Read Part 1
Read Part 2
Read Part 3
Mercifully, today we conclude our four part look into the world that is Business Reference.
Read Part 2
Read Part 3
Mercifully, today we conclude our four part look into the world that is Business Reference.
4) Who is my customer, where are they, and what do they do?
The final area of the core four - consumer/statistical information - can be summed up by the term demographics. This also encompasses business statistics, consumer research, marketing and advertising.
Demographics and Statistics
DemographicsNow (online database) The number one place to go for demographics and statistics. The database is fairly easy to use - choose a geographic limiter (or limiters - you can compare up to 16 different locations) and then choose a report package to create - that's it, and you're done. Besides the standard geographic descriptions, you can also compare locations by drive time or custom radii.
DemographicsNow Tutorial
University of Michigan's Government Documents Center (Web) A wonderful site full of statistics, divided into categories like Agriculture, Business & Industry, Foreign Trade, Education,
Statistical Abstract (Web) is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States. We also have the print version located on the ready reference shelf.
U.S. Census Bureau: Statistics of U.S. Businesses (Web) that provides national and state-level data on numbers of businesses and employees, broken out by industry.
Sourcebook of ZIP Code Demographics (304.6) the 23rd edition has statistical information - including households, income, race and income - organized by ZIP and by state.
Statistical Yearbook (310.58) We no longer receive this title (last rec'd. 2006), but it contains international production statistics; may be consulted for historical data.
Demographic Yearbook (312.025) Same as above.
Florida Statistical Abstract (317.59) Similar to the Federal version, but with a limited to state of Florida statistics; kept at the ready reference shelf.
Quality of Life Progress Report (317.5912) This JCCI publication should not be overlooked, as it contains some local demographic and statistical information.
The CRB Commodity Yearbook (338.973) Contains industrial production statistics by commodity type (aluminum, coffee, hogs, tobacco, etc.). No longer received, so should be consulted for historical data only.
Marketing & Advertising
SRDS Newspaper Advertising Source (338.4) The various guides provide media rates and related data for advertisers, and lists rates, editorial content and circulation statistics for a variety of media which are selling space.
SRDS Consumer Media Advertising Source (659.1)
SRDS Business Media Advertising Source (659.132058)
LexisNexis Advertising Red Books (659.1058)
nota bene - these items were formally housed on the Investment Resources shelf, but have been returned to their respective Dewey areas.
Demographics and Statistics
DemographicsNow Tutorial
University of Michigan's Government Documents Center (Web) A wonderful site full of statistics, divided into categories like Agriculture, Business & Industry, Foreign Trade, Education,
Statistical Abstract (Web) is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States. We also have the print version located on the ready reference shelf.
U.S. Census Bureau: Statistics of U.S. Businesses (Web) that provides national and state-level data on numbers of businesses and employees, broken out by industry.
Sourcebook of ZIP Code Demographics (304.6) the 23rd edition has statistical information - including households, income, race and income - organized by ZIP and by state.
Statistical Yearbook (310.58) We no longer receive this title (last rec'd. 2006), but it contains international production statistics; may be consulted for historical data.
Demographic Yearbook (312.025) Same as above.
Florida Statistical Abstract (317.59) Similar to the Federal version, but with a limited to state of Florida statistics; kept at the ready reference shelf.
Quality of Life Progress Report (317.5912) This JCCI publication should not be overlooked, as it contains some local demographic and statistical information.
The CRB Commodity Yearbook (338.973) Contains industrial production statistics by commodity type (aluminum, coffee, hogs, tobacco, etc.). No longer received, so should be consulted for historical data only.
Marketing & Advertising
SRDS Newspaper Advertising Source (338.4) The various guides provide media rates and related data for advertisers, and lists rates, editorial content and circulation statistics for a variety of media which are selling space.
SRDS Consumer Media Advertising Source (659.1)
SRDS Business Media Advertising Source (659.132058)
LexisNexis Advertising Red Books (659.1058)
nota bene - these items were formally housed on the Investment Resources shelf, but have been returned to their respective Dewey areas.
5a) [unofficially] I want to start a business.
I need help with my current business.
What part of core four do you not understand?
Obviously, the core four is only a general guideline, as we do get questions about anything (as Call Center veterans are reminded hourly). With that in mind, I'd add another area that we are asked about quite often: information about small businesses and entrepreneurship.
This is an area that we just don't have a lot of resources in Reference for - at least of the print variety. The 658 area had some dated and incomplete sets, and so has been largely purged. That is not to say that other sources - such as statistics and marketing information - cannot help those seeking small business help, but most customers should be directed to our NF resources and databases regarding entrepreneurship.
SBRC Tutorial
Legal Forms Tutorial
And though not located in Reference, we have a tremendous amount of materials in the Non-Fiction collection (primarily Dewey 658) that can be checked out by customers. **And if you're taking anyone to that area, be sure to point out the SBA Program fliers on display [658.022 shelf] when workshops are scheduled (usually in April and October, though we may add more if there is a demand).**
5b) Hey, I'm at the desk, and I'm still not comfortable using the resources.
Finally, we also have books designed specifically for staff, helping guide us through the myriad business and investing reference resources. Besides the following three titles, I'm working on getting a few ALA guides for librarians ordered too.
Guides to Business/Investing Information
Strauss's Handbook of Business Information (016.33) Section One covers business information and its various modes of availability (directories, periodicals, loose-leaf, etc.); Section Two looks at specific topics, including finance, marketing, investment and insurance.
Source: The Complete Guide to Investment Information (332.603) This guide explains how key investment ratios (P/E, yield, etc.) are calculated, explains warrants & options, and mutual funds. With a publication date of 1999 it is dated, but can be a source for understanding what sort of data customers are looking for and how they might use it.
Industry Research Using the Economic Census (338.0973) Designed to be a handbook for the Economic Census mentioned in the post about industry information, Industry Research explains Census concepts and methods, and helps users located data.
That's all folks. Hopefully this series has helped you to have a little better understanding of the basic business reference questions that are asked, and where to go for the answers. For more information about the core four - or business reference in general - I highly recommend Celia Ross' Business Reference 101 class (via RUSA) the next time it is offered.
As always, comments and suggestions are welcome. Feel free to stop by anytime to chat about these and other topics - my cubicle has no door (at least I have a window).
Source: The Complete Guide to Investment Information (332.603) This guide explains how key investment ratios (P/E, yield, etc.) are calculated, explains warrants & options, and mutual funds. With a publication date of 1999 it is dated, but can be a source for understanding what sort of data customers are looking for and how they might use it.
Industry Research Using the Economic Census (338.0973) Designed to be a handbook for the Economic Census mentioned in the post about industry information, Industry Research explains Census concepts and methods, and helps users located data.
That's all folks. Hopefully this series has helped you to have a little better understanding of the basic business reference questions that are asked, and where to go for the answers. For more information about the core four - or business reference in general - I highly recommend Celia Ross' Business Reference 101 class (via RUSA) the next time it is offered.
As always, comments and suggestions are welcome. Feel free to stop by anytime to chat about these and other topics - my cubicle has no door (at least I have a window).
1 comment:
Thanks Greg-this was very informative and should be helpful for our part-timers too. Can you put paper copies at the NF and Ref desks?
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