Research Guides: WRIT 3141: Business Communications: Home

Finding Books

eBooks on EBSCO This link opens in a new window
Search and view the full text of over 16,000 electronic books covering a wide range of topics and intellectual levels.
JSTOR This link opens in a new window
JSTOR is a digital library of academic journals, books, and primary sources. Coverage includes Business and Economics topics such as development studies, finance, labor, employment relations, management, organizational behavior, marketing,and advertising.
University of Minnesota All Campus Catalog This link opens in a new window
Searches all University of Minnesota campus catalogs for books and media.
WorldCat Discovery -- UMD Students, Staff & Faculty This link opens in a new window
Find books, journals, articles, maps, music scores, sound recordings, films, theses/dissertations, machine-readable data files, and any other materials available in libraries worldwide. This covers all subject areas. Request items through Interlibrary Loan using the Get It link on each item's record.

Business Databases

Use these databases to find articles in newsletters, newspapers, trade publications, law reviews, and scholarly journals. Some of these databases will also provide specialized company reports, industry overviews, marketing reports and consumer analysis reports as well.

BizMiner This link opens in a new window
Industry statistical reports available from the national to local (zip code) level.
Video Tutorials
Business Insights: Essentials (Gale) This link opens in a new window
Find information on companies, industries and more in the context of timely news, statistical data, and in-depth reports.
Resource Guide PDF Video Tutorials
Business Source Premier (EBSCO) This link opens in a new window
Full-text, indexing and abstracts for top journals covering management, economics, finance, accounting and international business. In addition, it includes market research reports, industry reports, country reports, company profiles and SWOT analyses.
Community Analyst Online (CAO) This link opens in a new window
View and analyze demographic, public, and third-party sources of data to better understand the overall community in question and make better policy decisions. Analyze specific locations, geographic areas, or custom regions.

Restrictions on Use: CAO may be used for teaching and student learning purposes only. No research or administrative users are permitted. By entering this database you agree to these terms.

To gain access follow these steps:

1. Activate your ArcGIS Online account by visiting the University of Minnesota organization on ArcGIS Online, click "Sign In" on the up left corner, choose "Using your UMN X.500 Account"
2. Email U-Spatial Help Desk (uspatial@umn.edu) from your University email account asking for access to Community Analyst Online (CAO)
3. Once you are notified that your account has been set up, go to UMN's CAO and sign in "Using your UMN X.500 Account"
Emerald Insight This link opens in a new window
Full-text access to 175 management journal titles.
Google Scholar -- UMD Students, Faculty & Staff This link opens in a new window
Locate and access peer-reviewed journal articles and other scholarly sources. For access to FindIt off campus or on wireless devices add the University of Minnesota Duluth to your Library Links in the Google Scholar settings.

Google Scholar is accessible by the public.
HS Talks Business & Management Collection This link opens in a new window
Specially commissioned talks from leading experts in industry, commerce, the professions and academia. The collection also includes 20 peer reviewed vocational journals.
IBISWorld Industry Reports This link opens in a new window
Search industry reports for the United States, Canada, China, and global topics. Each report provides an overall current picture of an industry, including overviews, leading companies, sales information, and authoritative sources for researching hundreds of industries. Includes Business Environmental Profiles that summarize key drivers for industries in the U.S.
Mergent Online This link opens in a new window
Current corporate and financial reports on 11,000 U.S. public companies and 17,000 non-U.S. public companies.
Mintel Reports & Global New Products Database This link opens in a new window
Market data, expert analysis, and informed recommendations on a range of markets and marketing issues. Also includes on-pack information for new products launched across 86 markets.
NetAdvantage (S&P Capital IQ) This link opens in a new window
Comprehensive source of business and investment information, offering on-line access to Standard & Poor's independent research, data and commentary on stocks, and industries.
OECD iLibrary This link opens in a new window
Online full-text of all publications and serials from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) from 1998 to present; also includes a large collection of data sets
ProQuest News & Newspapers This link opens in a new window
Simultaneously search newspaper databases available to the university on the ProQuest platform, including Alt-PressWatch, Ethnic NewsWatch, U.S. Newsstream, the Historical New York Times, and more.
Reference Solutions This link opens in a new window
Directory of U.S. business. Lists size of company, year established, type of business, credit rating, top personnel, yearly sales and more. Data can be searched by name of company, name of officers, geographic area, SIC, size, revenue or any combination.
Regional Business News (EBSCO) This link opens in a new window
Full-text for regional business publications covering all metropolitan and rural areas within the United States.
Sports Market Analytics (SBRnet) This link opens in a new window
Resources related to the business of sports including industry-developed market research, government statistics, facility reports and news, international market publications, customized research, and directories.
Statista This link opens in a new window
Statista.com provides companies, business customers, research institutions, and the academic community with direct access to quantitative data on media, business, finance, politics, and a wide variety of other areas of interest or markets.
Ulrichsweb This link opens in a new window
Comprehensive periodical directory information for over 186,000 magazines, newspapers, and journals, international in scope, and in all formats.
Wall Street Journal, 1984-Current (ProQuest Newsstream) This link opens in a new window
Search for articles from the WSJ (1984 - present). You may also browse by date of publication.
Westlaw (Thomson Reuters) This link opens in a new window
Westlaw, a Thomson Reuters product, provides access to federal and state case law statutes regulations law reviews and journals American Law Reports, and the American Jurisprudence 2nd Ed. legal encyclopedia. This resource also provides access to more than 4,900 news and business information publications.
Westlaw | News This link opens in a new window
Read newspapers, magazines, blogs, transcripts, and wires from the United States or around the world. Select the area in the world you want to focus on or browse by topic.

Economic Databases

DataBank (The World Bank) This link opens in a new window
Hundreds of economic and social indicators, with 40 years of data for some series, for every country in the world.
EDGAR Search and Access This link opens in a new window
Find file registration statements, periodic reports, and other required forms submitted by all companies, foreign and domestic.
FDIC Bank Data & Statistics This link opens in a new window
Find information on specific banks, their branches, and the industry.
Federal Reserve Data Download Program This link opens in a new window
Download detailed data on topics including consumer credit, industrial production, and interest rates.
FRASER (Federal Reserve Data Archives) This link opens in a new window
Digital library of U.S. economic, financial, and banking history—particularly the history of the Federal Reserve System.
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) This link opens in a new window
Hundreds of thousands of economic data time series from scores of national, international, public, and private sources.
IMF eLibrary Data This link opens in a new window
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) comes with portals and dynamic visualization to showcase datasets. The datasets are: International Financial Statistics, Balance of Payment Statistics, Government Finance Statistics, and Direction of Trade Statistics.
International Data Base This link opens in a new window
Provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, the International Data Base is a series of estimates and projections that provide a consistent set of demographic indicators, including population size and growth and components of change for more than 200 countries and areas.

The International Data Base can also be viewed as a map.
International Financial Statistics (IFS) This link opens in a new window
One of the International Monetary Fund's principal statistical datasets, containing country data for most Fund members. Available indicators normally include a country's exchange rates, international liquidity, monetary statistics, interest rates, prices, production, and more.
MetaLib (U.S. Government Publishing Office) This link opens in a new window
MetaLib is a federated search engine that searches multiple U.S. Federal government databases, retrieving reports, articles, and citations while providing direct links to selected resources available online. View complete list of available government databases.
OECD iLibrary This link opens in a new window
Online full-text of all publications and serials from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) from 1998 to present; also includes a large collection of data sets
Penn World Table This link opens in a new window
Database with information on relative levels of income, output, input and productivity, covering 183 countries between 1950 and 2019.
Statistical Abstract of the United States (ProQuest) This link opens in a new window
The authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic conditions of the United States.
Statistical Abstract of the United States (web version) This link opens in a new window
The Statistical Abstract of the United States, published from 1878 to 2012, is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) This link opens in a new window
Provides data on national accounts, international accounts, regional accounts, and industry accounts. Excellent source for local (state, county, MSA) economic data.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) This link opens in a new window
Statistics and aggregate data on inflation, employment, unemployment, pay and benefits, consumer spending, time use, productivity, and workplace injuries.
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Tax Statistics Search This link opens in a new window
Tables, articles, and data that describe and measure elements of the U.S. tax system.
U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA) Research Center This link opens in a new window
Trade data and analysis from ITA's trade specialists and partners from around the world.
US Census Bureau | Census of Population and Housing This link opens in a new window
The census tells us who we are and where we are going as a nation. The census helps our communities determine where to build everything from schools to supermarkets, and from homes to hospitals. It helps the government decide how to distribute funds and assistance to states and localities. It is also used to draw the lines of legislative districts and reapportion the seats each State holds in Congress..
World Development Indicators This link opens in a new window
The primary World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially-recognized international sources. It presents the most current and accurate global development data available, and includes national, regional and global estimates.
World Factbook This link opens in a new window
The World Factbook, produced for US policymakers and coordinated throughout the US Intelligence Community, marshals facts on every country, dependency, and geographic entity in the world. It provides information on the history, people, government, economy, energy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 250+ world entities.

Financial Databases

BizMiner This link opens in a new window
Industry statistical reports available from the national to local (zip code) level.
Video Tutorials
FactSet This link opens in a new window
Platform used to analyze financial data from global equity and fixed income markets. Coverage includes data on ownership and private equity and venture capital investments.

Access Note: To obtain access, register for a personal account using your @d.umn.edu email address. If you have transferred to Duluth from another UMN campus, you may need to update your email domain.
Registration Instructions
- Request an account using your UMD email address.
- Within 48 hours, you should expect to receive an assigned factset.net ID delivered to your UMD email address.
- Go to https://my.factset.com, enter the factset.net ID provided below and then click on the Register button. FactSet will then email a one-time passcode to your UMD email address which will be needed to set your permanent password.
- Once logged in, you will be walked through the account customization and setup process.
Install Workstation (optional)
- If you wish to use the FactSet Workstation for the first time on your machine, please download from: https://support.factset.com/workstation/.
- Once the MSI has downloaded, double-click the file and click through the Next, Install and Finish buttons.
- After the installation is complete, a FactSet Authentication box will pop up for you to type in your factset.net ID and click Continue.
- A one-time passcode will be emailed to your university email address.
Mergent Archives: Moody's Manual Collection This link opens in a new window
Digital Corporate Manuals, ranging back to the early 1900s, possess a richness of corporate history and business descriptions and in-depth financial statements. The collection is all searchable by company name, year or manual type.
Mergent Online This link opens in a new window
Current corporate and financial reports on 11,000 U.S. public companies and 17,000 non-U.S. public companies.
Morningstar Investment Research Center This link opens in a new window
Comprehensive Morningstar Reports on more than 8,000 stocks and 12,000 mutual funds.

Access Note: Access is limited to four (4) simultaneous users. If you are unable to access, try again later. Please log out when you have finished.
NetAdvantage (S&P Capital IQ) This link opens in a new window
Comprehensive source of business and investment information, offering on-line access to Standard & Poor's independent research, data and commentary on stocks, and industries.
PitchBook This link opens in a new window
Search thousands of private equity and venture capital deals by hundreds of criteria. Use PitchBook to establish benchmarks, find real time data on deals, identify and analyze comparables, and search investor details.

Access Note: To obtain access, register for a personal account using your @d.umn.edu email address and follow these instructions. Accounts expire in August of each year. Downloads set at 10/day and 25/month per user; resets monthly.
Value Line Investment Survey This link opens in a new window
The Value Line Investment Survey is a comprehensive source of information and advice on approximately 1,700 stocks, more than 90 industries, the stock market, and the economy.

Access Note: Access is limited to three (3) simultaneous users. If you are unable to access, try again later. Please log out when you have finished.

Marketing Databases

BizMiner This link opens in a new window
Industry statistical reports available from the national to local (zip code) level.
Video Tutorials
Business Analyst Online (BAO) This link opens in a new window
Utilize GIS technology to analyze demographic, consumer spending, and business data. Analyze current-year estimates and five-year projections of demographic data and extensive consumer spending and business data for the entire United States.

Restrictions on Use: BAO may be used for teaching and student learning purposes only. No research or administrative users are permitted. By entering this database you agree to these terms.

To gain access follow these steps:
1. Visit https://umn.maps.arcgis.com/
2. Click "Sign In" on the up left corner
3. Click "Using your UMN X.500 account"
4. Login with your Internet ID and password, if prompted
5. Wait approximately ten minutes for your access to be granted.
6. Go to the following website to login: https://libguides.d.umn.edu/BAO
7. Click "Sign In"
8. Choose to sign in with an Enterprise Account and click "UMN Internet ID (X.500)"
9. Login with your Internet ID and password
If you are still unable to access BAO after an hour or have any other questions, please email U-Spatial Help Desk from your University email account asking for access to Business Analyst Online (BAO).

BAO is included in the University's ArcGIS Online subscription. However, use of BAO can use a large number of credits. If you have a large number of address to geocode (over 500) or are planning on performing analysis on a large scale, please contact the help desk to learn about Business Analyst Desktop; this is a more powerful version of Business Analyst available for your use.
IBISWorld Industry Reports This link opens in a new window
Search industry reports for the United States, Canada, China, and global topics. Each report provides an overall current picture of an industry, including overviews, leading companies, sales information, and authoritative sources for researching hundreds of industries. Includes Business Environmental Profiles that summarize key drivers for industries in the U.S.
Mintel Reports & Global New Products Database This link opens in a new window
Market data, expert analysis, and informed recommendations on a range of markets and marketing issues. Also includes on-pack information for new products launched across 86 markets.
Reference Solutions This link opens in a new window
The U.S. Business database within Reference USA contains over 49 million businesses including 15 million verified and 34 million unverified that are updated monthly. The U.S. Jobs/Internships database within Reference USA hosts 2.5 million job and internship postings.

System Requirements: We recommend using the most recent version of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer, or Apple Safari. If you are using an older browser, you may find that some content will not display properly.
Sports Market Analytics (SBRnet) This link opens in a new window
Resources related to the business of sports including industry-developed market research, government statistics, facility reports and news, international market publications, customized research, and directories.
Ulrichsweb This link opens in a new window
Comprehensive periodical directory information for over 186,000 magazines, newspapers, and journals, international in scope, and in all formats.
WARC (advertising) This link opens in a new window
Campaign research source includes case studies, market reports, statistics, and articles from the trade magazines Admap and Market Leader as well research from the International Journal of Market Research, the Journal of Advertising Research, the International Journal of Advertising, and the Journal of Advertising History.

Statistical Databases

Data-Planet Statistical Datasets This link opens in a new window
Explore the contents of billions of US and international datasets, compare and contrast variables of interest, and create customized views in tables, maps, rankings, and charts. Views also include descriptive summaries of the datasets and data sources. Datasets cover a wide range of subjects including business, economics, sociology, political science, demography, agriculture, education, criminal justice, labor and employment, energy resources, and more.
data.census.gov This link opens in a new window
data.census.gov is now the primary platform to access data and digital content from the U.S. Census Bureau, including the American Community Survey, the American Housing Survey, The Decennial Censuses (10 year surveys), Economic Census and Census Bureau surveys.
Historical Statistics of the United States This link opens in a new window
This thoroughly revised five-volume reference work reflects thirty years of new data and scholarship. Topics ranging from migration and health to crime and the Confederate States of America are each placed in historical context by a recognized expert in the field. The fully searchable and downloadable electronic edition will permit users to graph individual tables and create customized tables and spreadsheets reflecting their own particular areas of interest.
IMF eLibrary Data This link opens in a new window
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) comes with portals and dynamic visualization to showcase datasets. The datasets are: International Financial Statistics, Balance of Payment Statistics, Government Finance Statistics, and Direction of Trade Statistics.
International Financial Statistics (IFS) This link opens in a new window
One of the International Monetary Fund's principal statistical datasets, containing country data for most Fund members. Available indicators normally include a country's exchange rates, international liquidity, monetary statistics, interest rates, prices, production, and more.
OECD iLibrary This link opens in a new window
Online full-text of all publications and serials from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) from 1998 to present; also includes a large collection of data sets
Statista This link opens in a new window
Statista.com provides companies, business customers, research institutions, and the academic community with direct access to quantitative data on media, business, finance, politics, and a wide variety of other areas of interest or markets.
World Development Indicators This link opens in a new window
The primary World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially-recognized international sources. It presents the most current and accurate global development data available, and includes national, regional and global estimates.

Kathryn A. Martin Library

WRIT 3141: Business Communications

Business & Economics Librarian

Other Useful Websites