Business
Administration Department
Revised
August 2007 by Joseph Middleton, Head Reference Librarian
BA340, 341, 342, 344, 347 Dr. Geoff Lantos
2007-2008
Using the Business Library
Some of the information incorporated
into your written work in this course will come from secondary data
(information that already exists somewhere), which can be found in our
library. This handout is designed to
help you locate various types of secondary data. Sources listed here have
information on companies, industries, business conditions, and related topics.
If you are having trouble finding what
you need, the reference librarians will be glad to assist you. TIP:
Discuss your topic with a librarian before you start major research. Assistance
is available Sundays 12 noon until 10pm, Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m.
until 10pm, and Fridays and Saturdays 9am until 5pm. Their extension is x1103
and you can email them at library_reference@stonehill.edu.
Many other databases of business
information exist besides those listed below. Reference Librarians can help you
identify and use them. Also, the MacPhaidin Library has a web-based guide to
business resources. From the Library’s main page, http://www.stonehill.edu/library/index.htm,
click on “Subject and Class Guides” and then on “Business Guide”.
Most of the library’s electronic
databases are available from off campus. See the Library’s “Off Campus Access”
page, http://www.stonehill.edu/library/OffCampus/offcampus.htm, for more
information. Books and articles our library does not have may be available
through interlibrary loan, a free service.
This guide is divided into six
sections: General Background Information, Industry Information, Demographic
Information, Corporate Information, Marketing Information, and Sources outside
the MacPhaidin Library.
I. General
Background Information - on general marketing topics, markets,
industries, companies, products.
A. The Library Online Catalog - for
books on marketing and other business topics.
These books are listed under such subject headings as: Marketing,
Marketing Channels, Marketing Management, Marketing Research, Direct Marketing,
Direct Selling, Sales Management, Advertising, and Industrial Procurement. The Library of Congress has a five-volume set
giving subject heading synonyms to help you find key subject heading terms
(kept at Reference Desk).
B. Periodical Indexes - for finding
articles on all business topics. Indexes provide citations that include
author(s), article title, periodical title, date, page, etc. Some indexes
include full-text. Except where noted, all of the library’s periodical indexes
are searchable both on and off the Campus Network by going to the MacPhaidin
Library's Home Page (http://www.stonehill.edu/library/index.htm). The “Database
Quick Jump” drop down menu provides links to all of the Library’s electronic
databases.
1. Academic
Search Premier is a multi-disciplinary full text database containing full text
for nearly 4,500 journals. This scholarly collection offers information in
nearly every area of academic study including:
Marketing, Advertising, Management and Business. Many are in
full text.
2. The
1980- present, in full text, with indexing, use the “Database Quick Jump” menu.
1980- present, in microfilm (current
paper issues are kept until the film arrives)
3 General
BusinessFile, 1980 – present: Use this database to find articles, many in
full text, on all business and management topics. Includes directory listings
for over 150,000 companies as well as investment analysts' reports on major
companies and industries.
4. Lexis-Nexis
- As well as full text legal resources, here you will find a wealth of company,
industry, financial, accounting, and general business information in full text.
5. The New York Times, besides being
an excellent source for general news, has good coverage of business, industries
and companies.
For 1980 on to the present in full
text, with indexing, use the “Database Quick Jump” menu.
1857 to present is on microfilm
(current paper issues are kept until the film arrives).
6. PsycINFO - Useful for consumer
behavior, management decision making, personnel management and other topics
involving psychology and business. Use the “Database Quick Jump” menu.
7 The Wall Street Journal - An important source for financial,
business, and general news. The Journal is available in two locations:
1986
- present. For Internet-based full text, with indexing, use the “Database Quick
Jump” menu.
1970
– present. Microfilm (current paper issues are kept until the film arrives).
Use the Wall Street Journal Index
to find articles in the WSJ microfilm/paper formats from 1970 to 1999. Indexed
by company name and by subject. (Reference Area, Newspaper Indexes).
II. Industry
Information
A.
Dun and Bradstreet's Industry Norm and
Key Business Ratios (REF HF 5681 R25 I526). This source
supplies industry income statement/balance sheet information by SIC number.
B.
International Directory of Company
Histories. (HD 2721
.I63) Published by Thomson/Gale this set (currently at 77 volumes) gives
concise histories of over 7,750 of the world’s most important companies.
C.
Market Share Reporter.
Darnay, Arsen J. Detroit: Gale, 1994-. (REF HF 5410 .M35)Annual compilation
containing over 2,000 entries with tables and charts showing market share data
on industries, companies, products, brands, and services in
D.
Mergent Industry Review
(on reserve). Comparative statistics and
rankings among companies within 145 industry groups on revenues, net income,
return on assets, and other financial measures.
E.
NetAdvantage
- provides online access to Standard & Poor's Industry Surveys, with their
in-depth economic and business information on 52 major
F.
North American Industry Classification
System (kept at Ref. Desk). Supersedes the SIC.
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Manual. The NAICS is a
G.
RMA Annual Statement Studies.
(REF HF 5681.B2 R6). Composite financial data for the current year and the
previous four years on manufacturing, wholesaling, retailing, services, and
contracting lines of business.
H.
1.
2.
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of
Economic Analysis, Survey of Current Business (monthly in periodicals)
and Business Statistics (biennial - REF HC 101 A13122). These are the most important sources of
3.
EDGAR Database.
http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/webusers.htm. For comprehensive financial data on public
companies in the
.
H. Value Line Investment Survey (on
reserve). Industry financial information and projections Reviews current
developments and trends for 91 industry groups.
III. Demographic Information
A.
American Community Survey
This is a Web based, ongoing survey that will replace the long form in the 2010
census. The ACS provides estimates of
demographic, housing, social, and economic characteristics every year for
states, counties, metropolitan areas, cities, and population groups of 65,000
people or more (factfinder.census.gov/home/en/acsdata.html).
B.
American Marketplace: Demographics and Spending
Patterns. (REF HF5415.33 A4) A handy compilation with nine chapters on
education, health, housing, income, labor force, living arrangements,
population, spending, and wealth.
C.
Current Population Reports
These reports are published to provide information between decennial
censuses. Topics include population
estimates, household economic studies and consumer income. http://www.census.gov/main/www/cprs.html
D.
Decennial Census of Population and
Housing.
E.
Editor and Publisher Market Guide.
(REF HF 5905.E38) – similar information to S&MM, but the Market Guide
reports on communities with a daily newspaper.
F.
National Archives and Records
Administration. The National Archives preserves and makes
available those records of the government that, for legal or historical
reasons, are important enough to maintain. (http://www.nara.gov).
G.
Rand McNally Commercial Atlas and
Marketing Guide (REF G 1019 R22) (Atlas case). - Maps,
population statistics and projections.
H.
Sales and Marketing Management (S&MM)
Survey of Buying Power (REF HC 110.C6 585) This is a special
issue of S&MM on commercial buying power, with demographic data (e.g.,
population, income, retail sales) organized by metropolitan statistical areas
(SMAs) and SIC codes. Published annually
in two parts in Aug. and Nov.
I.
Statistical Abstract of the
IV. Corporate
Information
A.
Corporate Annual Reports
The
library has a small collection of annual reports in paper form in the cabinet
near the Reference Desk. If our library does not have your company's annual
report, phone or write their investor relations office and ask for a copy, or
try the following:
Mergent. A web-based source
that provides SEC filings and other financial information on publicly held
companies. Mergent is available on the Database Quick Jump drop down menu on
the Library’s main page.
Internet - Many, but not all,
companies post their annual reports on the Internet. Try a site like Web
Directory: Annual Report Gallery, which supplies links to electronic annual
reports. http://www.reportgallery.com
B. Corporate Addresses and Basic Operating
Information
1.
The Book of Lists
(Kept at the Reference Desk). It contains 132 lists with financial and contact
information over 3,500
2.
Dun’s Business Rankings
(REF HG 4057 A237). Public and private companies are ranked by sales volume and
employee size within industry category and state.
3.
Encyclopedia of Consumer Brands.
3 vols. Jorgensen, Janice, ed.
4.
The Fortune 500
– An annual special issue of Fortune Magazine appearing in the April or May
issues. The "International 500" issue comes out in August.
(periodicals shelves).
5.
6.
7.
International Directory of Company
Histories (REF HD 2721 I63). Detailed information on the
development of the world's largest and most influential companies.
8.
Million Dollar Directory (HF 5035 D89). Lists publicly and privately held companies.
Provides names, addresses, SIC numbers, etc.
This is a good place to start when seeking brief facts about public or
private businesses.
9.
ThomasNet.com.
(http://www.thomasregister.com). ThomasNet.com is the most comprehensive resource
for industrial information, products, services, CAD drawings, and more. Access
over 650,000 industrial companies indexed by 67,000 product and service
categories. It
includes links to supplier’s web sites.
10.
Trade Names Dictionary.(Ref
T223.V4 A22 1988) - 2 volumes.
V. Marketing
Information
Guides
Strauss's
handbook of business information. Moss, Rita.
Dictionaries
Dictionary
of Marketing Terms. 2nd ed. Bennett, Peter D. Chicago:
Directories
The
Encyclopedia of Associations (At Ref. Desk)- gives
names and addresses of professional and business associations grouped by broad
categories (e.g., educational, health care, etc.) Contact the association for a particular
field and ask them for information.
National
Trade and Professional Associations. (REF HD 2425 .D53).
It lists over 7,600 trade associations, professional societies, labor unions,
and similar national groups. Look in the subject index under
"marketing", or a specific industry or field.
Statistical Sources
Rand
McNally Commercial Atlas & Marketing Guide.
Shelved in Atlas Case. Contains current economic and geographic information.
With maps, charts, and tables, this atlas provides maximum demographic coverage
of the
STAT-USA,
a service of the U.S. Department of Commerce has two main sections. Use
"State of the Nation" for current and historical economic and
financial releases and economic data. Use "Globus and NTDB" for
current and historical trade-related releases, international market research,
trade opportunities, and country analysis. From the Library’s main page, use
the "Database Quick Jump” menu" to select "STAT-USA". A
password is required; ask at the Ref. Desk. For Library use only.
Other Marketing Sources
The
Dartnell Marketing Manager's Handbook. Levy, Sidney J. ed.
Editor
and Publisher Market Guide (Editor & Publisher) (REF HF 5905
E38).
Marketer's guide to
media (REF HF5805.M435). This is a resource
with rates and audience estimates for the major media: television, radio,
print, and more.
Research
in Marketing (Jai Press) (HF 5415.2 R47).
VI Sources Outside the MacPhaidin Library
If, after
searching on your own and consulting with a Reference Librarian, you determine
that the information you need is not available in the MacPhaidin Library,
other, outside sources be helpful.
Other Libraries
- Libraries with good business/marketing collections include UMass Dartmouth,
Local
newspapers – Most small companies don’t get mentioned in
the national business press. Sometimes you can find articles about small firms
in their local papers. These papers often have web versions.
Personal
Interviews - Call or write local business people that you
know or identify through various sources. Although busy, they may be willing to
help you. Don’t ask for information that you can obtain in other ways.
Some Additional World Wide Web Sites
In the vast
contents of the Web, anything might be found.
To visit some marketing-oriented sites, try some of the bookmarks in the
Business section of the "Subject Guides" page of the MacPhaidin
Library web site. Use a search engine like Google or Yahoo! to look for
homepages of particular companies or for specific information. Ask a Reference
Librarian for help.
Excellent sources of
information about specific topics in marketing include the Web sites of
publications such as Advertising Age (http://www.adage.com) and Adweek,
Brandweek, and Mediaweek (sharing a homepage at http://www.adweek.com).
Links to other
significant trade publications include the following:
http://www.businessweek.com. From Business Week, an up-to-date and
in-depth site featuring information about
http://www.fortune.com. The venerable Fortune 500 listing of top
http://www.demographics.com. American Demographics magazine has put
together a varied site with articles, links to government and commercial
databases and sites, and tips for finding marketing-related information.
Useful company
information can be found at http://www.hoovers.com. Access concise descriptions of thousands of
companies and links to 5,000 company Web sites plus much more.