We want to hear from you!

Have you used Free Library resources to start, build, or grow your business? Did you attend a class or workshop that really motivated you to enhance an aspect of your business? Did a librarian show you how to use a database or resource? If so, we want to hear YOUR story!

Please write to us at erefbsi@freelibrary.org with your name, email, phone number, and description of your experience or submit your answers here.

Financial Matters and Accounting

Wednesday, February 3, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Parkway Central Library, Rooms 405/406/407 (Fourth Floor)

1901 Vine Street, 19103

Gary O'Brien, Vice-President, Finance, of SCORE Philadelphia, will discuss important accounting topics crucial to your business.

Match your business concept with your personal income goals
Gain a better understanding of financial risks and rewards
Identify early development and start-up costs, ongoing operations expenses and the funds needed to finance the business
Have a plan to help guide business decisions and monitor results

Presented in partnership with SCORE Philadelphia.

Click here to register or call 215-686-5394.

Building Your Private Reserve

Wednesday, February 10, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Parkway Central Library, Rooms 405/406/407 (Fourth Floor)

1901 Vine Street, 19103

Is worrying about money causing you and your family stress and making you unhappy? Without economic freedom you are not free.

Learn about the Private Reserve Strategy!

You will learn the following at this free workshop:

How to become a wealth creator versus a saver or debtor
How to avoid or minimize losses from the interest you are paying to banks and finance companies for the major items you need during your lifetime (i.e., cars, homes, education, business expenses, etc.)
What benefits are associated with various savings vehicles

Presentation by Curtis May, SCORE volunteer and principal of May Financial Services and May Enterprises Inc.

Presented in partnership with SCORE Philadelphia.

Click here to register or call 215-686-5394.

Planning for the Business Owner

Wednesday, February 17, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Parkway Central Library, Rooms 405/406/407 (Fourth Floor)

1901 Vine Street, 19103

Do you have questions about owning a business?

There are many things you need to consider when planning and starting your business. This workshop will cover many different areas regarding planning and owning a business including:

Understanding the team approach to business planning and putting together a team of advisors to best serve the business
Identifying the business's goal
Problem solving as your business grows
Discussing executive benefits that may help a company attract and retain long term employees

Presented in partnership with the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians.

Click here to register or call 215-686-5394.

The Gift of Digital Gab: Social Media Marketing 101

Wednesday, February 17, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Parkway Central Library, Skyline Room (Fourth Floor)

1901 Vine Street, 19103

AJ Pitts, from Magenta Madison Limited, presents a highly interactive workshop on introductory best practices of Social Media use for your Business/Personal Brand. This energy filled workshop includes tips and tools on:

How to determine the best social media platforms for your brand
Building and retaining followers
Enhancing social media engagement
Benefits of blogging vs. vlogging
Maintaining brand consistency
Social Media dos and don'ts

Click here to register or call 215-686-5394.

Introduction to Blogging

Tuesday, February 23, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Parkway Central Library, Ground Floor Tech Lab

1901 Vine Street, 19103

Instructors will demonstrate how to create a basic site using Google Blogger with a particular focus on small business and on marketing your product or service. Anyone with an interest in building a website or blog is welcome to attend. We will also discuss print and digital resources available at the Free Library to help you improve and maintain your blog or website.

A Free Library card, email address, and basic computer skills are prerequisites. It is strongly encouraged that you have access to a Gmail account as well.

Space is limited to 12 people per class. Tickets are available 30 minutes before class begins in the lobby of the library. You must show your Free Library card in order to receive a ticket.

Call 215-686-5394 for more information.

Providing the Best Customer Service

Wednesday, February 24, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Parkway Central Library, Rooms 405/406 (Fourth Floor)

1901 Vine Street, 19103

There are skills that every business needs to provide great customer service. Without them, it can lead to losing a customer to a competitor. Why let that happen?

We will discuss:

Raising the level of customer service for your business
Increasing consistency in the levels of service
Exploring ways to handle difficult customers
Your Action Plan - how to provide excellent customer service for your business

Presented by Mary Livingston, Chapter Chair/President, SCORE Philadelphia

Presented in partnership with SCORE Philadelphia.

Click here to register or call 215-686-5394.

Next month!

New & Improved Business Plan Toolkit

Monday, March 7 and Thursday, March 10, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Parkway Central Library,
Room 405 (Fourth Floor)

1901 Vine Street, 19103

Please join us for this newly updated two-part series. Learn to use free library resources to research your business plan professionally!

Monday, March 7th at 6:30 PM

Part I: Get an introduction to business plans, NAICS codes, and start researching the competition.

Thursday, March 10th at 6:30 PM

Part II: Target your audience by learning to find and use demographic information. Gain executive perspective by learning to research your industry; then work on developing your financial plan.

This course is (BYOL) Bring Your Own Laptop, so if you would like to actively participate please make sure that you bring a fully-charged laptop (charging space is limited). Intermediate computer skills are required.

Advance registration is required as space is limited; please contact the Business, Science and Industry Department directly to register at erefbsi@freelibrary.org or 215-686-5394. Please note that your registration includes both sessions.

Save the date!

The Human Side of Investing: Why We're Wired to Make Money Mistakes, and What We Can Do About It

Wednesday, March 2, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Parkway Central Library,
Rooms 405/406/407 (Fourth Floor)

1901 Vine Street, 19103

Have you ever made a money decision which you later regretted? Join us to learn what the fascinating fields of Behavioral Finance and NeuroEconomics can tell us about why and how the human brain is not good at money. Stephanie McCullough, founder of Sofia Financial, will help attendees learn about how we can take steps to change things and make better financial decisions!

Click here to register or call 215-686-5394.

One-on-One: Get Your Business Online with Google Consultations

Research shows that 97% of consumers search the web to find local goods and services, however only 37% of businesses have claimed a local business listing on a search engine. The Free Library of Philadelphia's Business Department is teaming up with Google to help put you in control of your online presence. Sign up for a one-on-one session to run a quick diagnostic analysis to see how your business shows up on Google search, and learn how to get your business found online! If your business is listed as unverified, we will help you claim your local listing. If your business is already on the map, we will discuss ways to increase your visibility online!

Sessions are free and approximately 30 minutes in length. They will take place in the Business, Science & Industry Department located on the second floor of Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine Street. Please reach out to us with any questions at 215-686-5394, or via email at erefbsi@freelibrary.org.

Of interest!

Understanding Credit

Saturday, January 30, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Northeast Regional Library

2228 Cottman Avenue, 19149

Join us and learn:

How credit works
How to obtain and analyze your own credit report
What your credit score means
How to reorganize your budget to possibly reduce your bill and credit payments

Presented by Erin Ellis, Financial Educator, Philadelphia Federal Credit Union.

This event is free and registration is not required.

For more information call 215-685-0522.

Also of interest!

Doing Business with the Federal Government

Saturday, February 27, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Northeast Regional Library

2228 Cottman Avenue, 19149

The federal government is the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world.

In this program you will learn:

How your business can become a contractor with the federal government
How your small business can market your services or goods to the federal government

Presented by George Tapia, Small Business Administration Business Opportunity Specialist and Rob Goza, Economic Development Specialist/Public Information Officer

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps to ensure small businesses get fair opportunities to share federal government prime contracts.

For more information call 215-685-0522.

Connect with us for event news, updates, and more!