ReferenceUSA - You are paying for it, are you using it?

Library service is primarily funded through property tax in Missouri. So we are another one of those wonderful institutions like the public schools that you pay for whether you use it or not. In these tight economic times, we all like to get our money's worth so I am taking this opportunity to tell you about one of the library's resources you might not be aware of that can potentially be of great help to your business.

Have you found yourself wishing for a criss / cross directory at your fingertips so you can generate sales leads in a particular area? Have you made one of those unsuccessful dives into the rolodex / contacts file to try and pull up the number of that one elusive person that you needed to get in touch with yesterday? Are you looking to develop a new business and need to locate potential competitors in the area? All of these questions and more can be answered through the library's access to the residential and business sections of ReferenceUSA.

ReferenceUSA's database of 14 million U.S. Businesses contains verified, accurate data and is updated monthly. Plus this is the only business database enhanced with more than 20 million phone calls per year.

Selection criteria include:

• Business name
• Executive title
• Business type
• Sales volume
• Employee size
• Year established
• And more...

Use Quick Search to find what you need with a few clicks or use the powerful Custom Search to fine tune your search.

The residential component includes contact information for over 135 million US households. If they have a listed phone number, they are included. You can search by name, by phone number and even generate lists of residences within a certain geographical area such as a street or zip code.

This all sounds great but you might be wondering about how to gain access to ReferenceUSA. With a valid Jefferson County Library card you can access it through following the online resources link on the library's website www.jeffersoncountylibrary.org. Click on reference in the topic table, scroll down to ReferenceUSA and click on the bright green link. You'll be prompted to enter your library card number and redirected to the database list. If you do not have access to the internet on your own, visit your local JCL branch and ask at the Information Desk to be shown how to access ReferenceUSA.

If you have questions, don't hesitate to call me (Meredith) at 636-296-5171!