Celia Ross Michigan Library Association Annual Conference 2012

If I can do it, you can, too!

Is this you at the desk when faced with a bizref question?

Keywords=Reference & Librarian

Core Four

• Company info• Industry info• Financial/Investing info• Consumer/Market info

BizRef Resources

Company profiles Consumer &

Market data

Raw data

And more!Industry

overviews

Directory Information

News/Trade articles

Country data

• Those article databases can contain a little bit of everything!

• Some databases have lots of useful “business” data, even if they don’t explicitly call themselves a “business” database!

• Federal, state and local governments can be great sources of (free!) business related information.

• A Google search, if done creatively, can yield all kinds of bizref clues.

• MeL! !!!

Remember!

Strengthen your Inner BizLibrarian

• Take a class or attend a workshop (you’re doing it right now!)

• Read a book (insert shameless self promotion here)

• Explore (so many resources, so little time!)– Steal from the best examples and make them your

own!

http://businesslibrary.uflib.ufl.edu/industryresearch

The big idea... Connect average businesses to knowledge, data, training, and business counseling in an approachable environment by positioning public libraries as the portal to economic development.

Contact: Bethany Kennedy bakennedy@wccnet.edu

http://prezi.com/lhfffqclzhil/librarybiz-connect-coop/

www.facebook.com/MakingSenseBizRef

Use coupon code MSBR12 to get $5 off! (that’s in addition to your 10% ALA member discount).

Shout it out loud!

• You’ve got bizref skillz!– Tell your boss, your colleagues, your patrons!

• Your library has bizref services & resources!– Tell your Small Business community– Tell your faculty & students

• You’re looking for bizref partners!– Look around and see “Who cares?”

Go forth and release!

caross@umich.edu

Send out the bat signal and ask for help anytime!