1. Twenty Questions
Business Resources

2. Using this Software
•Microphone •Text chat
•Raising your •Audio
hand
•Full Screen
•Green ✓ / Red X
•Exiting
•Laughing /
Clapping
•Stepping out

3. 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.asp
x?id=3030

4. QUESTION TWO
•Question:
• “What companies in California
manufacture computer chips?”
• Resource: ThomasNet
• http://www.thomasnet.com/

5. 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

6. 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/

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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/

10. 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/companys
earch.html

11. 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/

12. 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!

13. 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

14. 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)

15. 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

16. 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/

17. 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/

18. 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

19. 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/bras
sprotools/corecompetencies/corecompetenciesbusiness.cf
m

20. 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

21. 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/

22. 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/

23. 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!

24. Thank You for Attending!
Questions?
•Professional
Development
•1.800.999.8558
•Web: lyrasis.org
•Email: russell.palmer@lyrasis.org