By connecting parish residents and businesses with valuable information, resources, materials, technology, experiences and support services, the East Baton Rouge Parish Library invests in you. It is continuously evolving, including adding new materials and resources to its physical and digital collections and on-site spaces across its 14 facilities. New acquisitions often are in direct response to library patron queries. For example, the library’s subscription to test[1]preparation platform Mometrix came out of conversations library staff had with the local business community.
“When someone asks our reference staff a question, it’s an opportunity to explore new tools and platforms,” says Assistant Director Mary Stein. “We pay attention just like any good business would. That responsiveness is important because we want this to be a collaboration with the business community.”
AT A GLANCE
Top executives: Katrina Stokes, Director; Patricia Husband, Assistant Library Director: Library Operations; Mary Stein, Assistant Library Director: Programs, Outreach & Collections
Phone: 225.231.3750
Address: 7711 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Website: ebrpl.com
The library’s responsiveness is evident through its investment in small-business services. With one-on-one consultations and curated coaching, staff members assist business owners, employees and entrepreneurs with a range of services, from taking the first steps of business planning to developing a list of potential leads in a specific area. Staff are available through scheduled appointments and walk-ins to provide guidance for business intelligence databases, including platforms such as Gale Business, Morningstar, Statista, PressReader and Data Axle. “We show them the pathway; people don’t always know where to start or who to talk to about what they need,” says Reference Services Coordinator Andrew Tadman.
