The document summarizes the development of the Business Center project at the High Point Public Library (HPPL) in North Carolina. It was inspired by embedded librarianship models that promote ongoing relationships between librarians and customers. The Business Center provides resources, research assistance, and programming to local businesses. It has helped over 150 clients annually and received positive feedback from the business community and city partners for its valuable support of the local economy.

1. An
Entrepreneurial
Approach to
Helping
Entrepreneurs
Kassie
Ettefagh
John
Raynor
High Point Public
Library

2. The “roots” of HPPL’s Business Center project
Inspired by the
“embedded librarianship”
model of reference service
Initially promulgated by…
Jamie LaRue, former director of the
Douglas County (Colo.) Libraries
…and locally exemplified by
the business outreach program of
the Mauney Memorial Library
at Kings Mountain, led by Sharon Stack

3. The “roots” of HPPL’s Business Center project
Inspired by the
“embedded librarianship”
model of reference service
• A response to the decline in
“traditional” (desk-based) service in
a world of ubiquitous information
• Takes librarians out of the library
• Promotes the development of
ongoing working relationships
between librarians and customers

4. The “roots” of HPPL’s Business Center project
Community Reference:
Making Libraries Indispensable
in a New Way
Galston, C., Huber, E. K., Johnson, K., & Long, A. (2012)
American Libraries, 43(5), 46-50.
“Librarians have the power
to change lives and build
community -- but to do this, we
have to leave our desks, leave
our buildings, and show the
community what a powerful
tool we are.”

5. The “roots” of HPPL’s Business Center project
“Participating in these
organizations allows us to
demonstrate our value,
while also becoming deeply
knowledgeable about the
issues they are facing.”
Community Reference:
Making Libraries Indispensable
in a New Way
Galston, C., Huber, E. K., Johnson, K., & Long, A. (2012)
American Libraries, 43(5), 46-50.

6. Kings Mountain and High Point are different communities
with differing needs, so naturally their respective libraries’
business outreach initiatives will also differ significantly.

7. 12.3 square miles 53.8 square miles

8. 108,031 people
5,202 businesses
Downtown is shaped by the
presence of the large furniture
showroom buildings serving
the twice-yearly High Point
Market (180 buildings, offering
11.5 million ft2 of show space).
10,792 people
874 businesses
Compact walkable 17-block
downtown district

9. 108,031 people
5,202 businesses
10,792 people
874 businesses
Compact walkable 17-block
downtown municipal district
81
Businesses
within this area of
operations
Downtown is shaped by the
presence of the large furniture
showroom buildings serving
the twice-yearly High Point
Market (180 buildings, offering
11.5 million ft2 of show space).

10. The library’s response to a municipal strategic plan:
• Entrepreneurship promotion (incl. the
attraction/retention of millennials)
• City-wide scope (but w/an emphasis on
creating new businesses downtown)
• Improved code enforcement
The business outreach initiative was built upon the
foundation of a well-established collaboration
w/the Kings Mountain Main Street program
• Operated within a very well-defined area
• Focused on supporting existing businesses
• “No Wrong Door” Initiative

11. Going out to the crossroads of local business,
being visible/available at leading organizations
Closely cooperating with individual
downtown businesses (w/signed agreements)

12. “Our Library’s Business Center staff
is tenacious in their desire to help
businesses grow and compete. We
view them as an integral part of our
strategic plan for growing the local
economy. As a manager it confirms
the value of this service to me when
the Center’s customers go out of
their way to say thank you.”
Randy Hemann
Asst. City Manager,
City of High Point

13. High Point’s business outreach initiative was accompanied
by the creation of a dedicated Business Center space.
If a goal of embedded librarianship is “a seat at the table,”
providing a table now and then is a step in the right direction.

14. The High Point Economic Development Corporation
met in the library’s Business Center on October 5th, 2016
If a goal of embedded librarianship is “a seat at the table,”
providing a table now and then is a step in the right direction.

15. • Chamber of Commerce
• City Planning and Development Office
• City Public Information Office
• High Point EDC
• GTCC Small Business Center
• Guilford Merchant Association
• Main Street Task Force
• SCORE High Point
Our Partners

16. Outreach

17. 1. Initial Client Approach
• Networking, referrals, word-of-mouth
2. Identify business’s needs
• Phone
• Email
• In Person (library or business site)
3. Research
4. Delivery of Results
5. Follow-up
Result: 150 client consults per year
Our Process

18. (It’s not just books, anymore!)
Tools Available

19. • Company Profiles
• Industry and Market
Research Data
• Demographic Analysis
• International Business
Research
• GIS Real Estate Research
• Social Media Assistance
• Municipal Assistance
• One-on-one Tutorials
Checklist
We Offer:

20. • Researched point-of-sale software for a business owner
Result: Owner has met with vendors, system will upgrade sales
and inventory procedures
• Researched city demographic distribution
Result: Business owner has list of addresses to contact through
mail marketing
• Created social media page for small business
Result: Business has first official online presence
• Conducted research on city’s demographics, housing
prices, and education levels over five year period
Result: Client has information to help with decision on
purchasing High Point company
Success Stories

21. Success Stories
Recent research to support downtown entrepreneurship

22. Success Stories
Recent research to support downtown entrepreneurship

23. Liaison Success: Municipal Assistance

24. A portion of Main Street was
closed from November 2016
through April 2017 for
infrastructure improvements
and burying electrical lines.
The library reached out to
each business, provided
assistance, gave feedback to
the city, and attended
biweekly meetings.
Result: Businesses felt
engaged and supported.
Liaison Success: Municipal Assistance

25. A Further Result:
The library is now liaising
with businesses effected by
downtown road closures
associated with the ongoing
Elm Street Project (starting
in September of 2018).
Liaison Success: Municipal Assistance

26. Testimonials
“Kassie and the HP Public Library
were such help to my family’s
restaurant business. We experienced
a total road closure in front of our
business for 6 months, without
Kassie’s help with our social media
I’m not sure we would’ve survived.
Her patience and expertise was
sunlight in what was a very dark
time. Thank you Kassie!”
Chris Amos
The Dog House, Inc.

27. Sue Falcone
Remarkable!
A Speaker’s Bureau
Testimonials
As the CEO of a growing company I know the value of market
research and the expense of it. In contacting the library I
have received excellent information and contacts that will
further grow our company…. I will be forever grateful for all
you have provided and look forward to working with and
recommending you to all who are seeking to expand and have
a successful business!"

28. “The Business Center at the High
Point Library is an excellent asset for
both city residents and the business
community. When the High Point
Economic Development Corporation
staff members are working with
persons who are starting or growing
their business and could benefit from
some additional one-on-one
assistance, we refer them to the
business center. In addition, our
office utilizes the center’s expertise
to gather data for our economic
development projects.”
Marshall Yandle
Vice President,
High Point EDC
Testimonials

29. Programming

30. Money
Management
Entrepreneur
Fundraising

31. Job Search Career Assistance

32. • Press releases through the City’s Public Information
Office
• High Point Chamber of Commerce online calendar
• Guilford Nonprofit Consortium mailing list and
online calendar for relevant events
• TV News Coverage
Spectrum News and Fox 8
Advertising Methods Include:

33. Cross-Promotion

34. The High Point Public Library’s Business Center is not a
direct continuation of the pioneering work at Kings Mountain.
It’s a new expression of the principle first developed by the
Douglas County Libraries, adapted to High Point’s needs.
Darwin’s Galapagos Finches

35. There are as many potential forms of embedded librarianship
as there are business communities here in North Carolina
So what form might it take in your community?
Darwin’s Galapagos Finches