This page contains a selection of the best business websites and links to business-related databases subscribed to by Skokie Public Library.
Additional company information can be found on the Investments & Finance page along with general information on stocks, mutual funds, and interest-rate related investments.
For small business owners or those wishing to start their own business, the Library has a separate Small Business page with information on business start-up, marketing, and more.
Check out some featured Business Books at the library.
Web resource 
Available with Skokie Public Library card 
Available in Library only
General Business Information
BizLink
This annotated directory of resources for business research contains topics such as business forms; careers, jobs, and salaries; company and industry research; international business; investment and personal finance; marketing and demographics; patent and trademark; starting a business; and taxes.
BusinessDecision from CIVICTechnologies
BusinessDecision is a reporting and mapping service that combines extensive consumer household, market segmentation, and demographic data with GIS mapping technology. Use this product to locate potential customers, identify new store locations, evaluate competitors, or focus marketing efforts.
CEOExpress
This comprehensive directory designed for business executives compiles useful work-related, as well as lifestyle and travel, resources.
Crain's Chicago Business
Though most of the detailed articles require a subscription, there are still some valuable free postings here including an events calendar, classified ads, selected local business news stories, and more.
Find Company Information
These databases and websites are excellent sources of information on local, national, and international companies. Depending on the source, expect to find directory, financial, personnel, and current news.
Local Companies (Skokie, Chicago Area, and Illinois)
Corporate/LLC Information Search (Illinois)
From the Illinois Secretary of State, this database provides basic information on Illinois companies and non-profits.
Major Employers in Skokie from SkokieNet
This list contains links to the websites of many local employers. Some of the websites include information about available jobs.
Public Records Electronic Database
This database contains local public filings of new businesses, new
homeowners, home foreclosures and sales, and bankruptcies in the Illinois
counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will.
Skokie
Public Library's guide to this database available
ReferenceUSA
The business section of ReferenceUSA has information on over 11 million
United States companies and is searchable by size, location, and industry.
Search results can be compiled into contact lists.
Skokie Public Library's guide to this database available.
U.S. Companies
The Blue Book of
Building and Construction
This online companion to the Blue Book regional directory of commercial construction professionals includes regional, categorized construction information with over 800,000 company listings.
Factiva.com
This multilingual provider of news and business information includes full
text access to over 6,000 news wires, newspapers, magazines, and journals. Factiva.com includes many specialized trade journals, international business
resources, and publications such as the Chicago Sun-Times, the Wall Street
Journal, and the New York Times. In addition to English, the site can be
viewed in Dutch, French, Italian, and Spanish. Coverage varies by source.
Skokie Public Library's guide to this database available
Forbes Lists
This site provides lists of the World's 2000 Largest Companies along with a list of the Largest Private Companies and many other business related rankings.
Fortune 500
Fortune provides this list of America's largest corporations, including detailed company profiles, contact information, and an archive of lists going back to 1955.
Hoover's Online
Hoover's Online is a great resource for researchers, business professionals,
and job seekers providing basic contact information for over twelve million
companies, with detailed reports for more than 40,000 of them. Information
is available for industries and competitors. The Hoover's database can be
searched by company name or other criteria to produce lists of companies
matching the specifications entered.
Skokie Public Library's guide to this database available
Mergent Online
Mergent Online provides access to reports and information on thousands of publicly traded companies from the United States and around the world. A unique feature is the availability of information on inactive companies, including historical daily stock prices.
Mergent WebReports
Mergent WebReports allows you to access a vast archive of corporate and industry related documents. WebReports contains more than 180,000 documents covering over 100 countries and industries. The "Company Search" section gives current reports on major companies. "Corporate Manual Search" retrieves reports from the Mergent/Moody’s manuals from the current year back to 1909. "Municipal Manual Search" retrieves reports on cities and towns in the United States that have issued municipal bonds over the years.
Morningstar Investment Research Center
Morningstar Investment Research Center provides access to information on stocks and mutual funds for potential investors and researchers. Reports include Morningstar Star ratings and the opinions of stock and fund analysts. Funds and companies can be searched by name or ticker symbol and lists can be generated by customized screening criteria.
ReferenceUSA
The business section of ReferenceUSA has information on over 11 million
United States companies and is searchable by size, location, and industry.
Search results can be compiled incto contact lists.
Coverage: Current
Skokie Public Library's guide to this database available
Standard & Poor's NetAdvantage
NetAdvantage is a comprehensive source of business and investment information that offers online access to Standard & Poor's research-related products such as stock reports, corporation records, The Outlook, dividend records, and more.
ThomasNet
ThomasNet, powered by Thomas Register of American Manufacturers® and Thomas Regional Directory, is a leading source of information on industrial products and services provided by North American suppliers. You will find a comprehensive online resource of over 650,000 distributors, manufacturers, and service companies within more than 67,000 detailed industrial categories. ThomasNet includes detailed product information, company information, and computer-aided design (CAD) drawings.
Value Line Research Center
Value Line Research Center includes online access to Value Line's leading publications covering stocks, mutual funds, options, and convertible securities as well as special situation stocks. Get ratings and use online screening tools to find investments best suited to your criteria.
International Companies
Factiva.com
This multilingual provider of news and business information includes full
text access to over 6,000 news wires, newspapers, magazines, and journals.
Factiva.com includes many specialized trade journals, international business
resources, and publications such as the Chicago Sun-Times, the Wall Street
Journal, and the New York Times. In addition to English, the site can be
viewed in Dutch, French, Italian, and Spanish. Coverage varies by source.
Skokie Public Library's guide to this database available
Kellysearch
For industry-to-industry business KellySearch is a comprehensive online buyers' guide and search engine, with more than two million company listings from over 155 countries worldwide.
Current News and Articles about Business
Factiva.com
This multilingual provider of news and business information includes full
text access to over 6,000 news wires, newspapers, magazines, and journals. Factiva.com includes many specialized trade journals, international business
resources, and publications such as the Chicago Sun-Times, the Wall Street
Journal, and the New York Times. In addition to English, the site can be
viewed in Dutch, French, Italian, and Spanish. Coverage varies by source.
Skokie Public Library's guide to this database available
Hoover's Online
Hoover's Online is a great resource for researchers, business professionals,
and job seekers providing basic contact information for over twelve million
companies, with detailed reports for more than 40,000 of them. Information
is available for industries and competitors. The Hoover's database can be
searched by company name or other criteria to produce lists of companies
matching the specifications entered.
Skokie Public Library's guide to this database available
Annual Reports and Business Filings
Many companies now post annual reports on their websites. Use the following resources for hard-to-find annual reports or other business reports filings.
Corporate/LLC Information Search (Illinois)
From the Illinois Secretary of State, this database provides basic information on Illinois companies and non-profits.
Public Records Electronic Database
This database contains local public filings of new businesses, new
homeowners, home foreclosures and sales, and bankruptcies in the Illinois
counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will.
Skokie
Public Library's guide to this database available
The Public
Register's Annual Report Service
View annual reports and financial statements from thousands of public companies. A free registration is required.
Registered
Identification Number Database
From the Federal Trade Commission, registered identification numbers (RNs) are issued for clothing, textile, wool, and fur products. This database is searchable by number or company name.
SEC Edgar Database
From the Securities and Exchange Commission, this site includes reports and filings from all public companies doing business in the United States, including a historical archive going back to 1994. Use this resource to find 10-K reports, proxy materials, mutual fund prospectuses, and all other reports and filings required by the SEC.
Find Industry Information
These websites have been selected to help you find general information on various industries and information on the companies in those industries.
Factiva.com
This multilingual provider of news and business information includes full
text access to over 6,000 news wires, newspapers, magazines, and journals. Factiva.com includes many specialized trade journals, international business
resources, and publications such as the Chicago Sun-Times, the Wall Street
Journal, and the New York Times. In addition to English, the site can be
viewed in Dutch, French, Italian, and Spanish. Coverage varies by source.
Skokie Public Library's guide to this database available
Hoover's Online
Hoover's Online is a great resource for researchers, business professionals,
and job seekers providing basic contact information for over twelve million
companies, with detailed reports for more than 40,000 of them. Information
is available for industries and competitors. The Hoover's database can be
searched by company name or other criteria to produce lists of companies
matching the specifications entered.
Skokie Public Library's guide to this database available
North
American Industry Classification System
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) classifies business establishments according to the process used to produce goods or services. This site includes a complete, searchable list of the 2002 NAICS codes and titles, with conversions from SIC codes to NAICS and from 1997 NAICS to 2002 NAICS.
TSNN.com: The Ultimate Trade Show
Resource
An online search utility for information on more than 50,000 trade events, conferences, and seminars throughout the world.
United
States Department of Labor SIC Search Codes
From the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), this site provides SIC code description and a list of typical products and services covered, as found in the hardcopy SIC Manual.
Find Statistical Information
Find key labor, employments, and economic statistics at these websites.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
From the United States Department of Labor, this well-designed site offers key labor and employment statistics including the latest unemployment rate, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Product Price Index (PPI), industry and wage data, and much more. Site visitors can create detailed tables of specific local data.
Federal Reserve Bank of
Chicago
This website contains current and historic economic data, Consumer Price Index, and underemployment figures for the United States and the Midwest.
Federal
Reserve Board Statistics: Releases and Historical Data
Use this website to find major data from the Federal Reserve Board including interest rates, money supply, and foreign exchange.
The Inflation
Calculator
Enter an amount of money, an "initial year," and a "final year" and The Inflation Calculator will use the Consumer Price Index to adjust any given amount of money for inflation. Rates may be calculated from the year 1800 to 2001. The site also includes links to information on the Consumer Price Index and other inflation-related topics.
National Economic Trends
This website from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis provides up-to-date economic data, including Gross Domestic Product figures and interest rates.
United States Department
of Labor Consumer Price Indexes
This monthly report include current data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Resources include regional data and customizable tables.
Interest Rates, Banking, and Currency
Bankrate.com
Find the best rates for mortgages loans, savings accounts, credit cards, CDs, and more.
FDIC: Reports
of Condition and Income/Financial Thrift Report
Online information on the solvency of banks.
Financial Ratings from Weiss
Financial Ratings from Weiss contains independent ratings of the financial stability of banks, credit unions, and insurance companies. A Medigap buyers guide recommends companies and gives prices customized to the age and place of residence of the person entering the data.
money-rates.com
Find loan rates, key interest rates, and investment rates on this financial resource website.
National Credit
Union Administration: Credit Union Data
This database provides reports on individual credit unions.
National Information Center (NIC) of the Federal Reserve System
A comprehensive online resource for all types of information on banks including a directory of banks and bank holding companies, performance reports, and foreign bank information.
OANDA
Currency Converter
View any exchange rate among over 160 currencies for any day from 1990 through today.
The Universal Currency
Converter
Perform currency conversions for hundreds of currencies.
Import/Export
FITA : The
Federation of International Trade Associations
This site offers a compendium of trade information including an annotated index to over three thousand international trade and import/export websites.
Illinois Trade Office
Find information on Illinois trade offices, a schedule of trade events, and links to useful trade sites.
Export.gov
Export.gov provides links to all federal government resources on exporting and international trade including a "getting started" section, export leads, and other valuable information.
TradePort
Managed by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, TradePort is designed to be an easy-to-use tool for trade information, trade leads, and company databases.