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A Mission to Serve: what libraries are doing to support local Economic Development

A Mission to Serve: what libraries are doing to support local Economic Development. Sara Thynne – Alamance County Public Libraries Dan Maynard – Campbell University Nina Exner – NC A&T State University Jill Morris – NC Live .

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A Mission to Serve: what libraries are doing to support local Economic Development

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  1. A Mission to Serve: what libraries are doing to support local Economic Development Sara Thynne – Alamance County Public Libraries Dan Maynard – Campbell University Nina Exner – NC A&T State University Jill Morris – NC Live

  2. Why do public Libraries need to be Involved with local economic development? • Public libraries are natural partners in local economic development efforts. • Libraries depend on a solid tax base to operate; vested interest in economic development • Library = Vital Participant in the economic well-being of the community rather than merely providing “quality of life” factors.

  3. What is ACPL Doing to help with Local Economic Development?

  4. Creating Partnerships & Outreach • Economic Development Agency (Burlington Downtown Corporation) • Local Chamber of Commerce (Alamance Chamber of Commerce) • Workforce Development Agencies(Job Link) • Small Business Center (Alamance Community College) • Local University (Elon University) • Small Business Incubator(The Well) • SCORE • Civic Groups (Kiwanis, Rotary, Civitans) • BIZ Groups (Alamance Leads)

  5. What information does your business community need? • HOW TO START A SMALL BUSINESS • DEMOGRAPHIC DATA FOR MARKETING RESEARCH • LISTS OF SUPPLIERS OR BUYERS • LEGASLATIVE AND REGULATORY INFORMATION • INDUSTRY TRENDS/ STATISTICS • COMPETITORS • AVENUES FOR MARKETING PRODUCTS/ SERVICES • LEGAL INFO • ECONOMIC INDICATORS • NEWS AND TRADE JOURNAL ARTICLES

  6. Business Librarians in NC • GOAL: To develop a partnership with local Chamber of Commercedepartments in NC counties. • Action: Created a workshop called, “Marketing Research at Your Fingertips” to demonstrate how to find market research using the free business databases on NCLIVE.org • ReferenceUSA • Business Source Premier • Simply Map

  7. feedback • Participants found the workshop extremely useful • Great marketing tools • Increased awareness of library resources • Chamber of Commerce benefits = libraries benefit • Business owners “talk up” library’s resources in the community. • Decreased barrier for entry and growth • Prefer hands-on experience using library resources • Received feedback on information needs - plan more workshops based on those needs

  8. Finally….. • Find out what your business community needs (formally or informally) • Plan targeted services and programs based on those needs • Assisting local economic development efforts in any capacity, large or small, is essential to everyone’s success.

  9. Thank you! Questions? Sara Thynne Reference Librarian Alamance County Public Libraries sthynne@alamancelibraries.org

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