BUS 385 - Professor Richard Bilodeau

Entrepreneurship and Venture Creation

Introduction | Reference Sources | Indexes & Databases | Internet Resources | Writing the Paper

Librarian: Zip Kellogg, Glickman Library, University of Southern Maine
tel. 780-4272
e-mail:zkellogg@usm.maine.edu

I'll be glad to meet with you at any time to help you find library materials (articles, books, etc.) for this course.

In this class you'll have need for much information and the library's databases and books can be very helpful to you as you collect that information. This short guide will make it easy to get to materials that will help you

• start a business
• analyze benefits and costs associated with various actions) identify opportunities
• understand team approaches and
• find business plans. Each of these should help you on your way towards successfully completing this course and, perhaps more importantly, starting and operating a successful business.

Encyclopedia of Associations
Portland Ref HS 17 G335
A comprehensive listing of associations of all kinds.

Business Plans Handbook
Portland Ref HD 62.7 B865
Actual business plans for many many types of businesses.

Small Business Sourcebook
Portland Ref HD 2346 U5 S66
Gives start up information for many types of businesses, including listings of trade associations, sources of supply, trade shows, conventions, and more.

Statistical Abstract of the United States-- a key source for current statistics on everything imaginable.

There are several databases which will help you find up-to-date articles and business information on practically any topic, whether about a company, business opportunity, business planning, etc. Once you link to the database you type in your topic and, "voila!" you have current article/information at your fingertips. Each of these systems can be accessed anytime (from off campus) by providing your last name and bar code (which begins with 25022...) when prompted.

Business Source Premiere-- a business person's dreamland! Here you have access to hundreds of business journals and literally thousands of articles. If you're a business major or taking any business course and not using this-- you're missing the boat.

Business and Company Resource Center-- Comprehensive source of information for conducting company, industry and market research. Provides access to the contents of over 4,000 business and economics periodicals (over 3,000 with full-text coverage). Also includes the contents of key reference works such as Ward's Business Directory of U.S. Private and Public Companies, Business Rankings Annual, International Directory of Company Histories, Market Share Reporter and Encyclopedia of Associations.

Standard & Poor's NetAdvantage--This Database includes online access to many of the Standard and Poor's research products and publications, including Industry Surveys, Stock Reports, Mutual Fund Reports, Bond Reports, Corporation Records, and The Outlook

URSUS-- this is the book catalog of many Maine libraries. Try subjects like: new business enterprises and small business-planning.

It is important to learn how to identify those Web sites which are authoritative, reputable and objective.  It is important to keep a critical eye to the following:  Is it an official site of some government agency? What is the source of the information? What are the author's credentials? Has the page been updated recently? There's a lot of misleading and inaccurate information out there, so be careful! For more information: evaluating web resources.

U.S. Census Bureau-- the Census make a massive amount of information available on the web. Connect to it and spend a while learning the site. It contains a gold mine of statistical information for the business person.

Starting a Business in Maine-- much basic information for the person needing answers to questions about operating a business in Maine

The U.S. Small Business Administration provides a wealth of information to the entrepreneur on starting, financing, and managing your business.

The Writing Center at the U. of Wisconsin has an excellent guide to writing term papers, improving your writing style, citing publications, plagiarism, and more.

Last update: 10.3.2007
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