RALEIGH — The Personal Economic Aid Resource Links in North Carolina (PEARLNC) Web site was created by the State Library of North Carolina to help residents locate government services related to personal finance, health and medical, nutrition, careers, transportation, and housing assistance.
“As our state struggles with an economic crisis not seen since the Great Depression, services to support North Carolina’s residents are especially crucial,” states Mary Boone, State Librarian. “Our staff has identified sites that are free or provided at reduced cost to support individuals and families struggling to make ends meet.”
Resources on the PEARL Web site are organized by the following topic areas: careers, family caregivers of children and adult dependents, health and wellness, housing and mortgage, personal finance, seniors, transportation and veterans. The site identifies many state and federal government resources available to the residents of North Carolina.
One resource already proven very popular is the Job Search Toolkit developed by the State Library in partnership with the Department of Commerce’s JobLink Career Centers, NC LIVE, the Employment Security Commission, and library staff from around the state. The toolkit provides a collection of resources for both library staff responding to the needs of job seekers, and job seekers hunting for employment. You can find out more at http://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/ld/jobsearchtoolkit.html or by visiting your local public library.
The State Library is a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, the state agency dedicated to the promotion and protection of North Carolina’s arts, history and culture. It is now podcasting 24/7 with information about the Department of Cultural Resources, all available at www.ncculture.com.