ELC International 2022

Day one: Entrepreneurship & Libraries Conference International 2022 (November 1)

Day two: Entrepreneurship & Libraries Conference International 2022 (November 2)

The purpose of this free mini-conference was “‘librarians who support entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship around the world connecting, sharing, and learning with each other.”

Formats included lightning rounds (short presentations), workshops (interactive educational sessions), and networking discussions.

The planning team included librarians from Iran, India, South Africa, Thailand, Brazil, Nigeria, Tanzania, Canada, and the U.S.

Review of ELC International 2022 in Information Today.

Tuesday November 1, 2022

Workshops:

Libraries in the Social Entrepreneurship Sphere (Dr. Elizabeth T. Babarinde, Department of Library and Information Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka)

A Prototype Ontology for Modelling Entrepreneurship in Libraries (Akram Fathian (Assistant professor, Regional Information Center for Science and Technology)

Lightning rounds:

“Traveler’s Book”, a book companion: the art of pursuing social return on investment in hospital libraries (Dr. Mitra Zarei, Librarian, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences)

Analysis of Library Social Entrepreneurship from 2020-2022: The Wikimedia Factor (Ngozi Perpetua Osuchukwu, Librarian/Lecturer, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Nigeria)

Social media listening for insights into niche markets (Allison Smith, Research Librarian, University of Ottawa)

Arts X Entrepreneurship: A Framework to Support Creatives (Jimmy McKee, Entrepreneurship Libarian, Carnegie Mellon University, and Ashley Werlinich, Library Liaison to English and Drama, Carnegie Mellon University)

Wednesday November 2, 2022

Workshops:

Sustainable Solutions: Using the Impact Gaps Canvas as a Research Tool (Amanda Wheatley, Liaison Librarian for Management, Business, and Entrepreneurship, McGill University)

Businesses for a Better World: Using the UN Sustainable Development Goals in a First Year Experience Program (Wendy Pothier, Business & Economics Librarian, University of New Hampshire)

Lightning rounds:

Podcast Resources for Entrepreneurs (Annette Bochenek, Assistant Professor and Business Information Specialist, Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies)

Libraries Build Business Resources to Support Your Library in Building or Expanding an Entrepreneurship Program (Megan Janicki, Deputy Director, Strategic Initiatives, American Library Association)

Barriers to Capital Access (Hadiza SaAadu, Small Business & Non-Profit Specialist, Kansas City Public Library)

Three heads are better than one: library makerspaces & subject liaison librarians supporting local ventures (Aditi Gupta, Engineering & Science Librarian, University of Victoria; Rich McCue, Digital Scholarship Commons Manager, University of Victoria Libraries; and Emily Nickerson, Law & Business librarian, University of Victoria Libraries)

Conference Theme

The theme for the Entrepreneurship and Libraries Conference (Entrelib) International is Libraries Supporting Social Entrepreneurship Across the World. Social entrepreneurship encompasses a wide range of ventures that purport to solve problems in our local and global communities. Given social entrepreneurship’s emphasis on improving and strengthening its communities, it is inherently linked to many of the values and goals of librarianship. Social entrepreneurship is a globally relevant issue that is not centered in the global north and/or western view of capitalism, lending itself to an international conference. This, along with social entrepreneurship as a significant way to bring about economic justice, is of particular interest to younger generations, who are our libraries’ (and world’s) future leaders and changemakers. 

The conference theme not only indicates a library interest in international social entrepreneurship but also international and diverse perspectives on social entrepreneurship. This free virtual conference will explore approaches libraries have undertaken to support social entrepreneurship which can be applied internationally. What can we learn from libraries’ engagement with social entrepreneurship from elsewhere? Due to the diverse nature of social entrepreneurship, the conference committee is open to all perspectives on the topic of social entrepreneurship. More specific themes could include but are not limited to:

  • Libraries supporting social entrepreneurship that contribute to UN Sustainability Goals (actions to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity, etc.)
  • Libraries supporting globally-focused initiatives and projects 
  • Libraries partnering with and contributing to diverse social entrepreneurship ecosystems
  • Exploring information about international markets within social entrepreneurship
  • Community specific social entrepreneurship: small-scale initiatives that serve the needs of specific geographies but addresses global challenges
  • Critical analysis of social entrepreneurship in libraries

Entrelib International is open to the academic, public, and special library community, as well as our entrepreneurial ecosystem partners. Entrelib International will prioritize the inclusion of a diversity of voices as presenters for this conference. 

Co-chairs:

Entrelib International Interviews

Dr. Leili Seifi interviews Kassie Ettefagh, Greensboro Public Library, North Carolina, USA (Google Drive version)

Steve Cramer interviews Dr. Leili Seifi, University of Birjand, Iran (Google Drive version)

Dr. Leili Seifi interviews Jay Lyman, Seattle Public Library, Washington, United States (Google Drive version)

Dr. Leili Seifi interviews Frank Pennetti, Broward County Main Library, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States (Google Drive version)

Dr. Leili Seifi interviews Edward Junhao Lim, University of Connecticut, United States (Google Drive version)

Dr. Leili Seifi interviews Megan Janicki, American Library Association (Google Drive version)

Dr. Leili Seifi interviews Celine Gareau-Brennan, University of Alberta, Canada (Google Drive version)

Dr. Leili Seifi interviews Reece Steinberg, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada (Google Drive version)

Dr. Seifi interviews Summer Krstevska, Wake Forest University, United States (Google Drive version)

Dr. Seifi interviews Steve Cramer, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, United States (Google Drive version)