Library wants to be your business research department
By Susan Greenwood www.naperville-lib.org August 29, 2012 5:46PM
Updated: October 1, 2012 3:59PM
Calling all business owners, job seekers, investors and students, the Naperville Public Library wants to be your business research department. Just ask Kent Palmer, business services librarian at the Nichols Library.
“We have excellent resources that can help you in your job search, with your investments, conduct market research or even start a business,” he explains.
But what exactly does that mean?
“Our resources can really help you prep for a job interview or sales call,” Kent notes. “Using the library’s free resources, you can learn the names of company executives, the company’s revenue as well as the outlook for the industry. This is important information to have at your fingertips when you’re being interviewed or making a cold call to a business prospect.”
What about someone who’s starting a business?
“We have great market research resources,” Kent says. “Looking at a specific location? We can identify all possible competitors within a 10-mile radius. We can help you generate lists of potential clients, not only in the Chicago area but any place in the U.S. or Canada. Best of all, these lists are free. You’ll get almost the same information that others are paying as much as $18 a lead.”
OK, this sounds great, but what about the bottom line? I’m talking finances and investments! This is an area where the library really shines. Kent goes on to tell about the library’s collection of books about investing — books for beginners, experts and everyone in between.
“Also the library subscribes to investment newsletters so you don’t have to pay the extra dollars. And don’t forget about our subscriptions to the very highly rated Morningstar Investment Research Center and ValueLine services,” he reminds. “We try to make it easy for you to get reliable research and analysis on stocks, mutual funds, bonds and ETFs.”
Want to know more? Kent is part of the business services team. Staff members at each library building are happy to schedule one-on-one appointments to help you. Call the adult services desks, general phone number is 630-961-4100; extensions are: Nichols Library, ext. 6311; Naper Boulevard Library, ext. 2201; and 95th Street Library, ext. 4941. Call or come in and see what our business research department can do for you.
Susan Greenwood is the community relations coordinator at the Naperville Public Library. Contact her at 630-961-4100, ext. 2223, or sgreenwood@naperville-lib.org.
