43
Librarian guides investors and businesses
YOUNGSTOWN
Mahoning County’s public library system offers free, unbiased guidance to credible information people need as they ponder the most important and risky financial and business decisions of their lives.
The guidance is given by Stuart Gibbs, the business and investment librarian based at the main library of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County through group sessions by reservation and individual consultations by appointment.
“Whether they want to sell a business, buy a business or grow their business, the library has resources to help them,” Gibbs said of library patrons.
“The library gives guidance to materials that will help answer the individual’s question, but the library doesn’t give actual advice,” said Janet Loew, communications and public relations director for the library system.
“A well-informed person will, hopefully, make a better decision, and that’s our goal,” Loew said.
“We are committed to improving the economic life of the county, and we do so by providing information at all levels, be it for business or investment, from beginning to end,” said Josephine Nolfi, library programming director.
Gibbs is uniquely qualified to provide financial and business guidance because he earned his master’s degree in library and information science from Kent State University during his four years of working in retail management for a Fortune 500 company.
A full schedule of group business and financial programs awaits the library patron this month and in early March.
A business startup workshop will take place at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Boardman library, 7680 Glenwood Ave.
Gibbs and SCORE volunteers will discuss key topics for business startups and business plan development.
“Researching your business plan” is the topic of a 6:30 p.m. Feb. 13 workshop, also at the Boardman library.
Gibbs will introduce print and electronic information sources for business-plan development.
Among the factors a potential startup business person should consider are whether he or she has the qualifications, experience and commitment to form the new business; competition in that field; the characteristics of prime customers for that business; the purchasing power of the customer base; and relevant aspects of zoning, tax, incorporation and employment law, Gibbs said.
Individual consultations on starting or growing a business will be provided by SCORE volunteers from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 14 at main library, 305 Wick Ave.
SCORE volunteers are active or retired executives who counsel small businesses.
“Publicly traded companies and industry intelligence” is the topic of a program Gibbs will offer at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Poland library, 311 S. Main St.
Gibbs will introduce databases to assist people in making investment choices and the reports of industry analysts.
Businesses may pay thousands of dollars for some of the information the library offers the public free of charge, the library says in its program guide.
Wi-Fi access enables library patrons to bring their own devices to use these reference tools.
Gibbs also is offering programs on use of social media to start or grow a business at 6:30 p.m., March 6, 7 and 9 at the Boardman library.
The March 6 workshop will cover setting up a Facebook page for a business.
The March 7 session will explore the use of Twitter and You Tube to start or grow a business.
The March 9 program is a more advanced workshop on use of social media in marketing, including both free and paid promotion.
Social media can offer opportunities to reach large audiences at low cost, Gibbs said.
He noted, however, some potential disadvantages: “Customers can say negative things on your social media profile. People can hack your profile.”
Call 330-744-8636, and ask for the library’s information services department for reservations for these programs.