Information is compiled from annual reports, Chambers of Commerce, industry directories, business magazines, the SEC, government directories, and many other sources. Businesses are called directly each year to validate information.

You can search by company name, type of business, geographic location, business size and several specialty searches

At the Library, click on the ReferenceUSA links from the business section of the Reference Database page. Once you have connected to ReferenceUSA, click on the database you wish to use (located on left-hand side of page)

To access from home or office (Morton Grove residents only), go to http://databases.webrary.org and follow the directions for connecting to ReferenceUSA,

If you know the name of the company and/or the location of the company, using the Quick Search is the fastest way to get started searching.

You can fill in the full name, city, state, zip code, phone information or you can fill out just the portion you know. If you are entering a city name, it is not necessary to add a state. You will be given a chance to choose which state you want if there is more than one result.

Click on the Search Now! Button to begin searching.

Your results will be returned in a browsable list, in which the company name will be a link that will take you to a detailed record of that specific company.

The Linkage column on the far right lets you know where the company stands in the corporate ladder. If you see an "Up Arrow", your company is a subsidiary of a larger parent company - click on the arrow to see the name of the parent company. If you see a "Down Arrow", your company is a parent company to one or more subsidiaries.

For more complex searches, click on the tab "Custom Search" and create your own form by choosing from the criteria choices provided on the form. Choose one or more criteria by checking the box next to your choice. Then click on the Create Search Form box.

Fill out the form you have created and click either the Search Now! or the Review Criteria button if you need to confirm a city or Yellow Pages heading.

If you want to start over just click on Clear My Search Form and you will be able to select new criteria.

How many records can I print?

If you are using ReferenceUSA at the Library, you can print out up to 25 summary and/or detailed records at a cost of ten cents per page.

If you are accessing ReferenceUSA from home or office via the Library's remote access, printing is limited to 5 summary and/or detailed records.

If you are using ReferenceUSA at the Library, you can download up to 25 summary and/or detailed records. You can bring your own 3-1/2 inch disk or purchase one at the Library for $1.

If you are accessing ReferenceUSA from home or office via the Library's remote access, downloading is limited to 5 summary and/or detailed records.

Once you have located the records that you want, either summary or detailed, simply click on the Download button at the bottom of the page. You will need to choose your File Format (comma delimited is a common choice), your Platform, and Level of Detail. Click on Download.

You can import these records into a spreadsheet application, such as Excel, and manipulate the data.

Understanding Criteria Choices

Company - allows you to search by company name, the name of an executive or the ticker symbol of the company. You do not need to know the full company name or the full name of an executive.

Yellow Pages - allows you to search by the type of business. You can use the Heading search box to search by industry keyword. Try typing in Florist. You will be able to choose from four floral industries after clicking on the Search Now! button.

Geographic Selects - allows you to limit your search to a more specific location. You can enter a street address, choose a city and/or state, enter up to ten zip codes, choose a county from within a state, enter up to ten area codes, or choose from a list of MSAs for a selected state.

Phone - allows you to search by phone number.

Business Size - allows you to chose from a range of business sizes (number of employees) or a range for sales volume. You can choose several ranges by holding down the control key on your keyboard and selecting more than one range.

Specific Selects - allows you to limit your search with very specific criteria. Included are the title of the executive, whether or not the business is a headquarters, branch, government office, foreign parent, home-based, years in the ReferenceUSA database, the stock exchange on which it trades. You make your choices by selecting from predefined lists.

Colleen Ringel
Reference/Electronic Resources Librarian
January, 2007