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Engaging the Community

Engaging the Community. How to get local business to support library efforts. Background. BTOP grant targeted three populations: Jobseekers Senior Citizens Small Businesses. Who are the players?. Library Director Head of Reference/Adult Services Project Director.

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Engaging the Community

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  1. Engaging the Community How to get local business to support library efforts

  2. Background BTOP grant targeted three populations: Jobseekers Senior Citizens Small Businesses

  3. Who are the players? Library • Director • Head of Reference/Adult Services • Project Director Chamber of Commerce • Executive Director • President

  4. Initial Meeting Library wants to offer quality resources and programming to the business community Chamber had an interest in working with the library Formation of the Business Advisory Group Sustainability beyond the life of the grant

  5. Sustainability During the grant period, the library allocated $27, 397 to programming for the target populations After September 30, 2012, the Community will be accustomed to this programming and an expectation will have been set The Committee needs to begin planning now for how this level of programming can be sustained financially after the grant period has ended.

  6. How do we sustain our success? Charging fees for participation Allocating additional library resources for programming Local business sponsorship of programs

  7. Business Advisory Committee • Library • Director • Head of Reference/Adult Services • Project Director • Community • Chamber Executive Director • Chamber President • Small Business Administration • Town of Van Buren Economical Development Agency • Pathfinder Bank • Red Mill Inn

  8. Input from the Business Community Library hosted monthly Chamber luncheon Project Director facilitated discussion: What programs can the library offer that would be most beneficial to the Business Community? What can the library do to make attending events more convenient (times, days of the week, etc..)?

  9. Focus Group Results • What programs can the library offer? • QuickBooks • Social Networking • Health Benefit options • Tax Laws • How to Write a Business Plan • Small Business Loans

  10. Focus Group Results continued… • What can the library do to make attending more convenient? • Evening sessions with dinner • Alternate days and between early mornings and weekends • Webinars (with new teleconferencing equipment) • Email upcoming events to business community

  11. Roles and Responsibilities The Business Advisory Committee meets at the library monthly to discuss programming ideas. The Committee assists in finding speakers for upcoming events. The Project Director handles arrangements and publicity.

  12. Small Business Training Tuesdays Two events each month through September 2012 May 17, 2011 Small Business Resource Day May 24, 2011 QuickBooks Class June 2011 Health Care Reform Legislation June 2011 Young Entrepreneurs’ Day

  13. Future Events will include… Microsoft Applications Classes Social Networking and Marketing Succession Planning for Your Business Disaster Preparedness

  14. Business Resource Center Grant allocates funds for books and media to support local business and job seekers A section of the library was renovated from office space to a Business Resource Center, providing one place in the library where all business resources can be found. Signage was created to direct the business community and jobseekers to this section. A desktop computer was dedicated to this area with a two-hour minimum time limit for the business community or the jobseeker.

  15. Questions and Contact Information Please call us at 315-635-5631 or email us at Marilyn Laubacher, Director marilynl@bville.lib.ny.us Meg Van Patten, Head of Reference/Adult Services megv@bville.lib.ny.us Nancy Howe, Project Director nancyh@bville.lib.ny.us

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