News from the Research Desk

News from the Research Desk Blog

Mount Prospect Entrepreneurs Initiative survey

Mount Prospect Entrepreneurs Initiative logo.

The Mount Prospect Entrepreneurs Initiative (MPEI) is focused on supporting new or prospective small businesses in Mount Prospect by providing access to learning opportunities, professional networking and economic development opportunities. 

In order to plan for the future of MPEI, the Village of Mount Prospect and the Mount Prospect Public Library are gathering input from the local business community on what kinds of support would be the most beneficial. Input from entrepreneurs, founders, home businesses, well-established businesses, start-ups and everything in between is greatly appreciated.

Please take a moment to fill out this brief survey.

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New Nonfiction Books for May

Each month we highlight new nonfiction books. Here is the list for May.

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New business information source: Mergent Intellect 

Example of Mergent Intellect home page

A new database is available to Mount Prospect Public Library patrons looking for business information. Mergent Intellect offers comprehensive data on both public and private companies with a user-friendly interface. Extensive coverage of private companies with financials, executive contacts, and other critical business information   

Use the advanced search to build a list of companies, sorting by location, industry, sales volume, number of employees, or many other factors. The list can be downloaded to be used in Excel, and there is no limit on the number of records you can download. Building a specialized list of companies can be useful for many purposes, including: 

  1. Find out who your competitors are and get detailed information about them. 
  1. Build a list of B2B sales leads. 
  1. Create a list of prospective employers within an industry to jumpstart your job search. 

In addition to creating lists, Mergent also gives uses access to Dun & Bradstreet’s First Research industry reports, covering a broad range of sectors, including healthcare, technology, and finance. Consumer information is also available through the residential search and demographics modules.

Mergent Intellect can be accessed from outside the library with your Mount Prospect library card number and PIN. Find more sources for business information on the Business and Financial Research Guide. With questions about accessing any of these resources, please contact the Research Desk.     

Increase your financial literacy

April is Financial Literacy Month and a good time to review some of the resources available from the library to help you make informed financial decisions and improve your financial well-being. 

Programs 

In April, a series of library programs will address financial literacy topics. Advance registration is required. 

Making the Most of Your Social Security Benefits 
Monday, April 3 – 7:00 p.m. (In-person) 

Renee Boyle, certified Financial Planner with The Dala Group, will provide Social Security benefits and filing strategies available to single and divorced individuals, married couples, and widows. These strategies can often provide higher monthly lifetime benefits compared to standard filing options. Boyle will also cover topics about Social Security earned income limits and benefit taxes. 

How to Choose and Use Money Apps 
Monday, April 17 – 7:00 p.m. (Virtual) 

Financial technology is changing the way we handle our money and can seem like the wild, wild west. Each app has a different set of services, requirements, and fees, and regulations created for traditional banking services don’t necessarily apply. Learn how these tools work and what to look for before you transfer money with Cash App, Venmo or Zelle; make deposits with neobanks such as Chime, Sofi, and T-Mobile Money; or link bank accounts and credit cards to digital wallets like Google Pay and Apple Pay.   

Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning Basics 
Thursday, April 20 – 7:00 p.m. (In-person) 

Learn about wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probate, and guardianship. Attorney Jacob K. Ehrensaft will explain how to ensure your final wishes can be protected. This program will discuss how to select the correct person to make healthcare and financial decisions on your behalf when you cannot. The importance of updating existing documents to reflect changes in the law and personal circumstances will also be reviewed. 

Understanding Credit Reports and Scores 
Thursday, April 27 – 7:00 p.m. (Virtual) 

Having a good credit score is important to locking in low rates on credit cards and loans. Learn how to obtain, read, and understand credit reports from all three credit reporting agencies from Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Northern Illinois. Attendees will also learn about FICO scores and ways to improve their scores.   

Library Resources 

Check the library shelves to find many popular books on personal finance, both current and classic.  

The library also offers online access to some key financial resources. Access to these resources is available in the library or at home with your library card number and PIN:   

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Weiss Financial Ratings – Find ratings for banks, credit unions, insurance companies, or even Medigap plans. Get help with topics such as managing debt, creating a budget, buying a car, calculating the cost of college and more with Weiss Financial Literacy Basics eBooks (click on “Financial Literacy Basics.”)  

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Morningstar – Morningstar provides information on stocks and mutual funds for potential investors and researchers, including access to popular investor newsletters  
 

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Value Line – Used by financial professionals and individual investors, this investment research service offers detailed reports on individual stocks and mutual funds. 

Find more sources for financial information on the Business and Financial Research Guide. With questions about accessing any of these resources, please contact the Research Desk.   

Free webinars for Money Smart Week

Money Smart Week, April 15-21, 2023. Registration is open!

Money Smart Week will be held Saturday, April 15 – Friday, April 21, 2023. This week-long, free, virtual campaign aims to help people better manage their personal finances with a focus on tools for low and moderate income communities. Live events will include sessions on budgeting, debt relief, employer retirement plans, and a Spanish language session on financial institutions.

View more details at www.moneysmartweek.org. Events are free and open to the public, but registration is advised. Questions for the panelists can be submitted during the registration process.

Money Smart Week 2023 Programs

  • Family Budgeting | Monday, April 17 @ 1:00 p.m. CT
    • Presented by Katie Cullum of the University of Arkansas System, Division of Agriculture
  • Instituciones Financieras | Tuesday, April 18 @ 1:00 p.m. CT
    • Presented by Vanessa Arita Reyes of the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions
  • Debt Relief | Wednesday, April 19 @ 1:00 p.m. CT
    • Presented by Bruce McCleary of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling
  • Employer Retirement Plans | Thursday, April 20 @ 1:00 p.m. CT
    • Presented by Kimberly Johnson of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration