LIBRARIAN on call

by Liisa Sjoblom, Redmond Community Librarian

May Happenings

Market Research

How many of you have gone online to look for market research only to discover that the perfect report is behind a firewall? To access the report you have to be an association member or pay thousands of dollars to a market research firm. Th is is exactly what we face at the library when doing market research for customers. So, what do we do?

At this point, we start searching online for trade association websites and market research reports. But wait, didn’t I just say that these cost money through fees or membership? Yes, but often you can get some very good information from what we like to call the “teasers” market research firms provide on their sites. And, every once in a while, a trade association will share some of their findings through press releases.

We start with an industry report from one of our online resources called FirstResearch (available in the library only). While not necessarily market research, there is some market data included and a very handy list of related trade associations at the end of each report. The reports tend to cover broad industry categories, but we try to find the one that most closely matches the product or service someone is providing.

Finally, we review Census data (https://data.census.gov), Statista (www. statista.com), and general news articles and reports for any relevant data. The trick is determining what keywords are going to reveal the best information and then selecting from the most authoritative sites.

From here we move onto IBISWorld (www.ibisworld.com), which you can search for free via the Internet. While there is a fee for a full report, the Small Business Development Center (https://bit.ly/SBDCCOCC) subscribes to this resource and they can provide you with a copy.

Is this all too much for you? Then contact us through Book-a-Librarian (https://bit.ly/DPLBook) for assistance with your business research questions.

Online Business Resource: AtoZdatabases

(https://bit.ly/DPLAtoZ)

AtoZ Databases provides in-depth directory, demographic, and lifestyle information for U.S. businesses and residents. Use for sales leads, mailing lists, market research, industry specific data, employment opportunities, or simply finding friends and relatives. You can email, print or download what you find. Access is available from work or home using your library card. To learn how to use AtoZ, watch a free webinar at the AtoZU Training Center (https://bit.ly/DPLAtoZTrain).

Spotlight on Senior Services

From Library Rendezvous (https://bit.ly/DPLseniorservices), which coordinates with senior living facilities, to HomeWord Bound (https:// bit.ly/DPLHWB), which delivers library materials to home-bound seniors, your library offers a variety of resources and services to help Deschutes County’s senior residents get the most out of their library card. We also have thousands of large-print books (https:// bit.ly/DPLlargeprint), as well as eBooks (https://dpls.overdrive.com), that allow you to increase type size. And for life-long learners, don’t miss all of the great programs (www.deschuteslibrary.org/calendar) offered through the library, both in-person and online (https://bit.ly/ DPLyoutube). Sign up for our Senior Connection eNewsletter (https:// bit.ly/DPLnewsletters) to stay up-to-date with all your library offers.

Redmond Library News

The Redmond Library is officially under construction after six years of planning and preparation. The new 40,000-square-foot library is slated to open in fall 2024.

The temporary Redmond Library location is now open at 2127 S Highway 97 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. In addition to providing materials like books and DVDs, this space also offers a small meeting room, public computers and printers, seating areas and familiar artwork like the bronze “reading girl” statue.

For details, floor plans, and updates see https://www.deschuteslibrary. org/futurelibraries/redmond.