Database of the Month: D&B Hoovers

D&B Hoovers is a robust source of information about U.S. and international companies and industries and their executives and employees. Primarily marketed in the business sector as a sales prospecting database for its excellent list-building and filtering features, academic users and others can also conduct company and industry research, find news, and read reports related to forecasting and trends.

Sales Prospects and Management

Managing current sales accounts and finding new leads is easy with the depth of business intelligence that D&B Hoovers provides. Browse all news items and “triggers” related to specific types of events for clients and prospects, or assemble lists of companies and contacts. Research industries and read analysts’ reports to learn about forecasts and trends. Compile and “pin” lists and reports for easy temporary access, and download reports in CSV format to your computer for later use. *Please note: Pinned items are only saved to the desktop for the length of your session. Sessions are subject to a 30-minute timeout once idle.

Company and Industry Research

D&B Hoovers is ideal for users who need in-depth business information for business research, papers and projects, or investment decisions. Look here for the following:

  • Company and industry profiles
  • Company news
  • “Triggers”: events such as product launches and lawsuits
  • Employee contact information
  • Analysts’ reports
  • Market research reports
  • SEC filings
  • SWOT analyses

Global Search Box: Quick Search

Use the box at the top of the page to choose a search index and enter a quick search (company name, industry type, and others). Once you have a list of results, click the desired company title link to view pre-composed summary information, financials, analyst reports, and more. Build a customized report of these elements by clicking the OneStop link to choose elements from the gray box shown below; the database will compile the results and deliver a PDF document to your desktop.

Search and Build: Use Filters to Customize

Start with the Search & Build a List tab to assemble your own detailed lists of companies, industries, contacts and more, using over 175 search filters to build a list that precisely meets your needs. As you add or remove filters, the results list updates automatically. The search below shows companies in the film industry that are headquartered in California, that also appear in a News search with the word “animation.” Click the Download button to send an Excel or CSV file to your desktop.

Get Help/Support

Click the question mark icon in the upper right corner of the home page and check the Page Help section to find short video tutorials and other support materials. Consult the Getting Started Guide and/or the full D&B Hoovers User Guide to learn about even more functionality. Bentley librarians are also available to assist you; see our Bentley Library Research Help page for details.

Connect to the Database

Please visit our Databases A-Z page and click D&B Hoovers to begin your search. This database can also be viewed within the Analyst Opinion, Company Research, Industry Research, and International Business subject lists on the A-Z page.


Database of the Month provides a very brief introduction to useful library databases, highlighting key features you should know about. If you would like more information about this resource (or any of the library’s databases), please contact us for research assistance. If you would like a demonstration of these resources for a class, please schedule a research instruction class using the instruction request form.

Database of the Month: Best's Library Center

Best’s Library Center provides in-depth reports and analysis for United States, Canadian and international insurers, reinsurers, and groups.

Searching and Viewing Reports

From the Bentley Library Databases A-Z page, use the Best’s Library Center link to access the database. The database offers multiple ways to search, including clicking the report buttons (shown above), or by hovering on the page’s blue Navigation bar to choose a search. Some of the navigation bar searches are highlighted below:

  • Access Best’s Credit Reports and Financial Reports quickly by using the Insurance Reports page. The global organization structures presented on this page include ultimate parents, rating units and their rated operating entities. Best’s Credit Reports feature five years of financial analysis and detailed commentary on a company’s operating methods and management philosophy.
  • Use the Company Browse feature to search for companies based on geographic location, industry or segment.
  • Search Company Overview (Basic Search) and view features such as a dashboard for each company, key financial information at a glance, ratings, and related news headlines.
  • Use the Corporate Changes Search to find changes that impact existing companies and locate insurers associated with companies no longer in business.
  • Use the Officers and Directors Search to locate companies based on management information.
  • Access the Mergers & Acquisitions Search to retrieve details of transactions involving insurance companies.

Alternately, users can type a company name in the search box located in the upper left corner of the home page to get a dashboard view of all available information on that company.

Sample dashboard view for State Farm Group, with tabs containing available information

Country Risk Reports

The database also includes Country Risk Reports detailing country-specific factors that could adversely affect an insurer’s ability to meet its financial obligations. Countries are placed into one of five tiers, ranging from Country Risk Tier 1 (CRT-1), denoting a stable environment with the least amount of risk, to Country Risk Tier 5 (CRT-5) for countries that pose the most risk and, therefore, the greatest challenge to an insurer’s financial stability, strength and performance. Users can view all countries or groups of countries by tier.

Get Help/Support

Click the Quick Tips PDF links located on each search page for context-specific help, or the Help link in the upper right corner of the home page for an overview of database features and search functionality. If you prefer, Bentley librarians can assist you. See our Bentley Library Research Help page for details.

Connect to the Database

Please visit our Databases A-Z page and click Best’s Library Center to begin your search (after agreeing to the User Terms and Conditions). This database can also be viewed in the Analyst Opinion, Company Profiles, Country Research, and International Business subject lists on the A-Z page. For best results, use Internet Explorer or Google Chrome. Browser cookies must be enabled for searches to function.

Database of the Month provides a very brief introduction to useful library databases, highlighting key features you should know about. If you would like more information about this resource (or any of the library’s databases), please contact us for research assistance. If you would like a demonstration of these resources for a class, please schedule a research instruction class using the instruction request form.

On Display: Climate Change - Issues and Solutions

“Human activities are estimated to have caused approximately 1.0°C of global warming above pre-industrial levels, with a likely range of 0.8°C to 1.2°C. Global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052 if it continues to increase at the current rate.” Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5 ºC (UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2018)

Summer heatwaves and polar vortexes. Sea ice rapidly diminishing and/or melting completely. Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones becoming more powerful. Wildfires burning longer and hotter. “100-year floods” occurring within significantly smaller timeframes. All are issues of climate change exacerbated by a rapidly warming planet.

Companies developing climate action plans to manage research and development, innovation, supply chain practices, and more. Governments passing climate-friendly legislation. Individuals making lifestyle changes, raising public awareness, and voting for candidates who work toward changes. All are efforts toward finding solutions.

We’ve put together a group of books that discuss climate change and its impact on world issues such as migration, economies, public health, human rights, ecosystems, building design, and more. Some examine how corporate practices can contribute positively to managing emissions. Others examine how different sectors – nonprofits, businesses, private citizens – can work separately or together towards solutions.

This display is timely in more ways than one — its beginning runs concurrently with Climate Week, September 23-27, and a slate of activities sponsored by the Bentley Office of Sustainability. Though Climate Week ends this Friday, the book display will be available for perusal in the Library lobby until November 3. You may also browse a list of all books and DVDs on the physical display, and a list of electronic OverDrive titles.

Now we all have a choice. We can create transformational action that will safeguard the future living conditions for humankind, or we can continue with our business as usual and fail. That is up to you and me.” (Greta Thunberg, World Economic Forum, 2019)

Database of the Month: LinkedIn Learning

logo for linkedin learning

Whether you want to enhance your work performance with a new skill, round out your résumé, or learn something new for personal development, LinkedIn Learning can help! Choose from more than 6,000 individual courses and short videos, taught by industry experts, on business, creative/applied arts, and technology topics.

Get Started With LinkedIn Learning

Use the search box to enter keywords for skills, subjects or software. Alternatively, use the Library dropdown menu to browse course offerings.

Browse menu for LinkedIn Learning courses in English

LinkedIn also offers written and visual content in Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish. (Some audio tracks are by native speakers and some are dubbed.) Scroll to the bottom of the page and select the desired language to see what’s available.

Learning Paths

If you’d like to take multiple courses on a single topic, you can make your own lists, or you can let LinkedIn do the work for you with its pre-assembled collections related to specific job types. Choose from the Learning Paths browse list shown in the image above, or enter a keyword or two in the search box. Course lists and links are displayed along with the time needed for completion. Please note that LinkedIn Learning Paths lead to a LinkedIn badge of completion, not an official certification credential.

A pre-assembled course list for Project Management

Mobile Access

Courses may be downloaded to a mobile device. The LinkedIn Learning app is available for iOS and Android phones in the App Store and/or the Google Play Store.

Connect to the Database

Please visit our Databases A-Z page and click LinkedIn Learning to begin your search. This database appears in the Business Topics, Education, IT/CIS, and Marketing subject lists on the A-Z page.


Database of the Month provides a very brief introduction to useful library databases, highlighting key features you should know about. If you would like more information about this resource (or any of the library’s databases), please contact us for research assistance. If you would like a demonstration of these resources for a class, please schedule a research instruction class using the instruction request form.

Database of the Month: Mergent Intellect

Logo for the Mergent Intellect database

Mergent Intellect offers comprehensive data on companies, industries, demographics, consumer lifestyles, people, and jobs. Among its specialized offerings are:

  • Information on over 245 million domestic and international public and private companies
  • First Research industry profiles
  • United States census data, searchable by geographic area
  • Nielsen PRIZM demographic and consumer reports
  • Residential contact and lifestyle data for U.S. residents
  • Job listings for companies in the U.S. and Canada

Mergent provides both standardized reports and custom reporting tools that are perfect for building lists of competitors, viewing potential customers in a geographic area, and more.

Get Started with Mergent Intellect

Use the basic search box to execute a Company, Industry, Executive or New Business search. Alternatively, click one of the icons located below the search box for other specialized searches.

Other searches available in Mergent: Advanced Search, Residential Search, First Research Industry, Demographics, Consdumer Data, Learning (Help) Center and Key Business Ratios.

Company & Industry Data

Mergent provides information on domestic and international companies. Both public and private companies are included, as are inactive companies. Search by company name, ticker symbol or URL in the single search box to access company profiles, financials, industry profiles, and executive information.

To build custom lists of companies with specific criteria, use the Advanced Search. Both Company and Executive criteria are available. Lists may be exported to CSV or XLSX format.

Company criteria are displayed; click links in the highlighted box to add more fields

Demographics Data

Standardized reports provide an overview of the characteristics of a geographical area using data from the most recent US Census and the proprietary PRIZM segmentation system from Nielsen (Claritas 360). Search by ZIP code, city or county name to access eight different reports, ranging in complexity from quick facts to full overviews. Most are available in both PDF and XLS formats.

Household income for Middlesex county, MA: 2010 actual-2024 projection

Get Database Help

Visit the Help Guides for detailed instructions on searching and building reports. How-to videos help with navigating Advanced Search, Consumer Lifestyle searches, and more.

In-person assistance is available from Bentley librarians; our Bentley Library Research Help page contains contact information and Reference Desk hours.

Connect to the Database

Please visit our Databases A-Z page and click Mergent Intellect to begin your search. This database can also be viewed in the Annual Reports and SEC, Company Profiles, Consumer Demographics, Industries and Markets, and International Business subject lists on the A-Z page.


Database of the Month provides a very brief introduction to useful library databases, highlighting key features you should know about. If you would like more information about this resource (or any of the library’s databases), please contact us for research assistance. If you would like a demonstration of these resources for a class, please schedule a research instruction class using the instruction request form.

On Display: Check Out a Book; Whip Up Something Delicious!

Looking for a new recipe to spice up your holiday table, or want to try creating a delicious meal from another culture? Maybe you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to eat healthier. This display of cookbooks and other food-related reading might just inspire you to think outside your comfort zone when it comes to being in the kitchen. We’ve also included a few select food films and chef biographies that might get you and your culinary skills into the kitchen to whip up something amazing and different!

To feast your eyes on what we’re offering, come to the Library to browse the display. You can also go beyond our lobby display by taking a look at the cooking titles in our OverDrive collection of ebooks and audiobooks, and searching our streaming film database Kanopy by typing the word “cooking” in the search box.

Bon appétit!

Database of the Month: IHS Connect

IHS Connect provides continuously updated analysis of general business conditions, economic information and general risk assessment for countries, continents and regions. Reports include political, economic, regulatory/legal, tax, operational and security considerations. Interactive maps, statistical data, charts, and graphs analyze and present data on specific geographies.

Users researching Global Studies, Economics, and business-related country and company topics will find this database useful. For example, information on the following common reference questions in those disciplines (and more) is included:

  • Risks associated with doing business in specific countries
  • World, regional and local economic forecasts
  • Current country and sovereign risk ratings from IHS Connect, Moody’s, S&P and other rating services
  • Headline Analysis, Risk Profile, Intelligence, and other analyst-authored reports naming specific countries and companies

Get Started with IHS Connect

To get started, click the gear icon in the upper right corner of the page and choose Show Subscribed Content to limit search results to Bentley’s subscription content. A basic search box for keyword searching is provided to the left of the gear icon; start typing a search term and a list of suggested topics appears below the search box. Results will be provided in one or more of the following subject areas: Global Economics, Risk, or Geographies.

Choose a Country

To see an interactive dashboard with comprehensive information about a specific country, click the Geography link of the navigation bar and enter a country name into the search box.

Partial view of Country Risk reports and data for Venezuela, showing Overview, Reports and Risk Ratings

Browse Interactive Risk and Economics Datasets

The IHS Data Browser organizes and displays Risk Rating and Global Economy data. Build reports by choosing from a detailed list of strategic or sovereign risk factors, or view economic indicators over time. The data can be exported to Excel by clicking the Export button.

Strategic risk ratings for South American countries

Get Database Help

View IHS Connect’s online help center by clicking the question mark icon on the main navigation bar.  Download the PDF user guide or view it online. User guides for a variety of in-depth tutorial information are also available. In-person assistance is available from Bentley librarians; our contact information and Reference Desk hours are available on the Bentley Library Research Help page.

Connect to the Database

Please visit our Databases A-Z page and click IHS Connect to begin your search. This database can also be viewed in the following Subject lists on the A-Z page: Country Research; Economics; International Business; Politics and Government.

_______________________________________________________________

Database of the Month provides a very brief introduction to useful library databases, highlighting key features you should know about. If you would like more information about this resource (or any of the library’s databases), please contact us for research assistance. If you would like a demonstration of these resources for a class, please schedule a research instruction class using the instruction request form.

Workshop: Citing Sources: Why, When, How

 

Why do your professors want you to cite your sources? Does it feel like busywork? Let us help. We’ll show you how to cite your sources in the format of your choice, and where to find citation templates and formatting style guides.

Do you have sources you need to cite, or a bibliography you need help with? Bring them with you and we’ll provide on-the-spot assistance.

When: Wednesday, December 6th, 2:30 to 3:30 or Thursday, December 7th, 5:00-6:00 pm
Where: Research Instruction Center (RIC), Room 11, on the lower level of the library
Presented by: Greg Farber-Mazor, Director of the Writing Center; Macee Damon and Matt Van Sleet, Reference Librarians

To reserve your seat, send an email to refdesk@bentley.edu with “Citation Workshop” in the subject line, and tell us which session you’d like to attend.

We hope to see you there!