Hello all,   Thank you to everyone who has contributed to and supported L2B since its creation at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. L2B has served as a common location for sharing virtual events and training of benefit to business owners, entrepreneurs and jobseekers statewide. The need for a service like this reflected the change in format of these events during the COVID-19 pandemic and the steps taken by organizations to open their doors wide and encourage community building at a time when most people were is ...Continue Reading

Hello all,   The next NJLibsGrowBiz Virtual Discussion will be held on Wednesday, May 25 from 11am-12:30pm. Our speaker will be Shoumo Ganguly, who is a solopreneur and  an Alignable Ambassador Mentor. He has worked with Woodbridge Public Library as well as offered training at other NJ libraries in the past, and he brings a great perspective on business needs and areas of opportunity. He will be discussing Alignable, a platform where small business owners gather to build trusted relationships.    “ ...Continue Reading

Hello all,   I wanted to make sure you had all seen this grant opportunity: https://www.njstatelib.org/services_for_libraries/resources/lsta-2022-grant-opportunity/   The State Library is excited to announce a new competitive grant opportunity. Using our federal Library Services and Technology Act – Grants to States grant, we are offering awards between $2,000 and $20,000 to eligible organizations (public libraries and library consortia) to address literacy needs across New Jersey. LSTA 22 funds are allocate ...Continue Reading

Chelsea, it has been such a pleasure and a joy to work with you as part of NJLibsGrowBiz. Best of luck with your move to Colorado and your next steps. I have been so impressed with your intelligence, creativity, and passion…if you continue your library career out west, they will be exceptionally lucky to have you! Please stay in touch!   Also, your previous email only went to me, but it seemed like it was for everyone, so I’m including the entire list here. I hope that’s ok. 😊   Best, Andrea   Andrea Sim ...Continue Reading

Hello all,   I hope you had a great week!   The next NJLibsGrowBiz Virtual Discussion will be held on Wednesday, May 25 from 11am-12:30pm. Our speaker will be Shoumo Ganguly, who is a solopreneur and  an Alignable Ambassador Mentor. He has worked with Woodbridge Public Library as well as offered training at other NJ libraries in the past, and he brings a great perspective on business needs and areas of opportunity. He will be discussing Alignable, a platform where small business owners gather to build tr ...Continue Reading

Submissions are now open for the Entrepreneurship & Libraries Pitch Competition: https://entrelib.org/2022-elc-pitch-workshop/  Five entries will be selected to pitch in the May 19th (3-4pm EST) pitch competition via Zoom, and all five libraries will win something: 1st place: $2,250 | 2nd place: $1,000 | 3rd place: $500 | 4th & 5th: $250 The audience choice award will be an additional $750 for one of the 5 libraries. Thank you to EBSCO for sponsoring the event. *Nature of the pitch:* Is your library a play ...Continue Reading

I hope you will consider participating in the webinar and the Pitch Competition!   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 Please join us via Zoom on April 21, 3-4pm Eastern for a workshop on how libraries can make effective pitches to engage with local entrepreneurs, job hunters, nonprofits, and economic development initiatives. *Register* for the f ...Continue Reading

Hello all,   Thank you to everyone who was able to join for today’s Virtual Discussion. The recording is available here: https://youtu.be/5EckJgg4lOo   Our guests were Kenneth Lang and Marty Latman from My Networking Central. They talked about the possible ways that libraries can use MNC (https://www.mynetworkingcentral.com/), including to post events, find speakers, and locate networking groups. They are more than willing to work with libraries to grow their presence on the site in the same way that they ha ...Continue Reading

Looking forward to seeing you all today!   --   Hello all,   This is a reminder that the next meeting of NJLibsGrowBiz will be April 7 from 3:00-4:00. Registration is available here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqfuGtrzsuGNLN4nQ1RR9qaDHTD-nDT408    Our speakers will be Kenneth Lang and Marty Latman from My Networking Central.   Libraries are invited to join My Networking Central (MNC), a free searchable database for information related to networking groups, speakers and ne ...Continue Reading

Hello all,   This is a reminder that the next meeting of NJLibsGrowBiz will be April 7 from 3:00-4:00. Registration is available here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqfuGtrzsuGNLN4nQ1RR9qaDHTD-nDT408    Our speakers will be Kenneth Lang and Marty Latman from My Networking Central.   Libraries are invited to join My Networking Central (MNC), a free searchable database for information related to networking groups, speakers and networking events in and around New Jersey. You can sign up ...Continue Reading