(editor’s note: The Providence Public Library is among the most underused, yet best resources for local businesses. This issue we begin a monthly column from the library, highlighting important resources for area businesses.)
Welcome to the new monthly column — We make it your business – the public library’s way of showing business owners or managers the many important resources the library has to help make businesses run – and prosper! You’d be surprised to see just how many tools we have to improve your bottom line. Whether it’s writing a successful business plan, or finding government support for research ideas; locating the closing price on a hot stock tip last November; or checking up on what the national trades are saying about your competition, or even finding the step-by-step guide for starting up an e-commerce, we have it here.
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Dorey Conway, head of Electronic Information Services, and Ann Poulos, head of Business Services, bring together years of experience and the services, collections and resources of the Reference Services’ Department to get you what you need, when you need it.
We carry music CDs to mellow your clients and employees, educational videos and feature films, framed art you can borrow, and books on cassette. Computers are available at the Central Library or at any one of our nine branch libraries, and software is at hand to walk you through a spreadsheet, desktop brochure or Web search.
Reference USA, from InfoUSA – a leading supplier of business information – is a database we provide through our electronic resources. It is a national directory of 11 million companies that lists company name, address, phone and fax numbers, SIC codes, estimated sales, lines of business, numbers of employees and key information about contacts and chief executive officers. You can check it out when you come to the library or if you visit our e-library services at www.provlib.org.
Our computer lab offers free training classes on learning Microsoft Office, using a personal computer and navigating the electronic highway. From our Web site, you can access magazine articles, medical journals, company/ industry profiles and our on-line library catalog, Cooperating Libraries Automated Network (CLAN.) Specialized collections, such as patents and trademarks, the Foundation Collection and the Rhode Island Collection can answer your specific needs.
Now that you know a bit about us, how may we help you?
Visit the library or write, call or email us your concerns, day or night. We promise a quick response. In the months ahead, keep an eye on this site for answers to many common concerns of area business people, and for the special programs and events we have to help. The Providence Public Library.it’s more than you know! – Dale Thompson, director (Phone: 455 8005; Fax 455 8080.Email: askbiz@seq.clan.lib.ri.us
