Maine Library Association UMaine, Orono 2012

1. Grow Your Business
Community
How to Attract and Serve
Small Business at Your Library
Stephen Fadel and Sonya Durney

2. Benefits to the
Library
• 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)

3. STEPHEN
Popular questions
Key resources
Past failures and a few
successes

4. SONYA
Getting up to speed
Awareness of business
community needs
Community outreach

5. GETTING UP TO SPEED
Continuing Education (Business Reference)
• Simmons College
• ALA
• SCORE, Women’s Development Center (small fee)
• Online Free Workshops (SBDC)
READ:
• This Book
• SBDC Maine - Business Start Up Checklist
• Starting a Business - Maine.gov
Join BUSLIB-L Listserv
Test drive new products (A-Z Databases, Resume Maker, DemographicsNow)
RUSA BRASS Libguides
Watch screencasts (Chad Boeninger from Ohio University Libraries)
Maine.gov business pages (Business Answers)
Update your promotional materials (business cards, flyers, websites)
Get a PPL Card and learn how to use ReferenceUSA (Useful video)

6. AWARENESS OF NEEDS
Survey results
Follow the local business community
Keep an eye on innovative libraries

7. SURVEY RESULTS
https://www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?sm=XWG3ILZwetztkm5Y_2fz
FyFk4OvYN_2bycuq9mto4f_2fCK1c_3d

15. KEEP YOUR FINGER ON
THE PULSE...
Mainebiz and Portland Press Herald
Social Networking
o LinkedIn (join groups, add to discussions, post programming )
o Facebook (follow local businesses)
o Twitter (follow local businesses)
City Council Minutes (link from library webpage)
National/international business coverage
o Fast Company
o Bloomberg Business Week
o Business blogs
o Customized homepage (widgets)

16. Utilize Social Networking –
reach people where they are

17. Customized homepage w/ widgets

18. LIBRARIES TO WATCH
Boston Public Library, Kirstein Business Library
Business and Career Library at the Brooklyn Public Library
Canton Public Library (Michigan)
Cecil County Public Library (Maryland)
Chicago Public LIbrary
George A. Smathers (University of Florida)
Los Angeles Public Library The Business and Economics Department
Pasco County Libraries (Florida) - e-gov page
Santa Clara County Library (California)
Somerville Public Library (MA) – legal page

19. The Cecil County Public Library

20. COMMUNITY OUTREACH

21. Money Theme

22. The Business Expo was a Hit!

23. Small Business Week

24. Conclusions
Build a solid foundation
Study the local business landscape
Reach out to local business people