A library that offers a Business and Career Information service supplies information related to business, work, entrepreneurship, personal finances, and obtaining employment.
The library provides expert personal assistance, specialized electronic and print resources, and services of interest to the business community, to investors, to individuals who are seeking employment or who are dealing with a changing work environment, and to individuals who are contemplating a career move or change. Library users can access a significant amount of information without visiting the library by using the telephone, fax, e-mail or other electronic delivery systems.The library may provide computers, printers and other office equipment for public use, may offer special programs on business and career topics, and may offer specialized facilities for business meetings and/or for career counseling. The library may also create business and career resources or may locate and organize related information on a web page.
Business Research Services is a specific section of the Research Services Division of High Point Public Library. The library, located in High Point, North Carolina, serves a population of over 75,000 through a main library. The staff of Business Research Services, two full-time librarians and two part-time research associates, assist library users in finding specific and general information on all business-related topics, and in locating requested materials from the library's business collections.
Business Research Services addresses the need for information related to careers and employment; investing; taxes; small business; special programs; and the Furniture Market.
- Careers and Employment. The Career Center collections of print and non-print resources focus on education, training, and promoting customer awareness of the job market, locally, statewide and nationally. Job listings are available in local, regional, and national newspapers and periodicals as well as through employment related Internet sites.
- Investing. Business Research Services provides ValueLine and Morningstar investment service subscriptions as well as other resources for tracking investments in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and commodities.
- Taxes. Business Research Services recruits and schedules VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) volunteers who are trained by the IRS to assist low-income and elderly clients during the tax preparation and filing period each year. State (all states) and federal tax forms are distributed throughout the year. The tax information service also includes IRS publications and CCH subscriptions.
- Small Business. Entrepreneurs learn about business opportunities by using the information provided in Business Research Services. Information on franchises, small business loans, the best businesses to start, business plans, start-up procedures, and marketing strategies is available. Additional information on patents, trade names, copyright, business licenses, and advisory counseling is also available.
- Company Information. A large percentage of research efforts are directed toward answering questions concerning company addresses, financial strength, officers, and product lines. The Business collections include directories and electronic sources that provide current information on company profits, industry statistics, corporate executives, insurance ratings, trends, and forecasts. Three publications (Triad Business News, Business Life, and Business North Carolina) are indexed by staff to provide valuable, often difficult to locate, local and state company information. Business Research staff publish a Minority Business Directory which increases the visibility of local minority owned businesses and allows researchers to become familiar with these local companies. A clippings file of area company information which has appeared in the High Point Enterprise, the local newspaper, and current pamphlet and newsletter files for general business and career information are maintained by staff.
- Special Programs. During the year the library co-sponsors special programs on current business topics. These programs provide an opportunity to collaborate with the Guilford Technical Community College Small Business Center, the Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC), the Self-Help Credit Union, and SCORE. Program topics have included Starting a Day Care; Patents, Copyrights & Trademarks; Home-Based Business; How to Start an Investment Club; How to Write a Business Plan; and Tax Changes. Programs are held in the library's meeting room that seats 50 to 75.
- Furniture Market. Business Research Services provides current information on the two major Furniture Markets that are held in High Point each year (Spring and Fall). The library holds furniture market press kits; local, national, and international furniture industry information; and trade publications that address industry trends and events.
Reference and circulating collections of current and classic business books are available. A Career Center collection contains reference and circulating books on vocational opportunities; career changes; wage and salary information; job search strategies; and many other topics. All these collections consist of nearly 5,000 volumes. The periodical section features the most current issues of business, finance, and industry newspapers and magazines. Back issues are stored on microfilm, microfiche, and in paper form. Electronic databases provide company profiles, indexing, and full text information about business and industry topics. Two Internet workstations are available for customers to explore business topics through a variety of search strategies.The Unit Supervisor has an office. A workroom with a PC is shared by other staff. A microform reader and reader/printer are located in Business Research. Two coin operated photocopiers are provided for public use. There is a separate fax machine and phone line for exclusive use of the Business Research Unit.
The staff of the Business Research Unit work closely with the Chamber of Commerce, SCORE, the federal and state IRS offices, the Commerce Department, the Cooperative Extension Service, and the local community college. Collaborative efforts include chairing Chamber committees, writing articles for area publications, distributing tax forms and providing tax assistance, and co-sponsoring programs on business, tax, career, and consumer topics.
The funding for the Business Research Services Unit of the library comes primarily from the City of High Point. Some state funds are made available for special projects or acquisitions.
Conventional methods of measuring service use are employed, including reference transactions, periodical use, and program attendance. Business Research Services will continue to provide quality service in a timely manner. Collection management and development functions are performed, including removing materials that contain outdated information and adding quality materials to the collection. We will create and distribute bibliographies and booklists to enhance accessibility of and provide guidance to materials. We will create, publish, and distribute local directories such as our local area minority business directory. The library features book displays and bulletin boards to increase customer awareness of current business issues and new books.