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Trusted Information for Your Research Needs

The Business Librarian and reference staff at the Main Library can assist small business owners, job seekers, 10 investors, and consumers with their research needs. We offer materials and research services to help you make informed financial and career decisions. Individual consultations and group tours are available by appointment. We have an extensive collection of business and consumer magazines, and newspaper and journal articles online.

Business Information

  • Retrieve vintage versions of data that were available on specific dates in history.
  • Provides difficult to locate information about the exploitive practices of 4,000 businesses worldwide. Find balanced coverage via news, announcements, and other resources. Includes responses from the accused companies. Search by company name, issue, country, or topic.
  • Users have access to demographic information including income, housing, race, age, education, retail spending, consumer expenditures, businesses and more.
  • The Department of Business and Professional Regulation is the agency charged with licensing and regulating businesses and professionals in the State of Florida.
  • "FRED" database — research interest rates, PPI, CPI, employment, and population data.
  • The State's central location for business entity filing, Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, trade and service marks, and fictitious name registrations.
  • Business resource that delivers authoritative company and industry information, articles, and statistical data.
  • Business content from a combination of broker research reports, trade publications, newspapers, journals and company directory listings. You will need a library card to access this resource.
  • Lists information on thousands of companies.
  • Access news and magazine articles on a wide range of topics: business, computers, current events, economics, education, environmental issues, health care, hobbies, humanities, law, literature and art, politics, science, social science, sports, technology, and general interest. You will need a library card to access this resource.
  • Anyone providing merchandise or services to the public in Palm Beach County must obtain a county local business tax receipt. Various cities may require additional occupational licenses.
  • Search for information on thousands of funds and stocks. Access Morningstar from a library computer or from home with your library card number.
  • Access to business, company and industry information, as well as news stories.
  • Information on doing business with Palm Beach County. Links to Vendor Online Certification System.
  • Electronic directory of over 24 million U.S. and Canadian businesses and over 210 million U.S. residents. Useful for market research, job searching, business and residential contact information.
  • A searchable database of SEC filings for public companies (some foreign companies included).
  • This site links to departments of revenue websites where you can download tax forms from each state.
  • A free service, but users must register and login for access to info on 155,000 U.S. and Canadian companies.
  • Contains information on filing for bankruptcy in South Florida and allows users to view court cases, dates, and other information.
  • Find business data and statistics on banking, earnings, economic analysis, trade, and more.
  • Helping investors to get independently-created research information available about stocks and other investments. Access Value Line from a library computer or from your home computer with your library card number.

Consumer Information

  • The latest CPI and news releases (used to calculate rates of inflation).
  • Download the current Federal tax forms directly from the IRS.
  • Download tax forms from previous years - directly from the IRS.
  • Money Smart Week (April 15-21, 2023) is a national public education program coordinated by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago that empowers people with the knowledge and skills to make better-informed personal financial decisions.

Investments

  • MarketWatch provides current and historical stock quotes, and industry and market index information. Searched by symbol or keyword with interactive charting features.
  • Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. It's mission is to safeguard the financial system from illicit use, combat money laundering and its related crimes including terrorism, and promote national security through the strategic use of financial authorities and the collection, analysis, and dissemination of financial intelligence.
  • IMEA (Investment Management Education Alliance), formerly the MFEA (Mutual Fund Education Alliance). This website focuses on investor education and industry best practices.
  • A finance portal with news, stock prices, company profiles, CEOs, addresses, and more.

Small Business

  • The guide for entrepreneurs and emerging companies.
  • Find out about starting your business using this comprehensive resource that covers all major areas of starting and operating a business.
  • Information on doing business with Palm Beach County. Links to Vendor Online Certification System.
  • Provides free small business counseling using retired business executives, with offices in West Palm Beach and Delray Beach.
  • Florida Atlantic University is the host institution for the Small Business Development Center in Palm Beach County. They provide professional consultations and training assistance to small business owners and entrepreneurs to help them succeed in the marketplace.
  • Provides programs, services, tools, and local resources to help American's small businesses.