Happy July 4th!

Whatever your plans for the upcoming July 4th holiday, do have a great time and be safe.

The library will be closed Sunday and Monday (July 3rd and July 4th) for the holiday so please plan accordingly.  We will re-open Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m.

BUS 150 Library Resources Guide

Are you a freshman entering USA and declared business as your major field of study?  If so, you are probably taking BUS 150.  If so, here is a link to a course guide I created with those resources in the library that will assist you in your projects:

http://libguides.southalabama.edu/bus150

In fact, it is a good guide for any new student who will be using the MCOB Library resources for the first time.  If you need any assistance, please send an email request to me via buscirc@usouthal.edu.

MKT 541 - Brand Management Course Guide Published

For those of you taking the graduate level course in brand management, MKT 541, a new course guide has been published that contains the library resources needed for this class as well as recommended reading.  Enjoy and good luck!

http://libguides.southalabama.edu/mkt541

IBM Turns 100 Years Old!

As some of you know, I spent 30 years of my life at IBM prior to coming to the Mitchell School of Business.  Here is an article about IBM's 100th year as it appeared in the Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/APbf7755b35a894048a6178011acb1362e.html?

You may learn something new about this company you didn't know before - enjoy!

Researching Private Companies

When we research privately-held companies, it is sometimes a 'hit and miss' whether or not we can gather the financial information needed as we do with publicly-held companies.  Also, trying to find the information online or in electronic databases can be challenging.  This is an example of when a book can assist our online research efforts.

We just received the 2011 Hoover's Handbook of Private Companies (HG 4057.A28616) and it will be shelved in our reference section.  It is divided into four sections:  how the information is compiled; a listing of the largest and fastest-growing private companies; company profiles section (900 arranged alphabetically) and the last section contains three indexes.  These indexes sorts the companies by industry, HQ location and an executives section.  By gathering this information first, you are more prepared to research online for articles, company website or competitors.

Come check this and other resources we can share with you when conducting an analysis of a privately-held company.

The Top Ten Fastest Growing Industries

A great article from "The Street" on the top ten fastest growing industries - most will surprise you but on reflection, you will agree.  The fastest growing industries are:  correctional facilities, VoIP (Voice over IP so telecommunication and Internet providers),  video games, biotechnology, eCommerce and online auctions, Internet publications, insurance claims, environmental consulting, wind and solar power and recycling.

Here is the link to read more in detail:
http://www.thestreet.com/story/11086288/11/10-industries-that-are-growing-the-fastest.html
 
As you work through your projects that require industry analysis or you are simply thinking of career options, these industries are worth your review.

Attention Finance Students - an online resource to assist you!

John Wachowicz, (UT Finance) has organized a website to provide a gateway for finance students and organized the site to emphasize materials that supplement the content in the Fundamentals of Financial textbook (13th edition, 2009).  While the site is oriented toward financial management, the links in the website cover all facets of business from accounting and business ethics through world marketing.  The depth of the pages is not immediately apparent but by selecting one of the listings, even more links will appear to further explore.

Check it out!

http://web.utk.edu/~jwachowi/wacho_world.html

MGT 492 Management Analysis and Consulting

For those of you taking Management Analysis and Consulting (MGT 492), I have created a course guide that has all the library resources (as well as other valid online resources) for you to complete and master the Industry Analysis, Company and Situation Analysis Project required in this class.  Here is the link to the guide:

http://libguides.southalabama.edu/mgt492

Please come see us in the library to help you locate or use any of these resources.

Please interrupt me!

I often hear from students that they didn't realize I am available to assist them with their research efforts or complete a paper or project.  This surprises me but I know I am always busy with the many hats I wear as Director of the Business Library.  But -- my main role -- is to assist students and faculty at the Mitchell College of Business with their information requirements and resources of the library.

There are several ways to contact me for assistance:

One way is to send me an email to buscirc@usouthal.edu as I check this email daily and often throughout the day.  Please be specific in your request or if you want to see, please provide time(s) you can meet with me and we will schedule a time together.

Another way is to call my direct line at 251-460-7998 and do leave a message if I don't answer personally on how to reach you with the best time(s) and what you need.

Yet another way is to check our website online chat - please be patient when you send me a message as I could be helping someone or away from the desk for a few minutes.  Here is the link:  http://www.southalabama.edu/univlib/mcob/

Or come see us at the library and interrupt me on whatever I am doing -- unless with another student, I am here to help you as is the library staff!

See you soon. 

Recommended Summer Reading

The summer season is a great time for all of us to catch up on reading and I wanted to recommend a few business 'classics' that all of us should read and even re-read.  Here is the list and the library location and call number:

The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith (MCOB 74.P8L4)
The Peter Principle by Dr. Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull (UL 6231.M2 P4)
Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher (UL BF 637.N4 F57)
Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely (UL 74.P8 P7)
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team:  a leadership fable by Lencioni (UL 66.2456)
The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt (UL 9510.9.G64 G6)
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (UL PS 3535.A547 A84)
Built to Last by Jim Collins (MCOB Media HF 5386.C735)
Good to Great by Jim Collins (MCOB Media HD 57.7.C645)
Men and Women of the Corporation by Rosabeth Moss Katner (UL 58.7.K36)
In Search of Excellence by Thomas J. Peters (UL HD 70.U5 P424)
The Affluent Society by John Kenneth Galbraith (UL 171.G14)
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell (MCOB Media BF 448.G53)
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell (UL 1033.G53)
The Black Swan by Nassim Taleb (MCOB Q375.T35)

So many more but these titles never grow old for those in business!