Brooklyn's Progress
March 2003

By the Brooklyn Public Library

“Someday Soon…I’ll Start My Own Business” is the Brooklyn Public Library’s (BPL) new interactive web site, http://www.somedaysoon.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/, designed to address the financial literacy needs of young adult entrepreneurs, a project supported by two generous grants totalling $125,000 from The J. P. Morgan Chase Foundation.

The “Someday Soon…” web site introduces basic financial concepts and identifies the building blocks for creating a successful small business while providing information that focuses on the business areas that need to be mastered to start and effectively manage a small business.  The site offers tools to young people, ages 12-21, to start their own small business as a viable means of realizing their dreams and charting their own destiny.

By utilizing animated teen characters as well as a style and language that appeal to a young adult age group, the site introduces business topics, offers surveys and points the learner to substantial BPL resources.  The scope of the web site encompasses the core business idea, market analysis, means and costs of production, business plans, financing, advertising, marketing, sales, accounting, bookkeeping and taxes.  The site also includes success stories from local young entrepreneurs.

Young entrepreneurs are encouraged to test their readiness for business entrepreneurship and their ability to succeed by completing two evaluation surveys and answering questions that range from product knowledge and customer service, to marketing, management and communication.  As part of its support to the “Someday Soon…” web site, BPL offers free web-based resources including links to in-house bibliographies and access to BPL databases as well as interactive web tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) business mapping, checklists and electronic reference services.

Initially, the Library will offer the program to Brooklyn Community School District 13, BPL’s Business Library users as well as the four BPL branches that serve District 13.  The target population is approximately 250,000, sixty-three percent of whom are African-American while twenty-three percent are of Hispanic origin. The digital content, piloted for selected Brooklyn high schools, will be launched via the BPL Business Library portal.

BPL is committed to its vision of innovative programs and high-level customer service.  This adherence to value added service distinguishes BPL and allows it to successfully meet the needs of the dynamic and diverse community it serves.