Advocate for the environment, collective imagination and learning | Writer and Getting Smart Team Member
As a child, I frequented the Johnson County Library to play with dinosaurs and check out "Adventures of Young Indiana Jones." While I only have a satchel as proof of those earlier interests, my love for libraries has remained. The wild thing about libraries is that they do SO much more than provide books (and providing books is no small thing). As a board member of Friends of The Seattle Public Library, I've been learning about many of the programs that The Seattle Public Library offers. While this library system is uniquely wonderful (as all are), the amazing thing is that libraries across the country are innovating and meeting community needs in new ways. From legal and tax support and gaining new technical skills to business consulting and connecting people to local opportunities and mentors, libraries are an essential part of weaving communities together. I recently learned about Libraries as Launchpads, a national program that equips librarians to support the entrepreneurial pursuits of their communities. At Getting Smart we often talk about how entrepreneurial mindset and problem framing are essential skills of the future. Imagine schools across the country partnering with libraries and librarians for entrepreneurship support, access to databases and market research, and deep local knowledge... These partnerships could supercharge a young person's curiosity and help equip them with a best next step toward their vision. Uncharted Learning, NFP | INCubatoredu Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Margarita Geleske Christy Scott Jay Lyman Tom Fay Lisa Lee
What if the key to launching your business wasn’t in an expensive program or a private consultant—but at your local library? The Seattle Public Library (SPL) has been a hub for entrepreneurs for over a century, offering free resources, expert guidance, and a powerful network of support. "We don’t have a ton of records from those earliest days, but we do still have pieces of the collection from the early 1900s, which make it clear that they were supporting those starting and growing businesses," says Jay Lyman from SPL. In a new Getting Smart Blog, Mason Pashia explores SPL’s Library to Business (L2B) team, which provides one-on-one business information appointments, market research tools, LinkedIn Learning access, and partnerships with organizations like SCORE Greater Seattle. Libraries aren't just places to check out books—they're engines of innovation, empowering individuals to turn ideas into action: https://lnkd.in/gfvD5JxT #GettingSmart #GettingSmartBlog #SeattlePublicLibrary #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #Libraries #CommunityDevelopment