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The Sault EDC is partnering up with our local Bayliss Public Library to promote the amazing resources that are available for entrepreneurs through the Michigan Electronic Library. MeL is a massive, online database of books, articles, and research that is available to all Michigan residents at a very reasonable rate — a few minutes and a library card at most. (Need a library card? Most Michigan libraries — Bayliss included — provide them free of charge.)
Bayliss manager Megan Kinney says local libraries are frequent first stops for prospective business owners, and MeL provides a trove of e-resources to get them on the right page. This site simplifies the research process with hundreds of thousands of resources compiled into one location and searchable by keyword, title, date, and so on.
The following are a few of MeL’s most notable business references (full list available here):
Small Business Reference Center: This site offers resources from writing a business plan and marketing all the way to copyrighting and navigating taxes.
Regional Business News: This is a database of regional business news from all over the U.S. and Canada. Search through newspapers, radio and TV transcripts, magazines and more to keep in tune with the goings-on.
Demographics Now: This source provides information that is ideal for market analyses. Search spending statistics and other customer demographics by region to help gauge your market and adapt to consumer trends.
The EDC and Bayliss are working in tandem to provide local business owners — prospective and present — all the information they need to pursue their business ventures with clarity and confidence.
More of a paper copy type of person? MeL also connects you with a statewide network of libraries in a mass inter-library loan system, “MelCat.” Check the list of participating libraries here.