Business Success: thriving economic empowerment and entrepreneurial ecosystem with business research resources and support from specialized libraries and information professionals.
Business and Intellectual Property resources accessible in libraries, as well as information specialist expertise, have been used to great effect to support entrepreneurs, start-ups and growing businesses. Our services are to provide support for market research, information for due diligence, and evidence for building businesses and entrepreneurial activities which are rigorous and sustainable, to enable growth and success. The British Library’s Business & IP Centre has led and developed change in services we program and offer with our specialist information collection, reference and research services, in order that we empower and encourage entrepreneurs to use the valuable resources not just in our premises, but also linked up with a national network of business support and innovation. We work closely with policy makers, central and local government, as well as strategic partners to delivery high value products and information services across the network. We do this with a programme of one-to-one meetings, group workshops, large-scale events and mentoring, which empower our customers and patrons by having access to information, knowledge and subject matter expertise at the right time in their entrepreneurial journey and business development. In collaboration across a national network, these specialist libraries and information services model acts as a centre for excellence for business information services. We have fostered a collaborative online and in-person learning exchange programme of training and development of library and information specialist staff across the network. Ongoing initiatives continue to outreach to new customers – even more so for DEI for those who need support in entrepreneurship and resources. With 10000s of business support delivered over the years to entrepreneurs and businesses, leverage services and learn from this blueprint for business libraries and information professionals.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion, participants will be able to understand how a national library are instrumental in collaborating with regional and local libraries and information centres to provide entrepreneurial and business services.
Upon completion, participant will be able to learn how to manage, organise and make resources accessible for the business community as well as how to highlight the specialism from staff.
Upon Completion, participant will be aware of professional communicating and influencing skills to collaborate and advocate for the entrepreneurial and business ecosystem in their local communities and in wider context.
