News from the Reference Desk Category: Business

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.     

New year, new job?

laptop graphic drawing with the words "Job search" on the screen

If finding a new job is on your list of goals for 2023, check out some of these library resources: 

Join us on Wednesday, January 11 at 7:00 p.m. for a virtual program, Job Search Essentials for 2023 to find out what you need to know to be prepared for the current job market. Gene Flynn of the Barrington Career Center will discuss current trends and share strategies for successful career moves. Topics to be addressed include applicant tracking systems, virtual interviews and why networking hasn’t gone out of style. Register here. 

On Wednesday, February 15 at 7:00 p.m. hear from Lauren Milligan of ResuMAYDAY about how to strategically and effectively use your LinkedIn profile to enhance your job search and career development. Registration is available for LinkedIn 2.0: Advanced LinkedIn Tips for Job Seekers, a virtual program. Register here. 

Resume review is available by appointment to Mount Prospect Public Library cardholders. Contact business librarian Angela Baker abaker@mppl.org to set up an appointment. 

Get one-on-one support from a live, online career coach in resume and cover letter writing, interview preparation and more through Brainfuse JobNow. Login with your library card number and PIN to access live sessions, available 1:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. CST. Online resume review is available within one business day.   

There are also many books to support job searching and career transitions, available from the library and more online resources on the Jobs and Career Development Research Guide. For assistance in accessing any of these library resources, stop by the Research Desk at the library, or contact us to request a reference appointment.       

Mentoring for small businesses and entrepreneurs

SCORE North Cook and Lake Counties logo

Small businesses and entrepreneurs in Mount Prospect can receive free guidance from an experienced business mentor. 

The Mount Prospect Public Library partners with SCORE, a non-profit organization that is supported by the Small Business Administration. SCORE offers free, confidential mentoring by volunteers who have experience in all aspects of business.  

Mount Prospect Public Library patrons can sign up online for a one-on-one virtual session with a SCORE volunteer. Mentors can advise small businesses on topics such as product development, marketing, franchising, operations, strategy, technology, and nonprofits to name a few. Virtual appointments are available through the SCORE website. 

Find more resources for businesses on the Business and Financial Resource Guide. For assistance in accessing any library resources for businesses, including sample business plans, legal guides, and demographic data, stop by the Research Desk at the library, or contact us to request a reference appointment.         

Minding your money with library resources

There is a lot of economic news to keep track of these days. If you’ve got your mind on your money, the library has some helpful resources to put those economic indicators in perspective. 

These databases are freely available from any public computer in the library, or from home with your library card. 

Value_Line_wr_iconValueline: This investment research service creates reports on stocks and mutual funds, including their popular one-page reports.  

 

Morningstar_wr_iconMorningstar: The premier source for mutual fund information, Morningstar is known for their comprehensive star ranking system.  

 

weiss iconFinancial Ratings Series Online (Weiss): Find information about investments as well as ratings for banks, credit unions, Medigap plans, and much more.

 

The library also has a number of financial newsletters available in the Business Section. 

For more business and financial resources, visit the Business and Financial Research GuideWith questions about accessing these or any of the resources available from the library, or to schedule a reference appointment with the Business Librarian, contact the Research Desk. 

O’Reilly offers new business and technology titles

O'Reilly logo
A new and notable web resource is available for patrons to use at the library or from home with their library card.
O’Reilly for Public Libraries offers current and popular titles in the fields of technology and business. Patrons looking to expand their technical and career skills will be particularly interested in checking out this resource.    

The collection, which features more than 50,000 e-books and 30,000 hours of video, can only be viewed through the O’Reilly for Public Libraries website.


O'Reilly Playlists

Included in the collection of titles is most of the popular “For Dummies” series. Looking for a deeper dive in to a specific topic, such as Blockchain or Business Strategy? O’Reilly for Public Libraries offers expert-curated playlists on subject including machine learning, cloud computing and software architecture.

Try searching for other specialized technology and business subject areas such as:

  • Data Engineering 
  • Adobe Photoshop 
  • Amazon Web Services 
  • FinTech 
  • Team Management and Leadership 
  • Stock Trading 
  • And many, many more. 

As always, if you have questions about accessing this or any of the resources available through the Web Resources page, contact the Research Desk.