Supporting Local Businesses and Entrepreneurs in the Digital Age: The Public Librarian's Toolkit

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

A timely reference for all public librarians who serve the business community in libraries, regardless of size or locationfrom small rural outposts to bustling big-city branches. Serving communities today entails serving businessesin particular, local businesses, entrepreneurs, and those looking to become entrepreneurs. Understandably, many librarians are not prepared for this role, and as a result feel uncomfortable in it. Supporting Local Businesses and Entrepreneurs in the Digital Age: The Public Librarian's Toolkit explains how librarians and libraries can better serve the business community, offering specific guidance on everything from information resourcesincluding books, databases, and free online sitesto programming, special events, marketing, and outreach. Readers will gain insight into key topics ranging from embedded business librarianship, virtual business librarianship, and government documents to seminars, one-on-one appointments, and trade shows. Providing invaluable guidance based on the authors' real-world experience and research as well as interviews with librarians in all sizes of libraries around the country, this book offers practical, actionable advice and proven best practices for serving local business owners and entrepreneurs.

Reviews

Librarians, administrators, and support staff will all benefit from the information found in this book. The assemblage of resources listed, both free and subscription, is significant as libraries seek avenues for patron engagement in the business world. Highly recommended. * ARBAonline *
With this user-friendly guide, librarians in any type of public librarylarge, small, urban, ruralwill be better equipped to meet the information needs of today's entrepreneurs and small businesspeople. It's packed with practical suggestions and real-life examples and covers programming, outreach, resource selection, and more. Each of its nine chapters ends with a few sage words of advice, and the bibliography is concise and current. This helpful and timely introduction to business services in today's public library also acts as a refresher for experienced librarians. * Booklist Online *

Author Bio

Salvatore DiVincenzo is the librarian at Middle Country Public Library. Elizabeth Malafi is coordinator of the Miller Business Resource Center at the Middle Country Public Library in Centereach, NY.