Social Media 101: The Basics of Social Media for Small Businesses

Tuesday, December 8, 7 pm, Community Meeting Room

Have you been thinking about marketing your business with social media? Feel overwhelmed? Not sure how to get started? Not convinced that it works?  SCORE presents Norbert Barszczewski, of Constant Contact, who will show you the 5 most popular social media networks – Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and Pinterest – and help you decide what is right for your business.  Registration is requested but not required.  Register online or call the Reference Desk at 847-448-8630.

Business Plan: A Road Map to You

Monday, November 16, 7 pm, Community Meeting Room, Main Library 

Good planning increases the odds of success. This workshop, presented by Mark Lieberman, SCORE mentor, covers the essential elements of business plan development including setting goals and objectives, preparing marketing and financial plans and defining action steps to attain your goals.  Registration is requested but not required.  Register online or call the Reference Desk at 847-448-8630.

Upcoming Workshop: Financials: Accounting Tools For Small Business Money Management

Financials: Accounting Tools For Small Business Money Management

Thursday, November 5, 7 pm, Small Meeting Room, Main Library

SCORE mentor, Arnold Goldberg, presents an overview of the fundamentals of financial and managerial accounting. Basic accounting principles used to measure business success will be discussed. You can use this knowledge to make better business decisions based on limited resources, pricing decisions, break even analysis and business ratios among other topics.Register online or call the Reference Desk at 847-448-8630

Upcoming Workshop: Market Research: What it is. How it works. Why it’s Essential and Economical

Thursday, October 22, 7 pm, Small Meeting Room, Main Library

Your business decisions should be based on the needs and wants of customers and prospects. Learn from SCORE mentor, Bob Kaden, how to tap into the mind-set of your target market to help you make the right marketing, operational and financial decisions that can strengthen your opportunity for business success and lead to greater profitability. Register online or call the Reference Desk at 847-448-8630.

NYT Business Bestsellers for September 2015

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September 13, 2015

		BUSINESS
1		OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell. (Back Bay/Little, Brown.) Why some people succeed — it has to do with luck and opportunities as well as talent.
2		GET WHAT'S YOURS, by Laurence J. Kotlikoff, Philip Moeller and Paul Solman. (Simon & Schuster.) A guide to deciding when to claim Social Security benefits and to getting all you’re eligible for when you do.
3		THINKING, FAST AND SLOW, by Daniel Kahneman. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux.) The winner of the Nobel in economic science discusses how we make choices in business and personal life.
4		ELON MUSK, by Ashlee Vance. (Ecco/HarperCollins.) A technology writer follows Musk’s life from his difficult South African childhood to his involvement in Internet start-ups like the rocket company SpaceX, the electric-car company Tesla and the solar power installation company Solar City.
5		THE POWER OF HABIT, by Charles Duhigg. (Random House.) A Times reporter’s account of the science behind how we form, and break, habits.
6		MONEY: MASTER THE GAME, by Tony Robbins. (Simon & Schuster.) Seven steps aimed at finding financial security and creating an income for life. (†)
7		FREAKONOMICS, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. (Morrow/HarperCollins.) How to apply economic theory to almost everything.
8		THINK LIKE A FREAK, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. (Morrow/HarperCollins.) How to solve problems creatively, from the authors of “Freakonomics.”
9		TEAM OF TEAMS, by Stanley McChrystal with Tantum Collins, David Silverman and Chris Fussell. (Portfolio/Penguin.) Applying a small-team approach to armed conflict to non-combat scenarios. (†)
10		THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING, by Naomi Klein. (Simon & Schuster.) The author of “The Shock Doctrine” argues that the free market created and is worsening the climate crisis.

About the Best Sellers

Rankings reflect sales for August 2015.

Upcoming Workshop: Legal, Financial and Insurance Aspects of Protecting Your Business Against Risk

Thursday, September 24, Noon, Small Meeting Room, Main Library

A panel of experts will discuss legal risks to small business, including those related to form of business, compliance, registrations and filings, communications, contracts, website issues, managing relationships, classifying employees and independent contractors, and capturing and protecting intellectual property.  Additionally, you will learn about the type of insurance your business will need, including liability umbrella, data breach, key man and other forms of insurance; and how to budget for insurance, prepare for taxes, and value your business. Registration is requested. Register online, or call the Reference Desk at 847-448-8630. 

Upcoming Workshop: Lunch 'n' Learn--Intro to ReferenceUSA

Monday, September 21, Noon, Community Meeting Room, Main Library

ReferenceUSA helps users create marketing plans, conduct competitive analysis, raise funds, and locate people.  Join ReferenceUSA representative, Nancy Spidle, for this presentation on how you can use this resource to create targeted mailing lists; locate detailed info on either competitors or businesses similar to your own; create job search lists, and more.  Lunch will be provided, so registration is required.  Please register online or call the Reference Desk at 847-448-8630.  

Upcoming Workshop: How to Trade from Your Computer

Tuesday, September 15, 7 pm, Community Meeting Room, Main Library

Jeff Wecker, "The Trading Coach", a former member of the Chicago Board of Trade, will show how to interpret charts to see buying and selling opportunities.  Chart patterns to be discussed include recognizing a trend, how and when to enter a market, how to use predictive triangles and rectangles, moving averages and more.  You will learn how to tell what the "insiders" are doing and when; how to trade on price action and not on your opinion; how to take profits and preserve capital; and how to set up a practice trading account to test the various techniques on your own computer.  Registration is requested but not required. Register online or call the Reference Desk at 847-448-8630.

Please note:  This workshop assumes that you have experience investing/trading; it is not intended to be an introduction to trading.

Office space available in Evanston

Fara Commercial Brokerage is pleased to announce our latest office leasing opportunity located in the Ridge Plaza Office Building, 1822 Ridge Avenue, Evanston. Outstanding value, convenient location 650, 707, 910 and 1,110 square foot office configurations Available indoor parking Individual gas heat, electric and air conditioning Some suites can be combined Short walk to Downtown Evanston, CTA, Metra and Northwestern University Property Brochure, Floor Plans, Map and Leasing Information Contact Alan Goldberg, Senior Commercial Advisor, for more information and to schedule a showing:  847-570-0649 or alan@farabrokerage.com. Fara Commercial Brokerage is a commercial real estate firm based in Evanston, Illinois providing sales, leasing, tenant representation, business advisory and consulting services for the Chicago metro area.  Find out more at FaraBrokerage.com.  847-570-9700 Copyright © 2015 Evanston Chamber of Commerce, All rights reserved.

New York Times Business Best Sellers July 2015

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July 12, 2015

This Month		Business
1		TRIGGERS, by Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter. (Crown Business.) How to resist the tug of habit and embrace change. (†)Also available as an eAudioBook.
2		OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell. (Back Bay/Little, Brown.) Why some people succeed — it has to do with luck and opportunities as well as talent. Available in a variety of formats.
3		ELON MUSK, by Ashlee Vance. (Ecco/HarperCollins.) A technology writer follows Musk’s life from his difficult South African childhood to his involvement in Internet start-ups like the rocket company SpaceX, the electric-car company Tesla and the solar power installation company Solar City.  Available as a book and as a downloadable eBook.
4		GET WHAT'S YOURS, by Laurence J. Kotlikoff, Philip Moeller and Paul Solman. (Simon & Schuster.) A guide to deciding when to claim Social Security benefits and to getting all you’re eligible for when you do. Available as a book and as a downloadable eBook.
5		THINKING, FAST AND SLOW, by Daniel Kahneman. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux.) The winner of the Nobel in economic science discusses how we make choices in business and personal life.  Available in a variety of formats.
6		THE POWER OF HABIT, by Charles Duhigg. (Random House.) A Times reporter’s account of the science behind how we form, and break, habits.  Available in a variety of formats.
7		TEAM OF TEAMS, by Stanley McChrystal with Tantum Collins, David Silverman and Chris Fussell. (Portfolio/Penguin.) Applying a small-team approach to armed conflict to non-combat scenarios. (†)
8		LEAN IN, by Sheryl Sandberg with Nell Scovell. (Knopf.) The chief operating officer of Facebook urges women to pursue their careers without ambivalence.  Available in a variety of formats.
9		FREAKONOMICS, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. (Morrow/HarperCollins.) How to apply economic theory to almost everything.  Available in a variety of formats
10		MONEY: MASTER THE GAME, by Tony Robbins. (Simon & Schuster.) Seven steps aimed at finding financial security and creating an income for life. (†)

Rankings reflect sales for June 2015.

New York Times Business Bestsellers May 2015

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May 17, 2015

This Month		Business
1		GET WHAT'S YOURS, by Laurence J. Kotlikoff, Philip Moeller and Paul Solman. (Simon & Schuster.) A guide to deciding when to claim Social Security benefits and to getting all you’re eligible for when you do.  Also available as an eBook.
2		DEALING WITH CHINA, by Henry M. Paulson Jr.. (Twelve.) The former Treasury secretary and onetime head of Goldman Sachs discusses how American business and political leaders can work with China.  Also available as an eBook.
3		BECOMING STEVE JOBS, by Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli. (Crown Business.) How Jobs, who started out as a brash young genius, developed a more mature management style.  Also available as an eBook.
4		MONEY: MASTER THE GAME, by Tony Robbins. (Simon & Schuster.) Seven steps aimed at finding financial security and creating an income for life. (†)
5		THE POWER OF HABIT, by Charles Duhigg. (Random House.) A Times reporter’s account of the science behind how we form, and break, habits. Also available as an eBook, an eAudioBook, and on CDs.
6		WORK RULES!, by Laszlo Bock. (Twelve.) A Google executive’s insights on team building and improving company-employee relations. (†)  Also available as a downloadable Audiobook.
7		THINK LIKE A FREAK, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. (Morrow/HarperCollins.) How to solve problems creatively, from the authors of “Freakonomics.”  Also available as an eBook, and as a downloadable Audiobook
8		THINKING, FAST AND SLOW, by Daniel Kahneman. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux.) The winner of the Nobel in economic science discusses how we make choices in business and personal life. Also available as a downloadable Audiobook, on on CDs.
9		OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell. (Back Bay/Little, Brown.) Why some people succeed — it has to do with luck and opportunities as well as talent.  Also available as an eBook, downloadable Audiobook, and on CDs
10		DO THE KIND THING, by Daniel Lubetzky. (Ballantine.) Ways of weaving compassion into your business dealings and personal life. (†)

About the Best Sellers

Rankings reflect sales for April 2015.

Read a full explanation of our methodology.

New York Times Business Best Sellers April 2015

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April 12, 2015

This Month		Business
1		GET WHAT'S YOURS, by Laurence J. Kotlikoff, Philip Moeller and Paul Solman. (Simon & Schuster.) A guide to deciding when to claim Social Security benefits and to getting all you’re eligible for when you do.  Also available as a downloadable eBook
2		BECOMING STEVE JOBS, by Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli. (Crown Business.) How Jobs, who started out as a brash young genius, developed a more mature management style.
3		MONEY: MASTER THE GAME, by Tony Robbins. (Simon & Schuster.) Seven steps aimed at finding financial security and creating an income for life. (†)  Also available as a downloadable eBook.
4		BOLD, by Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler. (Simon & Schuster.) Harnessing new technologies, entrepreneurial insight and the power of the crowd to maximize business success.
5		THINK LIKE A FREAK, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner.  (Morrow/HarperCollins.) How to solve problems creatively, from the authors of “Freakonomics.” Also available as a downloadable eBook, and as a downloadable AudioBook.
6		THE POWER OF HABIT, by Charles Duhigg. (Random House.) A Times reporter’s account of the science behind how we form, and break, habits.  Also available as a downloadable eBook, a downloadable AudioBook, and on audio CDs.
7		THRIVE, by Arianna Huffington. (Harmony.) Personal well-being as the indispensable third measure – with money and power -- of success.  Also available as a downloadable eBook and as a downloadable AudioBook.
8		OUR KIDS, by Robert D. Putnam. (Simon & Schuster.) A social scientist argues that income inequality is creating an “opportunity gap” for poor children that is destroying the American dream.
9		THINKING, FAST AND SLOW, by Daniel Kahneman. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux.) The winner of the Nobel in economic science discusses how we make choices in business and personal life.  Also available as a downloadable AudioBook, and on audio CDs.
10		BETTER AND FASTER, by Jeremy Gutsche. (Crown.) Utilizing cross-disciplinary approaches to transcend neurological traps and to unloose unexpected potential. (†)

About the Best Sellers

Rankings reflect sales for March 2015.

Seeking Federal Funding Opportunities

Seeking Federal Funding Opportunities

Monday, April 27, 5:30 pm, Seminar Room, Main Library
Sheldon S. Rosenfeld, CEO of Creative Capital Corp., presents the fifth and final presentation in a weekly series of workshops designed to help you finance your small business. Sponsored by FESII, Inc., a company that provides professional and educational services in Project Development, Management Administration, Marketing, Energy Conservation, Fraud Protection, Identity Theft, Information Technology, International Banking, and Mass Communications. Register online or call the Reference Desk at 847-448-8630.

Benefits of Alternative Funding Solutions

Benefits of Alternative Funding Solutions

Monday, April 20, 5:30 pm, Seminar Room, Main Library
Sheldon S. Rosenfeld, CEO of Creative Capital Corp., presents the fourth in a 5-week series of workshops designed to help you finance your small business. Sponsored by FESII, Inc., a company that provides professional and educational services in Project Development, Management Administration, Marketing, Energy Conservation, Fraud Protection, Identity Theft, Information Technology, International Banking, and Mass Communications. Register online or call the Reference Desk at 847-448-8630.

The Creative Capital Resource Options

The Creative Capital Resource Options

Monday, April 13, 5:30 pm, Seminar Room, Main Library
Sheldon S. Rosenfeld, CEO of Creative Capital Corp., presents the third in a 5-week series of workshops designed to help you finance your small business. Sponsored by FESII, Inc., a company that provides professional and educational services in Project Development, Management Administration, Marketing, Energy Conservation, Fraud Protection, Identity Theft, Information Technology, International Banking, and Mass Communications. Register online or call the Reference Desk at 847-448-8630.

What Bankers Need for Loan Approval

What Bankers Need for Loan Approval

Monday, April 6, 5:30 pm, Seminar Room, Main Library
Sheldon S. Rosenfeld, CEO of Creative Capital Corp., presents the second in a 5-week series of workshops designed to help you finance your small business. Sponsored by FESII, Inc., a company that provides professional and educational services in Project Development, Management Administration, Marketing, Energy Conservation, Fraud Protection, Identity Theft, Information Technology, International Banking, and Mass Communications. Register online or call the Reference Desk at 847-448-8630.

How to Fund Your Enterprise

How to Fund Your Enterprise

Monday, March 30, 5:30 pm, Seminar Room, Main Library
Sheldon S. Rosenfeld, CEO of Creative Capital Corp., begins a 5-week series of workshops designed to help you finance your small business. Sponsored by FESII, Inc., a company that provides professional and educational services in Project Development, Management Administration, Marketing, Energy Conservation, Fraud Protection, Identity Theft, Information Technology, International Banking, and Mass Communications. Register online or call the Reference Desk at 847-448-8630.

LEND: Microloans for Small Business

Thursday, March 19, 7 pm, Small Meeting Room, Main Library
LEND (Lending for Evanston and Northwestern Development) is an organization designed to support small businesses in Evanston through microloan services that stress real connections with their clients, and our community. Come to this event to learn about their mission, the services they offer, and how LEND can help you grow your business.  Registration is requested, but not required.  Register online or call the Reference Desk at 847-448-8630.

New York Times Business Best Sellers March 2015

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March 15, 2015

This Month		Business
1		MONEY: MASTER THE GAME, by Tony Robbins. (Simon & Schuster.) Seven steps aimed at finding financial security and creating an income for life. (†) Also available as a downloadable eBook.
2		BOLD, by Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler. (Simon & Schuster.) Harnessing new technologies, entrepreneurial insight and the power of the crowd to maximize business success.
3		RED NOTICE, by Bill Browder. (Simon & Schuster.) A successful American hedge fund manager in Russia was expelled by kleptocrats who then seized his property.  Also available as a downloadable eBook.
4		THE POWER OF HABIT, by Charles Duhigg. (Random House.) A Times reporter’s account of the science behind how we form, and break, habits.  Also available as a downloadable eBook, a downloadable AudioBook, and on CDs.
5		ZILLOW TALK, by Spencer Rascoff and Stan Humphries. (Grand Central.) A guide to real estate in a technology-driven world. (†)
6		FUTURE CRIMES, by Marc Goodman. (Doubleday.) The world of cybercrime and corporate spying, and advice on protecting yourself.
7		THINKING, FAST AND SLOW, by Daniel Kahneman. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux.) The winner of the Nobel in economic science discusses how we make choices in business and personal life.  Also available as a downloadable AudioBook.
8		ZERO TO ONE, by Peter Thiel with Blake Masters. (Crown Business.) A co-founder of PayPal on how to build companies that create new things. (†)  Also available as a downloadable eBook and as a downloadable AudioBook.
9		OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell. (Back Bay/Little, Brown.) Why some people succeed — it has to do with luck and opportunities as well as talent.  Also available as a downloadable eBook, a downloadable Audiobook, on audio CDs, and in Large Type.
10		AMERICA'S BITTER PILL, by Steven Brill. (Random House.) The issues in American health care and health care reform and recent developments including the drafting and implementation of the Affordable Care Act, by the journalist, editor and lawyer.  Also available as a downloadable eBook, and as a downloadable Audiobook.

About the Best Sellers

Rankings reflect sales for February 2015.

NextChapter Workshop: Legal, Financial and Insurance Aspects of Protecting Your Business Against Risk

Thursday, February 26, Noon, Third Floor Seminar Room, Main Library

A panel of experts will discuss legal risks to small business, including those related to form of business, compliance, registrations and filings, communications, contracts, website issues, managing relationships, classifying employees and independent contractors, and capturing and protecting intellectual property.  Additionally, you will learn about the type of insurance your business will need, including liability umbrella, data breech, key man and other forms of insurance; and how to budget for insurance, prepare for taxes, and value your business. Registration is requested. Register online, or call the Reference Desk at 847-448-8630.

Business presentations

It's easy to think of business presentations being all about Power Point, but the Evanston Public Library has a number of books that take you beyond the slides.  This is just a sampling of what you will find among our business books.  You can also read through some quick pointers provided by Forbes in their article,

9 Tips For More Powerful Business Presentations, or in the Harvard Business Review's, "How to Give a Killer Presentation."

Books: 

In the line of fire : how to handle tough questions--when it counts
Weissman, Jerry, Edition 2nd ed., Publication Date(s) 2014

Make it all about them : winning sales presentations
Keller, Nadine, 1962-, Publication Date(s) 2013

The orderly conversation : business presentations redefined
Ludwig, Dale.
Publication Date(s) 2014

Pitch perfect : how to say it right the first time, every time
McGowan, Bill,
Edition First edition.
Publication Date(s) 2014

Read more »

New York Times Business Best Sellers January 2015

   

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January 11, 2015

This Month		Business Books
1		MONEY: MASTER THE GAME, by Tony Robbins. (Simon & Schuster.) Seven steps aimed at finding financial security and creating an income for life. (†)
2		THE INNOVATORS, by Walter Isaacson. (Simon & Schuster.) Studies of the people who created computers and the Internet, beginning in the 1840s.   Also available in Large Type, and as a downloadable eBook.
3		OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell. (Back Bay/Little, Brown.) Why some people succeed — it has to do with luck and opportunities as well as talent.    Also available in Large Type, as an AudioBook on CD, as a downloadable eBook, and as a downloadable AudioBook.
4		THINKING, FAST AND SLOW, by Daniel Kahneman. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux.) The winner of the Nobel in economic science discusses how we make choices in business and personal life.   Also available as a downloadable AudioBook.
5		THE POWER OF HABIT, by Charles Duhigg. (Random House.) A Times reporter’s account of the science behind how we form, and break, habits. Also available on CDs, as a downloadable eBook, and as a downloadable AudioBook.
6		ZERO TO ONE, by Peter Thiel with Blake Masters. (Crown Business.) A co-founder of PayPal on how to build companies that create new things. (†)  Also available as a downloadable eBook and as a downloadable AudioBook.
7		HOW WE GOT TO NOW, by Steven Johnson. (Riverhead.) A history of innovation focused on the development of six key technologies of modern life. Also available as a downloadable eBook, a downloadable AudioBook, and with a companion DVD.
8		FLASH BOYS, by Michael Lewis. (Norton.) The world of high-frequency computer-driven trading, from the author of “Liar’s Poker.” Also available in Large Type and on audiobook CDs.
9		CAPITAL IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY, by Thomas Piketty. (Belknap/Harvard University.) A French economist’s analysis of centuries of economic history predicts worsening inequality and proposes solutions.
10		THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING, by Naomi Klein. (Simon & Schuster.) The author of “The Shock Doctrine” argues that the free market created and is worsening the climate crisis.

About the Best Sellers

Rankings reflect sales for December 2014.

An asterisk (*) indicates that a book's sales are barely distinguishable from those of the book above. A dagger (†) indicates that some bookstores report receiving bulk orders.