Library Celebrates Small Business Month

  • By Baltimore County Public Library

May is National Small Business Month, with Small Business Week running May 4 through 10. This month recognizes the contributions of small business owners and their positive impact on the economy, communities and job creation. At the library, we support economic development and want to help entrepreneurs create or expand a business—for free. Here are just a few ways we’re ready to support you. 

  • Programs—Each month we host curated programs just for entrepreneurs and business-minded people. In May, we’re offering free professional headshots at our Towson Branch, a Q&A session with the Small Business Association and help with navigating advertising for your business. We also offer programs in Spanish. Our headlining program is our Entrepreneur Academy, which is offered in Spanish in the spring and in English in the fall. The series teaches you the steps involved in starting a successful business, including business strategies, market research, financial recordkeeping and taxes and how to develop a business plan from subject-matter experts.
  • Spaces—The public library is now one of the only places where you don’t have to buy anything, not even a coffee, to stay and work. Whether you are working from home and want a change of scenery or you’re simply looking for a relatively quiet place to focus: the library is for you. We also offer study spaces in 12 of our branches. You can reserve the room 24 hours in advance in 15-minute increments for a maximum of one hour.
  • Databases and resources—Databases are great resources for research and lifelong learning. For instance, Reference Solutions, a widely available business intelligence database in public libraries, can save entrepreneurs thousands of dollars by helping them generate targeted marketing leads. We also offer free access (with a library card, of course) to LinkedIn Learning, where users can take expert-led, on-demand classes on a range of business topics, from marketing and sales to finance and management. You can even learn a language with Mango Languages—you never know where a customer might come from.  
  • Technology—We believe that digital connectivity is a necessity, not a privilege. All of our branches are equipped with Wi-Fi in the branches and parking lots, as well as computers for library cardholders. You can also print, copy and fax for a small fee.

We can also help entrepreneurs with our: 

There are also external partners that can lend a hand on our resources for entrepreneurs page. Come visit and see how we can help.

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