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Small business owners and entrepreneurs have the potential to be a large user group for public libraries and are in need of many of the library's resources and services. One opportunity that can be used to reach this audience is by offering specialized library programming. In this article, the author describes a small business lecture series that was launched at the St. Louis County Library in 2012, including how this opportunity was identified, the process for developing the programming, creating a community partnership, marketing and evaluating the series, and other benefits that have arisen from the library's new initiative. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of International Research Journal of Business Studies is the property of Prasetiya Mulya Publishing, Universitas Prasetiya Mulya and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Mentoring has been found instrumental for successful survival of enterprises; yet, the enablers of the mentoring process, i.e., the mentors are under-researched in terms of their typology and effectiveness. Consequently, it leads potential entrepreneurs (mentees) to remain uneducated about their future mentors, which creates a gap in the process of uniting mentors and mentees, leading to a less amicable relationship with less possibility of entrepreneurial growth. The purpose of this study is to provide a knowledge base about mentors for their selection while engaging in mentoring of potential entrepreneurs. A mix-method approach has been adopted to conceive the study in a logical and sequential manner. First, experts from the field were interviewed to develop a typology of mentors, the inductive phenomenon facilitated in the development of a list of types of mentors. Next, the effectiveness of listed mentors was measured through a survey data of potential entrepreneurs. We argued that since mentees take a risk on their capital and career, they should be educated about the mentors and their preferences should be examined; thus, data were analyzed using multivariate analysis, which enhanced the validity of finding in an exploratory design through post hoc tests. The results of the study revealed that at least twenty types of mentors or combination of mentors exist in entrepreneurship domain and potential entrepreneurs preferred mentors from academia and a group of mentors with varied expertise. Interestingly, they have not preferred mentors from industry. The findings were rationalized based on the background of the mentees and the complex business environment. Policy makers may develop policies for entrepreneurship development considering not only entrepreneurs but also mentors. Understanding the preferences of potential entrepreneurs would help in the recruitment, training, and selection of mentors for the venture as well as in outlining the entrepreneurship development programs. The typology of mentors would make them aware about the available mentors and help them to contact mentors according to their mentoring and entrepreneurial needs. The findings have helped in filling the gaps in the literature by providing the understanding about types of mentors available in entrepreneurship domain and their effectiveness in mentoring. Moreover, a scale has been developed to conduct further research and hence provided the ground for prospective researchers in the domain. The study is first of its kind in India and no similar studies have been reported in other countries. The study has provided tangible grounds to mentors and mentees to understand respective perspectives. Additionally, it will help both of them in preparing themselves for forthcoming challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are considerable debates about the existence, nature, and application of entrepreneurship within the public sector. The present survey analyzes the application of entrepreneurship in Iranian public sector organizations. For this purpose, the situation of entrepreneurship within the head offices of Iranian public service organizations was considered. Also, based on McKeinsy and Daft's frameworks, different internal and external factors were determined and the effects of them on organizational entrepreneurship were studied. The findings of the present study show that these organizations do not have a desirable entrepreneurial posture; in addition, to develop this posture, internal and external organizational factors should provide the necessary conditions and support entrepreneurial behaviors and activities in public organizations. This survey identifies numerous shortcomings and provides some suggestions for developing and cultivating organizational entrepreneurship, so the results and findings of this survey can clarify the route toward establishing and developing organizational entrepreneurship within Iran's public sector. In this regard and based on the findings, a framework is provided for the relationships of internal and external factors with organizational entrepreneurship in Iran's public service sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the significant proposals for reform to the patent system for addressing the challenges faced by innovators, entrepreneurs and small entities in patenting their inventions in the U.S. It analyzes the efforts of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office in developing effective programs such as the Small Entity Prioritized Examination (SEPE) program for enhancing the patenting process for small business inventors.

The article focuses on the independent and sovereign principality of Monaco's successful economic model. The author mentions its Constitution which was enacted on December 17, 1962 and its government based on hereditary monarchy and constitutionality. Topics include the administration of Monegasque ruler Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and Monaco's geographic position, its financial situation, and its creation of the Monaco Welcome and Business Office, which caters to entrepreneurs.

The strategic management of public relations in local development intervention opens important possibilities to enhance the socio-economic aspect of the municipalities. The objective of this research, developed for the period 2007-2011, is to provide comprehensive support to entrepreneurs belonging to disadvantaged groups of small municipalities in the Madrid region, characterized by low rates of entrepreneurship, limited facilities and infrastructure, depopulation, aging populations and poor employability rates. Through ad hoc methodology, establishing a network of municipalities that will promote local business development initiatives of solidarity, to enhance social quality of the associated municipalities, counties integrated Western Sierra, Sierra Norte and Las Vegas-Country of Henares. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sozialer Fortschritt is the property of Duncker & Humblot GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We investigate economic and subjective effects of public business advice delivered to nascent entrepreneurs in Germany. We analyze data from the Thuringian Founder Study, an inter- disciplinary research project on innovative entrepreneurship. Employing cluster analysis, we first explore the actual scope and intensity of business advice used. Two distinct groups of policy take-up can be identified: (1) use of intense assistance across all areas, and (2) use of less-intensive assistance being limited to operational issues. Then we analyze personal entrepreneurial resources (human and social capital, entrepreneurial personality profile) as predictors of take-up and perceived usefulness taking into account the different patterns of utilized advice. Finally, we assess economic effects by studying subsequent business performance employing propensity score matching. We cannot reveal that business advice translated into better start-up performance, but our results indicate that advice may help founders with fewer resources to overcome barriers in the founding process. We find that a lack of personal entrepreneurial resources predicts take-up of business advice in general as well as perceived usefulness of comprehensive business advice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses how to use freely available resources such as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Patent Database to develop an outreach program to help customers. It states that knowing one's customers better allows to iteratively refine one's approach and continue to provide important outreach programming. It notes that librarians can offer targeted programs for busy entrepreneurs. Details regarding the outreach programs for business and paralegals are included.

Since American Airlines introduced frequent-flier programs in 1981, an estimated twenty-four million people have joined approximately forty programs, earning about 875 billion miles of credit. Most frequent fliers are businesspeople collecting mileage credits while traveling on corporate expense. Employers and other observers assume that many of them pad this perk by arranging unnecessary or circuitous travel on premium fares at less than convenient times. Some corporations have taken steps to minimize or curtail abuse by putting restrictions on employee travel arrangements, or by recapturing the awards for future business trips, the latter resulting in an estimated three to five percent saving on corporate airline travel expenses. However, the corporate confiscation of travel awards often creates employee hostility, especially when some of the mileage credits are earned on non-business trips and activities. U.S. airlines do not allow separate corporate accounts, so neither employer nor employee can easily separate business and non-business mileage accrual. Our investigation indicates that the problem of employee abuse of frequent-flier benefits is not as widespread as assumed. We recommend a policy that some corporations already use: frequent-flier awards accrue to the travel-weary employee as partial compensation for what has become a less than glamorous way to travel. The only conditions are that employees must not abuse this privilege and should conduct themselves in an ethical manner consistent with the best interest of the corporation, when making travel plans. We also predict that corporations eventually will be allowed to join frequent-flier programs directly, earning bonus awards on corporate travel accounts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the two separate reader opinions towards the "Journal of Consumer Research." They include one an academic market interested primarily in theories of consumer behavior and a business market most concerned with substantive aspects of consumer behavior. The business group places limited value on abstract concepts or technical articles. The readership is strongly polarized and various options for managing the journal are presented. They include moving towards the academic or business readership or continuing on the current path, which promotes diversity of topics and the sharing of consumer research.

Identifies the diverse groups whose needs the Small Business Institute program is bound to address. Characteristics defining success for each group; Need to integrate the various goals of these groups.

The article offers information on the nonprofit The Funding Network (TFN), which allows entrepreneurs to pitch for funds at live crowd-funding events. Topics covered include the organizations that the TFN aims to fund, the involvement of the Macquarie Group Foundation with TFN, and some of the organisations that have benefited from TFN.

The article highlights ways libraries can extend their services to small businesses and entrepreneurs, including making available resources like books, business directories and business databases. Topics discussed include strategies to better serve small businesses and important factors to consider when presenting to business owners or those planning to open a startup.

The article discusses a project by The Center for Law and Intellectual Property (CLIP) at Texas A&M University's School of Law to help entrepreneurs address intellectual property (IP) strategy. Topics include goals of CLIP including providing legal expertise for innovators, the creation of the business incubator Start-Up Aggieland on campus, and training law students to communicate better with entrepreneurs.