Are You Using Business Reference Services at Your Library?

If you’re not using your library's business reference services, you could be missing out on some valuable resources.

As we’ve covered in previous stories, there are not only many unique types of libraries out there but also many unique types of librarians, each specializing in a particular subject. If you want to get the most value out of your public library, it’s important to familiarize yourself with its resources.

EveryLibrary has been working to spread awareness about the various library services people tend to overlook. This time, we’ll highlight the business reference materials and services many public libraries provide and the business librarians who make it possible.

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What Do Business Librarians Do?

Holding a deep understanding of the market, economics, and the like, business librarians make a career of advising fellow businesspeople. As they don’t have to worry about many aspects of running a business, they can focus much more on curating information and observing market trends. This allows them to understand past and present market trends and predict future trends, making their insights into the market far more valuable than most.

Business librarians are typically required to hold some sort of business degree, so they’re more than qualified to study, research, and teach about any relevant subjects you have questions about.  Despite having a drastically different focus from your standard librarians, business librarians are still very definitely scholars. They are committed to doing vigorous research to give you answers, information, and suggestions for your business ventures.

How Business Librarians Can Help You

So, how exactly can business librarians use their knowledge and expertise to help you? As you’d probably guess, one of their most valuable contributions is their years of built-up knowledge and experience that they can share with you. Using their expertise, they can help you form strategies to grow your business and keep it afloat in today's rapidly changing market. 

In addition, they may even be able to provide information on potential competitors, helping you find ways to stay ahead of the curve when strategizing. Of course, you still have to do your own due diligence as you would with any other business endeavor, but having a business librarian's help certainly simplifies things a bit.

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Places to Find Business Librarians

The Spokane Public Library offers a wide variety of business reference materials that will prove useful to small and large business owners alike. In addition, they allow you to book one-on-one appointments with their business librarian, Mark Pond, who will offer his expertise. Whether you need to read a bit more into your specific business niche or get some hands-on advice from an expert, the Spokane Public Library can help.

If you need an all-in-one base of operations to get your small business up and running, then the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey is just what you need. Aside from the reference materials and one-on-one appointments standard for a business library, they also provide virtual business kits (essentially quick crash courses on a single topic).

The typical public library amenities like internet-connected computers and conference rooms are also present, allowing you to get to work without investing in expensive technology or office real estate beforehand. Simply put, you can find just about anything you could possibly need as a business owner here, so if you have the opportunity, we strongly encourage you to check it out!

If you’d like to learn more about the many different types of libraries and librarians across America, feel free to visit our site at EveryLibrary today!

Visit www.everylibrary.org to learn more about our work on behalf of libraries. 

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This work by EveryLibrary is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0