It starts with a dream. A dream of creating something useful, of bringing needed goods or services to a community, of being your own boss and starting a business. Just knowing where to begin can be the biggest challenge. Your local public libraries are here to assist you with your entrepreneurial and creative journey!
The Durango Public Library premiered our Patent and Trademark Resource Center in May. Specially trained professional librarians can instruct you on how to research patents and trademarks, protecting your intellectual property and getting prepared to move forward in the process. The only PTRC library in the Four Corners, the Durango Public Library offers access to web-based and exclusive in-house databases from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Contact us to schedule an appointment with our PTRC specialist and learn how to use the variety of tools available to assist you in your research.
Durango Public Library offers additional business-focused databases, available exclusively with your library card. Our partnership with the Durango Chamber of Commerce provides access to Reference USA, the premier source of business and residential information for reference and research. With Reference USA, you can create marketing plans, conduct competitive analysis, raise funds and locate people. DPL also shares BusinessDecision, a database enabling you to research demographic, consumer and market segmentation data. Discover where your potential customers spend their money, the lifestyles they lead, and use the data to determine how to meet their needs locally. I find the market segmentation fascinating. DPL also connects with the Southwest Colorado Small Business Development Center to provide classes on starting your own business.
September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month. To encourage people to get a library card, the Durango Public Library partners with local businesses to bring you the Library Card Discount Month program. Businesses and services offer discounts or incentives when you show your DPL card throughout the month of September. For more information, visit our website at www.durangopubliclibrary.org or stop in for a booklet to learn about the fantastic business offerings and to get a library card.
The Durango Public Library is not alone in providing amazing resources to our communities. The Ignacio Community Library makes available their IdeaLab. One of the highlights is their photography studio, where people can photograph their goods in a professional environment to sell online or create advertising. The Pine River Library District is actively building their business resources. One of their highlights is a WordPress workgroup that meets there on the last Friday of each month from 3 to 5 p.m. While offerings may vary at each location, your libraries provide access to an abundance of books, various research databases, study rooms, program rooms to rent, scanning and more.
We all have hopes and dreams. What’s holding you back? Now is the time to visit your local public library and make those dreams a reality!
Sandy Irwin is director at Durango Public Library.
