be specific to the company, just the position type. Your objective needs to be clear because it sets the standard for the rest of your resume.

Education: This section highlights your educational background. Include the most recent first and then work your way back. College/Technical Schools and high school are all that is necessary -- and this may differ by position type (do not include middle and elementary school).

Work Experience: This area highlights your past work experience starting with your most recent or current position (include dates). It is important to use small descriptive phrases to highlight the duties of the position, as well as anything you may have done to increase business. Don't be afraid to use #’s or % to highlight statistical information about your job performance or improve operations! (Example: Increased sales by 25 percent in a 15-state territory).

Awards: This is a way to highlight your accomplishments in the workforce, school, etc. Don't be modest, if you were awarded employee of the month write it down.

Skills: This is additional skills that could benefit you in this position such as computer programs (Microsoft Word, Excel, etc), typing skills, training programs, etc.

If you would like more information or assistance on applications, cover letters, or resumes visit www.tenco-onestop.ky.gov or call TENCO One-Stop Career Centers at 606-564-3347 (Maysville), 606-920-2024 (Ashland), and 606-784-7538 (Morehead). For more information on the job fair contact Pam McGlone at 606-564-6894, ext. 232, or Tracy McGuire at 606-796-6010.