The Business of Libraries: Small Business Development

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

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Public libraries are an essential resource for many small business owners. Learn how to support the small businesses in your community by becoming a local portal for economic development.

Schedule at a Glance

Sessions

How Libraries Can Support Small Business Development with SBA Initiatives

The US Small Business Administration has multiple programs and resources for small businesses, and libraries can take these resources even further to help support businesses and entrepreneurs in your community. Join representatives of the SBA to learn more about being drivers of economic growth.

Libraries Build Business

Libraries Build Business (LBB) is a national initiative of the American Library Association supported by Google.org to build capacity in libraries offering programming or services to local entrepreneurs and the small business community. The cohort of 13 public libraries is focused on identifying promising practices and strategies for supporting businesses owned by people from low-income and underrepresented groups, such as Black, Latinx, and women-owned businesses. Public libraries are critical pillars of the community in supporting job seekers, small business owners and entrepreneurs alike and they have a critical role in addressing inequities in opportunity. Join project manager, Megan Janicki, to hear an overview of the initiative; implementation challenges, innovations and promising practices from the cohort; the impact of COVID-19 on the small business community and libraries; and the role of libraries in the small business ecosystem.

Speakers

Laketa Henderson, US Small Business Administration

Megan Janicki, ALA, Libraries Build Business

Megan Janicki is the project manager for the Libraries Build Business initiative at the American Library Association’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office in Washington, DC. She comes to ALA with a background in workforce development, adult literacy, social services, and equity and inclusion. She holds a Master’s Degree from Vanderbilt University in Learning, Diversity, and Urban Studies, and a Bachelor’s Degree from Indiana University in sociology.

Registration Rates

Early Bird Rates expire April 7, 2021.

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Platform

This event will be hosted on Zoom. Login information will be included in the confirmation email.

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