[Publib] Public libraries and economic development

[Fred Beisser]

Below are a couple of thoughts worth considering as the concepts can 
make your library more important to the community and its economy.

Fred Beisser
Trustee
www.elbertcountylibrary.org
(Colorado)

Leslie Scott wrote:
> We have seen in NC the emergence of public libraries -- business
> librarians in particular -- as key players in networks of people who
> help entrepreneurs, especially in at least two of our rural regions.
> Many startups and aspiring entrepreneurs use the library as a first
> point of information and it's great when the business librarian knows
> the other resource people in the region.  
>
> In the Rocky Mount region east of Raleigh there is a group of public
> libraries across 3 counties working together through a grant-funded
> project called Business Information Center Outreach Services Program
> (BICOS) on improving their entrepreneurship-related resources.  They are
> subscribing to more business "intelligence" sources, and they have
> recently started offering on-site counseling through SCORE.  See
> http://www.bicos-nc.org/
> for more info. If this all goes well we should encourage them to become
> an economic gardening site! 
>
> Leslie
>
> Ms. Leslie A. Scott
> Director, Institute for Rural Entrepreneurship
> N.C. Rural Center
> 4021 Carya Drive
> Raleigh, NC  27610
> 919/250-4314
>
> www.ncruralcenter.org/entrepreneurship
>
>   
Christine Hamilton-Pennell wrote:


> Sent: Friday, July 11, 2008 12:52 AM
> To: econ-dev at googlegroups.com
> Subject: [EG] Public libraries and economic development
>
>
> I have long believed that public libraries have the potential to be a
> key player in community economic development strategies. In Douglas
> County, Colorado, the public library really gets it. They are
> partnering with Douglas County Economic Development and the Highlands
> Ranch Chamber of Commerce to support the nascent economic gardening
> program headquartered at the chamber. The library will be targeting
> entrepreneurs in the start-up phase, and have purchased some new
> database resources specifically to help small business owners. Douglas
> Public Library director Jamie LaRue responded to citizens' questions
> about the library's expansion plans by referring to the economic value
> the library provides to the community. Let's hope the community also
> sees its value, even in a time of recession.
>
> http://denver.yourhub.com/CastleRock/Stories/Sound-Off/Write-a-Column/St
> ory~494350.aspx
>
> Regards,
>
> Christine
>
>