Whether you want to start your own business or you have plans to improve your business operations, your library card is a great tool! Your library card can also help you learn how to start investing with confidence.
Starting a Business
Your library card unlocks several free tools you can use to build your new business! Start by checking out Gale Business Entrepreneurship, where you'll find sample business plans and journals on topics like financing, human resources, and more. You might also enjoy using the
Gale Business Plan Builder to start, manage, and optimize your business or nonprofit. Gale Legal Forms also has several legal documents you can use to file patents and trademarks, develop leases, and more.
Brush Up on Business Fundamentals
Whether you're new to business or you've been in business for years, Gale Courses and Udemy have several free online courses you can take to make sure your skills are up to date.
Technology and Equipment
Did you know you can borrow equipment from our Library of Things collection? You’ll find tons of helpful tools and technology that you can borrow for your business, like projectors, wi-fi hotspots, webcams, and more.
Our Creative Studio is another great resource for your business! In the Creative Studio, you can:
- Print posters or banners for your business at a reduced cost
- Use our creative tools to make T-shirts, mugs, window clings, and more
- Access the full Adobe Creative Suite and other helpful software
- 3D print just about anything!
Find Business Information
With these helpful tools, you can get the insights you need!
- Reference Solutions: Browse this directory of U.S. businesses and residences to build custom client lists and find new business prospects.
- Business Insights: Global: Find SWOT reports, case studies, market share reports, and more.
- Record Information Services: Find data about new homeowners, businesses, and bankruptcies in the Chicago metropolitan area and in Illinois.
Need more assistance starting or managing your business?
Book an appointment with our Business Services Specialist, who can show you how to use our online tools and offer specialized guidance to meet your business needs!
Make Smart Investments
Take the guesswork out of investing with reliable information from these online resources:
- Morningstar is an online investment resource filled with comprehensive information on mutual funds and stocks. You can even use their Investing Classroom to educate yourself on the ins-and-outs of investing or read the newsletters written by Morningstar strategists.
- Value Line is another powerful online resource that allows you to find accurate and insightful investment research on companies, industries, markets, and economies. Like Morningstar, Value Line offers plenty of expert commentary to help guide your investment decisions.
- Gale Courses offers a wide range of highly interactive, instructor led courses that you can take online for free, including courses on investing and personal finance!
While we aren’t able to offer investment advice, you can book an appointment with a librarian, who can show you how to use these online tools to find the information you need and direct you to the investment newsletters we have on shelf.