Resources from the Library
What is a Business Librarian?
Our Business Librarian is trained to help small businesses, nonprofits and job seekers find the information they need to make decisions. When you Book a Librarian, you’ll be connected with resources and services that match your needs.
- Small Business: starting, running and succession for small business owners and entrepreneurs
- Nonprofit: leaders and staff can find connection with grant writing workshops and resources for organizational growth and change
- Job Seekers: resources are available for job seekers at any point in their search process
Business Info Services
Book a Librarian is currently on pause.
Book a Librarian for individual consultations, or attend a class and learn with your peers.
The Business Librarian can help you find information on…
Developing a new business or nonprofit
Working through challenges of a current business or nonprofit
Planning a grant seeking strategy
Locating job-seeking resources
Available by appointment only
JCLS is pleased to offer notary services at no charge in English and Spanish. Please be sure to read all information in the drop-down tabs below. Spanish language services are available at the White City branch. If you have any questions, please contact notary@jcls.org.
Public Notice:
Jackson County Library Services staff notaries are not attorneys licensed to practice law. JCLS staff notaries are not allowed to draft legal records, give advice on legal matters including immigration, or charge a fee for those activities.
JCLS staff notaries do not charge a fee for notarial acts. This notice applies to services provided in English and Spanish.
Available Services
Library notaries can perform the following acts
Acknowledgement
Verification of oath or affirmation
Witnessing or attesting a signature
Certifying to a copy of a document
JCLS provides notary services by appointment only in
Ashland
Eagle Point (Coming Soon)
Rogue River
White City (Español)
How to Prepare
Do not sign your document until you are talking with a notary.
Know what type of notarial act you need.
Talk to the organization that requires notarization of your document(s).
If you’re not sure, read the Notary Bulletin Most Common Types of Notarizations
What to bring:
Government-issued photo identification
Driver License, Passport, or a credible witness who can provide valid photo identification and swear to or affirm your identity.
All individuals signing a document must be present and provide valid photo identification, including minors.
Limitations
Library notaries are not able to
Notarize I-9 forms
Make or note a commercial protest
Make copies or certify copies of:
-Birth certificates
-Death certificates
-Marriage certificates
-Divorce certificates
Prepare a legal document
Give advice about legal matters, including immigration
Notarize documents in which they have a personal interest
Library staff cannot act as a credible witness, and credible witnesses may not be solicited from patrons using the Library.
Doubt or Uncertainty
Library notaries will not provide notarial services if the document or circumstances of the request for notary services raise any issue of authenticity, ambiguity, doubt or uncertainty for the Library. In such an event, a Library notary may decline to provide services.
Language Limitations
Notaries must be able to read and understand what they have been asked to notarize.
Notaries are unable to notarize documents in any languages other than English or Spanish.
The notary and the individual whose documents are being notarized must be able to communicate directly without a translator.
Other Notary Services Available Without Charge
Your bank
Helping Ashland
JCLS meeting rooms are available at no charge to the public with a JCLS Full Service library card in good standing. A library card is required to book a meeting room. If a group is from out of the area, a JCLS non-resident library card may be purchased.
Library meeting rooms—large and small—throughout JCLS branches
Programs and Events
Grantwriting: An Intensive Workshop Series | Spring, Fall
Job Seeking: Local Help and Resources | Summer, Winter
Business and nonprofit book discussions | Monthly
Book Collections by Subject & Topic
e-books | e-audiobooks | print
Research Databases
The Foundation Center empowers you to connect with the right foundations to strengthen community services at your organization. Access over 140,000 foundation profiles. View giving subject focuses, and LinkedIn connections to officers and directors to grow your nonprofit network. And find each foundation’s history of giving to individual nonprofits. With this powerful tool at your fingertips, you can begin the path toward successful grant writing.
*In Library Use Only – Medford Branch – Or fill out this short form to request remote research assistance.
The Premier Job Search, Reference, and Mailing List Database. This database includes 2.3 million job listings, 30 million business & executive profiles, 1.1 million healthcare professionals, and much more. Ideal for sales leads, mailing lists, market research, employment opportunities, finding friends and relatives, and much more
Learn and improve skills across business, tech, design, and personal interests. Connect to 4,000+ on-demand video courses taught by world-class instructors. Access available to Full Service (including Non-Resident) card holders only. eCard holders may upgrade to a Full Service card by visiting any branch.
Small Business Antiracist Resources
Contributing librarians have worked together to create a guide for business owners, entrepreneurs and students who are interested in creating equitable, diverse and inclusive places of business for all. Small business has a big impact on local communities. Provided here are resources to create equitable impacts on local communities.
Articles & Reports
U.S. Businesses Must Take Meaningful Action Against Racism
Harvard Business Review
How Monique Melton is Helping You Be An Antiracist
Forbes
Harvard Kennedy School: Library and Knowledge Services
Search tool for weblinks to public policy information from universities, government, advocacy groups, foundations, and non-governmental organizations.
Diversity Wins: How Inclusion Matters
The Economic Impact of Closing the Racial Wealth Gap
COVID-19: Investing in Black Lives and Livelihoods
McKinsey & Co
Guides
Anti-Racist Organizational Change for Nonprofits
CommunityWise Resource Center
Training and Resources: Anti Racist Organizational Development
National Juvenile Justice Network
Provides resources relevant for any organization, including the important
self-assessment questions organization leaders should be asking.
Anti-Oppression LibGuide: Identifying Our Biases
New York Tech Library
Describes what bias is, and explores biases inherent in people and technology.
The Business Case for Racial Equity: A Strategy for Growth
W.K Kellogg Foundation
The Competitive Advantage of Racial Equity
FSG & PolicyLink report (freemium: must register to download)
Developed in partnership with PolicyLink and funded by the Ford and W.K. Kellogg foundations
Simmons University LibGuide
University of Denver LibGuide
Workshops & Training
Awake to Woke to Work: Building a Race Equity Culture
Equity in the Center
Antiracism Organizing & Training
Crossroads
Anti-Racist Organizational Development
National Juvenile Justice Network
Training and Popular Education
Racial Equity Tools
Fostering Psychological Safety and Belonging on Teams
Udemy
Books
Achieving Racial Equity in Your Workplace: A Guide for Leaders
Michael A. Burkart
Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do
Jennifer L. Eberhardt
The Token: Common Sense Ideas for Increasing Diversity in Your Organization
Crystal Byrd Farmer
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
Nice Racism: How Progressive White People Perpetuate Racial Harm
Robin DiAngelo
Founders: Shawntera M. Hardy & Camille A. Thomas
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America
Ibram X. Kendi
American Indian Business: Principles and Practices
Dianna M. Kennedy
Karyn Loscocco
On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope
DeRay Mckesson
So You Want to Talk About Race
Ijeoma Oluo
Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor
Layla F. Saad
Ron Sheffield
Contributing Librarians
Thank you to all of the Librarians across the United States who have contributed to this guide.
Chelsea Barrett
Business Librarian / Reference Coordinator
Seton Hall University-Walsh Library, New Jersey
Amelia Cohoes
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Librarian
Hennepin County Library – Minneapolis Central, Minnesota
Elanna Erhardt
Business Librarian
Jackson County Library Services, Oregon
Sarah Fouts
Reference and Instruction Librarian
Columbus State Community College, Ohio
Laura Kohl
Director of Library Services
Douglas and Judith Krupp Library – Bryant University, Rhode Island
Nancy Lovas
Entrepreneurship and Business Librarian
University Libraries at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Tim Tully
Business Librarian
San Diego State University Library & Information Access, California
Small Business Planning Resource Guide
Statistics & Data
National & Local
Find the info you need to create a new business, or pivot an existing business. Resources provided here can be used in combination with Statista database to visualize and contextualize information.
Industry
Business and Industry Statistics
Market share info for specific industries
- North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
https://www.census.gov/naics/ - U.S. Census Data and Statistics
https://www.usa.gov/statistics - Statistical Abstract of the United States
https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2011/compendia/statab/131ed.html - Census Business Builder: Determine the Best Location for Your Business
https://cbb.census.gov/sbe/# - Thomas Net
https://www.thomasnet.com/ - United States Census: Statistics of U.S. Businesses
https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/susb.html
Income Statistics
Current labor statistics by industry
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey
https://www.bls.gov/cps/earnings.htm - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment
https://www.bls.gov/data/#employment - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/home - Salary.com: Industry standard pay rates
https://www.salary.com/ - MIT Living Wage Calculator
https://livingwage.mit.edu/counties/41029 - Bureau of Labor Statistics: Overview of BLS Statistics on Employment
https://stats.bls.gov/bls/employment.htm
Agriculture
Resources to learn about capital and land acquisition
- Farmland Information Center
https://farmlandinfo.org/find-capital/ - SOU – Selecting an Enterprise for Small Acreage
https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/files/project/pdf/ec1529.pdf - Oregon FarmLink
https://oregonfarmlink.org/
Economy
Economic Indicators
Consumer and spending information
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Price Index
https://www.bls.gov/cpi/ - Bureau of Economic Analysis: Personal Consumption Expenditures by State
https://www.bea.gov/
Money and Interest Rates
Statistics for informed spending
- Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System: Daily Selected Interest Rates
https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h15/ - Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System: Money Statistics
https://www.federalreserve.gov/data.htm
Trade Statistics
National product availability and U.S. standing in global economy
- Bureau of Economic Analysis: International Economic Accounts
https://www.bea.gov/data/economic-accounts/international#bop - United States Census: USA Trade Online
https://usatrade.census.gov/
Consumer
Consumer Statistics
Financial indicators about your future customers
- Consumer Credit
https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/G19/ - Consumer Product Safety
https://www.cpsc.gov/Research–Statistics
Demographics
Customer research based on demographics and travel
- Explore Census Data
https://data.census.gov/cedsci/ - Bureau of Labor Statistics
https://www.bls.gov/bls/demographics.htm - Oregon Department of Employment
https://www.qualityinfo.org/ - Jackson County Roads: Road Volume Files
https://jacksoncountyor.org/roads/Roads/TRAFFIC-VOLUME-FILES/Road-Volumes
Production and Sales Statistics
Product and sales planning
- Bureau of Economic Analysis: Consumer Spending
https://www.bea.gov/data/consumer-spending/main - Bureau of Economic Analysis: Gross Domestic Product
https://www.bea.gov/resources/learning-center/what-to-know-gdp
Google
Products and services being searched by location
Track your research geographically
- Google Trends – find what is being searched now by category, location (country, state, city), and date filters
https://trends.google.com/trends/?geo=US - Maps – create layered maps to track research
https://www.google.com/maps
Local
City and State Resources for Jackson County, Oregon
Local resources to support small businesses
- Ashland
New Business Information
https://www.ashland.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=12103
- Central Point
Business Resources
https://www.centralpointoregon.gov/
- Eagle Point
Business Resources
https://www.cityofeaglepoint.org/108/Business-Licenses
- Gold Hill
Business Resources
https://www.cityofgoldhill.com/business/business-forms.html
- Jacksonville
Business Resources
https://www.jacksonvilleor.us/35/Business
- Medford
Business Resources
https://www.medfordoregon.gov/Business
New Business Licenses
https://www.medfordoregon.gov/Business/Development-Services/Business-Licensing/New-Business-Listings
Search for Businesses
https://www.medfordoregon.gov/Business/Development-Services/Business-Licensing/Pay-Renew-or-Search-for-a-Business-License
- Phoenix
Business and Development
https://www.phoenixoregon.gov/buildingplanning/page/business-license-application
- Shady Cove
Planning Department: New Business Guide Brochure
https://shadycove.org/planning-department/
Secretary of State – Oregon
Business search and registration
- Find a Business
https://sos.oregon.gov/business/pages/find.aspx - Business License Services
https://sos.oregon.gov/business/Pages/default.aspx - Business Records & Statistics (including nonprofit)
https://sos.oregon.gov/business/Pages/corporation-division-public-records-online.aspx - New Businesses Registered Last Month
https://data.oregon.gov/Business/New-Businesses-Registered-Last-Month/esjy-u4fc
Jackson County Roads
Consumer travel data
- Jackson County Roads: Road Volume Files
https://jacksoncountyor.org/roads/Roads/TRAFFIC-VOLUME-FILES/Road-Volumes
Small Business Administration
Business planning guide
- Business Guide
https://www.sba.gov/business-guide
Nonprofit & Grant Seeking Research Guide
The world of nonprofit startups and organizations is very different from small business. This guide lists the resources you need to begin the journey of creating a nonprofit, or find tools to succeed in your existing organization.
Who is eligible to write a grant, and win grant funding?
Generally, registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for grants. However, groups or individuals with a vested interest in an issue can occasionally find eligibility to apply for some grants. Some groups seek fiscal sponsorship from established 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations. Some groups qualify if the work they are doing aligns with the missions of specific foundations. There are a lot of variables, and this resource list will help you navigate.
- IRS: Charities and Nonprofits
There are many nonprofit legal status options. Each one functions to serve a specific purpose. This guide defines all tax-exempt legal statuses and describes their benefits and limitations. - The Only Grant Writing Book You’ll Ever Need
If you are new to grant writing, this is a great guide to what grants are and are not, who should write grant proposals, how, and the planning process involved. - Government Grant Applicant Eligibility
If you have never written a government grant, this resource offers some guidance on where to begin. - Grant Writing: An Intensive Series
This series is offered every spring and fall at the Library. Watch these recordings, or join the live programs to network and ask questions. - Foundation Directory Online
This database is a great resource for learning about foundations, their funding priorities and past funding.
What is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization?
The IRS defines 501(c)3 organizations as federally recognized organizations that are tax exempt, and eligible to receive tax deductible contributions in accordance to specific codes.
National Council of Nonprofits
The National Council of Nonprofits offers a definition that may be easier to digest. “Charitable nonprofits embody the best of America. They provide a way for people to work together for the common good, transforming shared beliefs and hopes into action. They give shape to our boldest dreams, highest ideals, and noblest causes. America’s 1.3 million charitable nonprofits feed, heal, shelter, educate, inspire, enlighten, and nurture people of every age, gender, race and socioeconomic status, from coast to coast, border to border, and beyond. They foster civic engagement and leadership, drive economic growth, and strengthen the fabric of our communities. Every single day.”
Both of these definitions are accurate. The IRS highlights the legal and financial structure, while the NCN highlights the social structure.
How do I start a nonprofit organization?
NOLO Starting and Building a Nonprofit: A Practical Guide
NOLO guides are great for learning legal structures and processes. They can be read as a reference source, or cover to cover if you are studying to be as prepared as possible.
Small Business and Nonprofit Book Collections
This these book collections are located just above this guide on the JCLS Business Resources web page. Visit this collection for more information on what is needed to start and run a sustainable nonprofit. In this collection, you will find guidance on the human and tactical aspects of running a nonprofit.
Local and National Nonprofit Resources
- Jefferson Funders Forum
Resources and data on nonprofit organization building and structure.
- Gordon Elwood Foundation
Educational resources to help organizations and businesses move forward in their mission in the best way possible.
- Nonprofit Association of Oregon
To help Oregon’s nonprofits thrive, NAO has developed Principles & Practices for Nonprofit Excellence – proven ethical, legal, equitable and effective best practice resources that nonprofits can access and use to guide their work. These Principles and Practices embed Independent Sector’s Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice and contextualize them to Oregon.
- National Council of Nonprofits
The National Council of Nonprofits produces and curates tools, resources, and samples for nonprofits. View the most recent additions, browse by category or tag, or search for the specific information you are looking for.
Financial Information Resources for
Families and Individuals
Recursos de Información Financiera para
Familias e Individuos
Everyone needs information about how to manage our financial wellbeing. The resources listed here are
designed to help you along your way as you plan for your future, support a family, recover from financial fraud
or natural disasters, etc. The information here was curated with guidance from FINRA (Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority) and the ALA (American Library Association).
Todos necesitan información sobre cómo manejar nuestro bienestar financiero. Los recursos listados aquí
están diseñados para ayudarle conforme planea su futuro, mantener a la familia, recuperarse de un fraude
financiero o desastres naturales, etc. La información aquí se seleccionó con la guía de FINRA (Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority) y ALA (American Library Association).