Here at the Windsor Public Library I receive an automatic notification of new releases produced by the Conference Board of Canada. Their publications have great relevance to the business community. Sadly WPL does not have the budget to purchase the full reports.

If a user wants a look at the Board's findings, most time we can only look for summaries that were published in the mass media (and picked up by the CANADIAN PERIODICAL INDEX, for example).

Hello fellow BB's:

At our March meeting, one of us - I think, it was you, Melanie - mentioned having had good experience with a Book Club for Business. Can any of you, Melanie included, share some tips in that regard? I'm thinking of trying to start one here at London Public.

Thanks, all, for considering this. Hope all is well.

Mark

Thanks to our meeting in March, I was inspired to create the following program:

HST: Ontario's tax plan for jobs and growth
Got a small business? Wondering about the HST? Find out how Ontario's Harmonized Sales Tax will work, plus the details of the HST transitional rules and the wind-down of the PST. Learn how Bill 218 "Ontario's Tax Plan for Jobs and Growth" will impact businesses and individuals. Presenter Jeremy Bertrand is a Tax Advisory Specialist with the Ministry of Revenue. Co-sponsored with the London Small Business Centre. Free.

Mark asked for some more information about the Mergent reports I had shared.

In 2008 the annual subscription was $2,500 a year. Access to the reports is limited to in library use although I can email the reports to customers as well. Currently the reports are accessed between 40-50 times a month.

They can be used for a variety of questions. There is a local program to help new Canadians who want to start their own businesses. The instructor includes a visit to the library as part of the program. The students have to complete a market research project on their future business. The market trends and industry profile information are a starting point for the students to become familiar with the Canadian market.

Windsor PL is working on a pathfinder of government and other websites that would be of particular interest to inventors. I would welcome any additions and corrections. (Thanks to Mark for providing this opportunity.)

Tentative title: FROM MINDSTORMS TO MARKET

PROTECTING YOUR CREATION
Canada. Canada Business. About Intellectual Property. “Learn why intellectual property is important to business and how to apply it to your ideas, creations and inventions.”

Hello folks:

Thanks to Mae (Windsor PL) for suggesting this site. I'm confident it will be a good meeting "space" for us to share news, resources and insights until our next meeting in London, likely in the spring of 2011.

A big thank you for sharing what you have, so far.

Let's keep in touch.

Mark