Research and Resources for Kentucky’s Entrepreneurs

UK Libraries is doing its part to answer President Todd’s call to strengthen Kentucky’s economy. For the past three years, the Libraries has collaborated with the Kentucky Small Business Development Center (KSBDC) and the Advanced Science & Technology Commercialization Center (ASTeCC) to help entrepreneurs start or expand their businesses. Becky Naugle and Gordon Garrett, director and associate director for Kentucky SBDC, recognize the valuable role librarians can play. As Dr. Naugle says, “the research library is an integral resource for the KSBDC and the small business community. This valuable data and research provides the framework of information making it possible for informative business decisions to be made.” ASTeCC works with UK faculty to apply the results of their research to start high-tech companies. Jessica Williams and Natasha Jones, ASTeCC commercialization specialists commented, “We rely on the expert help of UK Libraries’ business team, Eeva Hoch and Peter Hessenldenz, to find information on the highly technical, specialized fields that our client’s business demands.”

At the library, entrepreneurs receive initial instruction on how to do basic research that becomes part of the information used by KSBDC or ASTeCC to assess the viability of their idea. If their idea is viable, the entrepreneur returns back to the library for more instruction and in-depth research. “The help UK librarians provide is crucial because business plan information such as consumer demographics, industry information, competitor information, and funding options can be hard to find,” says Natasha Jones. In addition to working with individual entrepreneurs, UK librarians conduct one-on-one and group training for the Centers’ staff to teach them how to find and evaluate business information.

As the Commonwealth’s premier research library, UK Libraries holds the State’s most extensive collection of business resources and has librarians trained in business information and research. In economic times like these, helping to create new, small businesses that create new jobs is important work for UK Libraries and for the Commonwealth.

For more information contact business librarian Peter Hesseldenz at (859) 257-0500 ext. 2117 or e-mail phessel@email.uky.edu.