| Ya, the library. You know, the poster-festooned | | | | few months. Once you get a feel for the content, |
| encyclopedia vault from school days past? You | | | | learn what the writer's guidelines are and submit a |
| probably spent a lot of time there, researching for | | | | query or article as a way to get in front of a large |
| science projects and book reports. Remember | | | | number of pre-qualified potential clients. |
| reaching up on tiptoes to hand your library card to | | | | 5. Business development |
| the librarian at the check-out desk? | | | | Research back issues of local newspapers to find |
| This should bring you back - Encyclopedia Britannica! | | | | networking groups and create a list of potential |
| It's never too late to join the "look it up club" whose | | | | business development partners. Provide others you |
| motto was "we never guess, we look it up." Use the | | | | meet locally with your list. |
| library's valuable resources-even when you can see | | | | 6. Group work |
| over the librarian's desk. Today, make an | | | | Libraries are great places to meet other business |
| appointment with your local business or reference | | | | owners. Many have plug-in areas for laptops. (If you |
| librarian, and then do it again three years. If you | | | | ever visit Poulsbo, Washington, bring a cup of coffee |
| move, do it again. This person is a wealth of | | | | and site in front of the fireplace!) |
| information and can show you everything mentioned | | | | 7. Publicity |
| in this article. | | | | Learn what classes you can teach (they usually only |
| Go visit your library. Why? Well, it's like the story of | | | | allow free classes). This will help you brush up on |
| our computers and brains - we don't use all that we | | | | your presentation skills and build your local visibility. |
| have at our disposal. And we don't know all there is | | | | 8, Learn - duh?!? |
| to learn from an institution that has been an | | | | Why spend hundreds of dollars per year on books, |
| institution and safe haven for many. | | | | when you can order a book on the computer, |
| See generations of tax dollars at work-and work | | | | receive a notice when "it's in" and go pick it up? |
| these twelve low-cost library strategies for business | | | | Libraries usually have a variety of books on CD that |
| owners listed below. Make the phone call, set the | | | | you can listen to in the car (and yes, even on audios). |
| appointment, get off your duff, and visit your local | | | | Remember you don't have to listen to business CDs |
| library. If you haven't been to one in years, you | | | | all the time; spice it up and get something different. |
| might have to find it, too! | | | | 9.Get on (the) board |
| 1. The library card | | | | Many libraries have "Friends of the Library" |
| An obvious benefit that allows you to borrow books, | | | | associations that can use board members with |
| DVDs and CDs instead of buying them, saving you | | | | business experience. |
| needless office clutter. Check and see whether you | | | | 10. Volunteer |
| can reserve books online (tre convenient!) or | | | | See what volunteer opportunities are available in your |
| whether your library has inter-loan agreements with | | | | community. Libraries hold many events for children. |
| other libraries, which gives you better access to | | | | The library is a great place to give back to your |
| what you're looking for. | | | | community. |
| 2. Free classes | | | | 11. Books, books, and more books |
| Find the calendar for the library system near you. | | | | Libraries take donations of books, especially those in |
| You may have to do a little driving to attend the | | | | good condition. Or they sell them for fundraising. |
| library's free class offerings for anything that | | | | Some libraries have a "used book store", an |
| interests you. Usually you can find computer, writing, | | | | inexpensive way to find books to give away to |
| business, or career classes to assist you. | | | | clients and partners-and support the library at the |
| 3. Database goldmine | | | | same time! |
| Each year, the library purchases databases worth | | | | 12. Rent out the libraryor at least ask if they rent out |
| hundreds of thousands of dollars (like Reference | | | | rooms that you might use to have networking |
| USA, census, Gayles Association listing, Morningstar, | | | | meetings, teach classes, etc. Some libraries only rent |
| etc.). Ask the librarian to explain what each list is and | | | | rooms out to non-profits, while others are happy to |
| how he/she suggests it might be used. Evaluate how | | | | have the additional income when the conference |
| each database can help you determine what | | | | rooms aren't in use. |
| networking groups to join, organizations to cold call | | | | Once you meet your librarian, remember one of |
| for speaking engagements, or create your own cold | | | | those other "old fashioned" feel-good jesters. Take |
| calling or direct mailing database. | | | | out a pen, stamp, and write a thank you note. Pop it |
| 4. Target market research | | | | into the blue mailboxes before they, too, become a |
| Survey newspapers and magazines to see if you | | | | blast from our pasts. |
| would benefit from subscribing to them-checking | | | | Then get on the computer and use all you've learned |
| them out before you spend the money is just plain | | | | to help you grow your business. |
| smart! If you know that your target market | | | | Love this article? Tweet about it! |
| subscribes to them, you should as well. Read it for a | | | | |