Business Lines highlights the new business materials that are available to patrons at the Lake County Public Library in Northwest Indiana. Please use the link for "Ask A Librarian" on our Library's homepage at http://www.lcplin.org to inquire about any of the information found in these articles.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
July - August Business at Lake County Public Library
Indiana Economic Development Corporation - www.in.gov/iedc
IEDC is the State of Indiana’s lead economic development agency. It was officially established in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce. Use this site as a guide for starting a new business or expanding or relocating an existing business. It provides links to licenses, permits and regulatory assistance.
NEW BUSINESS DVD TITLES
The Four Factors of Effective Leadership
80 minutes
David J. Rendall leads this live seminar to help viewers create meaningful and productive relationships. Rendall is an international speaker, author and consultant.
The Employee’s Guide to Superior Customer Service
18 minutes
John Herrick has 31 years experience in sales and retail and is recognized as one of the best in his field. Mr. Herrick demonstrates the right ways to serve your customers using actual business settings.
The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness
48 minutes
Dr. Stephen R. Covey is one of the most respected gurus of leadership. In this program he adds the 8th key to his 7 habits of effective leaders.
Mastering the Art of Selling
48 minutes
Whether you want to sell homes, cars, financial services or an idea to your family or friends, following these practical, useful tips developed by sales legend Tom Hopkins will help you "close" the sale easily and professionally.
NEW BUSINESS BOOK TITLES
You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself
Harry Beckwith and Christine Clifford Beckwith
658.85 BECK
Whether you're looking to influence prospective clients or to impress a potential employer, the one thing you have to do in order to achieve success is to communicate effectively. Blending humor with practical advice, bestselling author Harry Beckwith and sales superstar Christine Beckwith will teach you how to do just that. From effective communication strategies to short lessons on the importance of first impressions and creating rapport, You, Inc. is a "refreshing career primer" (Publishers Weekly) appropriate for old hands and new grads alike.
Talent is Never Enough: No Matter How Gifted You Are, These 13 Choices Will Make You Better
John C. Maxwell
Leadership expert John C. Maxwell believes that to achieve your goals and attain success, talent alone is not enough (or, as he puts it, talent is "often overrated and frequently misunderstood"). There are several factors, however, that can enhance talent--these include initiative, focus, preparation, and teamwork. Using anecdotes from the lives of such varied people as athletes, business leaders, and writers, Maxwell makes "Talent-plus" a description anyone can achieve.
Where Have All the Leaders Gone?
Lee Iacocca with Catherine Whitney
303.34 IACO
At 82, former Chrysler Corporation CEO Lee Iacocca has lived through the Great Depression, World War II, and the oil crises of the 1970s--it should come as no surprise that he's got some strong words for America's government and business leaders. Tackling everything from health care and the current crop of presidential hopefuls to energy policies and (of course) the auto industry, Iacocca is an engaging straight-talker--and he's even got a few suggestions. If you, too, are wondering where all the leaders went, you'll want to pick up this thought-provoking book.
See more information about the Lake County (IN) Public Library & its services to business at
http://www.lcplin.org/research/businesslines.htm
Friday, April 27, 2007
May - June Business at Lake County Public Library

NextReads is a new service offered by the Lake County Public Library. Sign up to receive reading recommendations via email! There are 22 different categories and Business Lines is highlighting the Business & Personal Finance newsletter.
Sample titles from the latest newsletter:
The Definitive Drucker: The Final Word from the Father of Modern Management - by Elizabeth Haas Edersheim
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Pub Date: 12/01/2006
ISBN: 0071472339
Peter F. Drucker, one of the 20th century's foremost business and management theoreticians, had nearly 40 books to his name when he passed away in 2005. For The Definitive Drucker, business writer Elizabeth Edersheim was able to interview him many times, but she also spoke with dozens of highly placed managers who are also Drucker devotees, such as Jack Welch and Procter & Gamble CEO A.G. Lafley. For an exploration of Drucker's ideas and to see how they are played out in the modern business world, you'll want to check out The Definitive Drucker.
Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die - by Chip Heath & Dan Heath Publisher: Random House
Pub Date: 01/16/2007
ISBN: 1400064287
If you enjoyed Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point, you're sure to appreciate Made to Stick, an "entertaining, practical guide to communication" (Publishers Weekly) by the Heath brothers (one's a business professor, the other a teacher). Curious about why some messages "stick" (Wendy's "Where's the Beef" commercials) and others don't? Then read about the six key principles that build stickiness and discover how to incorporate those six factors into a creative thought process. You won't want to waste any time in picking up Made to Stick!
How She Does It: How Women Entrepreneurs Are Changing the Rules of Business Success - by Margaret Heffernan
Publisher: Viking
Pub Date: 01/18/2007
ISBN: 0670038237
According to former CEO Margaret Heffernan, women-run companies are more likely to stay in business, grow faster, and show profits sooner than the average American firm. Why is that? Heffernan interviewed hundreds of women business owners to find out--and she discovered that the work-related talents that the women felt had not been supported in male-dominated corporate America were actually highly beneficial to a successful entrepreneur. While not a how-to, this is certainly an important book for all women looking to run their own companies.
Women & Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny - by Suze Orman
Publisher: Spiegel & Grau
Pub Date: 02/27/2007
ISBN: 0385519311
Calling all women who want more control over their personal finances! In her latest book, money master Suze Orman explores the complex relationship between women and their finances. More than just a laundry list of suggestions to get you started, Women & Money offers a streamlined five-month plan that, by its end, will have you saving and ready to invest. If you want to learn more about managing your money, if you don't have a clue where to start, or even if you're afraid to look at your monthly bills, check out Women & Money and get started on the road to controlling your finances.
Friday, March 02, 2007
March - April Business at Lake County Public Library
BUILT TO CHANGE 54 minutes copyright 2006
In today’s highly competitive business environment, organizations must be ready to change and change frequently. Edward Lawler and Christopher Worley discuss methods for creating strategies, structures, communication processes, and human resource management practices that are designed to facilitate the ability of an organization to change.
ADAPTIVE ORGANIZATION 55 minutes copyright 2006
More than half of the change efforts at any major organization will tend to fail. Well-meaning leaders often neglect to follow through to the end of the project’s lifecycle. The answer is to engage every employee on the individual level, and challenge each one to make a personal commitment to the success of the organization.
FINDING UNTAPPED GROWTH IN EXISTING MARKETS 53 minutes copyright 2006
Managers are under constant pressure to grow, but it is often difficult to find new avenues of growth within an existing line of business. It is important to understand which customer behaviors make-and lose-money for your organization. Learn how to examine existing markets from a fresh perspective so you can uncover hidden, and perhaps unexpected, opportunities.
STRATEGIES FOR SELLING 47 minutes copyright 2006
Selling is not an event but a process. This process is ever changing, and requires a solid strategy to achieve positive results. Jim Healy explains how to manage the four dynamic and interactive functions of selling: analyzing the opportunity, positioning the solution, aligning with the power base, and overcoming resistance to buying. Believing that selling is a science as well as an art, Healy describes the skills that good sales people need to learn in order to develop an effective selling strategy.
Call the library at 769-3541 and make an appointment with one of our reference librarians for an overview of Lake County Public Library's business databases and a tour of our facility.
See more information about the Lake County (IN) Public Library & its services to business at http://www.lcplin.org/research/businesslines.htm
Thursday, January 18, 2007
January - February Business at Lake County Public Library
Are you planning to expand your business into the international market this year? Check out the resources that are available to you at the Lake County Public Library:
Reference & circulating materials on International Business
Databases:
· Business & Company Resource Center – contains the latest business information drawn from the following sources: Encyclopedia of Associations: International Organizations, Encyclopedia of Global Industries, International Directory of Company Histories, and World Market Share Reporter
· Disclosure – Directory information on companies publicly traded on U.S. exchanges.
· International Businesses: One Source – Global Business Brower including Asia – Pacific Edition, European Edition, and U.K. Edition. Three million international businesses and in depth data on more than 100 major industries
· STAT USA – GLOBUS & NTDB – a comprehensive source for credible trade leads and timely market research
· Worldscope – Basic financial information on public companies worldwide
Library Tours & Speaker Service
Booklists & brochures
Call the library at 769-3541 and make an appointment with one of our reference librarians for an overview of Lake County Public Library's business databases and a tour of our facility.
See more information about the Lake County (IN) Public Library & its services to business at http://www.lcplin.org/research/businesslines.htm
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
December's Business at Lake County Public Library
Throughout 2006 the library promoted it's services for individuals, groups and businesses through displays, newsletters and programs, and on our website. As the year ends and we look forward to 2007 we'd like to highlight our services through Business Lines.





Call the library at 769-3541 and make an appointment with one of our highly trained reference librarians for an overview of Lake County Public Library's business databases and a tour of our facility.
See more information about the Lake County (IN) Public Library & it's services to business at http://www.lcplin.org/research/businesslines.htm
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
November's Business at Lake County Public Library
Do you have a website for your business or organization? Are you thinking about getting one? The library recently acquired a new series of DVDs – “Best Practices for Your Website.”
This new ten part series includes information on website design and development, Internet advertising and marketing and an overview of electronic commerce.
Checkout these titles today:
DVD 659.13 COOL
Cool Tools: Blogs, Wikis, RSS, Podcasting
DVD 343.0994 STAY
Staying Out of Legal Trouble
DVD 658.872 WHAT
What We Know About the User Experience: Results of the OPA Study
DVD 659.144 TENM
Ten Mistakes Web Sites Still Make and How to Fix Them
DVD 005.75 REDE
Redesigning Your Web Site
DVD 658.87 MARK
Marketing Strategies to Drive Traffic to Your Site
DVD 659.144 ADVE
Advertising and the For-Profit Site
DVD 658.572 WEBA
Web Analytics: the Impact of Visitor Data on Site Optimization
DVD 659.2 SOCI
Social Computing: Rules of Engagement
DVD 004.678 STAT
State of the Web
Call the Audio Visual Department at 219-769-3541 for more information about this new series.
New Books
Shaping the Game
Michael Watkins
658.4052 WATK
Shaping the Game is a guide for new leaders which describes negotiating techniques. Watkins identifies four objectives which all leaders should master to be successful: create maximum value in negotiations, capture a fair share of that value, build relationships and preserve your reputation. Hands-on strategies throughout the book offer insight and guidance to new leaders.
The Apple Way
Jeffrey L. Cruikshank
658.4 CRUI
“The Apple Way reveals the secrets and management principles that keep Apple ahead of the curve – including innovative product development, cutting – edge marketing strategies, sleek design and packaging, and a high – performance corporate culture”. Learn the secrets of Apple and apply them to your own business.
Head, Heart & Guts
David L. Dotlich, Peter C. Cairo, & Stephen H. Rhinesmith
658.4092 DOTL
“We find that many business leaders today are in the same situation as the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion - searching for the key personal quality that will somehow make them successful or whole….Quite often, what they need already exists within them but is unrecognized or undeveloped.” – from the Introduction. In today’s world of business, the authors maintain that good leaders must use their head, heart and guts to lead.
Passionate Profitable
Lior Arussy
658.802 ARUS
“Lior Arussy’s new book is another great addition to his work on the theme of improving the customer experience to build lasting and profitable customer relationships. Recommended to both those working on corporate customer strategy and line managers. Strong practical advice from an industry visionary.” Michael Maos, Vice President and Research Fellow, Gartner Research
See more information about the Lake County (IN) Public Library & it's services to business at http://www.lcplin.org/research/businesslines.htm.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
October's Business at Lake County Public Library
This is an online business reference encyclopedia which provides detailed and comprehensive information on a wide range of industries in every realm of American business. It is part of our Gale Virtual Reference Library which provides users with an online access to a collection of business reference books that can be found in print in the Library.
Call the Reference Department at 769-3541 for more information about our online access to Business Reference Books.
New Books
GO IT ALONE
Bruce Judson
658.1141 JUDS
“Go It Alone! is for anyone who has ever dreamed of owning his or her own business. Whether you have a vague yearning or a dream you’ve never dared to realize, this book is for the one of every two Americans who dream of going out on their own….” (Book Jacket)
The author of this remarkable book offers you practical steps to create your business. He is a Faculty Fellow at the Yale School of Management and his views on business success are often quoted in the national media.
Investors in Your Backyard
Asheesh Advani
658.1592 ADVA
You have a great idea for a business but where do you find the capital to start-up your new business? Advani’s book is “The perfect resource for entrepreneurs in search of financing.” – Teresa Ciulla, Executive Editor, Entrepreneur.com. Chapters detail preparing your business plan and fundraising requests, deciding who to ask for money, and your ongoing relationship with the people who finance you.
Selling Beyond ebay
Greg Holden
658.87 HOLD
Holden offers tips on reaching more customers by venturing beyond ebay in the online market. He introduces the seller to new online venues, such as local newspaper websites, Yahoo! Auctions, Amazon.com’s Marketplace and much more.
See more information about the Lake County (IN) Public Library & it's services to business at http://www.lcplin.org/research/businesslines.htm.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
September's Business at Lake County Public Library
As the world’s largest full text business database, Business Source Premier provides full text for more than 3,650 scholarly business journals, including full text for nearly 1,100 peer-reviewed business publications. Coverage includes virtually all subject areas related to business. This database provides full text (PDF) for more than 300 of the top scholarly journals dating as far back as 1922 and is updated on a daily basis.
Business Source Premier is part of the INSPIRE collection of databases – Indiana’s Virtual Library.
Recommended Books
Satisfaction
Chris Denove & James D. Power IV
658.8343 DENO
“For nearly forty years, J.D. Power and Associates has been synonymous with measuring customer satisfaction and helping businesses understand what customers really want….Satisfaction offers tactical advice for companies large or small, for product manufacturers, service providers, and retailers alike.” - Book Jacket
Let Your Customers Do the Talking
Michael E. Cafferky
658.8 CAFF
“You too can master the no-cost ‘secret formula’ that puts your company ahead of the pack. What’s the secret? Let your customers become your best salespeople. Word of mouth is the most powerful marketing tool around. Studies show how satisfied customers tell four or more people about their positive experiences. If, however, you disappoint your customers, word-of-mouth can devastate your business-because dissatisfied customers tell up to eleven other people.” – Book Jacket
Treasure Hunt
Michael J. Silverstein
658.8342 SILV
Silverstein author of the highly acclaimed Trading Up continues the story in Treasure Hunt as he takes the reader into the homes of real people making real buying decisions. By looking at the moods and habits of the constantly changing consumer, companies can survive by marketing to meet those moods and habits. Silverstein challenges companies to avoid the treacherous middle – the consumer wants a bargain or a product worth trading up in cost.
See more information about the Lake County (IN) Public Library & it's services to business at http://www.lakeco.lib.in.us/businesslines.htm.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
August's Business at Lake County Public Library
Hoover's Online is a database of 12 million companies with in-depth coverage of 40,000 of the world's top businesses. Use this source to uncover basic company information, investment figures and background on companies and their competition.
Available in all branches of the Lake County Public Library.
New Books
Kitchen Table Entrepreneurs
Martha Shirk & Anna S. Wadia
338.040922 SHIR
“Over the last five years, the number of women-owned businesses has grown at twice the rate of all U.S. firms....Kitchen Table Entrepreneurs tells the inspirational stories of eleven low-income women who have marshaled the creative energy, confidence, and capital necessary to start their own businesses.”--Book Jacket
Starting from Scratch
Wes Moss
338.040922 MOSS
“Starting from Scratch offers readable, relatable, bite-size stories that overflow with the kind of real-world advice that you can’t learn in business school. If you’re considering entrepreneurship, read this book. Even if you aren’t, read this book. Just don’t be surprised when you find yourself giving your notice and making The Leap.”--Lew Dickey, Jr., Chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Cumulus Media
More Than a Hobby
David Green
658.87 GREE
Green, founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby, chronicles his small start-up business’ meteoric rise to superstore status. He offers the following practical advice from his experiences as a store manager: allow mangers to spend more than 30 minutes per day on paperwork, don’t pay the middleman – assemble products in house, give buyers authority – don’t micromanage, and keep God and family first.
See more information about the Lake County (IN) Public Library & it's services to business at http://www.lcplin.org/research/businesslines.htm.
Friday, July 07, 2006
July Materials
The Reference USA Business databases contain detailed information on more than 12 million U.S. businesses. Details include sales figures, executive names and number of employees. Searches can be performed using these categories and more. Reference USA Residential information covers 102 million U.S. residents and is compiled from more than 3,900 White Page telephone directories.
Visit the library today to find out more about this unique marketing tool.
New Books
You’re In Charge – NOW WHAT?
Thomas J. Neff & James M. Citrin
658.4 NEFF
Whether you are new to the organization or have been promoted from within, the authors address questions all new managers face and present an 8 Point Plan for your first 100 days.
Jack Welch and the 4E’s of Leadership
Jeffrey A. Krames
658.4092 KRAM
“With leadership the question at the beginning of the day is, ‘how far can we take this…how big can we grow it…and how fast can we get there?’” – Jack Welch
This book gives a detailed analysis of the “4E” process Welch used to hire only the best. Find out how to hire smart people and cultivate leadership through case studies, examples and guidelines.
Ten Secrets of Successful Leaders
Dr. Donna Brooks & Dr. Lynn Brooks
658.4092 BROO
“Based on their wide-ranging survey of Fortune 500 CEO’s, senior executives, hiring managers, and team leaders, Donna and Lynn Brooks provide you with exclusive access to their well-defined leadership development strategies, best practices, and innovative ideas. You’ll also find a step-by-step road map to gaining winning skills companies need today.” (Book Jacket)
Visit any of our locations today to reserve these titles. Business books count, too, towards Summer Reading rewards!
Friday, May 26, 2006
June's New Business Materials
Morningstar Online helps users make smart investment decisions by finding stocks or funds to meet specific needs, research current or prospective holdings or see how a variety of investments fit together. This database is only available for use in our libraries.
New Books
What I Learned from Sam Walton
Michael Bergdahl
658.4012 BERG
“As a former director under Sam Walton, Bergdahl draws upon his firsthand observations to help you adapt Wal-Mart’s best practices and principles to your own organization.” (Book Jacket)
Built for Growth
Arthur Rubinfeld
658.406 RUBI
In Built for Growth, author Arthur Rubinfeld, draws upon his experience as chief architect for Starbucks. His book encourages business owners to “Make No Little Plans” and to “Push the Envelope” as they seek to expand their businesses.
Alpha Dogs
Donna Fenn
658.022 FENN
“Donna Fenn….introduces you to eight Alpha Dogs. These men and women share their solutions and insights on how to rise to the top, despite multiple competitors, from Chinese manufacturers to Wal-Mart.” (Book Jacket)
See more information about the Lake County (IN) Public Library & it's services to business at http://www.lakeco.lib.in.us/businesslines.htm.
Monday, May 08, 2006
May Highlights
Hoover's Online is a database of 12 million companies with in-depth coverage of 40,000 of the world's top businesses. Use this source to uncover basic company information, investment figures and background on companies and their competition. This database is only available for use in our libraries.
New Books
Monopoly Rules
Milind M. Lele
658.575 LELE
“Monopoly Rules provides a fresh way of thinking about why companies succeed and where to look for new, breakthrough opportunities….the monopoly rules are the step-by-step guidelines for success in a world in which the mass market is in tatters.” Dipak C. Jain
Grapevine - The New Art of Word-of-Mouth Marketing
Dave Balter & John Butman
659.13 BALT
“The rapidly growing field of word-of-mouth marketing has been desperately missing one thing: hands-on experience. This book fills that gap.” Emanuel Rosen
The Undercover Economist
Tim Harford
330.90511 HARF
“Most people think economists are boring, opinionated and wrong. Tim Harford is often right, always opinionated, but never boring. He shows how economics can be used to illuminate our everyday lives, whether you want an explanation of the price of a cup of coffee or of poverty in the third world, Harford has it all.” John Kay
See more information about what the Lake County (IN) Public Library has to offer for businesses at www.lakeco.lib.in.us/businesslines.htm.
April Materials
Database of the Month Standard & Poor’s Net Advantage
Net Advantage is a quick online search source for financial and business information. It provides access to the following S&P products: Corporation Records, Industry Surveys, The Outlook, Register of Corporations, Directors & Executives, and Standard & Poor’s Stock Reports.
New Books
How We Got Here
Andy Kessler
338.064 KESS
“A great book on how we went from the steam engine to the Internet, as well as how the markets that financed it all came to be.” – John Mauldin
Your Money or Your Life
Joe Dominguez & Vicki Robin
332.02401 DOMI
“Do you spend more than you earn? Does making a living feel more like making a dying? Do you feel stuck in a job you can’t afford to leave? Is money fragmenting your time and your relationships with family and friends?” - Book jacket. In this new edition the authors challenge you to transform your relationship with money and achieve financial independence.
Starting From Scratch
Wes Moss
338.040922 MOSS
Thinking of starting your own business? Before you begin your new venture, read Wes Moss’ new book. In it he relates the secrets of entrepreneurship with firsthand stories from “21 ordinary people who made the entrepreneurial leap.”
See more information about what the Lake County (IN) Public Library has to offer for businesses at www.lakeco.lib.in.us/businesslines.htm.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
March Materials
Dun & Bradstreet's Million Dollar Database features company information on over 1,600,000 U.S. and Canadian leading public and private businesses. Company information includes industry information, type of ownership, principal executives and biographies.
New Books
Marketing to the Campus Crowd
David A. Morrison
658.8340842 MORR
“Marketing to the Campus Crowd drills down into the whys, wherefores, and economic drivers of the $200 billion college consumer market.”--John McManus, Editor-in-Chief, American Demographics.
151 Quick Ideas to Inspire Your Staff
Jerry R. Wilson
658.314 WILS
Jerry Wilson presents ideas on motivating your employees. No long boring chapters on philosophy, ethics or personal stories, but short to the point directives that you use for results.
The Ice Cream Maker
Subir Chowdhury
658.562 CHOW
A short but inspiring book about a regional ice cream manufacturer determined to sell its product to a national grocery chain. The book challenges the reader to make quality the key ingredient in everything he does.
See more information about what the Lake County (IN) Public Library has to offer for businesses at www.lakeco.lib.in.us/businesslines.htm.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
February Highlights
Business & Company Resource Center brings together in a single database company profiles, company brand information, rankings, investment reports, company histories, chronologies, and periodicals. Search this database to find detailed company history and industry news and information. (Thompson Gale)
New Books
Essentials of Payroll: Management and Accounting
Steven M. Bragg
658.321 BRAG
Bragg offers valuable tips, techniques, real-world examples, exhibits, and best practices in this handy and concise paperback.
99.3 Random Acts of Marketing
Drew McLellan
658.8 MCLE
Whether you work for a large firm or are operating a small business this book has something to offer everyone. The author writes, “…marketing isn’t rocket science. It’s common sense. It’s consistency. It’s staying the course.” You’ll enjoy his crisp and clear writing style and find tips that you can use.
Best Face Forward
Jeffrey F. Rayport & Bernard J. Jaworski
658.812 RAYP
“Based on extensive research inside both start-up and established businesses across many industries, Best Face Forward proposes ways that companies can radically reengineer their front-office operations.” The authors look at what people do best and what machines do best – the goal being better customer experiences.
See more information about what the Lake County (IN) Public Library has to offer for businesses at www.lakeco.lib.in.us/businesslines.htm.