What’s New in Business

It’s that time of year when many of us start looking to our accomplishments and things we wanted to do this year, but haven’t succeeded in doing yet. We start setting goals for ourselves for the upcoming year.

If you are considering going into business for yourself or have a business you would like to take to the next level the Pikes Peak Library District offers a free class called Minding Your Business. This ninety-minute class will teach you how to find competitors, vendors and clients. It will help you determine how much it costs to run a business in your area and where to find funding sources to start or grow your business. It also covers advertising and marketing as well as periodicals and associations that can help you stay on top of your industry. Using the resources identified in this workshop you can write a business plan, develop and implement a new marketing strategy or create mailing lists for businesses or individuals that can help your business to grow in 2008.

The classes in January will be held on Saturday, January 5th and Tuesday, January 22nd at 8:30am at the Penrose Public Library at 20 N Cascade Avenue.

Another free class called Investment Tools at Your Library will help you become a more educated investor. You will learn how to track certain types of investments, find out about industries or companies new to you and find other investment methods you are not currently using. These classes will be held in January on Thursday, January 10th and 31st. They are also held at 8:30am at the Penrose Public Library.

The library also offers classes in Computers 101, Microsoft Word, Internet Basics and Excel as well as some others. To find when and where these classes are being offered go to http://ppld.org and choose Happenings @ Your Library on the right-hand side of the screen and then click on Computer Classes in the lower left-hand corner of the screen. This will give you a list of classes offered and a description of content covered. At the top of the Happenings screen on the left-hand side you can click on All Library Programs and be taken to a new events calendar, which lists all of the classes and programs offered at the library. Most of the classes require pre-registration and you can do this simply by calling 389-8968 or your local library branch to register.

Did you know that the library has a Speakers Bureau. Last year I developed business specific content for the following groups: Pikes Peak Sales Professionals, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, State Farm, Key Bank, Mi Casa, Colorado International Affairs, SalesPros, Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, Air Force Academy Transition Assistance Program, SCORE, Rush investment club, B2B Networking, UCCS Entrepreneur class, and Small Business Development Center NxLevel class.

Topics included: starting or growing a business, how to use library resources to find the business information and statistics you need, job hunting, investment research and networking.

If your business or nonprofit is looking for a business speaker consider offering education of library resources for your next program. Contact me at 531-6333 x2308 to request a speaker.

Do you need to learn about resources available to start or grow a business or find a job?
Check out the Free Minding Your Business class.

Do you want to learn about resources available to help you invest?
Check out the Free Investment Tools at Your Library.

For upcoming dates of both these classes click here.