Twenty QuestionsBusiness Resources

Using this Software

•Microphone•Raising your hand•Green / Red X✓•Laughing / Clapping •Stepping out

•Text chat•Audio•Full Screen•Exiting

QUESTION ONE

•Question:• “Are these stock certificates from 1930 I found in my attic worth anything?”

•Resource: Enoch Pratt Free Library (Baltimore), “What to do With an Old Stock Certificate”

•http://www.prattlibrary.org/locations/bst/index.aspx?id=3030

QUESTION TWO

•Question:• “What companies in California manufacture computer chips?”

• Resource: ThomasNet • http://www.thomasnet.com/

QUESTION THREE

•Question:• “I’m considering starting a heavy equipment business in my area. I’ve found great demographic data for my zip code area, but now I wonder if you can help me find out what industries are here that I might be able to work with?”

•Resource: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns• http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/index.html

QUESTION FOUR

•Question:• “I’m struggling to start a small business in tough economic times. I wonder--what types of assistance might be out there?”

•Resource: Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance• https://www.cfda.gov/

QUESTION FIVE

•Question:• “Can you help me find a one stop shop where I can keep up with my stock portfolio, business and industry news, and a running summary of daily industry sector summaries, currency info and more?”

•Resource:•Google Finance •http://finance.google.com

QUESTION SIX

•Question:• “I’m trying to understand more about the investment world, but there’s so much alphabet soup! I want to know more about ‘OTC Stocks…’ whatever that means.”

•Washington Post Business Glossary •http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/business/longterm/glossary/glossary.htm

•Ridiculous Business Jargon Dictonary •http://www.theofficelife.com/business-jargon-dictionary-A.html

QUESTION SEVEN

•Question:• “Now that I know what more about over the counter stocks, where can I find more information about securities like LINC Energy (LNCGY)-- that are not traded on a more formal exchange?”

•Resources:• Over the Counter Bulletin Board• http://www.otcbb.com/•Pink Sheets•http://www.otcmarkets.com/•Big Charts•http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/

QUESTION EIGHT

•Question:• “I know that several airlines, including Delta, are mergering. Where would I find the most recent SEC filings for a company to see what might be going on?”

•Resource: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, EDGAR database •http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html

QUESTION NINE

•Question:• “I came up with this great idea working in my back yard-a counter mortar radar system--I wonder if the U.S. military might be interested in buying it from me?”

•Resource: FedBizOpps (replaced “Commerce Business Daily”) •http://www.fbo.gov•States: http://www.naspo.org/

QUESTION 10

•Question:• “Often, on the radio, I hear a report about the federal report on economic indicators. Where can I find this?”

•Resource: FRASER, St Louis Federal Reserve Committee, Economic Indicators •http://fraser.stlouisfed.org

Includes historical data!

QUESTION 11

•Question:• “I would like to compare the different regions of the world economically--where is a good place to find international economics information?”

•Resource: The World Bank, International Comparison Program • http://www.worldbank.org

QUESTION 12

•Question:• “Can you help me find annual reports for the retail giant Home Depot? I need data for a couple of years”

•Resource:• http://www.annualreports.com•Google Advanced Search (.pdf)

QUESTION 13

•Question:• “I’m thinking of opening a barber shop in my home town. Can you help me find a resource that will help me get started-- all the legal and licensing requirements, barber licenses, etc.?”

•Resource:•The Small Business Adminstration (SBA) •Search for Permits, Licenses & Registrations• http://www.sba.gov/content/business-licenses-and-permits

QUESTION 14

•Question:• “I’d like to find general information on how Americans spend their money. Any ideas?”

•Resource: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey •http://www.bls.gov/cex/

QUESTION 15

•Question:•“I’m researching trends in how marketing/advertising reaches consumers via the internet--is there a source where I can find some general statistics and information?”

•Resource:• http://www.clickz.com/•http://www.marcommwise.com/

QUESTION 16

•Question:• “I’m interested in knowing more about the walgreens company; I’m especially interested in knowing their major competitors—can you help?!”

•Resource: Hoover’s •http://www.hoovers.com

QUESTION 17

•Question:• “I’m a new librarian, and I’ve never had any training in business reference. Can you suggest a source to help me get up to speed quickly with business sources?”

•Resource:• ALA Reference and User Services Association, Core Competencies for Business Reference •http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/sections/brass/brassprotools/corecompetencies/corecompetenciesbusiness.cfm

QUESTION 18

•Question:• “I’m looking for a profile of Jeff Bezos, head of amazon.com. Are there any sources out there where I can find this quickly online? I’d rather not have a Wikipedia article.”

•Resource: Reference for Business • http://www.referenceforbusiness.com

QUESTION 19

•Question:• “I’m always hearing about the “Fed” and interest rates. Where can I learn more?”

•Resource:• Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System Statistical Releases•http://www.federalreserve.gov/

QUESTION 20

•Question:•“I want to better understand SIC and NAICS codes. Where can I find an overview?

•Resource:•http://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/sicsearch.html• http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/

POST-CLASS ASSIGNMENT•Using the IPL Reference Pages (or feel free to share a source you have in mind already)--•http://www.ipl.org/IPLBrowse/GetSubject?vid=13&tid=6607&parent=0•Locate a Business Web Resource you would like to share with the class

•Send an e-mail to me, including the web address for your resource, and a short description, and I will organize the responses and post them to the delicious page!

Thank You for Attending!

Questions?•Professional Development•1.800.999.8558•Web: lyrasis.org

•Email: russell.palmer@lyrasis.org