For Librarians

Building Business Services: From the Ground Up

  • Collections
    • Print
    • Online
    • Other
  • Staffing, Marketing, and Promotion
  • Outreach and Community Connections
  • Professional Development
  • Business Groups
  • Ask a Librarian

Collections

Collections of materials for business owners and entrepreneurs

Print

For a list of essential books on a variety of business and entrepreneurship topics, visit the LibGuide of Peter Z. McKay at the University of Florida ‘s George A. Smathers Libraries.  This LibGuide also includes annual lists of the best business books.

Additional “Best of” lists for business books appear in the following publications and their websites:

Online

The New Jersey State Library, through funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, provides access to business databases.  These include:

business-source-eliteBusiness Source Elite

Business Source Elite provides full-text coverage of scholarly business, management and economics journals. This rich collection also includes publications covering topics such as accounting, banking, finance, international business, marketing, sales, etc.

Full text for business publications, company profiles, and more.

Business Source Elite offers full text for more than 1,110 business publications and contains expanded PDF backfiles for more than 153 titles (back to 1985 or the first issue published for that journal). More than 10,150 substantial company profiles from MarketLine are also included.

Content Includes:

  • More than 1,110 Business Publications
  • More than 10,150 Company Profiles from MarketLine

refusaReferenceUSA

Now with Historical Data Reports for US Businesses, this is an online phone directory that serves as a powerful marketing tool. The database covers more than 12 million U.S. Businesses, 102 million U.S. residents, 683,000 U.S. healthcare providers, 1 million Canadian businesses and 11 million Canadian residents.

Build your own customized lists of companies by specifying geography, product lines, SIC/NAICS codes, company size, and sales volume. Each record includes contact information with addresses, key executives, and website URLs. This is a great resource to generate mailing lists- it even creates the mailing labels for you.

Reference USA provides detailed, current directory information on more than 12 million U.S. Businesses, 102 million U.S. residents, 683,000 U.S. healthcare providers, 1 million Canadian businesses and 11 million Canadian residents.

RegionalBusinessNews_Masthead_WebRegional Business News

This robust resource provides ultimate coverage for full-text business publications, on a regional level, for the United States and Canadian provinces. Key resources include newspapers, radio & TV news transcripts, trade publications, magazines and newswires, with full-text content coverage spanning over 22 years.

Reputable Resources for Your Regional News

Whether searching for information about presidential candidates, franchise restaurants, retail industry, business planning, political participation—Regional Business News will cover the story. Content is provided by leading publishers in business news including the New York Times, The Washington Post, PR Newswire US, Business Newswire and more.

Content Includes:

  • Full-text for 106 regional U.S. and Canadian business publications
  • Full-text coverage dating back to 1990

smallbusiness_webbutton_100X200Small Business Reference Center

This database offers a wide variety of information on small business and entrepreneurial subject areas, common business types, a help and advice section, and provides information on how to create business plans that lead to successful funding.
Content includes:

    • Nearly 400 full-text periodicals
    • Nearly 500 full-text reference books
    • Hundreds of business videos
    • State-specific resources
    • Unique, user-friendly interface
    • Business Basics
    • Start-up Kit & Business Plans
    • General Business Areas
    • Industry Information by Small Business Type

For a list of business databases most commonly purchased by public and academic libraries, visit ALA BRASS’ Business Reference Essentials LibGuide.

Other

Somerset County Library System offers Business Kits with information about specific topics provided in a variety of formats.  For information about the kits, visit the SCLS website.

East Brunswick Public Library has technology kits that patrons can borrow, including a Sell It Online kit that includes equipment for taking product photos.  More information can be found on the EBPL website.

Staffing, Marketing, and Promotion

Libraries of all sizes and number of staff members can support business owners in their communities.  Every library in New Jersey has access to specialized business databases through JerseyClicks and every library contains valuable resources that business owners may need: space to work or hold meetings, high-speed Internet access, and community connections.

Printable flyers to promote statewide business services are available for download.

ReferenceUSA – Bookmark, Data Visualization handout, and How to Search handout

You can also print and distribute promotional materials from other state business groups.

The following list from Catherine DeBerry of Somerset County Library System provides suggestions for ways small libraries can support the business community:

  1. Rather than offering programs, a small library could attend local business meetings regularly (i.e. Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, Business Associations)
  2. Put up a business book display with informational handouts about services.  Include a flyer that says “[Name of Library] Supports Small Business Owners”
  3. Carve out a small space (even something as small as two shelves) dedicated to business resources, including books, audio books, and magazines as well as marketing handouts.  Create a sign that says “[Name of Library] Welcomes Small Business Owners”
  4. Suggest a business book for a book discussion group
  5. Present to a local business organization every one or two years about the library’s business services as well as general services
  6. Offer private meeting space.  Given the limited availability in some libraries, you may want to dedicate one morning or afternoon a week as “business time” and make it available only for business uses.  Consider coordinating time slots with adjacent libraries so that everyone doesn’t offer the same time and day
  7. Call local SCORE reps and ask if they are interested in setting up regular mentoring appointments at your library, either drop-in or scheduled appointments
  8. Create a community fact sheet with information about demographics available through the census.  Include website address/contact information for local business organizations.
  9. Post entrepreneur-friendly signs in your library.  It doesn’t cost anything to post a sign or flyer that says, “Ask a Librarian How [Name of Library] Supports Small Businesses”
  10. Put business marketing collateral on display even if you aren’t offering any business programs that month
  11. When attending other outreach events where business owners will be present, distribute library business marketing materials
  12. Set up a Google alert to be notified every time a new business opens in your community and send them a welcome email
  13. Create and post a flyer that says, “Attention Business Owners: Ask a Librarian How ReferenceUSA Can Help Your Business.”  Make sure to include ReferenceUSA marketing materials with your business information
  14. Put business magazines on display with a flyer that says, “[Name of Library] Supports the Business Community”
  15. Put up an audiobook dispay of business books for the business owner/professional with a long commute
  16. Visit larger corporations once a year and sign up new employees for a library card
  17. Consider increasing your business magazine offerings
  18. If you are offering social media classes or other online training to the general public, consider sending a special invitation to the business community
  19. Post a flyer in your branch that informs local business owners that your library offers free online computer skills training for them and their employees through Learning Express (or other platforms)
  20. Consider “hiring” a local business owner to teach an educational program or provide entertainment.  They will often do it for free because it is a way for them to introduce themselves and their business to the local community.  For example, ask a local financial advisor to talk about Social Security or a lawyer to talk about wills and estates.  Banks are required to offer consumer information You can offer an Ask a Professional series and have local lawyers, accountants, veterinarians, plumbers, electricians, etc. to do a Q&A with patrons.

Outreach and Community Connections

Not sure where to begin? It’s easy. Networking starts with just one smile and one handshake. Let’s stop allowing libraries be the best kept secret that business owners wish they knew about. To get started, challenge yourself and your staff to try one of the ideas on this list this month. Then, try a new one next month. You’ll find out which tactics work best for you and your local business community, and you’ll be well on your way to developing effective partnerships for mutual success.

  1. Make Time for Face Time with Small Business Owners
    • Join local business organizations and attend meetings.
      • Do a presentation about library services for business owners.
      • Offer to provide research sessions at their meetings.
      • Provide marketing materials with a response feedback coupon.
    • Be active in local Chambers of Commerce.
      • Serve on a committee!
    • Attend local business conferences and expos.
      • Set up a display booth, hand out flyers, and demo business databases.
    • Attend business networking functions.
    • Make face-to-face calls to local businesses.
  2. Plant Seeds of Awareness throughout the Community
    • Offer to write a regular column for local newspaper(s).
    • Reach out to professionals serving the new businesses (e.g. accountants, bankers, coaches/consultants).
      • Ask them to provide your marketing collateral to their clients.
      • Ask them to serve on library business outreach advisory boards.
      • Invite them to teach classes/workshops for business owners at the library.
    • Find out who is in charge of the business programs at community colleges and universities in your area and develop relationships with those people.
      • Offer to teach a class to business students about business research (if these future business leaders have a positive experience now, they may become loyal library patrons for life!)
      • Assist them in planning and implementing projects targeting the business community.
  3. Join Forces with Other Entrepreneur Serving Organizations (ESOs)
    • Small Business Development Centers
      • Present to their staff or at their classes.
      • Seek their input about business owners’ information needs.
      • Offer library space for them to meet with clients and make presentations.
    • Economic Development Agencies at the Town, County, or State Level
      • Make sure their staff members know about library resources.
      • Partner with them on committees/projects.
      • Cross market/link exchange.
    • Local Workforce Investment Boards
      • Market library services to their clients (employers and job seekers).
      • Co-sponsor job-seeker events with them.
      • Serve on committees.

Business Groups

New Jersey Business and Industry Association
17,000 member industry association which lobbies on behalf of New Jersey businesses and publishes the popular New Jersey Business magazine. This site includes a news center, issues impacting business, political action, events and programs and money saving benefits.

Business Action Center
Divided into sections such as starting your business, growing your business, financing and incentives, and licensing information, this site contains information, forms and contacts to do business in New Jersey.

New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners
NJAWBO has over 1,000 members and 13 chapters within New Jersey. Its aim is to support and encourage business ownership by women which it does by providing an avenue for networking, training and assistance, a legislative voice at all levels of government, and increasing the visibility of women owned businesses.

New Jersey Small Business Development Centers
NJSBDC offers information, training and free counseling for start-ups or for those with an established small business who need advice about expansion, finance, or any other aspect of managing a small business. They have eleven regional centers throughout the state.

SCORE
The Service Corp of Retired Executives is a volunteer association sponsored by the SBA. They provide expert advice on any business management topic.

SBA.gov
The Small Business Administration provides one-stop access to federal government information. The site links to information about starting and managing a business, financing a business, taxes, and legal information.

Tax Information for Business
The IRS has a small business corner designed to help businesses find everything they need  and answer most tax questions. They also offer the Small Business Resource Guide which offers tax information to small businesses, including forms, instructions, and publications.

Small Business Development Center National Information Clearinghouse
SBDCNET offers information on all aspects of small business ownership, including industry research, human resources, international trade and demographics. The site also publishes a twice monthly newsletter on different start-up businesses or industries which is available for e-mail subscription.

U.S. Export Assistance Centers
There are no USEACs located in New Jersey; the closest are in Philadelphia and New York. These centers provide advice to first-time exporters and also run the Export Working Capital Program which helps small businesses export. The program provides repayment guarantees of 90 percent to commercial lenders and offers exporters preliminary commitments that encourage lenders to provide credit. In order to be considered the small business must have been in operation for at least twelve months (though not necessarily exporting).

Export.gov
This is the U.S. Government portal for all export assistance and market information offered by the federal government. The site contains basic export information, trade leads, trade shows and events, and finance tips.

 

Ask a Librarian

For more information or assistance with business reference questions, you can reach out to the following contacts:

  • Andrea Levandowski, Library Consultant for Small Business Development and Technology at the New Jersey State Library
  • Leigh Clark, Business Specialist in the State Library Information Center at the New Jersey State Library
  • Backup business reference offered by the Newark Public Library, a service supported by the New Jersey State Library