About the Internet Public LibraryThe Internet Public Library is a public service organization and a learning/teaching environment founded at the University of Michigan School of Information and hosted by Drexel University's College of Information Science & Technology.
Frequently Asked Questions About the IPL
People & Partners
Members, Partners, and Sponsors
IPL Consortium Members
Meet the Internet Public Library Administrative Team!
History of the IPL Timeline of IPL History
Interactive Timeline of IPL History
Timeline of Student Participation in the Growth of the IPL
IPL’s 10th Anniversary Celebration and Symposium in 2005
Policies and Statements Citing the IPL Copyright Notice
Collection Policy Linking to the IPL
Mission and Vision Statements of the Internet Public Library
Privacy Statement
Reproduction of Our Pages and Images
Requests to Reconsider Resources
Statement of Principles
Terms of Use News Awards and Recognition Received
IPL's U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Grant
Press Clippings Bibliography
Press Releases
Promotional Materials for the IPL
Misc. Accessibility Information
Teach with the IPL
Internet Public Library
Frequently Asked Questions about the IPL
It’s nice to know that so many people are curious about our work. Here are some of the most common questions we get, and our best answers to date. If you have a question which you don’t see here, send it along to our Contact Us form.
What is the IPL?
A good question. The IPL is many things:
the first public library of and for the Internet community
an experiment, trying to discover and promote the most effective roles and contributions of librarians to the Internet and vice versa a group of highly talented, creative, strong-willed people, working hard
What is its mission and vision?
See our Mission and Vision Statements.
How did it get started?
The IPL began in a graduate seminar in the School of Information and Library Studies at the University of Michigan in the Winter 1995 semester. The idea was twofold: (1) to ask some interesting and important questions about the interconnections of libraries, librarians, and librarianship with a distributed networked environment, and (2) to learn a lot about these issues by actually designing and building something called the Internet Public Library.
From a large pool of interested students, a group of 35 was selected to make up the class. Work began on January 5, 1995, and the Library opened on March 17, 70 days later.
Are you a student project? Can I participate?
Yes and no. As mentioned above, we began as a project in a graduate course, but the IPL is now an established, enduring (we hope!) entity, that includes a small full-time paid staff. At the same time, there are always students and others working on special and ongoing projects for us, and we are committed to the use of the IPL as a venue for students as well as professionals in the field to learn more about librarianship and the Internet and the intersections between them. We invite interested people to contact us to inquire further about collaborations and joint work.
Why did you call it a "public library"?
It was the only library metaphor that seemed to fit. "The Internet Library" didn’t have the right oomph, and none of the other types of libraries (academic, special, school, ...) seemed to capture the right feeling. From the beginning, the three words were seen to have equal standing in the vision of the project: Internet, Public, and Library.
A word on metaphors: We adopted the library and building metaphor unconsciously and naturally. Almost every member of the founding group was in the School of Information and Library Studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (we had 2 refugees from the College of Engineering), so the more we made this feel like "real" libraries, the easier the work and the thinking about it got. A couple of people have told us they think this metaphor inapt or even harmful, but the majority of comments on this score have been positive.
Are you trying to replace traditional libraries?
No, no, no, no, no! Far from it. (At least several of us want to work in libraries some day.) What we are trying to do is explore what the rich history and intellectual traditions of librarianship have to offer the dynamic but, let’s admit it, chaotic world of the Internet. Librarians have tried for a few hundred years to make sense of the world of information and knowledge stored in physical media...
why not try to find out what we can do with digital media?
There are many things which real libraries can offer their communities that we can’t or won’t: information and services specific to a particular geographic community, a comfy place to curl up with a book, a physical meeting and socializing place, a focus for community attention. We can do things they can’t. Let’s work together and see what happens.
Can I link to the IPL? How should I do that?
We welcome and encourage links from individuals and organizations with presences on the Web. Please see our Linking to the IPL page for more details.
Can I reproduce one of your pages or images for a book or article or CD-ROM?
We similarly encourage journalists, writers, and others to include discussions of the IPL in their work. Please refer to our policy on reproduction of our pages and images for further details.
Why these services? Why not something else, or more?
The services you see are the result of interests among the people who have built and worked on the library, and reflects their interests, skills, and expertise. The only mandatory service was a story hour (directorial privilege); everything else was decided by consensus and interest. We had many other ideas, but limited time and resources have forced us to choose, and this is what we have chosen, so far.
Who runs the IPL?
Meet our staff here.
Can you tell me more?
There have been many articles and papers written about the IPL. You can find a listing of the ones that we know about on the IPL Press Clippings Bibliography page.
How can I become a member of the IPL Consortium?
If you are a representative and/or faculty member from a library and/or information science department at a college or university, please see our Members, Partners, and Sponsors page for more information.
The Beginning
Jan. 5
The IPL began in a graduate seminar in the School of Information and Library Studies at the University of Michigan in the Winter 1995 semester. The idea was twofold: (1) to ask some interesting and important questions about the interconnections of libraries, librarians, and librarianship with a distributed networked environment, and (2) to learn a lot about these issues by actually designing and building something called the Internet Public Library.
A group of 35 students, led by Prof. Joseph Janes, began the work on the IPL!
The Grand Opening
Mar. 17th
The library opened 70 days later. It was a sunny Friday. Everyone celebrated as the IPL went live at noon.
Welcome Kids!
Besides the original reference center, a youth division was added to educate and familiarize young children to the IPL. Together with J.J. the librarian, the children could play math games, take a tour around the world, do fun science experiments and even learn some new jokes! There was even an Internet newsletter just for kids. This section later became known as KidSpace
QRC & Early Reference Questions
Aug. 3th
The IPL’s online reference service had been handled through a system called HyperNews up to this point, but on this day, QRC became the database management system helping the IPL’s reference administrators process and categorize reference questions and the IPL’s volunteer librarians answer accepted questions.
See examples of some of our early questions
Interview with Michael McClennen
Michael McClennen was a doctoral student in computer science at the University of Michigan when the call first went out for participation in the IPL. He ultimately created most of the software that now powers the IPL.
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NOTE: To watch the interview, you must have either the Adobe Flash Player or QuickTime installed.
Interview with Josie Parker
Josie Parker, Director of the Ann Arbor District Library and member of the early IPL Workshop class, talks about the IPL’s past and future.
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NOTE: To watch the interview, you must have either the Adobe Flash Player or QuickTime installed.
Total Reference Questions Answered for 1995
1,116
1996 Just for Teens
Dec. 18th
The Teen Division Originals featured a multitude of resources guides and collections. From how to write A+ Research papers to career pathways, teens were sure to find very valuable information and indispensable tips to get through their teenage years! This section was later renamed TeenSpace
A New School
The School of Information and Library Studies gave way to a new school: the School of Information.
Total Reference Questions Answered for 1996
4,007
1997 First Major Redesign
Jan. 12th
Nearly two years after the IPL’s inauguration, a major web site redesign was completed. The logo was also modified. Thanks go to Robert Mann for the redesign!
POTUS
Oct. 12th
Created by Presidential trivia buff Bob Summers, POTUS: Presidents of the United States contains links to biographical and historical information about all 43 presidents. Summers asked the IPL to host his site to give it more publicity. It quickly became one of the most highly used sections of the IPL!
Stately Knowledge
The Stately Knowledge collection was added. This popular KidSpace collection provides facts about the U.S. States as well as links to other sites students can use to learn about each state. The collection received another major update in 2004.
Total Reference Questions Answered for 1997
8,281
1998 Literary Criticism
The Literary Criticism collection was added. The collection contains links to online literary criticism as well as biographical information on authors and other relevant materials. Originally focusing on major American and British authors, the collection was later expanded to include authors from around the world.
Total Reference Questions Answered for 1998
13,850
1999 Interview with David S. Carter
David Carter was the second executive director of the IPL. Join him in this interview and get a behind the scenes view of a typical day at the IPL.
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NOTE: To watch the interview, you must have either the Adobe Flash Player or QuickTime installed.
IPL World Wide
Oct. 5th
The IPL goes World Wide. With mirror servers across the globe, such as in North America, South America and Europe, the IPL can now serve a greater audience world wide.
Total Reference Questions Answered for 1999
20,850
2000 Total Reference Questions Answered for 2000
27,910
2001 Total Reference Questions Answered for 2001
35,060
2002 Second Major Redesign
Jun. 12th
With the last redesign dating back five years, it was time to freshen up the IPL’s look and feel. In addition to a new interface, the web site gained valuable functionalities, including a comprehensive search feature, breadcrumbs to aid navigation and improved information architecture.
Computerworld Honors Program
The IPL was recognized by this prestigious program for its contributions to the education of library school students, librarians, and users.
AIHEC Virtual Library
The IPL provided interface design and technical assistance to this project of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC). The Virtual Library collected resources related to the curriculum of tribal colleges and their communities.
Total Reference Questions Answered for 2002
40,462
2003 Intel Grant
Intel provided laboratory workstations and laptops for the IPL, greatly improving speed.
The IPL Goes Open Source
The IPL made its software available through SourceForge at http://cvs.sourceforge.net/viewcvs.py/hypatia/.
Total Reference Questions Answered for 2003
46,721
2004 Sun Microsystems Grant
Sun Microsystems provided 9 new servers for the IPL; the IPL began moving from Solaris to Linux.
Research on the Economics of Funding Public Goods
Profs. Yan Chen and Jeff MacKie-Mason at the University of Michigan undertook research evaluating several incentive-compatible public goods mechanisms for IPL fundraising.
Interactive Middle East Newspaper Map
In partnership with the Universal Map Company, the IPL developed an interactive map of the Middle East for use in our Newspapers collection. Users could navigate through the geography of the region to find online newspapers specific to each area.
Biblioteca Publica por Internet
The IPL assisted Mexico’s Technological Institute of Monterrey in creating a Spanish-language virtual library that will provide services to students in Community Learning Centers, as well as the public at large.
Blogs Collection
April
The IPL put up a blogs collection to help users navigate the blogosphere, offering general information about blogs, links to blogs on a variety of subjects, and even including our own blog about blogs!
Total Reference Questions Answered for 2004
52,383
2005 Accessibility
December
Throughout the year, the IPL worked with Mike Elledge, a Usability Consultant then at the University of Michigan and now Assistant Director of the Usability and Accessibility Center at Michigan State University, to make all parts of our site accessible to users with disabilities. By December, almost all of the HTML code was brought up to World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) XHTML 1.0 Transitional, CSS 1.0, and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Priority 1 (WCAG P1) (with warnings) standards. Accesskeys were added for navigation, and the site was designed to be enlarged
greatly and yet still readable and usable.
TeenSpace Redesign and Expansion
A project went underway to update the TeenSpace section of our site. The changes, developed in consultation with Ann Arbor teens, included a redesigned interface, additional content in its Directory, and new ways for teens to engage with the IPL. The new look appeared over the spring and summer. In December, TeenSpace expanded further with two new sections, the FAEQs (Frequently Asked Embarassing Questions) and the Procrastinator (which also has the TeenSpace Thing of the Week).
50,000 served by Ask-A-Question Service
When the IPL began, online reference was a new concept. Over 50,000 questions later, we had learned a lot! We continued to attract new participants and developed new policies to help serve our users better.
Read more about the Ask-A-Question Service
Interview with Maurita Holland
Assoc. Prof. Maurita Holland, former IPL Executive Director, describes the many facets of IPL research and development.
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NOTE: To watch the interview, you must have either the Adobe Flash Player or QuickTime installed.
IPL Celebrates 10 Years of Innovation
When 35 University of Michigan School of Information students started the Internet Public Library in 1995, they wondered if anyone would notice. 10 years and hundreds of millions of mouse clicks by users later, the IPL celebrated its success with a real and a virtual public open house on Thursday, March 17. A live web feed let those who couldn’t be in Ann Arbor that day see IPL staff and School of Information students eat cake and talk into the camera, describing who they were and what they do for the IPL. There was also a weblog for patrons and past and present IPL
staff to talk about how the IPL helped them, and the first version of this very timeline was created for it to add to the celebration.
Click HERE to see photos from the party.
Click HERE to read an announcement from the School of Information advertising the celebration. (Page does not work properly in Mac-IE 5.1!)
Click HERE to read the issue of SI@umich.edu that covered the IPL’s 10th anniversary.
(Requires the Adobe Reader.)
(Issue 26, Spring 2005, of SI@umich.edu, the University of Michigan School of Information’s triannual alumni newsletter.)
Total Reference Questions Answered for 2005
57,521
2006 TeenSpace Poetry Wiki
April
The TeenSpace Poetry Wiki, a place where teens can post and respond to other teens’ poetry, and the Graphic Novels Guide, a concise, informative guide to comic books and graphic novels, are added to TeenSpace.
The Lit Crit Collection is Back!
April
The Literary Criticism Collection freed from all technical issues, thanks to a lot of student effort. The Fall class work on updating the Literary Criticism collection.
Science Fair Project Guide
November 29
In response to the popularity of science resources on our site and the large number of science-related questions asked by IPL users, a group of students and staff investigated how we could improve our resources and reference service in this area. The group examined best practices for science education in libraries and other fields, science questions sent to our reference service, and the availability of science information on the Internet. With special thanks to Cathie Toschach, the Science Fair Project resource guide was completely redone, from layout to content and went up at the end of Novemeber.
Grokker Search Added to the IPL
June
The IPL implements a new way of searching its collections, using grokker’s search technology which provides a different way of clustering and visualizing search results.
IPL Consortium Begins
August
The University of Michigan hosts representatives from various "ischools", colleges and universities with departments in library science and/or information science in an attempt to open up ownership of the IPL to a consortium.
The IPL’s New Home!
December
The University of Michigan stops hosting the IPL and moves its servers and staff positions over to Drexel University. Rest easy, Wolverines! The University of Michigan does stay on as a major contributing partner, along with Florida State University.
Total Reference Questions Answered for 2006
62,186
2007 An IMLS Grant!
The IPL has obtained a 3-year grant from IMLS to explore new ways of teaching and providing digital reference and librarianship and to move the IPL into a new era.
Improving Our Online Reference Service
Many improvements have been made behind the scenes to improve our online reference service. For one, our reference service is truly open all of the time now. We will not be closed at all during the year (unless due to technical problems, which should be very, very rare). We have been also revising our training materials and some of our policies to provide better answers via email to our patrons. We are currently engaged in a massive revision of our training manual for new students and volunteers. We have expanded our volunteer base, and we now have more reference
administrators than ever due to a new shift structure allowing for more ref admins to participate. More ref admins means more questions answered and faster response time from us.
IPL Growth
The IPL continues to grow, not only by increasing the number of participating schools, students, and volunteers, but also by adding to its permanent administrative staff.
Spreading the Word
The IPL attended several professional librarian conferences this year, including those for the Pennsylvania School Library Association, New Jersey Library Association, Maryland Library
Association, Delaware Library Association, Special Libraries Association held in Denver, and American Library Association held in Washington D.C., as well as workshops for the Public Library
Management Institute at Austin Peay State University and a statewide workshop for Tennessee library managers at Brentwood Public Library.
New Look for Stately Knowledge
May 2007
Kidspace’s Stately Knowledge underwent a facelift this year, its data was updated, and some of its content was modified. Aside from an improved look, an interactive map of the U.S. provides navigation from the homepage of the site. Drop-down menus allow you to navigate quickly between each state. Governors were updated, and the Size and Population Rankings were modified to include total, land, and water area for each state and to include population density as well as population. Finally, information particular to a state was set on 1 webpage rather than spread out over 2 webpages.
Updating POTUS Content
May, 2007
The IPL’s Presidents of the United States pages, created by Bob Summers, were with his permission thoroughly link checked and updated, with some user suggestions incorporated. The "On this day in POTUS history" feature was restored.
SLIPL!
July 27, 2007
The IPL stakes a claim in the online virtual world known as Second Life and gets its own "tree" on Drexel University’s "island". Future development projects in Second Life begin to be explored.
New and Updated FARQs (now FAQs) and Pathfinders
December 2007
Our collections of Frequently Asked (Reference) Questions and Pathfinder research guides received new additions.
Total Reference Questions Answered for 2007
71,723
2008 New IPL Search
Mar 31, 2008
At 9 a.m. EST, March 31, 2008, the new and improved improved version of the IPL’s own site search engine went live. The IPL’s new search now supported the use of quotes for exact phrase searching and the use of pluses (+) and minuses (-) to increase or decrease the importance of finding a particular term. Search results were presented in a simplified, conventional list format with quick access links to one or more related parts of the IPL.
The IPL’s new advanced search provided a choice between a more powerful version of the IPL’s new search, called "Traditional Advanced Search," and the IPL’s "Grok It" search. The IPL’s "Traditional Advanced Search" allowed searching of the title, descriptions, and/or URLs of the links in the IPL’s primary database, and provided the option of searching for words or phrases contained or not contained in those fields. All of this was presented in a very simple and highly usable interface.
Blogs Collection Merged into the Main IPL Subject Collections
April 2008
The IPL merged its blogs collections, formerly in static, harder-to-manage HTML code, into its MySQL Subject Collections database. Blogs can now be found within the IPL’s main Subject
Collections and within their own separate Special Collection.
Web Technologies Collection
April 2008
The Internet Librarian Conference in Monterey, CA in October, 2007, was the impetus for expanding the IPL’s Net-Based Emerging Technologies Special Collection into a much larger collection of Web 2.0 widgets and technologies.
FARQs Become FAQs
June 23, 2008
On Monday, June 23, 2008, the IPL’s Frequently Asked Questions, or FARQs, webpages were renamed as Frequently Asked Questions, or FAQs. Many FAQs were revised and updated to make them more useful both to our patrons and to our online reference service.
IPL Reference Service Gets a New Name and a Logo
August 18, 2008
On Monday, August 18, 2008, the Internet Public Library changed the name of its online reference service to "Ask an IPL Librarian" and put up a new logo to represent the service on the website. The new name and logo emphasized that librarians were the information experts providing the service. The logo, created by Kara Howland, Graphic Designer at The iSchool at Drexel University, also made the service more easily identifiable throughout the IPL’s website.
Total Reference Questions Answered as of July 2, 2008 77,686
Statement of Principles
The Internet Public Library Project seeks to challenge and redefine the roles and significance of libraries in an increasingly distributed and digital world. Libraries have always been places of learning and excitement, opening new worlds of information, enlightenment and entertainment to all who enter. Libraries and the people who work in them are committed to democracy and equality of access, the dignity of their patrons, and the freedom to express and investigate all points of view.
This is a noble and honorable professional mission. Technologies have always permitted libraries to accomplish their aims more effectively. The rise of libraries as we know them today is due in large part to the explosion in volume and diversity of printed and recorded matter. Simultaneously, however, each new medium brings with it difficulties and change. The technologies of global internetworking present yet another set of challenges and opportunities to the library community.
Our project has a twofold educational mission:
First, and foremost, the planning, development, design, and thinking about the Library serves as an opportunity for its members to learn--about users, about technologies, about management--in short, about all the issues motivated by the translation of the library perspective into a networked environment. Further, we hope that by conveying our experiences, we can help others to share in our lessons.
Second, the Library itself exists to
provide services and information which enhance the value of the Internet to its ever-expanding and varied community of users work to broaden, diversify, and educate that community communicate its creators' vision of the unique roles of library culture and traditions on the Internet The members of the Library affirm the following:
We will work to provide service of the highest quality possible to our community of users.
We will uphold the highest standards of professionalism, including commitments to equality of access, and intellectual freedom. In particular, we endorse the principles of the Library Bill of Rights, appended below.
We will strive for creativity and originality in all our work, within appropriate constraints.
We will endeavor to extend the scope of our work on a global scale: to incorporate the participation of people around the world in the development and work of the Library, and also to acknowledge and access collections of interest everywhere.
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Library Bill of Rights
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.
Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
A person's right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.
Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.
Adopted June 18, 1948; amended February 2, 1961, and January 23, 1980, by the ALA Council.
Business & Economics
The realms of commerce and industry, the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services and the management of economic systems.
Magazines • Associations on the Net
Sub-headings:
Accounting
Theory and methods of recording business transactions and stating the assets, liabilities, and operating results of a business.
Agriculture
The business of farming - the science and art of cultivating soil, producing crops, and raising livestock.
Banking
The keeping and use of money for savings, commercial, investment, or exchange purposes.
Business Administration & Management
Theories and examples of organizing, running, and maintaining enterprises and people working together for some goal.
Business Directories
Directories for locating business' addresses, telephone and fax numbers, Internet or Web addresses, products and services, maps to their location.
Business & Economics Blogs
Web logs written by, for or about topics related to business and economics.
Business & Economics News
Recent happenings in areas of interest to business and finance.
Commerce & Trade
Resources related to international trade issues, including organizations that promote business opportunities in the United States and abroad.
Consumer Issues & Services
Issues concerning the seeking to protect and inform the users of goods and services.
E-Commerce
The distribution of goods and services by means of the Internet.
Economics
Study of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services and the theory and management of economic systems.
Employment
Policies and practices of obtaining work or workers.
Entrepreneurship
Resources for entrepreneurs: those who organize, manage, and assume the risks of a business or enterprise.
Finance
The management of money, banking, investments, and credit.
History of Business & Economics
Sites covering historical treatments of business, economics and money, including historic financial data, tax history, and history of money.
Industry
The manufacturing and production of goods, or the provision of services, through a business enterprise.
International Business
Doing business in international markets, and business information specific to various countries or geographic regions of the world.
Labor & Workplace
Workers considered as a group; the work environment.
Marketing & Advertising
The commercial functions involved in transferring goods from producer to consumer, including encouraging and facilitating purchases.
Non-Profit Organizations
How to create, organize and maintain enterprises devoted to the larger public good.
Real Estate
Land, including all the natural resources and permanent buildings on it.
Statistics
Numerical measurement of economic indicators, business trends, trade outcomes, etc.
Tax
Contribution for the support of government or its larger social purposes, required of persons or businesses within the domain of that government.
Resources in this category:
Accounting, Business Studies and Economics Dictionary
http://www.tuition.com.hk/dictionary/
Find definitions of terms related to accounting, business, and economics. This dictionary will be helpful to those enrolled in any business-related courses.
Bizlink
http://www.plcmc.org/bizlink/
"Bizlink is a highly selective list of top quality Internet sites, electronic resources and print business materials. Bizlink is your electronic pathway to the latest business data - from company and industry information to international trade leads to recent mutual fund quotations. Bizlink will guide you in your search for breaking business news, a personal financial plan, a company marketing strategy or a new job. Integrate the Internet into your research on: Companies; Investments & Personal Finance; Industries; Starting a Business; International Business; Business Forms; Marketing &
Demographics; Careers; Taxes; Patents & Trademarks."
BookWeb
http://www.bookweb.org/
Book resources from the American Booksellers Association. Most impressive is the database of member bookstores, which can be searched or browsed by location, name or specialty; entries include street address, email address, and links to store Web sites. Also includes book news, listings of book fairs and festivals, trade shows, and conventions; and bookselling statistics.
British Library of Political & Economic Science
http://www.lse.ac.uk/library/
"The working Library of the London School of Economics and Political Science and one of the largest libraries in the world devoted to the economic and social sciences."
Business Plans by BizPlanIt.Com
http://www.bizplanit.com/
"BizPlanIt.Com's web site has Free Resources, including free business plan information, advice, articles, links and resources, a free monthly newsletter, the 'Virtual Business Plan' to pinpoint information with just a few clicks of the mouse, and Ask Mr. BizPlanIt, providing free answers to business plan questions within 24 hours."
A Business Researcher's Interests
http://www.brint.com/interest.html
"The purpose of this site is to serve as the WWW resource for researchers, academics and practitioners with interest in Information Processes, Information Systems and Information Technologies that are relevant to Contemporary Organizational Issues. This site is sponsored by the Association for Information Systems, the international organization that seeks to identify, extend, unify, and communicate knowledge in information technology, information systems, and information management."
DataPlace
http://www.dataplace.org/
A housing and demographic data source covering communities, regions, and the nation. Provides data sets from multiple sources as well as tools and guides to analyzing and interpreting data.
Users have access to maps, area profiles, charts and tables, and how-to guides.
ForeignMBA.com
http://www.foreignmba.com/
ForeignMBA.com is an excellent resource for students from other countries considering pursuing their MBA in the United States. It contains school profiles, lifestyle adjustment advice and much more. Of particular interest is an unofficial list of companies known to hire foreign nationals. For employers, this web site offers information on immigration policies and other considerations when hiring someone from a different country.
HBS Working Knowledge
http://hbsworkingknowledge.hbs.edu/
"The site brings together timely business information and research from the intellectual capital of Harvard Business School, Harvard Business School Publishing and other highly regarded sources. Visitors to the site can browse more than a dozen management topics featuring timely articles and essays on diverse management topics, interviews with HBS professors and industry leaders, book recommendations and Web site reviews."
Intute: Social Sciences
http://www.intute.ac.uk/socialsciences/
Intute Social Sciences is "a free online service providing you with access to the very best Web resources for education and research, evaluated and selected by a network of subject specialists."
LatinFocus: The Leading Source for Latin American Economies
http://www.latin-focus.com/
This site contains an abundance of information on economics, finance, and related news in a number of Latin American countries. Accessible information includes statistics relating to stocks, GDP, unemployment, imports, exports, and more. Users can search by country or economic indicator. Available in English and Spanish.
MagPortal.com: Magazine Articles on Business http://www.MagPortal.com/c/bus/
A searchable, browsable directory of magazine articles related to business topics that are available online. Topics covered include: Briefs; Consultants; Diversity; Financing & Incubators; Future Trends; Industries; International Business; Job Search & Career; Marketing; Office Products & Services; Recruiting & Personnel; Regional; Small Business; Strategy & Management; Technology Management; Work Life & Environment. Updated every few days.
New York Times Business Connections
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/technology/cybertimesnavi...
This page of links to business and economics sites on the Web was prepared by columnist Rich Meislin for use by the other journalists at the New York Times for their business research purposes. It includes links in the following categories: Markets, Investing, Companies, Banking & Finance, Government, Business News, Business Directories, and Miscellany. Requires registration.
The Office Life: Ridiculous Business Jargon Dictionary
http://www.theofficelife.com/business-jargon-dictionary-A.ht...
"Ever wonder what language your coworkers are speaking?" To help you figure it out, this dictionary provides definitions for over 400 commonly used words and phrases from the world of business jargon.
PatentCafe
http://www.patentcafe.com/
A gateway to resources on intellectual property, patents, and inventors.
Speech & Transcript Center
http://www.freepint.com/gary/speech.htm
Links for Real Audio and text transcripts of speeches and TV and radio programs. Speakers include politicians and world leaders (present and historical), government representatives, business executives, and representatives of professional, trade, and social justice associations.
U.S. Department of Commerce http://www.commerce.gov/
This official site of the Department of Commerce provides Department information as well as resources organized by subject. Some of the information available includes information on news, employment at the Commerce Department, the economy and a place to submit information to the Commerce Department via the e-gov. This site is also available in Spanish.
The washingtonpost.com Business Glossary
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/business/longterm/gloss...
An A to Z glossary of business terms.
Banking
The keeping and use of money for savings, commercial, investment, or exchange purposes.
SEE ALSO Magazines • Associations on the Net
Resources in this category:
American Currency Exhibit
http://www.frbsf.org/currency/index.html
"Money hasn't always looked like it does today. Explore the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's American Currency Exhibit online and watch history come alive as you step back in time to our nation's beginning. Learn how our country's rich history is closely tied with our currency. Discover the role the Federal Reserve has played--and continues to play--in that history. Select Tour Showcase of Bills to examine highlights from the collection. Select Tour Exhibit by Era to navigate through historical eras, beginning with the Colonial struggle for independence. Your mode of
transportation through history ranges from the Colonial horse to the global economy's jet airplane. As you follow the transportation revolution and the evolution of American currency, you'll learn how these events not only reflect our history, but help shape it."
ATM Locator
http://visaatm.infonow.net/bin/findNow?CLIENT_ID=VISA
Searchable database that will help you find an Automatic Teller Machine in any city in the United States, and even give you a map!
The Bank for International Settlements
http://www.bis.org/
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is an international organization that serves as a bank for central banks. It contains many original resources including economic and monetary statistics and research papers and "forum to promote discussion and policy analysis among central banks and within the international financial community."
Bank Rate Monitor
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/default.asp
"Business news and consumer rates on savings, mortgages, auto loans, home equity loans, credit cards, checking account, ATM, and online fees." Lists rate for banks and thrifts in major U.S.
metropolitan areas.
Banking News from Topix.net
http://www.topix.net/business/banking
Continually updated feed of banking news that links to resources all over the Web. Also includes general current events and general business news.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
http://www.federalreserve.gov/
An official source of information about Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. This site provides information about federal reserve system, monetary policy, banking information and regulation,payment systems,economic research and data which include current interest rate statistics, bank prime rates, foreign exchange rates, U.S. government securities rates, conventional mortgage rates. It also provides consumer information for consumers and for community development . It also provides list of publications and websites of various federal agencies related to federal reserve system.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
http://www.moneyfactory.gov/
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) web site covers all aspects of currency and postage stamps. This web site is designed to be an easy to use resource for information on security documents.
FED101: The Federal Reserve Today
http://www.kc.frb.org/fed101/
An interactive guide to the U.S. Federal Reserve system, including History, Structure, Monetary Policy, Banking Supervision, and Financial Services.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation http://www.fdic.gov/
"The FDIC is the independent deposit insurance agency created by Congress to maintain stability and public confidence in the nation's banking system." Sections include the FDIC Corporate
Library and consumer information.
House Committee on Financial Services
http://financialservices.house.gov/
The House Committee on Financial Services is responsible for addressing legislation covering banks, banking, economic stabilization, insurance, international finance, money, credit, private and public housing, securities and exchanges, and urban development.
Investment Banking News from Topix.net
http://www.topix.net/business/investment-banking
Continually updated feed of investment baking news that links to resources across the Web. Ram Research Group http://www.ramresearch.com/
Ram Research Group surveys over 500 banks, credit unions and financial companies which provide consumer credit cards, accounting for over 97% of the U.S. market. Terms and rates are described. The site also includes consumer tips and news about the credit card industry.
Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
http://banking.senate.gov/
The committee that monitors legislation on banks, financial institutions, control of prices of commodities, deposit insurance, economic stabilization and defense production, export and foreign trade promotion, federal monetary policy including the Federal Reserve System, financial aid to commerce and industry, issuance and redemption of notes, public and private housing, urban development, and urban mass transit.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
http://www.moneyfactory.com/
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) web site covers all aspects of currency and postage stamps. "This web site is designed to be an easy to use resource for information on security
documents."
Business Administration & Management
Theories and examples of organizing, running, and maintaining enterprises and people working together for some goal.
SEE ALSO Magazines • Associations on the Net
Sub-headings:
Corporate Libraries and Information Centers
Human Resources
The administration of personnel and employee benefits.
Small Business & Entrepreneurship
Women & Minority-owned Business
Resources in this category:
Big Dog's Human Resource Development Page
http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd.html
Great training materials including a Systems Approach to Training with an extensive, step-by-step approach to designing training for adults, primarily in a business setting; Training the Trainer;
mentoring programs; OSHA and safety training; and a downloadable DOS program to do planning via CPM, a Critical Path Method.
Business Netiquette International
http://www.bspage.com/1netiq/Netiq.html
An article providing advice on e-mail netiquette between businesses, especially cross-border and cross-culture communications.
Center for Business Planning
http://www.businessplans.org/
"The Center for Business Planning provides any business manager or entrepreneur with a set of resources to help in creating a business or managing a business. Information is provided on every area of planning a business including: acquire venture capital, define new products, market analysis, competitive analysis, production management, tax problems, legal issues, prepare financial statements, write a business plan and much more."
The Conference Board
http://www.conference-board.org/
"The Conference Board is the world's leading business membership and research organization." This nonprofit, nonadvocacy organization produces the Consumer Confidence Index, the Leading Economic Indicators index, and a wide range of reports on best business practices and the latest economic trends.
The Foundation Center
http://fdncenter.org/
The Foundation Center is a non-profit organization devoted to serving the information needs of grantmakers and grantseekers. They publish an extensive list of books and provide libraries and training sessions related to the non-profit sector. The Website's Reference Desk has a FAQ page organized by topic, a long list of annotated links for finding online sites related to non-profits, and an online reference librarian who takes questions by e-mail. There are also some informational materials online such as a "A Proposal Writing Short Course."
The Grantsmanship Center Magazine
http://tgci.com/magazine.shtml
"TGCI Magazine is packed with information on how to plan, manage, staff and fund the programs of nonprofit organizations and government agencies."
ManagementFirst
http://first.emeraldinsight.com/
"ManagementFirst provides management articles, networking and expertise on a range of topics including business management, workplace leadership styles, strategic management, electronic commerce, marketing research, training and development, customer relationship management, human resources, time management and global marketing strategies. At the core of ManagementFirst is a 110,000 strong database of abstracts, management articles and book reviews dating back to 1989... It also serves as a gateway to recommended sources of management information including management-related web sites, professional associations and management consultants." Articles in their database are available to order online, with some free articles
available each month.
ManagerWise
http://www.managerwise.com/
Browse articles, news, forums, book reviews and other resources concerning the theory and practice of business management. The site also provides links to business schools worldwide.
Money Hunter
http://www.moneyhunter.com/
Money Hunt Properties is a commercial venture capital broker which has provided a downloadable business plan for use in any word processing program. Its site also includes links to venture capital sources and information.
PowerPointers
http://www.powerpointers.com/
This site offers tips and articles on how to create a winning presentation. The information is divided into four sections: the art of communicating effectively, building a presentation, communicating in your specialty, and planning a presentation. The site also offers users a free subscription to its monthly newsletter - 2ThePoint.
Sookoo! The Business Strategy Search Specialist
http://www.sookoo.com/
A search engine featuring Web sites and articles on the subject of business strategy. "Sookoo.com was developed...to make it easier to find high-quality business strategy and management information on the web."
U.S. Business Advisor
http://www.business.gov/
"The U.S. Business Advisor exists to provide business with one-stop access to federal government information, services, and transactions." Sections available include: Common Questions, How-to and News. Searchable.
Commerce & Trade Resources related to international trade issues, including organizations that promote business opportunities in the United States and abroad.
SEE ALSO Magazines • Associations on the Net
Resources in this category:
American Stock Exchange
http://www.amex.com/
The AMEX site is a comprehensive resource that provides market summaries and news for over 800 companies world-wide. Also provides the 'Information Exchange' which aims to provide insight into business issues.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
http://www.moneyfactory.gov/
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) web site covers all aspects of currency and postage stamps. This web site is designed to be an easy to use resource for information on security documents.
Deardorff's Glossary of International Economics
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~alandear/glossary/
"This glossary will eventually attempt to cover all of the terms and concepts from international economics, including both international trade and international finance, at least at the introductory level... The glossary includes definitions, links to definitions, and wherever appropriate links to other sites and documents that may provide additional information."
International Chamber of Commerce
http://www.iccwbo.org/
"The International Chamber of Commerce serves world business by promoting trade and investment and the free market system. Founded in 1919, the ICC is a non-governmental organization of thousands of companies and business associations in more than 140 countries. ICC national committees in Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific and Africa present ICC views to their governments and alert Paris headquarters to national business concerns." This site provides general information about the ICC, its services, committees, members, and
publications.
International Trade Administration
http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/industry/otea/
Find out information about current issues and resources in international trade.
LearnMoney.co.uk: Financial Guides, Help & Information
http://www.learnmoney.co.uk/
This site has over 400 pages of quality and unique content on stockmarket products such as Contracts for Difference and Trade options. It also contains a Personal Finance section.
The Office of Trade and Economic Analysis
http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/industry/otea
This site provides information about trade statistics, policy, projections, and resources.
The Cash Railway Website
http://www.ids.u-net.com/cash/index.htm
This site covers cash carriers, systems which delivered money from point of sale to an absent cashier who then returned the receipt by the same device. Descriptions and photos of four types of systems are covered: Cash Ball, cable, wire-line and pneumatics.
Trade Information Center
http://www.trade.gov/td/tic/
This site provides information for businesses on export rules, guidelines, and procedures.
U. S. Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov/
Get information here on the U.S. Small Business Administration programs and publications about starting, financing, and expanding a small business.The SBA, established in 1953, provides financial, technical and management assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their businesses. With a portfolio of business loans, loan guarantees and disaster loans worth more than $45 billion, in addition to a venture capital portfolio of $13 billion, SBA is the nation's largest single financial backer of small businesses. Last year, the SBA offered management and technical assistance to more than one million small business owners. The SBA also plays a major role in the government's disaster relief efforts by making low-interest recovery loans to both homeowners and businesses.