JobScout is an online platform created by the California State Library, LINK AMERICAS Foundation, and REALPOLITECH to provide digital literacy training to unemployed Californians. It offers interactive lessons, a resume builder, and job search tool to prepare users for in-demand science and technology jobs. Several public libraries are piloting the program to serve as career centers for their communities. JobScout will be demonstrated live on February 1st as part of the iCALIFORNIA campaign launch.

1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact
Stephanie Margossian
415.692.1202
margossian@realpolitech.com
January 25, 2012
JobScout Answers President Obama’s Call For a Commitment to Job
Training with an Online Platform Training Unemployed on Essential Digital
Literacy Skills
JobScout provides a single user-friendly entry for jobseekers to gain the digital literacy
skills needed for jobs in growing science and technology industries.
San Francisco, CA -- In his State of the Union address, President Obama called
for a "national commitment to train two million Americans with skills that will lead
directly to a job." Created as a partnership between the California State Library, the
LINK AMERICAS Foundation and REALPOLITECH, the JobScout online learning
platform answers that call by bridging the digital divide currently faced by one in five
Californians.
During his address, Obama highlighted the "growing industries in science and
technology," which require digital literacy skills that many unemployed Californians
lack. JobScout readies these citizens for the demands of today's marketplace by
teaching them critical skills necessary for finding a job online that they can also carry
with them into new jobs.
Obama praised job-training partnerships between businesses and community
colleges that resulted in "community career centers." With JobScout's comprehensive
platform -- which includes interactive digital literacy lessons, a resume builder, and a
job search tool -- public libraries can also become career centers. San Jose Public
Libraries, Santa Cruz Libraries, County of Los Angeles Public Library, and Yolo County
Library are piloting the JobScout program to better serve the needs of their patrons
looking for career resources.
Calling for a "reemployment system that puts people to work," Obama pointed
out the need to “cut through the maze of confusing training programs” with simple
websites and programs that are all-inclusive. JobScout provides both the training and
the tools that job seekers need in a user-friendly, engaging, interactive platform with
games and incentives. JobScout provides returning veterans, the long-term
unemployed, and other disadvantaged groups the digital literacy training needed for
lasting careers.

2. JobScout will be demonstrated live as part of the iCALIFORNIA campaign
launch on Digital Learning Day, February 1, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. The event will take place
at the Los Rios Community College Workforce Development Center, 1410 Ethan Way,
Sacramento, CA, and can be seen live on Ustream at
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/jobscout. If you would like to attend this event in
person, please visit http://www.linkamericas.org/icalifornia.html to RSVP.
About the LINK AMERICAS Foundation
The LINK AMERICAS Foundation fosters collaborative initiatives demonstrating
the value of Technology Serving Humanity in the areas of Life, Information, Nature,
Knowledge (LINK). The foundation supports educational, environmental and social
development, and research projects that further LINK objectives by promoting strategic
alliances for systemic and sustained change. Priority focus areas for LINK projects are
educational and social media technologies, sustainable resource development, green
technologies and Information and Communications Technologies (ICT).
linkamericas.org
About REALPOLITECH
REALPOLITECH is a digital public relations and web strategy consultancy. The
firm focuses on the development of customizable, interactive campaigns and websites
for dynamic public and private sector projects. Through web development and real-time
and social digital public relations solutions, REALPOLITECH recruits participants,
creating the most valuable asset for any business or cause: digital citizens.
realpolitech.com
About the California State Library
The California State Library advises, consults with, and provides technical
assistance to California’s public libraries. It directs state and federal funds to support
local public libraries and statewide library programs, and services.
library.ca.gov
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