Business, Commerce and Finance - Government Sources: Home
Kelley Center Department Information
Scope of Services
Since 1967, Fondren Library is a congressionally designated U.S. Federal Depository Library. (FDLP mission, vision, and value) Kelley Center works with U.S. Government Printing Office and 1000+ Federal Depository Libraries across the country to ensure the free and equal public access to the official U.S. Federal government documents. (Title 44 United States Code). In addition to serving as a Federal depository library, Fondren Library is a designated patent and trademark resource center (PTRC). Kelley Center has well trained PTRC staff to provide free patent and trademark service to the public. Kelley Center further assists the research and instructional needs of the Rice faculty and students by providing access to and assistance with the Library's large research collection of microform materials. The Center also provides access to and assistance with maps. Click here for more Kelley Center department information.
Librarian
Guide Information
This guide concentrates on government sources of information related to business and commerce. For the best commercial tools to use for business-related research, see business guides created by Peggy Shaw.
Attribution
Ericka Goudeau-Diliberti, former User Services Associate, moved content from Linda Spiro's webpage to create this guide. Linda Spiro, Government Information and Education Librarian, maintained this guide until her retirement in August, 2017.
General Business and Commerce Government Sources
- Beige Book (Summary of Commentary on Current Economic Conditions by Federal Reserve District)The Federal Reserve's "Summary of Commentary on Current Economic Conditions," commonly known as the "Beige Book," contains separate reports and a summary of anecdotal information about current economic conditions gathered from each of the twelve Federal Reserve Districts. It is published eight times per year and includes an archive.
- Better World Project (Association of University Technology Managers) :Database and pdf documents that highlight the role academic research and technology transfer play in making the world a better place to live.
- Small BusinessConduct business online with the U.S. Government including filing taxes and wage reports, obtaining an export license or a state license, and obtaining or verifying an employer ID number or employee's Social Security number. Also includes business-related guides about launching, managing, and growing a business, buying from and selling to the U.S. Government, and obtaining financial assistance. Find data and statistics and information about exporting and international trade as well as state and local programs. Learn about laws and regulations and business taxes.
- CareerOneStopU.S. Department of Labor site for exploring careers; learning how to interview and write resumes; finding sources of education and training; finding wage, salary and benefit information; and locating employment services near you.
- Construction and Housing (U.S. Census Bureau)Provides links to various type of census information related to the construction industry.
- Consumer Financial Protection BureauCentralized government site for consumer information of all types and for all ages including financial education materials for children, students, adults and older adults. See what to consider when getting a home loan or spending for higher education. Search their database (http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaintdatabase/) for complaints about mortgages, bank products, consumer loans, and federal and private student loans. Find market studies and consumer reports.
- Electronic Document Information System (EDIS)Provides the capability to file documents for an investigation as well as search for documents which have been submitted to the United States International Trade Commission (USITC).
- Export.govProvides support to American businesses to begin or expand their export sales.
Includes information about export topics, training opportunities, trade shows, and trade missions. - Federal Contract OpportunitiesServes as an one-stop virtual marketplace to connect commercial vendors and the entire Federal contracting community. Allows participants to post, search, monitor, and retrieve commercial exchanges.
- Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United StatesProvides online access to a chapter-by-chapter listing of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule and general notes.
- Complete Bibliography for Allan Meltzer's A History of the Federal Reserve : Volume 1: 1913-1951 and Volume 2: 1951-1986Provides access to source materials cited by the author, Dr. Allan H. Meltzer. "Includes previously unpublished materials in the form of hearings and memoranda, as well as journal articles, Congressional hearings, working papers, and books no longer under copyright."
- IP Awareness AssessmentWeb-based tool designed to assess intellectual property (IP) knowledge and provide personalized training resources for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and inventors. Includes questions in five IP protection categories (Utility Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Trade Secrets, and Design Patents) plus five general IP categories- IP Strategies & Best Practices, Using Technology of Others, Licensing Technology to Others, International IP Rights and IP Asset Tracking.
- Measuring Electronic BusinessU.S. Census Bureau definitions and concepts of e-business
- Prices and Wages by DecadeProvides links to U. S. government documents listing retail prices for typical consumer purchases, and wages for common occupations from the 1700s - 2000s.