Grow Your Business Community How to Attract and Serve Small
Business at Your Library Stephen Fadel and Sonya Durney
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greater visibility and stature among the business community and
local government contribute to the viability and growth of your
town foster financial support by encouraging the expansion of the
local tax base enhanced library collections, particularly business
resources services are expanded to non-traditional users increase
library donations of money and equipment increase
library-to-library cooperation through resource sharing help
businesses and local organizations become better consumers of
information community soldiers people who make things happen learn
what libraries need and fight for them (Walzer & Gruidl 181;
Public Agenda Foundation 12) Benefits to the Library
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Popular questions Key resources Past failures and a few
successes STEPHEN
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Getting up to speed Awareness of business community needs
Community outreach SONYA
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Continuing Education (Business Reference) Simmons College ALA
SCORE, Womens Development Center (small fee) Online Free Workshops
(SBDC)SBDC READ: This Book SBDC Maine - Business Start Up Checklist
Starting a Business - Maine.gov Join BUSLIB-L ListservBUSLIB-L Test
drive new products (A-Z Databases, Resume Maker,
DemographicsNow)DemographicsNow) RUSA BRASS LibguidesLibguides
Watch screencasts (Chad Boeninger from Ohio University
Libraries)Chad Boeninger from Ohio University Libraries
Maine.govMaine.gov business pages (Business Answers) Update your
promotional materials (business cards, flyers, websites)websites
Get a PPL Card and learn how to use ReferenceUSA (Useful video)PPL
Card ReferenceUSAUseful video GETTING UP TO SPEED
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Survey results Follow the local business community Keep an eye
on innovative libraries AWARENESS OF NEEDS
Mainebiz and Portland Press Herald Social Networking oLinkedIn
( join groups, add to discussions, post programming ) oFacebook (
follow local businesses ) oTwitter ( follow local businesses ) City
Council Minutes City Council Minutes ( link from library webpage
)webpage National/international business coverage oFast Company
oBloomberg Business Week oBusiness blogsBusiness blogs oCustomized
homepage (widgets) KEEP YOUR FINGER ON THE PULSE...
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Utilize Social Networking reach people where they are
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Customized homepage w/ widgets
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Boston Public Library, Kirstein Business LibraryKirstein
Business Library Business and Career Library at the Brooklyn Public
Library Canton Public Library Canton Public Library (Michigan)
Cecil County Public Library Cecil County Public Library (Maryland)
Chicago Public LIbrary George A. SmathersGeorge A. Smathers
(University of Florida) Los Angeles Public LibraryLos Angeles
Public Library The Business and Economics Department Pasco County
LibrariesPasco County Libraries (Florida) - e-gov page Santa Clara
County LibrarySanta Clara County Library (California) Somerville
Public LibrarySomerville Public Library (MA) legal page LIBRARIES
TO WATCH
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The Cecil County Public Library
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COMMUNITY OUTREACH
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Money Theme
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The Business Expo was a Hit!
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Small Business Week
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Conclusions Build a solid foundation Study the local business
landscape Reach out to local business people
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the most important small business resource is no longer labor,
capital, or land, but is knowledge. Learning opportunities are the
venture capital of the future - the Small Business
Administration
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Grow Your Business Community How to Attract and Serve Small
Business at Your Library Stephen Fadel and Sonya Durney THANK
YOU!