FORT COLLINS — A ten-year-old service of the Poudre River Public Library District is seeing a spike in exercise on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Distressed companies, companies trying to lower prices or these making an attempt to achieve extra prospects are all availing themselves of providers of the enterprise library — a free service by which a educated enterprise librarian helps patrons discover knowledge which may assist them survive the pandemic.
“I had a consumer who obtained laid off as a chef,” mentioned Matt West, the previous Thompson Faculty District trainer who’s now the enterprise librarian at Poudre. The chef, regardless of understanding how tough operating a restaurant might be proper now, needed to start out his personal eatery.
West offered quite a few providers. “I first despatched him a warmth map,” he mentioned. A warmth map particulars the place opponents are situated. Then he offered trade studies to assist the consumer write a marketing strategy and put together himself to use for financial institution financing.
He tapped databases to seek out overviews of industries and developments that apply. “I wish to err on the facet of giving extra data reasonably than much less,” West mentioned.
He checked out data referring to curbside supply of meals — an working tactic many if not most eating places are utilizing once they can’t have inside eating.
West helped discover potential buyer lists sorted by geographic family in order that the person might use the checklist to create a mailing checklist for promoting.
Different kinds of companies may wish to have comparable lists sorted by curiosity areas. A motorbike retailer, for instance, would wish to filter its potential buyer checklist by folks with pursuits in biking or outside recreation.
And West sifts via sources that is likely to be obtainable and infrequently directs folks to the Small Enterprise Administration or the Small Enterprise Improvement Heart, the place West acquired coaching himself. The SBDC workplace in Fort Collins is subsequent door to the Poudre library on the campus of Entrance Vary Group School.
West mentioned folks wanting to start out companies are amongst his present consumer base, however one sizzling spot he’s observed entails companies whose leases are expiring.
“Some companies want to scale back sq. footage so are searching for new areas. Warmth maps exhibiting their opponents are essential to these selections,” he mentioned.
West mentioned he has entry to on-line courses for folks in enterprise or those that wish to begin companies. “It’s all free with a library card,” he mentioned.
“Free” is a crucial consideration for a lot of small companies. These that may’t afford to pay for enterprise analysis can discover assist from the enterprise librarian. “It’s all about fairness and inclusion; it’s obtainable to individuals who can’t afford to pay for analysis,” he mentioned.
Providers can be found to all demographics, he mentioned, even those that don’t converse English as their main language. A nonprofit specialist on the library helps nonprofit organizations discover sources equivalent to grants, and a careers librarian expects to be busy in 2021 as restoration from the pandemic is anticipated to happen.
West serves with space financial builders, county and metropolis officers and others as they meet weekly to brainstorm how one can meet the wants of companies below stress. “We use the strengths of one another and check out to not duplicate what others are doing,” he mentioned.
To make use of the providers of the Poudre River enterprise librarian:
- Name 970-221-6740 and ask for enterprise assist.
- Get a library card with a purpose to entry library databases from dwelling.
- E mail mjwest@poudrelibraries.org.
- Go to www.poudrelibraries.org and navigate to “sources” the place there’s a hyperlink to enterprise sources.
The Longmont Public Library doesn’t have a delegated enterprise librarian however does have enterprise sources obtainable at https://www.longmontcolorado.gov/departments/departments-e-m/library/eresearch/business-resources.
The Excessive Plains Library District headquartered in Greeley additionally doesn’t have a delegated enterprise librarian however different librarians are prepared to assist. Name 970-506-8610.
The Boulder Public Library has enterprise sources obtainable at https://research.boulderlibrary.org//business.
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