Business, Finance & Legal

Actual business plans compiled by, and aimed at, entrepreneurs seeking funding for small businesses. Presents sample plans taken from businesses in the manufacturing, retail and service industries which serve as examples of how to approach, structure and compose business plans. Available eBooks 2010 to present.

This research database is a premiere source of business and residential information to locate people and businesses, conduct consumer research, create marketing plans, and search for jobs. You can search against geographic areas for specific information.

Data Axle Reference Solutions was created in 1998 under the name ReferenceUSA to provide libraries with the most up-to-date business and consumer data available. Now, their product is widely available at places including the New York City Public Library, Yale University Library, and libraries of all sizes across the United States including Timberland Regional Library. 

• Find jobs by job skills, location, and industry
• Find business opportunities
• Locate companies nationwide
• Research business executives
• View historical market trends
• Track down addresses and phone numbers
• Discover news articles for research
• Download up to 250 records at a time

Watch Data Axle Reference Solutions Tutorial

Compare global economies, countries, and industries with in-depth analysis on over 400,000 companies.

Gale Business: Insights provides an extensive collection of business intelligence, combining Gale reference content with respected business sources and full-text periodicals to help researchers understand today’s global business environment. Users can access more than 430,000 detailed company profiles with company financial data, in-depth country overviews, and comprehensive industry profiles to stay current with the ever-evolving business landscape.

While this global database is a valuable resource for students, Gale Business: Insights also offers relevant information to educate and accelerate the business activities of budding entrepreneurs, small business owners, financial planners, and established business professionals.

Learn how to start, finance, or manage your small business. Includes sample business plans, how to guides, articles, and more.

Gale Business: Entrepreneurship is a comprehensive database that covers all aspects of starting and operating a business, including accounting, finance, human resources, management, marketing, tax, and more. It combines authoritative periodical and reference content to support prospective and current entrepreneurs as well as business students. Experience an easy-to-browse interface mapped to four key stages—plan, fund, start, and manage—to fit your research needs at any point in your business's development.

Watch the Gale Business tutorial.   

Direct link to the Business Plans section of Gale Business: Entrepreneurship. Find example plans and other resources to help create your own. The program’s intuitive dashboard walks users through five areas of exploration to develop a business plan focused on long-term success.

Gale welcomes you to the most extensive free forms site available to library patrons. Thousands of legal forms are available with more forms being added daily. Official, State Specific, Federal, Business, Personal, Real Estate and General forms covering hundreds of legal subjects and issues including wills, bankruptcy, divorce, landlord tenant and many others.

New! A selection of legal documents are available in Spanish-language and Spanish-English bilingual versions. Look for the * signifier in your search results.

Watch the Gale LegalForms tutorial.   

This free resource (no library card required) provides assisted resume writing, customizable templates, multiple download formats, and the ability to manage multiple resumes when you create a free account.

Build your job-winning resume in 3 easy steps:

1. 1. Create resume content with step-by-step resume writing guide
   2. Format resume by selecting a design template and font
   3. Download and email resume in multiple formats

An online database of funding opportunities such as grants (for programs, projects, planning, start-up, endowments, technical assistance, facilities and equipment, etc.), awards, and fellowships for example.

Funding opportunities range from pure research grants to arts programs, biomedical and health care research, community services programs, children and youth programs, K-12 education funding, international programs, and operating grants for nonprofit organizations.

Each record includes:

• Contact information
• Sponsor name and address
• Subject terms for related searches
• Type of sponsor (Federal agency, foundation, research institute, etc.)

Each record also includes (where available):

• URLs to more information on the funding opportunity
• Deadline date(s)
• Restrictions on who may aply (including geographic restrictions)
• Lists of previous awards
• Amount(s) of grant or award
• Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number
• Populations encouraged to apply (e.g., women, minorities, disabled)
• RFA and PA numbers for NIH grants
• Program numbers for NSF grants

An online database designed to assist the general public in legal matters of all kinds. It includes exclusive full text for many top consumer legal reference books, as well as thousands of legal forms.

With the Legal Forms by U.S. State feature, users can search state-specific legal forms by top subject areas including adoption, bankruptcy, name changes and more.

Subjects Include:

• Business law
• Financial planning
• Family law
• Property and real estate
• Rights and disputes

Watch the Legal Information Source tutorial., opens a new window   

Borrow eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, and more for free! Libby is the newer library reading app by OverDrive, loved by millions of readers worldwide.

Explore the collection through catalog guides, subjects, featured titles, and curated lists. It's a delight to discover new books through Libby.

The app can be downloaded for Android, iPhone, and Kindle or used in a web browser by visiting libbyapp.com in your Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge (Chromium) browser.  

Read across devices
All your loans, notes, bookmarks, and reading progress sync across your devices.

Offline access
Download ebooks and audiobooks for offline reading, or stream them to save space.

Listen in your car
Enjoy audiobooks in your car through Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, or a Bluetooth connection.

Send to Kindle
If you prefer reading on your Kindle, Libby can send your library books to it.  

Watch the Libby tutorial   

Dig into expert analysis from 100+ global researchers on securities, funds, markets, and portfolios. With transparent insights, investors can make more confident investment decisions. Easily print one page PDF stock and fund reports. Check out the "Articles" section for news and "Help" for monthly user webinars. For direct technical support email libraryservices@morningstar.com, opens a new window.

Watch the Morningstar tutorial.   

Offers exclusive full text for many top consumer small business reference books, as well as tools to address many small business topics. It includes business videos, a help and advice section, and details on how to create business plans. 

Features Include:

• State-specific resources
• Business basics
• Start-up kit and business plans
• Industry information by small business type
• A unique, user-friendly interface

Watch the Small Business Source tutorial., opens a new window   

An online database that gives investors and market researchers access to professional quality data and research tools. 

Whether you’re a beginning investor or a veteran looking for high-impact ideas, Value Line can position you for financial success quickly and easily. From the latest data, sophisticated tools and proven ranks to expert analysis and guidance, Value Line gives you the power to evaluate investments with confidence. Make smarter, more profitable decisions with Value Line.

View the Value Line Tutorial from Niche Academy.