NCLA Con 2025

To further establish libraries as dynamic hubs of entrepreneurial activity and support, NC IDEA (a foundation dedicated to supporting North Carolina's entrepreneurs) has partnered with NC LIVE to pilot a groundbreaking fellowship program that empowers librarians to effectively support the "patron-founders" who walk through the library doors. The Libraries for Entrepreneurial Advancement Fellowship Program (LEAF Program) is a fully funded professional development experience that invites a cohort of 20 librarians to a 2-day in-person summit followed by virtual skill-building sessions throughout the year. Fellows gain confidence in speaking the language of entrepreneurship, they expand their knowledge of business resources, and also strengthen their market research skills using tools like Data Axle and Social Explorer. Through this program, librarians develop meaningful connections with peers and ecosystem partners. They also learn how to capture and communicate the numbers and stories of the library's contributions to local economic development. In this session, meet a current LEAF librarian and hear from NC IDEA's program manager. You'll understand how the LEAF Program works, what it hopes to accomplish, and how it has been developed in close collaboration with ALA's Libraries Build Business, BLINC, and the State Library of North Carolina. Attendees will leave inspired by how our state can serve as a national model of library-powered, equitable economic development. Application materials for the upcoming LEAF cohort will be on hand. (To ensure accessibility for all library systems, NC IDEA is committed to covering 100% of all Fellow expenses -- hotel, food, transportation.)