Help centers for Census takers open

Rob Stroud
March 24, 2010

MATTOON - Several assistance centers have opened in the area for those who need help or additional information for filling out their U.S. Census 2010 questionnaires.

In addition, the U.S. Census Bureau is still hiring part-time workers to help get an accurate count of the area's population and has scheduled tests for job applicants in Charleston and Mattoon.

Assistance centers have opened in Mattoon at City Hall, 9-11 a.m. and 2-5 p.m. Monday and Friday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday; and at the Mattoon Public Library, 9-11 a.m. and 1-2:30 p.m. Monday and Friday and 4-7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

Census representatives are also staffing assistance centers at Charleston City Hall, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and Edgar County Bank in Ashmore, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday and Friday.

Mattoon Library Director Ryan Franklin said the Census Bureau sought sites that are available at no cost for its assistance centers, so several libraries have become host sites. She said libraries are also a natural source of information for the public, adding the Mattoon library's staff started receiving inquires last week as people received their census questionnaires in the mail.

"We have already gotten questions on 'how do I fill that out and what do I do.' It is nice to have someone here who has those answers," Franklin said.

Franklin said the library also has a vested interest in getting a correct count for Mattoon's population because these figures are a required part of many of the grant applicants that the library files.

Census assistance centers have also opened at Arcola Village Hall, Bethany Village Hall, Casey Senior Social Center, Effingham Senior Center, Greenup Village Hall, Martinsville Village Hall, Neoga City Hall, Shelbyville City Hall, Sullivan Public Library, and Toledo Village Hall. Operating hours can be found out by contacting these facilities.

Mack Hodges, assistant manager in charge of recruiting for Coles and other area counties, said one of the most frequently asked questions Census representatives have received is what people should do if they do not receive their questionnaires in the mail.

Hodges said the public can call the Census Bureau at 1-866-872-6868 to obtain their questionnaires. He also said census takers will be going door to door in the late spring and early summer to get information from households that did not mail back their questionnaires.

"If you don't get a questionnaire, rest easy because you won't be missed," Hodges said.

Hodges said the bureau is still hiring census takers, crew leaders and leader assistants, recruiting assistants, and clerks for part-time, temporary work. He said census takers receive $12.50 an hour and 50 cents per mile, and typically work evenings and weekends.

Tests for job applicants have been scheduled at the Charleston Carnegie Public Library and Lake Land College Webb Hall Room 103 in Mattoon.

Charleston's library will host tests at 5:30 p.m. today, 3:30 p.m. Friday, 1:30 p.m. Sunday, 5:30 p.m. Monday, and 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Lake Land will host tests at 6 p.m. today, Monday and Wednesday.

Hodges said applicants do not need appointments to test. He said information on other area tests can be obtained by calling the Census Bureau office in Champaign at 239-4408.

Contact Rob Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 238-6861.