Hello all,

 

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us on Wednesday for an informal discussion and check in.  There are notes below about some of the things that were mentioned with links.  If I missed anything or if you have any corrections, please feel free to email me or the list.

 

Here is a Doodle poll to schedule our next meeting: https://doodle.com/poll/txif4cyy5htsg933  I’m providing options for two weeks out and three weeks out in case anyone is planning to take vacation time around July 4. 

 

Also, as a reminder, Phillip Berg from the MAIN Library Consortium introduced the L2B website for collecting free events for business owners and entrepreneurs.  If you would like to learn more or get involved, you can reach him at Phillip.berg@PROTECTED

 

Notes from June 17:

 

Libraries that have received Libraries Lead with Digital Skills Grants or are Grow with Google Partners (not comprehensive):

·       Summit Public Library

·       Bogota Public Library

·       Montville Township Public Library

·       Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library System

·       Butler Public Library

·       Long Branch Free Public Library

Updates

·       Montville Public Library (Michael) – Created a Hub for business resources (https://www.montvillelibrary.org/resources-for-small-businesses)

·       NJSL (Leigh) – Created a document with business reopening information (https://libguides.njstatelib.org/ld.php?content_id=55209665).  Also hosting webinars for nonprofits (https://www.njstatelib.org/event/webinar-finding-grant-funding-with-fdo-essential/)

·       Rider University (Diane) – Participated in the Veterans Entrepreneurship Training Program (https://www.rider.edu/academics/colleges-schools/norm-brodsky-college-business/centers-excellence/center-entrepreneurial-studies/veteran-entrepreneurial-program) to teach target market generation. Also investigating platforms for videos, such as Zoom and SnagIt to share with library users.

·       Hunterdon County Library (Dana) – Sharing information for business owners and jobseekers on Facebook; working with the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board and One Stop on programs.  Skill Up (http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/WorkforceDevelopment/SkillUpGreaterRaritan.html)

·       Brookdale Community College (Judith) – Had the opportunity to be embedded in an entrepreneurship class, which was a great experience.  Creating a business toolkit for faculty to bring them up to speed on business resources and services in the library.  Also suggested looking at LibCal for reserving space in the library easily while working within building capacity restrictions.

·       Bogota Public Library (Chelsea) – Received one of the Libraries Lead grants (https://bogotapubliclibrary.org/events/).  Participants can enter a contest to win $100 gift cards by taking online classes.  Concerned about helping jobseekers who do not have access to computers and underserved populations because they cannot access virtual programs easily.

·       Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library System (Vera) – Working with Montville, Denville, and Long Hill Township to schedule ReferenceUSA training in July together. Also participating in Google Livestreams

·       MAIN Library Consortium (Phillip) – Shared the L2B website and calendar (https://libs2b.com/) for collecting and promoting online events for jobseekers and business owners in one place. Libraries interested in becoming promotors or with contacts with business organizations that may want to get involved can contact him.  Also, Phillip’s wife is the business librarian at William Paterson University, and she is available as a resource (we need to get her into our group!).

·       Butler Public Library (Luis) – offering Grow with Google classes and has been getting support from Chelsea and others in the group to increase his confidence.  Shared that he has been using ReferenceUSA to identify local businesses and then has been reaching out to an email list he generated from that research. 

·       Gloucester County Library System (Nancy P.) – Fewer questions because in-person networking events are not happening and there have been fewer referrals to the library.  Shared a Glassboro initiative to encourage patronage of local businesses:

·       Summit Public Library (Rebecca) – Doing as many programs as possible.  (https://summitlibrary.libcal.com/calendar)

·       Camden County Library System (Rosemary) – Updating content and scheduling business events for the fall

·       Long Branch Free Public Library (Lisa) – Google partner and hosting events weekly.  Offering virtual programs 1-2 times per month as well as participating in Chamber breakfasts (it was the library’s idea to use Zoom for these events).  Created the Back to Business program (https://www.longbranchlib.org/back-to-business)

 

Best,

Andrea

 

Andrea Simzak Levandowski (she/her/hers)

Library Consultant for Small Business Development & Technology

New Jersey State Library

P.O. Box 520

Trenton, NJ 08625

(609) 278-2640 x190

alevandowski@PROTECTED