Want to start or grow a business? Start with a library card.
Free online business resources recommended by Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
To make the most of the resources in this post, you’ll want to grab your library card or apply for one online. The links below will help you:
Taking your idea from spark to business is a huge task, and the right preparation can make sure that yours is one of the sparks that will succeed. While advisors, consultants, and business incubators can provide invaluable guidance and direction, you can help your partners by laying some of the groundwork yourself. Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has resources that are available to you for free, and you can access them from the comfort of your couch.
If you have a Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh library card, you’re all set and can start using the resources in this article right away. If you don’t have a card, whether you’ve never had one or just can’t find it, we can get you set up with a card in no time. Click here to find more information on getting a CLP library card.
A few that I like to show off when I’m helping someone to get started are:
AtoZ Databases
If you have a library card with Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, you can access this database from anywhere, and it’s one of my favorites for researching market data. You can use this database to develop mailing lists, find names and contact information for company executives, or determine how many new businesses have been started in your field in the recent past (among many other searches you can do).
Gale Virtual Reference Library
Writing your business plan is one of the most important first steps in starting any business, and it’s not always easy when you’re starting from scratch. I love this resource because of the simplicity of searching for business plans in virtually any industry.
Legal Forms
Are you worried about discussing your business plans with a partner and searching for a nondisclosure agreement? Wondering how to develop a contract for a freelance worker you’d like to hire? This database has a wealth of Pennsylvania legal forms. Most can be downloaded as Microsoft Word documents for easy editing.
Lynda.com
Sometimes the biggest hurdle in starting a new enterprise is figuring out what you don’t know! We are fortunate to have a wealth of technology resources at our fingertips, but the tool is only as effective as the person using it. If you’re trying to learn how to transition to a more online presence with Zoom, Skype, or creating a website, or getting your accounts in order with QuickBooks or Excel, you can get high-quality tutorials and classes on Lynda.com.
Overdrive
All of our locations are open, and you can check out our catalog here to locate and reserve physical books, but don’t overlook the convenience of our e-book selections! As much as I love having a book in my hand, the convenience of getting e-books has really been a lifesaver this year. We have a large collection of e-books and e-audio books on the subject of business, anything from managing employees to finding a good work-life balance.
This is just a small sampling of some of the many online resources we have available to you as you get your business off the ground or work through the process of doing business in a very different way. As always, CLP staff are happy to provide you with more assistance when getting started with your business research. Although we are operating slightly differently these days, staff are available to chat, take phone calls, and schedule one-on-one appointments to help you get started. Take a look here for even more business resources from Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
This is a guest post written by Irene Yelovich, Senior Librarian with Workforce and Economic Development for Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. A special thanks to CLP staff member Julianne Moore for additional assistance.
Connect with us
Learn more about Ascender: https://ascenderpgh.com/
Sign up for our newsletter or send us a note: info@ascenderpgh.com
Follow us: Twitter — Facebook — LinkedIn — Instagram
