Business and Creative Support Center

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Type of Pilot Project: 
Public Service
Describe Project and Impact: 
We are proposing the creation of a business and creative support center to attract new and current members of our service community.
Project Description and Expected Outcomes: 
The Business and Creative Support Center will provide a service point for businesses and entrepreneurs to use our facilities. This addition will allow the community to have a place to outlet their creativity. By bringing in a 3D printer, multifunctional printer, musical instruments and STEAM educational tools, it will help the library system to become even more integral and relied upon by the community. The outcome of the pilot would be a place for people to visit to either complete a creative project or business activity in a fast and efficient environment while still having the area to create and evolve their work and knowledge basis.
Why should we select this project?: 
The addition of newer technology has become imperative for the library to stay relevant in this ever-evolving, fast-paced society. Due to our demographics and high volume of member usage, the Midwest City Library would be an optimal location to add key markets and add to the member penetration and retention of the goals set forth. The creation of this space is also a proven source of member retention and creation by many other libraries through out the country. The majority of the technology we are proposing are already starting to become common tools that our service area may not have the funds or access to use. The generous size of our library would also afford numerous options for the creation and ongoing operation of such a facility.
Constraints, Limitations, or Dependencies: 
Constraints that could arise from this project are the cost of updating and adding new technology as needed. We will also need to ensure that our staff is trained and knowledgeable on the general operations of the facility and the technologies found within.
Source of Inspiration: 

Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Maker Space; Johnson County Kansas Public Library Maker Space; Los Angeles Public Library Maker Space

Partner/Supporting Departments: 
Information Technology
Maintenance
Marketing
Performance Indicators: 
Market Penetration
Member Retention
Other
Other Indicator: 
Attendance, Circulation
Environment: 
Library
Relationship: 
Spark
Experience: 
TeXperiences
Cluster: 
Bright Future
New Members
Estimated Costs
Personnel: 
$0
Commodities: 
$15,000
Contractual (Professional Services): 
$500
Capital (Construction/Renovations): 
$21,500
Total: 
$37,000.00

Comments

24
kdewbre.burrows
Would this include small
Would this include small office areas for entrepreneurs to conduct meetings with clients? I feel like that would be helpful for businesses just getting started that may not yet have the capital to rent or build office space.
george.tocco
Hi kdewbre.burrows,
Hi kdewbre.burrows, Small office areas sounds like a great idea, but that may be to much for the space allotted. The pilot is more about offering the tools for entrepreneurs and small businesses to use than a space to conduct meetings for their business. The idea is to have a quick and efficient space for them to have access to things like a higher end printer and fax machine to help supplement cost and create another service we can offer.
bobby.reed
Room Rentals
We also rent spaces for relatively low prices for purposes like this. Maybe a better idea wouldn't be to have a dedicated meeting space available, but to offer room rental fee waivers to individuals starting new businesses. We could track it and prevent abuse by saying the organization has to be less than one year old or have tax documentation showing they operated at a loss in the previous fiscal year. Great idea.
drobertus
(No subject)
bobby.reed
Bandwidth
Remember to keep tech in mind. One of the most essential, and most often out of reach, resources that emerging small businesses need is dedicated bandwidth than can be relied upon. If you take a look at Omaha's "Do Space," you will see that this is one of the most attractive features to its patrons. The difference with that particular venue and most library Makerspaces, however, is that the "Do Space" was funded by private entrepreneurs.
david.newyear
(No subject)
mattalla
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kdelaney
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mkellogg
(No subject)
ckennedy
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kdelaney
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ben.mead-harvey
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llovely
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jbrooks
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jballou
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christopher.stofel
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asuhrstedt
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rachel.kopchick
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heather.zeoli
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ebedford
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afischer
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jessica.gonzalez
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ashley.welke
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tpodzemny
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