<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal"><b>What is LibraryBiz
Connect?</b><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A grassroots organization comprised of public and academic
librarians working together with business support non-profit organizations to:</p>
<p class="" style></p><ul><li><span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span><span style>Position public libraries as the local portal
for economic development</span><br></li><li><span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span><span style>Connect average businesses to knowledge, data,
training and business counseling in an approachable environment</span><br></li><li><span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span><span style>Pool regional resources to benefit our local
communities</span><br></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="" style></p>
<p class="" style></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are not a fee-based organization. We are a group that is
committed to supporting economic development and growth for stronger
communities by utilizing the tools and resources already available in most
communities. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Who are we?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Current partners include:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Adrian
Public Library</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Ann Arbor
District Library</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Bizgrid
Detroit</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Brighton
Area Chamber of Commerce</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Brighton
District Library</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Canton
Public Library</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Chelsea
Chamber of Commerce</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Chelsea
District Library</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Cromaine
District Library</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Eastern
Michigan University</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Gast
Business Library – Michigan State University</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Genessee
District Library Business Center</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Hartland Area
Chamber of Commerce</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Howell Area
Chamber of Commerce</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Howell
Carnegie District Library</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Jackson
District Library</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Kresge
Business Administration Library, University of Michigan Ross School of Business</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Library of
Michigan/Michigan eLibrary (MeL)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Michigan Small
Business Development Center (MI-SBDC)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">MMLC
(Mideastern Michigan Library Cooperative)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Plymouth
District Library</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Schoolcraft
College Business Development Center</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">SCORE
(Service Corps of Retired Executives)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">TLN (The
Library Network)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Traverse
Area District Library</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Washtenaw
Community College – Bailey Library</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt">Wayne State
University Libraries</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>How does the
partnership work?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At its most fundamental, the partnership is successful
because of the relationships we have built with each other. We acknowledge and
appreciate the strengths of our partners and help direct current and potential
business owners to the best organization to meet their needs. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here is a brief (very simplified) example of how LibraryBiz Connect
partnerships benefit a community:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul><li>A community member comes to the library looking for
information on how to start a business. The librarian directs their community
member to the resources and asks if they would like to sign up for the “How to
Start a Business” workshop being held at the library.<br></li><li>The community member attends a Small Business Development
Center “How to Start a Business” workshop at their local library.<br></li><li>The community member then talks to a SCORE counselor who
regularly holds counseling hours at the library.<br></li><li>While working on a business plan the SCORE counselor can
direct the community member to a librarian for access to business databases and
print resources.<br></li><li>The community member opens a storefront on Main St.<br></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>What have we been
doing?</b></p>
<p class="" style></p><ul><li><span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span><span style>Going to conferences and workshops around the
state attended by small business owners and small business support
organizations. Talking to non-librarians about the resources available at local
libraries and the information professionals available to help find the correct
information.</span><br></li><li><span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span><span style>Encouraging business owners to visit their local
libraries for access to business resources</span><br></li><li><span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span><span style>Encouraging business support organizations to
reach out and develop relationships with their local libraries. Help each other
do what we do best, sharing our resources and network of contacts to help support
business owners.</span><br></li><li><span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span><span style>Helping each other! Encouraging libraries to
partner with each other and local business nonprofits.</span><span style> </span><span style>It’s OK not to own everything and not to know
everything.</span><span style> </span><br></li><li><span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span><span style>Providing partner and interested libraries and
business support organizations with a monthly conference call. A platform for
everyone to ask questions and share successes and challenges.</span><br></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="" style></p>
<p class="" style></p>
<p class="" style></p>
<p class="" style></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For more information or to get involved visit our website or social media sites:</p><p class="MsoNormal">Website: <a href="http://www.librarybizconnect.org">www.librarybizconnect.org</a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/librarybizconnectMI?ref=hl">https://www.facebook.com/librarybizconnectMI?ref=hl</a><br></p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/groups/LibraryBiz-Connect-4739891?home=&gid=4739891&trk=groups_guest_most_popular-h-logo">https://www.linkedin.com/groups/LibraryBiz-Connect-4739891?home=&gid=4739891&trk=groups_guest_most_popular-h-logo</a><br><div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><font face="comic sans ms, sans-serif" color="#990000"><b></b></font><div><font face="comic sans ms, sans-serif" color="#990000"></font></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Tahoma,'Sans Serif',Arial;font-size:12.8000001907349px">LibraryBizConnect</span><br></p></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Tahoma,'Sans Serif',Arial">Making Data Powerful for Business</span><br style="font-size:12.8000001907349px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Tahoma,'Sans Serif',Arial"><br style="font-size:12.8000001907349px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Tahoma,'Sans Serif',Arial"><font face="comic sans ms, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px;color:rgb(0,0,0)">We are a grassroots organization made up of librarians and business service organizations whose mission is to provide access to a network of business information and support services for new and existing businesses. </span><a href="https://exchange.howelllibrary.org/owa/redir.aspx?URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.librarybizconnect.org" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);font-size:12.8000001907349px" target="_blank">www.librarybizconnect.org</a></font><br></div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.librarybizconnect.org" style="font-size:12.7272720336914px" target="_blank"><img src="https://docs.google.com/uc?id=0BxkFk7kDMPXEUTRGU0g3anpvdVk&export=download" width="200" height="116" alt=" LibraryBizConnect"></a><br></div><div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/librarybizconnectMI?ref=hl" target="_blank"><img src="https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0BxkFk7kDMPXEdE1ERUdrOHZOSE0&revid=0BxkFk7kDMPXETU5nMWR0d3BneU1WalhOL0tRRE41cTNldElnPQ" width="96" height="95" alt=" LibraryBizConnect"></a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/groups/LibraryBiz-Connect-4739891?gid=4739891&mostPopular=&trk=tyah&trkInfo=tarId%3A1422809793278%2Ctas%3Alibrarybiz%2Cidx%3A1-1-1" target="_blank"><img src="https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0BxkFk7kDMPXEUmNFYk9mUUoyeGM&revid=0BxkFk7kDMPXETUMvTXVYTUVrSVorZlJDc3RRSXRqRmtZajBFPQ" width="93" height="96" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;" alt=" LibraryBizConnect"></a><br></div><div><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_MailAutoSig"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(153,0,153)">Bethany Kennedy, MLIS</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(153,0,153)">Director, Access Services</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(153,0,153)">Washtenaw Community College</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(153,0,153)">Bailey Library, GM 111</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(153,0,153)">4800 East Huron River Dr.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(153,0,153)">Ann Arbor, MI 48105-4800</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(153,0,153)"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(153,0,153)">ph: 734.477.8723</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(153,0,153)">fax:734.677.2220</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(153,0,153)">email: </span><a href="mailto:bakennedy@wccnet.edu"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(153,0,153)">bakennedy@wccnet.edu</span></a></p></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
</div>