In the Spring of 2024, ULC hosted the Entrepreneurship Boot Camp Series, a webinar-based learning series that provided instruction and resources for libraries to effectively support entrepreneurs. The Boot Camp was designed with two separate tracks for library staff of differing levels of expertise. Libraries are a critical support for small business owners and entrepreneurs in communities, providing access to a wide range of programs and services that can bolster their work.
The full Boot Camp sessions are available to view below, and can be taken as asynchronous learning. If you have any questions about the Boot Camp, please feel free to contact ULC's Director of Civic Engagement and Economic Opportunity Shamichael Hallman at shallman@urbanlibraries.org.
Track 1: Foundations of Entrepreneurship
Using strategies from ULC’s Closing the Entrepreneurship Gap: Tools for Libraries toolkit, participants in track one will understand the needs and desires of different people, a key when working to serve diverse audiences. Participants will learn how to take an inventory of existing library programs, services and resources, but also assign an economic value to them. This can serve as a key asset in securing new partnerships, funding and resources as libraries look to build their work with local entrepreneurs. You will complete the bootcamp with a value proposition pitch that can be used to inform community outreach, staff engagement and library programming in this area of service.
Entrepreneurship Boot Camp | Track 1, Session 1: Foundations
In the first of two highly interactive webinars, the first Entrepreneurship Boot Camp session for Track 1 aided participants in understanding what opportunities exist for their local entrepreneur audience. This webinar took place on Thursday, February 15, 2024.
Entrepreneurship Boot Camp | Track 1, Session 2: Foundations (pt. 2)
Building on the understanding about the local entrepreneurship ecosystem from part one, this session focused on developing programmatic outcomes, building community partnerships and promoting the efforts of the library. Participants developed and shared pitches that can be used to build support among library staff, attract new library customers and engage external partners and funders. This webinar took place on Thursday, April 18, 2024.
Track 2: Advanced Entrepreneurship
This track will combine peer learning, guest speakers and goal mapping to amplify and supercharge how your library works with local entrepreneurs. Using advance strategies from ULC’s Closing the Entrepreneurship Gap: Tools for Libraries toolkit, participants will learn how to deepen regional partnerships to advance economic opportunity and how to tailor outreach to entrepreneurs at specific points in their business development journeys. Participants will also learn how to use ULC’s Business Value Calculator to capture data points and establish benchmarks about the library’s entrepreneurship efforts on the surrounding community or business ecosystem.
Entrepreneurship Boot Camp | Track 2, Session 1: Assessing the Work
The first of two sessions for more experienced library staff began with a moderated panel discussion with guests from entrepreneurial support organizations who are doing work at a national scale. The session focused on discussing how your library can make an impact to support entrepreneurs this year. This webinar took place on Thursday, March 21, 2024.
Entrepreneurship Boot Camp | Track 2, Session 2: Communicating the Value
This session will highlight strategies to assess and refine current programming and services for entrepreneurs, develop communications strategies and techniques to demonstrate the value of those programs and services to various stakeholders, and establish 2024 goals to support entrepreneurs. As part of this process, participants will develop and share quick pitches that can be used to build support among library staff, attract new library customers, and engage external partners and funders.
Related Resources
Toolkit | Closing the Entrepreneurship Gap: Tools for Libraries
View the ResourceStrengthening communities is the business of libraries — and support for under-resourced entrepreneurs is key to that role. By addressing support gaps for high-need entrepreneurs, libraries are critical drivers for local economic recovery, resilience and equity, which is more vital than ever in the COVID-19 era.
White Paper | Entrepreneurship: Where Urban Libraries Fit
Read the White PaperKnology, a social science research organization, with the support of the ULC and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, assessed the range and impact of entrepreneurship programs offered by urban libraries across the US and released a white paper in April 2022. This study documented the ways that libraries currently support entrepreneurs. It also identified areas where the demand for business-related programming is increasing.
Leadership Brief | Strengthening Libraries as Entrepreneurial Hubs
Read the Leadership BriefThis Leadership Brief focuses on the public library’s role as an essential resource for entrepreneurs and core component of local entrepreneurial ecosystems. It highlights the exciting work already underway in libraries to advance the entrepreneurial spirit and identifies seven strategies for library leaders to become more intentional about implementing programs that support local economic development goals and reach potential entrepreneurs most in need of guidance and encouragement.
Article | Public Libraries as Critical Spaces for Convening
Read the ArticleHear from ULC President and CEO Brooks Rainwater about the importance of libraries as physical convening spaces. Through creative development of these spaces, libraries can contribute to the wellness, civic engagement, and productivity of their communities.
Thank you to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation for supporting this initiative.
