Overview

Nearly all public libraries will have resources useful for researching industries, markets, and customer statistics. Most will also have online access to powerful research tools - many which have annual subscription fees in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Learning how to make use of your public libraries (supported by your tax dollars) is important.

Use the links below to begin exploring the options available. You can also call the reference librarian at your library to find out more about their services. Most offer regular or one-on-one training sessions to help you learn how to maximize your time.

Key Library Contacts

• Anderson Library Reference Desk (University of Whitewater)

        (262) 472-1032      http://library.uww.edu

• UWM-Madison Business Reference Desk
  (262) 265-6202      http://www.library.wisc.edu/
• Milwaukee Public Library Reference Desk
  (414) 286-3011      http://www.mpl.org/
• Waukesha Public Library Reference Desk
  262-524-3682        http://www.waukesha.lib.wi.us/
• List of Public Libraries by County
  .                                 http://www.dpi.state.wi.us
  

Tips on Navigating Small Business & Entrepreneurship Resources

• Selected Resources on the Internet: Small Business & Entrepreneurship       http://library.uww.edu/SUBJECT/BUSSMALL.HTM

• Selected Resources on the Internet: Marketing

       http://library.uww.edu/SUBJECT/MARKET.HTM

 Print Resources to Use at Most Libraries

• Business Plan Handbook
• Community Sourcebook fo Zip Code Demographics
• Community Sourcebook of Country Demographics
• Consumer Analysis (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Encyclopedia of American Industries
• Financial Studies of the Small Business
• Lifestyle Market Analys
• Market Share Reporte
• New Strategist Publications
• Small Business Sourcebook
• Standard and Poor's Industry Surveys

Key Electronic Resources to Use at Most Libraries

• ABI/Inform - articles from business & trade journals (helpful subjects: trends, manycompanies, industrywide conditions, case studies, market strategy, new products, product information)
• TableBase - tabular data from newspaper, marketshare, business and trade journal articles
• Business Dateline - articles from regional business publications
• LexisNexis - news and company directory information

Key Resources to Use Remotely Via Wisconsin's Badgerlink

(must have Wis. ISP or Wis. public library card)

• EBSCOhost (Business Source Elite, Regional Business News, Corporate ResourceNet)
• ProQuest Newspapers - (ProQuest Newsstand, Wisconsin Newsstand)