Back to top

Square One Client Spotlight Series: Darlene Deluca

Square One Client Spotlight Series: Darlene Deluca

April 13, 2022

The Library’s Square One Small Business Services team supports local entrepreneurs by connecting them with valuable business resources, offering free educational classes, and providing one-on-one guidance. Several Square One clients recently shared their experiences working with the Library and how it has helped their businesses.

Kansas City author Darlene Deluca is one such client. As an independent author, Deluca says building a relationship with a local library is advantageous for lesser-known authors who want to get their name out and increase their readership.

Libraries connect authors and readers, but beyond that, Deluca says Library staff understand that authors are small business owners and offer a comprehensive suite of online resources that help entrepreneurs learn basic skills that they need. This includes tools to help them build a cohesive business plan as well as tutorials to create reports and perform analyses. In addition, Square One offers mentoring to help guide small business owners.

MCPL staff’s individualized approach and personal attention has been critical for helping Deluca learn important skills like social media marketing. That personal touch and access to expert help was an important differentiator between Square One and other small business resources.

“Depending on how you learn and how you absorb things, it's just so much more effective to have a real person there,” she said. “Sitting and listening to a podcast or trying to read some instructions online, it just doesn't work for me.”

Deluca’s advice to other entrepreneurs is to seek out networking opportunities with local groups of authors as well as programs and services offered by their local library.

“If you can find a place like the library where you can find experts to work with to just sift through all the information that's out there … it’s very helpful,” she said.

Read more about Deluca’s experience working with Square One here.

This blog was adapted from materials authored by Knology, a social science research and evaluation nonprofit. These materials were produced in partnership with Urban Libraries Council for the Strengthening Libraries as Entrepreneurial Hubs initiative, a project funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Knology was the independent external evaluator for the project and is solely responsible for the content in the original material.

 

View All Blogs

Read Similar Blogs:
Business

Resources You May Also Like

Kansas City Star

Search articles about local and regional news from 1880 forward.
More Info

Kansas City Business Journal

Read the most recent issues and special publications online.
More Info

Business: Insights

Find company profiles, histories, and industry news.
More Info

Economics and Theory

Access full-text publications regarding topics in economics.
More Info

Events You May Also Like

Blogs You May Also Like

Library’s Annual Food Business Conference Returns March 9 & 10
Read More

Library’s Annual Food Business Conference Returns March 9 & 10

Mid-Continent Public Library’s annual
Square One Virtual Seminar Offers Financial Guidance to Small Businesses
Read More

Square One Virtual Seminar Offers Financial Guidance to Small Businesses

On Friday, October 23, at 9:00 a.m., Mid-Continent Public Library’s
Square One Client Spotlight Series: Daniel's BBQ Sauces
Read More

Square One Client Spotlight Series: Daniel's BBQ Sauces

The Library’s Square One Small Business Services team su
Global Entrepreneurship Week Kansas City
Read More

Global Entrepreneurship Week Kansas City

Global Entrepreneurship Week, started by the Kauffman Foundation in 2008, is now celebrated annual

Was this page helpful? Yes No