Small Business Development
at the North Richland Hills Public Library
Elizabeth N. Russell

In June 1995, representatives from SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) approached the North Richland Hills Public Library to sponsor a series of three seminars on topics of interest to small business operators and entrepreneurs. The location of the library, on a busy and accessible intersection in fast-growing northeastern Tarrant County, offered an ideal site for the organization to expand their operations outside of their downtown Fort Worth headquarters. The idea of offering their services within a public library, where a variety of helpful reference sources is available, was also attractive.

SCORE is an all-volunteer organization sponsored by the Small Business Administration. Retired executives provide counseling to small business owners and would-be entrepreneurs free of charge. Included in their ranks are experts in the fields of finance, banking, management, marketing and the law. Before initiating the program in North Richland Hills, their services in Tarrant County could be obtained only at the Fort Worth Business Assistance Center at Water Gardens Place in downtown Fort Worth. [Right: North Richland Hills Public Library patrons use new business databases in the reference area.]

The introductory seminars — "So you want to start a business?," "So you want to write a business plan?," and "So you want a business loan" — generated an enthusiastic response, so enthusiastic, in fact, that SCORE suggested providing individual counseling services one evening a week during the fall. This program, which began on October 3, 1995, was to be strictly experimental, involving no long-term commitment on the part of either SCORE or the library. Once again, the response was positive and the program continued through the spring and summer of 1996.

Counseling sessions take place in the library on Thursday evenings from 6:00–8:30 p.m. To date, an average of two persons per evening have been counseled. As of June 1996, 83 actual or prospective business owners had participated. Of this number, 25 are currently working on start-up operations. Of these 25, eight have sought further advice at the downtown location. Counselors are confident that at least one new business will be launched in fall 1996. Tom Fleming, SCORE counselor and initiator of the North Richland Hills program, said, "It is interesting to note that most of our contact is the result of word of mouth and signs in the [library] entry as well as the reference desk." He further noted: "The client appears to be more enthusiastic at the library than at the downtown center. We see more return customers at North Richland Hills Library than at the Business Assistance Center."

Because of the success of the program, SCORE and the library staff plan to establish a permanent assistance center in the library and market it more vigorously. This center would include a small business resources room and extended counseling hours. The Small Business Association and SCORE will provide additional resources and volunteer staff. The library will provide dedicated space, a computer and Internet connection, and access to a growing collection of business materials.

In October 1996, the city of North Richland Hills signed a contract with the local SCORE chapter, formalizing their use of office space in the North Richland Hills Library. In January 1997, counseling hours expanded to include Mondays between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. As word of this program spreads, participation has increased. In all of 1996, 125 persons were seen on Thursday evenings on a one-on-one basis. With the increase in office hours, 1997 should see a significant increase in the number of persons served.

In the fall of 1996, the North Richland Hills Public Library received a grant from the North Texas Regional Library System (NTRLS) to improve the business reference collection. The grant funded the acquisition of additional reference books, periodicals and databases to expand an already extensive collection. NTRLS grant funds also allowed the purchase of two microcomputers and two additional CD-ROM databases. The purpose of the grant is to establish the North Richland Hills Library as a local business reference center. The presence of the SCORE program in the building enhances that purpose and makes an important community resource even more valuable.

Current activities include the preparation of an extensive bibliography of business materials in the library for distribution to patrons and regional libraries. Long-range plans include expanded counseling hours and continued enhancement of business services.

The success of the North Richland Hills project has drawn the attention of other SCORE chapters in the region. It is possible that they will seek to establish programs in other public library facilities. Encouraging and even soliciting such a program to locate in the public library is an excellent way for librarians to provide a valuable service at little cost and to enhance the relevance of library service to the community.