Category: general news

Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday Facts & Figures

Lisa

For many of us, the Thanksgiving holiday means two things – turkey with all the trimmings and the beginning of the holiday shopping season.  Just how crazy do we get?  Here are some interesting facts from a few of our library databases, the U.S. Census, and the experts at the National Turkey Federation.

Talkin’ Turkey

A National Turkey Federation (NTF) survey reveals that nearly 88 percent of Americans eat turkey at Thanksgiving.  How big are those birds?  According to the NTF the average weight of turkeys purchased for Thanksgiving is 15 pounds. 1

The U.S. Census also dishes out some mouth-watering food facts: 2

  • It is estimated that 250 million turkeys will be raised in the United States in 2009. The typical American ate 13.8 pounds of turkey in 2007.
  • 1.8 billion pounds of sweet potatoes were produced by major sweet potato producing states in 2008. Per capita sweet potato consumption was 5.2 pounds in 2007.
  • The forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2009 is 709 million pounds.  Massachusetts residents might be surprised to learn that the Bay State is ranked second in cranberry production at 190 million pounds (behind Wisconsin which weighs in at 400 million pounds).
  • Bring on the green bean casserole.  In 2008, the contracted production of snap (green) beans in major green bean-producing states was 794,777 tons.

Ready, Set, Shop!

Industry analysts at IBISWorld estimate that total retail sales on the traditional Black Friday weekend will increase 2.8 percent from last year, totaling $42.9 billion. Will you be one of the masses?  IBISWorld is predicting that 76.9 million people will be hitting the stores on Black Friday.3

Cyber Monday is also a boon for retailers.  According to market research firm Mintel, in 2008 the National Retail Foundation (NRF) reported that 37% of consumers were planning to shop online during work on the Monday following Thanksgiving.4 There’s a bright outlook for the upcoming holiday season, as Forrester Research expects online retail sales to reach $44.7 billion during the months of November and December 2009, an 8% increase over 2008. 5

Looking for more information?  Contact a Reference Librarian – we can provide research assistance and help you navigate the library’s databases.  The staff of the Bentley Library wishes everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

[1] “Turkey History and Trivia”.  National Turkey Foundation. n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2009. <http://www.eatturkey.com/consumer/history/history.html>.
[2] “Facts for Features – Thanksgiving Day November 26, 2009”. U.S. Census Press Release.  30 Sept. 2009. Web. 18 Nov. 2009. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/pdf/cb09ff22_thanksgiving.pdf>
[3] “Consumers Eat And Drink To Be Merry This Season“. IBISWorld Press Release. 10 Nov. 2009.  Web. 18 Nov. 2009. <http://www.ibisworld.com/pressrelease/pressrelease.aspx?prid=206>
[4] “Holiday Shopping – US – June 2009”.  Mintel Oxygen database. 2009. Web. 18 Nov. 2009. <http://academic.mintel.com>
[5] “US Online Holiday Retail Forecast, 2009”.  Forrester Research database.  2 Nov. 2009. Web. 18 Nov. 2009. <http://www.forrester.com/>

Halloween Facts & Figures

Lisa

How much money will we spend on Halloween candy this year?  Which state produces the most pumpkins? How many trick-or-treaters are there in the United States?

We can answer these questions using a few key industry research sources, including library databases IBISWorld and Mintel, as well as the U.S. Census.  Check these facts out:

According to industry research firm IBISWorld:1

  • Halloween sales are expected to reach a record-breaking $6 billion in 2009, up 4.2 percent from the $5.77 billion generated last year.
  • The average person is estimated to spend about $22.50 on Halloween treats in 2009.
  • 32 percent of people celebrating the holiday will either host or attend a party. For this reason, IBISWorld expects decorations to reach its highest level yet at $1.64 billion.

Furthermore, market research firm Mintel tells us that:

  • 65% of Americans celebrate Halloween.2
  • the Halloween holiday actually ranks 4th in sales of chocolate, behind Easter (1st), Christmas (2nd), and Valentine’s Day (3rd). 3

Lastly, the U.S. Census provides us with their annual list of Halloween fun facts.  How else would we know that:

  • 1.1 billion pounds of pumpkins were produced by major pumpkin-producing states in 2008. (Illinois led the country by producing 496 million pounds).
  • the per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2008 was 23.8 pounds.
  • the estimated number of potential trick-or-treaters in 2008 – children 5 to 13 – across the United States was 36 million. 4

The staff of the Bentley Library wishes everyone a Happy Halloween!

Sources:
1 “Holiday Sales Un-Spooked By Recession According To IBISWorld Data”. IBISWorld Press Release. 13 October 2009. http://www.ibisworld.com/pressrelease/pressrelease.aspx?prid=202.
2 Holiday Shopping – US – June 2009. Mintel Oxygen database.
3 Chocolate Confectionery – US – July 2008.  Mintel Oxygen database.
4 Facts for Features – Halloween: October 31, 2009.  U.S. Census Press Release. 31 August 2009. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/014211.html

Alumni Weekend 2009: Welcome to all Bentley Alumni, Families & Friends

Lisa

What did the Bentley Library look like when you were a student?  Do you remember the bright red carpet, the card catalog and the brick archways?  Those days are long gone…  In March of 2006, following a $17 million renovation project, a brand new Bentley Library was unveiled.   Now we feature a cafe, high-tech group study rooms and electronic moving shelves.

Please join us for a tour of the Bentley Library on Saturday, October 24, at 11:00am and see for yourselves what a 21st century academic library looks like.

Unable to attend the tour?  Please feel free to stop by and take a walk through the library; we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.  We look forward to seeing you!

Important Notice! Library Closing at 10:00pm Tonight (Tuesday, October 20)

Lisa

Due to the recent power interruption, Facilities will be conducting an emergency repair this evening.  A power shutdown  is necessary in order for the repair to occur and will affect portions of upper campus, including the library. Therefore, the Bentley Library will be closing at 10:00pm. The Library will reopen on Wednesday, October 21, at 7:30am.  We apologize for the inconvenience.

October is National Information Literacy Awareness Month

Liz

President Obama has declared October 2009 to be National Information Literacy Awareness Month. His official proclamation states:

“An informed and educated citizenry is essential to the functioning of our modern democratic society, and I encourage educational and community institutions across the country to help Americans find and evaluate the information they seek, in all its forms.”

Want to talk to an expert on finding and evaluating information? Contact a reference librarian! We can help you, as the president puts it, “separate truth from fiction and signal from noise.” Faculty, use this form if you’d like to request a research instruction session for your class.

For more information, check out our online research guide on Information Literacy and Instruction, or  the website of the National Forum on Information Literacy.

H1N1 Information & Resources

Lisa

Flu season is fast approaching.   Bentley University’s Center for Health & Wellness website is designated as the official site for  information on H1N1 influenza.  The Center for Health & Wellness site will provide the most up-to-date information about H1N1, as well as lists of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and other selected resources.

If you are interested in conducting further research about H1N1 – or influenza in general – please visit the Bentley Library’s H1N1 library research guide.  This research guide highlights librarian-recommended books, databases, and websites useful for researching H1N1 and related topics.

Welcome New Students, Faculty & Staff

Lisa

The staff of the Bentley Library extends a warm welcome to our new students, faculty and staff.  Many of you will receive an orientation to the Library during First Week, however we also encourage you to take a look at our online library orientation guide. It will only take you a few minutes to view, and it will provide you with useful information about library resources and services.   If you have any questions about the Library the please don’t hesitate to ask for help at the Library Services or Reference Desks.

Get Free & Reduced Admission to Museums

Lisa

Did you know that the Bentley Library offers museum passes that will allow you free or reduced admission to some of the most popular Boston-area museums?   Even better, you can check for museum pass availability up to 30 days in advance and immediately reserve your passes online.  Museum passes available are:

  • De Cordova Museum (Lincoln, MA)
  • Fruitlands Museum (Harvard, MA)
  • Harvard Art Museum (Cambridge, MA)
  • Historic New England (formerly S.P.N.E.A.) (various New England locations)
  • Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston)
  • John F. Kennedy Library and Museum (Boston)
  • Museum of Fine Arts (Boston)
  • Museum of Science (Boston)
  • National Heritage Museum (Lexington)
  • New England Aquarium (Boston) (not available during summer months)
  • Peabody Essex Museum (Salem, MA)

For more information (or to make your reservation now) go to the library’s home page and click on “Museum Passes”.