UC Irvine Libraries will not keep quiet about its resources for the local entrepreneurship community. Totaling 350,000 square feet, UCI Libraries is the largest research library in Orange County. It also offers curious entrepreneurs a plethora of research and databases on over 500 computers. And, what makes it most unique is Sara Heimann, the first innovation and entrepreneurship librarian at UCI.
UCI Libraries provides an evolving technological model for students, faculty, staff and community members to meet the need for updated information. By the numbers, it contains over 3.9 million volumes, 1.4 million online books, 1,478 databases and 232,432 serials, such as journals, newspapers and magazines. UCI Libraries also provides in-depth databases and online research to the UCI entrepreneurial community.
“These databases help entrepreneurs find information on industries, markets, competitors and funding activity,” said Heimann.
Users can also access Heimann’s Entrepreneurship Research Guide on the library website, which links to these databases along with helpful literature and other campus resources. The research guide categorizes by topic, allowing entrepreneurs to find information for their particular stage of development.
Additionally, Heimann is available for individual consultations about entrepreneurial research questions at Langson Library, when the library is open, as well as virtually via Zoom. She also holds office hours for Wayfinder teams through the Innovation Advisors program and works with the Paul Merage School of Business’ Masters of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MIE) program to educate students about campus resources.
“We really want to engage with and be a valuable strategic partner for entrepreneurs at UCI and in the local community,” said Heimann. “There’s this huge ecosystem of organizations like Beall Applied Innovation, competitions like the New Venture Competition and now the MIE program. We believe the UCI Libraries can play a key supporting role in that ecosystem.”
Heimann works closely with the research librarian for business and economics as well as with the research librarian for applied sciences and engineering to create a foundation for entrepreneurial research. She wants the libraries’ extensive resources, like specialists, databases and books, to benefit entrepreneurs at UCI Beall Applied Innovation.
“I know students and researchers are working with Beall Applied Innovation to develop their ventures,” said Heimann. “But if there are questions involving research, I’m a resource they can use to ask questions and I can help connect them to the information they need.”
To learn more about research at UCI Libraries, contact: sheimann@uci.edu
All Photos and Graphics: Julie Kennedy