According to a recent study, in addition to books, card catalogs, and a quiet place to read, nearly 100 percent of public libraries also offer free Internet access. This means the local public library has become a key starting point in the hiring process for potential job seekers with no online access at home.

The Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study 2006-2007 conducted by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Information Use Management and Policy Institute at Florida State University (FSU) lists this as one of three main themes:

Providing education resources and services for job seekers are the Internet services most critical to the role of public libraries. Seventy-three percent of libraries report they are the only source of free public access to computers and the Internet in their communities.

Especially for retailers, the library channel is where many job seekers will naturally connect to your open positions, especially as the trend towards accepting online applications for hourly positions continues.