Labor, libraries team up for career planning options

COEUR d’ALENE — The Idaho Department of Labor and public libraries throughout the state are collaborating to assist workers in identifying their future career paths.

The Idaho CIS is a comprehensive computerized system for career development that helps people explore career opportunities, identify schools or sources of education and training for specific jobs and then make successful decisions about future careers or education.

Libraries participating in the Cooperative Information Network include the Coeur d’Alene Library system, the Kootenai-Shoshone Area Libraries, the West Bonner Library District, and the St. Maries and Kellogg public libraries.

The CIS is the only source of Idaho-specific information on jobs and training. It is widely used in all 25 IDL local offices statewide.

“The collaborative effort with the Idaho Commission for Libraries and the public libraries around the state will expand access to this resource even further,” CIS Administrator Christie Stoll said.

The labor department, which has been able to provide the service because of resources received through the federal economic stimulus package, trained library staff in September on the use of both the CIS and the department’s primary Internet work-force development site – IdahoWorks.

IdahoWorks, which is already available free through any computer terminal, including those at all libraries, is the department’s online service for both employers and workers. Job seekers can create and update résumés and profiles, find jobs, check eligibility for unemployment benefits, file benefit claims and review benefit payment. Employers can list jobs, manage those listings, review candidates and screen applicant résumés.

More information on the Career Information System is available at http://www.cis.idaho.gov/. IdahoWorks is available at http://labor.idaho.gov/iw.