Our Library and Your Business: A Note from Christine Faris

Download Business Ebooks and Audiobooks

Recommended Electronic Resources 

Access is provided by the Delaware County Library System.  To login, you must have an active library card.  

Business Plans Handbook

An eBook presenting approximately 25 sample plans taken from businesses in the manufacturing, retail, and service industries.  These are actual business plans compiled by entrepreneurs seeking funding for small businesses throughout North America.

Foundation Directory Online

(Available only at the Haverford Library. To make an appointment, call 610-446-3082 x212)

Looking for grants, and funding for your nonprofit organization? The Foundation Directory Online Database, described as the "nation's leading online resource for funding research," provides the ability to research potential sources of grant support for non-profit programs and projects to over 100,000 US foundations and corporate donors.

Grants.gov

The single access point for over 900 grant programs offered by the 26 Federal grant-making agencies.

Legal Forms

State-specific (and multi-state) forms, including real estate contracts, wills, pre-marital agreements, bankruptcy, divorce, landlord/tenant and many others.

MorningStar.com

Coverage of over 20,000 Stock and Fund securities, frequently updated, independent reports on 1,000 stocks and 2,000 funds, and exclusive ratings for both stocks and mutual funds.

Pennsylvania Foundations (No remote access. To use, visit any Delaware County Library)

Owned and managed by professionals who bring decades of experience in grantsmanship, fund raising and non profit management, along with the necessary technological skills needed to provide research tools about funders making grants to support initiatives in Pennsylvania.

Reference USA

This is a fully searchable guide to US businesses. You can find a business by name, geographic location, SIC codes, yellow page listing, executive name, size of company, and several other ways. Good for job seekers or business prospects.

Recommended Print Resources

Available in the Reference collection of the library.

Greater Philadelphia Media Guide REF 659.2 GRE

Contains the complete of directory of local interest mass communications media in the eight county Greater Philadelphia area.

Harris Pennsylvania Industrial and Services Directory

REF 671 HAR

Includes descriptive and statistical data for companies in the entire state.  Divided into 2 volumes—Industrial and Services. 

Pennsylvania Abstract REF 317.4 PEN

Published annually with over 200 tables containing data for Pennsylvania and its 67 counties. Data for each edition is collected from state and federal agencies and covers population, housing, agriculture, manufacturing, retail, wholesale, and governments. 

Pennsylvania County Databooks  REF 317.48 PEN

Provides U.S. Census Bureau population counts and demographic characteristics. Presented in table format for easy analysis.  Also includes reference and thematic maps where appropriate.  Editions include Chester, Delaware, Montgomery counties.

Philadelphia Business Journal Book of Lists  REF 338.002 BUS

Lists of hundreds of area companies in their fields, by ranking. Published annually to include up-to-date names of key decision makers, along with their titles and complete contact information.

Magazines

Just a selection of magazines with both loal and national coverage that the library subscribes to.

Local

Delaware Valley Consumer's Checkbook (biannually)

Reviews and ranks local businesses and services based on price and quality of service.

Main Line Today (monthly)

Explores the people, issues and institutions that influence life on the Main Line. 

Philadelphia Magazine (monthly)

Reports on regional business trends, political analysis, metropolitan planning, and social issues.

Nationwide

Barron's (weekly)

Provides in-depth analysis and commentary on the financial markets.

Bloomberg Business Week (weekly)

Looks at the latest international business news, global economic conditions, technology and industry trends, company profiles, and government policy.

Forbes (biweekly)

Reports business news and financial information.

Daily Newspapers

Delaware County Daily Times

Main Line Times (weekly)

New York Times

Philadelphia Business Journal (weekly)

Philadelphia Inquirer

Wall Street Journal 

Recommended Government Sites

Local

Greg Vitali

Delaware County Representative in the PA House

Haverford Township

Haverford Township Civic Council

State 

Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry

Contains information about labor laws and safety standards in the workplace, plus compliance issues with Workers' and Unemployment Compensation.  

Pennsylvania Open for Business

Explore financial options, download forms necessary to start and expand a business, and register a business with multiple PA Departments.

Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center

Find information on small business loans, business taxes resource exchanges, and elected officials.

Federal

Current Industrial Reports

Measures manufacturing activity in important commodity areas such as textiles, chemicals, primary metals, computer/electronic components.

FRED - Federal Reserve Economic Data

Contains data on the US and international economies.  Categories include banking, business, exchange rate, employment, interest rates, prices, etc.  

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Statistics and Data page

Reports statistics about workplace injury, OSHA inspections and standards, and industry profiles.

Library of Congress: Business Internet Resources Subject List

Maintained by the Library of Congress and contains links to reputable, authoritative sites for over 50 detailed business subjects. 

USA.gov

The US government's official web portal.  Features online businesses services such as filing patents and trademarks.

U.S. Small Business Administration

Recommended General Sites

Annual Reports Gallery

Allows user to view actual up-to-date annual reports from companies in a variety of industries.

Better Business Bureau

Provides objective consumer-oriented information.

Delaware County Chamber of Commerce

Delaware Valley Grantmakers

Connects funders with the institutions that need them and business, individuals, and nonprofits with the causes they care about.

FindLaw

Offers legal information and resources for small business owners and help for entrepreneurs seeking to get a business idea off the ground.

Form 501©(3) Help

Helps new nonprofits fill out their tax exempt application form.

Haverford Partnership for Economic Development (HPED)

Promotes economic development and the revitalization of business districts in Haverford Township.

SCORE

Educates entrepreneurs and helps small businesses start, grow, and succeed nationwide.

ThomasNet

Brings together industrial buyers and suppliers on national, regional, and local levels. 

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