The Business & Company Resource Center is one of Gale’s many useful business databases, providing researchers with access to information on numerous business subjects, companies, and industries. Topics include information relating to private and public companies, financials and investment reports, brands and products, marketing data and industry analyses, including coverage on international data.
One would believe this is almost too much information for one database to provide, let alone organize in some type of searchable manner, but Gale does it well. Furthermore, navigation is easy with the division of content into three sections: Company, Industry, and Articles. There are two search options: a “quick” basic search, which searches one of the three sections, or an all‐encompassing advanced search, which enables searching all three areas simultaneously, applying limiters to source, text type, or format.
Using the Company section, users can search by company name, ticker symbol, industry code or product. The Company search also provides an alphabetical listing of thousands of domestic and international companies; however, this may not be the most convenient manner in which to search for a particular company. Researchers can also browse through the list of Standard Industry Classification (SIC) or North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. Other search options include product, brand name, city, state and country. Industry searching allows users to search or browse by SIC or NAICS or by industry description. The latter search can be somewhat misleading, for if users enter an array of terms, they will meet with the message “no documents matched your search criteria”. Rather, users must know the actual industry description from the code list. For example, searching “women’s clothing”, “women’s apparel”, or just “women’s” produces zero results, yet searching “apparel” or “clothing” produces numerous results with “women’s” in the industry description. This search method should be re‐evaluated to allow more opportunity to choose search terms. Users may also search by document number; however, there is no clear label as to what the document number is. There is a number located at the bottom of each document, and using this in the document search retrieves the record, yet it is not labeled as the document number.
One of the best features, one that Gale Group has almost perfected, is the use of tabs displaying across the top of the results page. (Many of Gale’s databases now have tab features.) Users can move between topic areas, and the tabs always remain to identify users’ location or a quick link to another area. With such a large database to navigate, this arranges the material in a practical, user‐friendly format. In addition, there is a certain visual appeal to these tabs, as opposed to filling the left or right‐hand margin with links. The few items that appear in the left margin are short links to related subjects. The categories listed on the tabs include: Company profile, News/magazines, Histories, Investment reports, Financials, Rankings, suits and claims, Products, Industry overview, and Associations. These provide links to many full‐text company histories, articles, financial reports, product listings, market reports, and other industry information. The results are displayed in HTML format. Additionally, the content or full text opens and downloads quickly, something users will appreciate.
Another positive aspect Gale provides is the Source List for holdings. This is an important feature of which other vendors should take note. There are many quality print sources incorporated into the database, and users can link to and browse the holdings or select/limit using a particular source. In this aspect, Business & Company Resource Center excels. The Source List is divided into categories and can be opened as an Excel file or HTML document. The reference collection has over 18 titles including such stalwart business guides as Brands and Their Companies, Encyclopedia of American Industries, Market Share Reporter, the Encyclopedia of Associations series and the Ward’s directories. Also included are over 4,000 journals and magazines, with over 3,200 of these in full text and, of these, approximately 600 refereed journals. It is a daunting list, too long to list here, but viewing the wide range of subjects covered in the Source List leaves no doubt that Gale provides access to the leading scholarly publications, popular titles, and international resources for business and company research. In comparing the entire Source List with Gale’s other business databases, users will note that there is numerous cross‐coverage of sources. Librarians may take note of an opportunity to reduce costs by eliminating print sources available full‐text in Business & Company Resource Center.
Other options that enhance this database are its e‐mail and print capabilities. Users can e‐mail results, including full text articles, or use the print option, which reformats the selected materials into a printable, paper‐saving copy. Also, users’ search history is recorded and remains an active link from which to reference.
Business & Company Resource Center is a comprehensive research tool and an important resource for business professionals, students, librarians and researchers. It offers dynamic, accurate and current topical business information along with valuable information on thousands of companies and industries worldwide.
