Business Resources

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
Medford
Rogue River
White City (Español)

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.

Library notaries are NOT able to

Notarize wills or self-proving affadavits
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
Options for Helping Ashland

U.S. Businesses Must Take Meaningful Action Against Racism

Harvard Business Review

How Monique Melton is Helping You Be An Antiracist

Forbes

Google Think Tank Search

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

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

Anti-Oppression: Anti-Racism

Simmons University LibGuide

Anti-Racist Resouces

University of Denver LibGuide

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

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

Fearless Commerce

Founders: Shawntera M. Hardy & Camille A. Thomas

How to Be an Antiracist

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America

Ibram X. Kendi

American Indian Business: Principles and Practices

Dianna M. Kennedy

Race and work

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

Native American Entrepreneurs

Ron Sheffield

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

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/  

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 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 

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  

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. 

IRS: Charities and Nonprofits 

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.

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.  

• 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.