Governor Terry Branstad closed statewide unemployment offices in 2011, including one in Pella.

They were replaced with computer kiosks in public places, most commonly in libraries. Now the kiosk system has been abandoned. A spokesperson for the Iowa Workforce Development office (IWD) says it’s unknown how many of the kiosks still work. Roslin Thompson, Director of the Knoxville Public Library, says she is dismayed kiosks will no longer be maintained. The library has five kiosks that are continually used by people writing resumes, looking for employment, or filing for unemployment benefits. She says since the closures of the IWD offices, libraries have been lifelines for people looking for help, especially in rural areas and for people who need help with technology. She says the closing of the kiosks is a huge disservice to the people of Iowa. We’ll share the perspective of Pella Public Library Director Wendy Street on the loss of the kiosks in a follow-up story