Library is an excellent source of information

What are your searching for today? Are you looking for new ideas for business? Are you looking for better ways to manage your business? Are you looking for the latest information about a business subject?

Most business research includes searching one of the top search engines like Google, Yahoo, and MSN to obtain information about a certain subject. These are great options. However, one of the best resources for information dates back to beyond the papyrus of ancient Egypt — the local library. Our local library is exceptional in this regard.

“Vetting your sources” is more important than ever, commented Susan Keller as I spoke to the director of the Culpeper County Library. We have all heard of the dangers of the random searches on the Internet. The library is able to give access to databases that are more refined and exclusive. All that you need is a library card and you have access to information that is potentially more rewarding. Access to the information can be obtained online at the library or by using your card to log into the library site at CCLVA.org.

The landing page for the library says it all.

The database searches that are accessible include over 1,000 newspapers thru “America’s Newspapers,” reference information thru the “Gale Virtual Reference Library”, and my favorite — the “Gale General One-File” which includes millions of full text articles from a broad range of publications.

I searched on the term “card check” to research the important issue surrounding the “Employee Freedom of Choice Act’ being considered by the US Congress.

There were 192 results on this subject listed for magazines, 30 for academic journals, 269 for news articles, and two for multimedia sources.

These searches take a few extra steps but they are very worth it to obtain quality results.

If you need a station to search surf the net, there are 10 terminals for use allowing email access as well. The variety of terminal use is as follows: two terminals are available in 15 minute increments, four in 30 minute increments, and four in 60 minute intervals which can be reserved. The library is also equipped with WI-FI access to the Internet as well as wireless color and black and white page printing (a printing charge per page applies).

The resources of the library for professionals go well beyond online access. There are PC work stations available with Microsoft Office software loaded on them allowing users access to common business software.

Check out section 658 for an excellent selection of business books. If that is not enough, you can go to the periodical sections where you will find current copies of most common business publications.

Finally, the selection of books on CD, tape, or even downloadable MP3s are worth looking into for those commutes to and from the office.

Our sources of information thru the Culpeper County Library are “well vetted” due to the excellent leadership of the library staff.

If information is currency, then there is a treasure of potential waiting for you at our library.