>From Publib today:
Message: 2 Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2010 11:14:32 -0500 From: "Medjo, Mary" <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Publib] Coffee Shops Our cafe opened in February of this year and is operated by students in the Transitions program at the local high school. These are cognitively disabled students aged 19-21, and the purpose of the Transitions program is to help them learn life skills, obtain job training in a community setting and transition to life after high school. Running our cafe has become a perfect place for these students to gain workplace skills which include customer service, cash handling and cash register operation, basic food and drink prep., sanitation and maintenance, etc., always under the supervision of their teachers and job coaches. They've also gotten a lot of support from community businesses including a local coffee shop owner who helped them prepare their business plan and was actively involved in training the students. Prices are low because the school is only trying to cover its expenses, not turn a profit. The library did not enter this as a revenue source, either. Instead we view it as a service for our patrons and a great community partnership. The community has been extremely receptive and they've done very well in the few months they've been open. The only drawback right now is that the hours are limited by when school is in session so we are now closed for the entire summer and we have no evening or weekend hours. The school is working with other area agencies that support people with developmental disabilities in the workforce on possible ways to expand their operation and hours. Mary Medjo Me Zengue Director Addison Public Library 4 Friendship Plaza Addison, Illinois 60101 (630) 458-3300 Laurie Mahaffey, Deputy Director Central Texas Library System, Inc. 1005 West 41st Street Austin, Texas 78756 www.ctls.net [email protected] 512-583-0704 x18 800-262-4431 x18
