Fairfield Public Library Wins Award for Excellence in Public Library Service

The Fairfield Public Library is the recipient of the 2010 Connecticut Award for Excellence in Public Library Service. One of only two such prizes given each year by the Connecticut State Library and the Connecticut Library Association, the Fairfield Public Library won in the population category of 15,000 + for the Library’s "Jobs 2009:  A Special Series."

"Jobs 2009" was conceived in the fall of 2008 in response to the sudden economic downturn that resulted in widespread layoffs in Fairfield County.  The sheer numbers of job seekers coming to the Library looking for guidance led the Library to create a series that would help unemployed residents get back to work. 

Town Librarian Maura Ritz and Reference Associate Judy Sparzo planned weekly programs beginning in early January 2009 that partnered the Library with area professionals speaking on a wide variety of employment topics.  In June 2009, they introduced 3 weekly networking groups as well as a virtual networking group on LinkedIn to offer ongoing support and direction for job seekers.  Since its start in January 2009, "Jobs 2009" has served 2078 people in 38 speaker programs, 70 networking group meetings and 2200 requests for program podcasts.

First Selectman Ken Flatto nominated the Library for the award, saying " As local residents lost jobs last fall and families had to cut back on spending, the Library became one of our core community lifelines to those in distress….In the midst of a dire economic crisis, I saw firsthand how our Library was able to make a real difference in the lives of so many residents.”

A panel of three judges from outside Connecticut reviewed the nominations. According to Mary Engels of the Connecticut Library Association Public Library Awards Committee, “The judges were incredibly impressed with the difference the Library is making in the lives of the job seekers and they also felt that this was the absolutely right program at the right time. They also liked the fact that this was accomplished with a very small budget.”

The award will be presented at the Connecticut Library Association annual conference in April at the Mohegan Sun Conference Center. Judy Sparzo will be a featured speaker at the Conference, sharing information on how other libraries can emulate the “Jobs 2009” program in their towns.

Judy Sparzo- Reference Staff, Penny Pearlman- author and motivational speaker, Susan McAteer-H&R Block Master Tax Advisor, Chris Russell (rear)- founder of Fairfield County Jobs.com, Paul Bailo- author of The Official Phone Interview Handbook, Ken Flatto- Fairfield First Selectman, Maura Ritz-Town Librarian (rear), Les Srager-Library Board Member, Christina Brandt (rear)-Master Certified Coach, Ron Drew-IT executive, Walter Donne-head of HR for Lex Products in Stamford, and Maryann Donovan- President of Impact Personnel. Also present but not in photo:Fred Reinhardt, President of The Bank of Fairfield and Dorothy Timmerman, Executive Director of Fairfield Counseling Services

Click here for the Jobs 2010 series.