The San Leandro Public Library has been awarded a $6,000, one-year grant to open a Veterans Resource Center designed to serve veterans and connect them with valuable resources in the community.

A ribbon-cutting event for the new center will take place Sunday, Nov.9 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. in the Karp-Estudillo Room of the San Leandro Main Library at 300 Estudillo Avenue.

< p>Speakers will discuss employment opportunities for veterans, as well as plans for training businesses to work with veterans in the private sector.

“The men and women who have served in our armed forces deserve a tremendous amount of gratitude and respect for the all of their dedicated service to our country” stated Mayor Stephen Cassidy.

The San Leandro Library is one of 15 libraries that will be receiving the Veterans Connect @ the Library grant for 2014-2015.

This grant is supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

The purpose of the grant is to reintegrate California veterans into the workforce and their communities.

The Resource Center will provide veterans and their families with information about benefits and local services, linking them to other local organizations such as CalVet and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Library will have the opportunity to request funding for the program for two additional years, not to exceed an additional $10,000.

“This much-needed resource will be a huge help for local veterans and their families to connect them with local services and the public library,” said Theresa Mallon, library director.

The Veterans Resource Center will be located in the Main Library next to the self-check machines, and will include a collection of books and materials that complement the library’s current collection.

The center will be open during regular Library hours. As part of the program, a trained volunteer will assist veterans in making contacts with local organizations, completing forms and doing research by appointment.

A private office located in the Project Literacy Center also will be equipped with technology in order to assist vets with completing forms and research.

For more information, call Mary Beth Barloga at (510) 577-3992.

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