Our largest challenge in this collaboration has been to break library stereotypes in reaching business customers. We found that we must go beyond highlighting what resources the library has to offer, and instead frame those resources in context of how they can be used by the business community. Staff needed to develop classes that better demonstrate how to use library maker resources for business and address the most commonly asked business technology questions.

We combined efforts to create introductory-level business technology classes that meet the needs of our audience. Surprisingly, some of these classes were what might be considered low-tech, but they answered frequently asked reference questions from business owners. For example, Digital Citizenship for Business Owners addressed digital etiquette for businesses in the online marketspace. We also launched classes covering such topics as Social Media Marketing, Apps for Your Business, Your Elevator Pitch On-Camera and Podcasting 101.

In 2017, nine library staff members presented or co-presented twelve business workshops at the Entrepreneur Collaborative Center, and attendance increased by 80 percent from 2016. Customer feedback from these workshops has been overwhelmingly positive, and the interactive nature of the classes encouraged collaboration and networking among local business owners. Library staff were invited to present on these classes as part of the library’s larger business support services at the 2018 Florida Library Association annual conference.