Fall 2023: Refresh & Refocus: Libraries’ New Trends in Supporting Entrepreneurship

Wednesday, November 1, 2023, 2-5pm Eastern
Free, online

If you have any questions, please contact the Entrelib Fall Conference Committee co-chairs Kellee Forkenbrock ([email protected]) or Céline Gareau-Brennan ([email protected]

Planning team


Recording of this mini-conference

See below for the agenda and schedule.


Pre-Recorded Sessions

“We Do Business Here: Shifting Library Staff Perspectives on Supporting Entrepreneurship” by Caitlyn Tipps, Plano Public Library (Texas, USA) [slides]

“The Entrepreneurial Spirit and A Money Smart Week Event” by Marina Narvaez, University of Utah (USA) [slides]

“Empowering Nigerian Librarians and Library Users as Catalysts for Entrepreneurship: Lessons from the COVID 19 Pandemic” by Obim, Ify Evangel (Cln, Lecturer), Department Of Library & Information Science, University Of Nigeria [slides]

“Entrepreneurship Capacity Building Needs of Academic Librarians for Effective Service Delivery in Colleges of Education in North-East Nigeria” by Chukwudum, Maureen Jegbefume (Ph.D), Federal College of Education(Tech) Gombe State, Nigeria, Bantai Rabi Chislon (Ph.D), University Library, A.T.B.U Bauchi State, Nigeria, and Victoria O. Itsekor, Centre for Learning Resource, Covenant University, Ota Ogun State Nigeria [slides]


Agenda and Schedule

Wednesday, November 1, 2023, 2-5pm Eastern/New York time

Time (NewYork) Agenda ItemSpeakersLength
2:00 – 2:10Welcome, about ELC, thank yous, code of conduct, agenda review (4 presentations, 15 minutes each; 3 Lightning Talks , 7 minutes each + 1 minute transition)5 minutes
2:10 – 2:17Lightning Talk: Alliance Francaise in Madagascar: leader in culture and entrepreneurship Camille Lefebvre, Trainer & Facilitator, Alliance Francaise in Madagascar7 min.
2:20 – 2:35Presentation: Learning Life skills for socio-economic activities in Public Libraries in Nigeria: The Entrepreneurial initiativesNgozi Perpetua Osuchukwu, CLN (PhD), Librarian; Nkechi Sabina Udeze, Librarian; Nnamdi Azikiwe, University Awka, Nigeria15 min.
2:35 – 2:42Lightning Talk: Empowering Students’ Competencies with Business Plan: The Innovative Approach in the Classroom in a Nigeria UniversityIfeyinwa Nkechi Okonkwo, Librarian & LIS Educator; Obianuju Ejeagwu Nwafor-Orizu, Librarian;
Ngozi Perpetua Osuchukwu, CLN (PhD) Librarian; Nnamdi Azikiwe, University Awka, Nigeria
7 min.
2:45 – 3:00Presentation: Becoming a Valued Partner in the Entrepreneurial CommunityMeghann Kuhlmann, Research and Instruction Librarian; Jessica Pierpoint, Patent and Trademark Specialist, Wichita State University15 min.
3:00 – 3:07Lightning Talk: Patent Research Essentials: A Learning Module for InnovatorsKara Van Abel, Reference Librarian & Liaison to the Collat School of Business, The University of Alabama at Birmingham7 min.
3:10 – 3:25Presentation: Inside Business: Lessons & Reflections from Entrepreneurship Sessions at Cook County Jail Women’s DivisionMariah McGregor, MLIS, Assistant Professor and Reference Librarian for Business and Economics, University of Illinois Chicago15 min.
3:25 – 3:32Lightning Talk: Teens and Entrepreneurship: What We LearnedKristin Linscott, Outreach & Engagement, Plano Public Library7 min.
3:35 – 3:50Presentation – “Team Up for Entrepreneurial Success”: Building Small Business-focused Library ProgrammingEmily Raymond, Public Services Librarian; Caitlyn Tipps, Public Services Librarian Senior, both at Plano Public Library15 min.
3:50 – 4:00Break10 min.
4:00 – 4:15Presentation: The Happiness Project: A collaboration between Velocity and the LibraryRachel Figueiredo, Entrepreneurship & Management Sciences Librarian, University of Waterloo; Ben Graham, Problem Lab Manager, Velocity15 min.
4:15- 4:22Lightning Talk: Academic Business Librarians Guiding Pitch Competition ResearchChris Sturgeon, Business Librarian & Will Parker, Business Librarian, both from the University of South Florida7 min.
4:25 – 4:40Presentation: Reevaluating the Business Canvas to Assist Pre Entrepreneur to Business OwnerRachel Stevenson, Librarian, Erie County Public Library15 min.
4:40 – 4:55Presentation: Empowering Entrepreneurs: A Library Model to Support Startup EcosystemsXue Huang, StartSpace Lead, State Library of Victoria, Australia 15 min.
4:55 – 5:00Final discussion

The conference’s theme Refresh & Refocus relates to the ever-expanding work that libraries of all types are doing to serve entrepreneurs in their communities and contexts. It also acknowledges that library staff approach this work with a wide range of knowledge, and access to resources. This event seeks to provide a forum for expanding library understanding about the diversity that exists among these “entrepreneurials,” their needs, and both proven and emerging ways libraries can support and sustain entrepreneurs in their journeys. It also seeks to provide an opportunity for individual staff members and their libraries to assess where serving these populations fits in their institution’s priorities and how best to align their staff and resources to serve these engines of economic growth.

Examples of topics of interest include:

  • How libraries position themselves in entrepreneurial ecosystems.
  • Studies of information/resource needs and practices of entrepreneurs.
  • Services focused on serving specific populations: teens, senior adults, immigrants, blue collar/trades, individuals impacted by systemic racism, rural populations, economically disadvantaged.
  • Examples of effective community partnerships and how to establish and maintain them.
  • While acknowledging the value of community partnerships, we are interested in “home-grown” programs developed internally by libraries leveraging the library’s staff and resources.