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Nourishing a Community: Mechanicville Farmers Market, Garden & Orchard

Submitted by brussell on Fri, 2017-12-22 00:00

A booth at the Farmers Market

In June 2017, the Mechanicville District Public Library kicked off a community farmers market on the library’s front lawn. Throughout the summer, on Mondays from 4 to 7 p.m., hundreds of people came to stock up on vegetables, pasta, eggs, honey and other goods from local farms.

For a community with a 16.3 percent poverty rate, a market delivering fresh, local goods at affordable prices was a game-changer, and it also gave local farms an opportunity to sell their products.

Small Business Saturday® Kids’ Movie and Craft

Submitted by sostman on Wed, 2017-09-20 14:22

kids watching a movie with popcorn

Working with our local high school honor society and student council, we provided two hours of childcare to enable parents to shop locally without their children on Small Business Saturday. Relying on volunteers helped us carry out an event on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, when staffing can be tricky.

We showed the newly released-to-DVD movie "Finding Dory" with popcorn and hot chocolate followed by a craft: “countdown to Christmas” paper chains.

Shop Small® Lakeview

Submitted by sostman on Wed, 2017-09-20 13:33

Show Love and #ShopSmall at Tamarack District Library

As a Neighborhood Champion for Small Business Saturday®, Tamarack District Library organized a scavenger hunt showcasing local businesses and incorporating Shop Small® swag.

The event was held in collaboration with 19 small businesses, including restaurants, retail shops, an artist studio and a grocery store. Participants had a week to visit the businesses, pick up a Small Business Saturday card that the library created for them, and return to the library to collect a prize.

Business on a Budget: Programming for Entrepreneurs

Close-up of woman using laptop

Every library serves entrepreneurs. They come in ready to expand upon an idea; some are looking to share this idea with the community. We offer tons of tangible tools for entrepreneurs-in-training, sending them home with stacks of books and resources. Some libraries create makerspaces to encourage idea generation and rent conference rooms for important meetings.  Your library’s programs can provide another outlet for entrepreneurs. However, there’s no need to stretch your already-limited budget (and staff) too thin.

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