Your Start-up’s Best Friend

We're happy that Business Insider published this story about how libraries and librarians are the best resource for starters and small businesses, from idea to launch and out to the market.

In the age of Google and e-books, the local library has become little more than a relic of the pre-Internet past for most people. But as the Web evolved, so did libraries, and today these community fixtures combine the power of data with the expert researching skills of trained librarians.

While entrepreneurs may not necessarily think of this winning combination as a resource to boost their businesses, John Chrastka, president of nonprofit library political action organization EveryLibrary, believes that the library can be one of the best aides available to a startup, particularly ones in the tech sector.

"When tech entrepreneurs are in the research and development phase, libraries are a fantastic resource," Chrastka told Business News Daily. "You can research information on patents and trademarks, market intelligence, supply chains, etc. [on Google], but you'll get better search results [with the help of a librarian]. Libraries also have proprietary information and access to the 'hidden Web,' which gives a competitive advantage to tech entrepreneurs."

- See more at: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com