Laramie County Library System in Cheyenne, Wyoming Launches New Business Service: L2B
Laramie County Library System in Cheyenne, Wyoming, has hired a business librarian and launched the first business program of its kind in the state. The program, called L2B (Library to Business), has been created by Diane Pawling over the past six months.
Establishing a business information service to let people know about the wealth of information about business that is available has been a longtime goal of the library. “We are pleased to have someone of Diane’s experience and expertise to bring this service to fruition which is another step in the library’s role as a community center,” says Lucie Osborn, County Librarian.
Pawling’s job is to engage people who are thinking about starting a business, existing businesses that need help, non-profits, investors and job seekers. “We are not duplicating services that are being provided by other entities,“ Pawling explains. “We are connectors, helping people connect with the services they need.” The connections, in addition to library resources, will be with agencies such as the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, AARP, Small Business Administration, Cheyenne SCORE, Cheyenne LEADS, Wyoming Business Council, Wyoming Entrepreneur’s SBDC (Small Business Development Center), MRC (Market Research Center) and Wyoming Women’s Business Center. As part of L2B, Pawling offers one-on-one consultations by appointment. The library also offers many online resources, available free with a library card.
Pawling has a master’s degree in library science from Villanova University in Pennsylvania. She worked 12 years as a corporate librarian in a major utility company, followed by six years as a public library director and seven years as a business reference librarian. She runs her own small business with her husband. Her position is unique, making Laramie County Library the only library in the state to have a business librarian with the exception of the University of Wyoming.
L2B has already begun to offer workshops. Topics include Thinking about Starting a New Business, Tools for Small Business Financial Management, Encore Entrepreneur Workshop and What Do Customers Really Want? For information, visit the L2B website at http://www.lclsonline.org/