http://www.loc.gov/rr/business/

The Library of Congress’s Business Research Center

The web site for the largest library in the world is a well designed, supremely useful resource for online researchers. Their Business Reference Services pages, in particular, are worth a visit. These provide suggestions for those starting their own businesses, researching market segmentation and demographics, or researching industries. What I like most is that their librarians provide research strategies - they don't just give you a list of resources and wish you good luck. For example, in their Industry Research guide, they write: “Piecing together information from article searches in trade magazines or local papers as well as information gleaned from government agencies that might regulate the industry will be important.” Your local libraries, whether public or academic, will likely have the titles suggested on these Resource guides…a quick search on their online catalogs will tell you whether they do or not.

About ninety Internet Resources subject guides, with links to relevant sites, cover topics such as:

• Advertising and Marketing
• Demographics
• Environmental Economics
• Exporting/Importing
• Investing
• Legal Resources
• Real Estate
• Technology Trends

If you are ever faced with a business-related research task and find yourself wondering where to begin, start at the Library of Congress's Business Research Center. And if you actually can't find what you're looking for, you can take advantage of their “Ask a Librarian” service, where you will get free research assistance within five business days.

Reviewed by Library staff member – Kirstie Harless – S.F.

New New York: Architecture of a City is a beautiful coffee table book highlighting some of the most iconic buildings in New York.  Everything from lofts to galleries to libraries is included. Each edifice lists an address along with the name of the architect or firm responsible.

The list is a veritable who's who including Rem Koolhaas, who created the iconoclastic Prada Epicenter; Frank Gehry for Issey Miyake in Tribeca; Michael Graves - 425 Fifth Avenue; Maya Lin Studios for the Asian Pacific American Studies Building at NYU; and Phillipe Starck, creator of Ian Schrager's Hudson Hotel.  Each of these studies is a unique and fascinating as the city they represent.

This book is a truly diverse record of the architecture of New York.  Not only are the photographs plentiful and a fitting representation of the works depicted, there are often from multiple views.  In most cases cut-away drawings and artists' renderings are included to capture the vision of each architect.  New New York is a real treat for any architectural student, budding photographer or for those who like I do, truly love New York.  Especially poignant is the section at the end of the book chronicling the designs for the new twin towers.  This is a fitting tribute to the resilience and power of this great city which draws residents and visitors from all over the country and indeed the world.  New New York is a well worth a look.

Reviewed by Library staff member - Monika Earle