By Staff
If today's information highway has you on the run, business owners who attend the upcoming Business After Hours of the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce can learn how "MeL," found at Dowagiac District Library, can make a difference in their lives.
Dowagiac District Library is the co-host site of the Business After Hours social gathering for members of the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, March 13, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Vickie Phillipson, program director of the Chamber and Downtown Development Authority, said keynote speaker Evelyn Holzwarth, library director, will present an overview of the library's print and online resources that are available to business owners.
Holzwarth's presentation begins at 6 p.m.
"The Dowagiac District Library Board is excited to partner with the Chamber of Commerce to host the March 13 event," Holzwarth said. "Having the business community see the wonderful resources of our library and to have them learn how we can meet their informational needs will be the goal of our presentation."
Known throughout the state simply as "MeL," Holzwarth said, Michigan eLibrary can serve Dowagiac business owners very well. "As part of a statewide effort to share informational resources, MeL is available through Dowagiac's library, as it opens the doors to libraries and their resources across the State of Michigan."
"MeL is an anywhere, anytime library for Michigan residents," Holzwarth said. "It contains magazine, newspaper and journal articles, books and evaluated Web sites. It can be used free of charge by any resident of the state. From specialized resources such as those in genealogy, to health, business, test preparation, careers and education, MeL has it all."
Holzwarth said the Library of Michigan, which is an agency of state government, contracts with the Michigan Library Consortium and partners with a number of Michigan organizations and institutions to provide the service.
Business owners can utilize MeL to analyze company performance and activity, and to follow the latest trends in management, economics and politics.
Holzwarth said MeL also opens the doors to a combination of broker research reports, trade publications, newspapers, journals and company directory listings with full text and images.
A member of the American, Public and Michigan library associations, Holzwarth became the first director of Dowagiac District Library in July 2004, four months after voters passed the library's millage.
She worked in fundraising for The College of Wooster and Albion College before beginning her library career at the Marshall District Library. She is also treasurer for Southwest Michigan Library Cooperative and chairs its Task Force on the Future. Holzwarth also chairs the Storyteller Committee for the Dowagiac Dogwood Fine Arts Festival.
Phillipson said guests of the March 13 Business After Hours gathering will also enjoy hors d'oeuvres and business networking opportunities.
Reservations are required by calling the Chamber of Commerce at (269) 782-8212.