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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

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

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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!