Academic business librarians' assistance to community entrepreneurs

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper was to examine on a national scale how academic business librarians are working with community organizations and other libraries to assist local entrepreneurs with their information needs. Design/methodology/approach – A multi method approach was used to gather information. In spring 2012, a survey and follow-up interviews were conducted with academic business librarians. Additionally, business consultants who have worked with librarians were interviewed. Findings – The survey had 53 respondents. Of those, 40 percent indicated that they collaborate to assist entrepreneurs. Five interviewees confirmed the findings of the survey and discussed their collaborative arrangements. The consultants discussed best practices in working with entrepreneurs. Research limitations/implications – This research studied academic business librarians and reached those who monitor the buslib-l and brass-l listservs. Not all librarians have the time or take the time to respond to a survey. Additionally, this research only explored collaborations to assist local entrepreneurs and did not specifically focus on campus entrepreneurs and outreach to business schools. Practical implications – This study provides information on academic business librarians' efforts to assist community entrepreneurs. It also provides some information on lessons learned. Originality/value – A national study of academic business librarians' outreach to entrepreneurs has not been conducted in the past.

How public libraries in Meru County, Kenya, address the business information needs of small-scale enterprises

“…Bouthillier's study of 2003 was more comprehensive and equally comparable. Chiware (2007), Okello-Obura et al (2007) and Feldmann (2014) linked high small business failure to the lack of relevant and credible business information at each stage of business development. Consequently, public libraries are better placed to configure objective business information solutions for supporting specific SBEs sector throughout all the stages of business growth.…”

“…Different sectors in the business world exhibit different business information needs, which are determined by the types of business activities, the size of businesses, the stage of growth and the education level of business owners (Jaworski, 2012:13). These business information needs are both financial and non-financial needs which, according to Feldmann (2014), are required by the business community. Numerous studies, such as those by Garcia-Alsina, Ortoll and Cobarsí-Morales (2011), Kamunge, Njeru and Tirimba (2014), and Karadag (2015) have focused on financial information in business enterprises across different economies.…”

“…Studies by Okello-Obura, Minishi-Majanja, Cloete and Ikoja-Odongo (2007), Smith (2009), Kassim (2010), Feldmann (2014), Kadli and Kumbar (2011) have attempted to describe the specific information needs of small business traders. The study by Kassim (2010:57-69) was the more significant to this study since it identifies elaborate business information needs for people contemplating to start a business.…”

Toward core competencies for entrepreneurship librarians

“…Around the same time that Hamel and Prahalad were outlining their corporate core competencies, Pensyl Feldmann (2014), Griffis (2015), and Hoppenfeld and Malafi (2015) describe academic-public library partnerships supporting entrepreneurs, while Hoppenfeld et al (2013) outline an entrepreneurship bootcamp serving military veterans. Sayre, Lilyard and Schoenborn (2017) illustrate the importance of interdisciplinary librarian teams when supporting research commercialization at the University of Minnesota.…”

Entrepreneur assistance & economic development in Florida libraries

“…Some focus on small business incubators or developers such as the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a branch of the Small Business Administration (SBA), or various local economic development organizations (Welch, 2012;D'Agostino, 2009;Meyers, 2011;Pankl, 2010). Others focus on academic libraries' assistance to community entrepreneurs, who are not affiliated with their institutions, and, therefore, are not their primary constituents (Feldmann, 2004;Lyons, 2009). There are those that discuss the support of public libraries in offering resources, services and programs to small businesses (Young, 2013;Pankl, 2010;Skrzeszewski and Cubberley, 1997).…”