President Obama has signed into law the biggest bailout in history. The $787 billion plan includes federal spending and tax cuts the administration hopes will ignite the economy and save millions of jobs. But news of the plan last week did little to fire up the markets or spark much hope within the private sector ”“ particularly among those recently displaced from it.
The jobless numbers are staggering ”“ across the board. Will the mammoth stimulus package trickle down to our neighborhoods, into the hands of we the people? Let”™s hope so.
In the meantime, there is another resource ”“ local and free ”“ available to the unemployed in Westchester County. The Westchester Library System (WLS) is beefing up its counseling services and business-related programs to meet growing demand.
The Business Journal checked in with Terry Kirchner, the newly named executive director of the WLS, which includes 38 member public libraries in the county and is one of New York state”™s 23 public library systems.
In an “Online” interview, Kirchner talked about libraries”™ changing roles in a high-tech society, how he plans to cope with budget cuts and some new counseling programs for business people and those looking for jobs.
