Library Databases

Published: January 26, 2022
Updated: January 26, 2022

The Expensive World Of Business Information

Believe it or not, you cannot find everything on Google! Have you ever done an online search and found the perfect industry report only to find that it costs over $5,000? Did you know that libraries pay for many expensive databases that could be helpful in your secondary market research? 

Search engines like Google can only provide direct access to freely available information. Most of the web, including business information, lives in databases behind expensive paywalls. This paywall-protected section of the Internet is known as the deep web. Fortunately, some libraries pay to subscribe to databases so they can provide free access to their patrons — and many business databases can contain useful information such as articles, market research, and company reports.

There are several strategies you can use to access relevant business information on the deep web. First, we urge you to look up what business resources your local public or academic library can provide access to. Each database has its own arrangement, with unique interfaces and search features. It helps to know the structure and search terms of the specific database you are working with in order to retrieve effective results. 

Also, it is important to know that library databases are restricted by specific usage agreements. It can help to consult with a librarian if you have trouble navigating a specific database. They may also be able to help you find comparable information elsewhere. Libraries with robust business collections might have useful e-books, directories and trade journals. As you conduct your secondary market research you will likely need to consult both free and deep web resources.

For more information about how and why to use business databases, check out our video tutorial, Module Four: Conducting Your Industry Research.

Business Resources at Academic Libraries 

Colleges and Universities with business programs will have useful business collections you may be able to get access to through their academic library. Often these academic libraries can provide the general public with access to their collections, which include electronic resources like databases and e-books. For example, they could have alumni or community cards, and can provide temporary "guest" passes in certain situations. Contact your local college or university library to see what they can provide. Please note: you probably will not get access to their electronic resources with remote access.

Databases For Industry Research

UBC Library Business Databases

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you may have access to business databases through the David Lam Management Research Library and Canaccord Learning Commons through the links below.

Full Listing By Title or Full Listing By Subject

There are two different ways to identify databases: Use "by title" if you already know the name; otherwise you can search the list "by subject" to find starting places for undertaking market research, finding articles or researching companies. To learn more about how you can access library resources if you are a community user or temporary visitor, check out the UBC Library Community Users & Visitors Guide. Community users and temporary visitors may have additional access restrictions to specific databases because of license agreements.

Provincial Library Database Partners

How to access: Check out the database list and note the License Participants to find out which institutions have access. Otherwise, contact your local post-secondary library to see what they offer.

BC Electronic Library Network (ELN) Research Databases

ELN licenses databases with partner academic libraries. These include LexisNexis, Canadian Newsstream, Hoovers, CBCA Business, ABI/INFORM Complete and others that may be of interest to business researchers.

ABI/INFORM Collection

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

Created by ProQuest this database contains full-text articles from over 1,000 business magazines and journals that track business conditions, trends, management techniques, corporate strategies, and industry-specific topics.

  • Agwu, U. J., & Bessan, J. (2021). Sustainable business models: A systematic review of approaches and challenges in manufacturing. Revista De Administração Contemporânea, 25(3), 1-18. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database.
  • First Research Industry Profiles. (2021). Remediation & environmental cleanup services - quarterly update 3/1/2021. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database.
  • Nguyen, N., & Johnson, L. W. (2020). Consumer behaviour and environmental sustainability. Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 19(6), 539-541. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database.
  • Rasool, S., Cerchione, R., & Salo, J. (2020). Assessing ethical consumer behavior for sustainable development: The mediating role of brand attachment. Sustainable Development, 28(6), 1620-1631. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database.
  • Santos, M. A. D., Svensson, G., & Padin, C. (2014). Implementation, monitoring and evaluation of sustainable business practices: Framework and empirical illustration. Corporate Governance, 14(4), 515-530. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database.
  • Testa, F., Iovino, R., & Iraldo, F. (2020). The circular economy and consumer behaviour: The mediating role of information seeking in buying circular packaging. Business Strategy and the Environment, 29(8), 3435-3448. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database.
  • Business Development Bank of Canada. (2021). Over 80% of entrepreneurs say it's their responsibility to take action to protect the environment: BDC study. PR Newswire. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database.

BCC Research Centre

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource. Otherwise, contact your local library to see if they provide access.

Publishes 250 reports annually that are complete with market intelligence, five-year forecasts, statistical and analytical data, key players, market share, industry structure and dynamics, and technological shifts and trends.

  • BCC Research Staff. (2020). Climate resilient cities: Resilient building design and planning [Report Code ENV050A]. BCC Research Centre. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database.
  • BCC Research Staff. (2019). Electric vehicle supply equipment market [Report Code AVM176A]. BCC Research Centre. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database.
  • BCC Research Staff. (2021). Global markets for environmental remediation technologies [Report Code ENV006D]. BCC Research Centre. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database.
  • BCC Research Staff. (2019). Green solvents: Technologies, emerging opportunities and markets [Report Code CHM087A].  BCC Research Centre. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database.
  • BCC Research Staff. (2018). Rainwater Harvesting Technologies: Global Markets to 2022 [Report Code ENV038A]. BCC Research Centre. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database.
  • BCC Research Staff. (2019). Soy-based adhesives: Trends and global markets [Report Code CHM119A].  BCC Research Centre. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database.
  • BCC Research Staff. (2021). U.S. indoor air quality market [Report Code ENV003H]. BCC Research Centre. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database.
  • BCC Research Staff. (2015). The U.S. market for green building materials [Report Code ENV007C] . BCC Research Centre. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database.
  • Flexible Green Packaging: Global Markets Through 2022 https://academic.bccresearch.com/market-research/engineering/flexible-g…

     

Business Source Ultimate

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource. Otherwise, contact your local library to see if they provide access.

Includes financial data, books, videos, company profiles, SWOT analyses, industry profiles, country reports, market research reports and case studies. Also includes information on industry trends, forecasts, outlooks, competitors, how to run a specific business and much more.

  • Caldera, H. T. S., Desha, C., & Dawes, L. (2019). Evaluating the enablers and barriers for successful implementation of sustainable business practice in “lean” SMEs. Journal of Cleaner Production 218, 575–590. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.
  • Chen, J., & Wu, S. (2015). A comparison of green business relationship models between Industry types. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence 26(7), 778–92. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.
  • Zhang, L., Gregson, G., Ren, B., & Shan, M. (2017). Transforming business models for sustainable green innovations. Proceedings of ISPIM Conferences, 1–14. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.

Business Market Research Collection (Proquest)

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

Business Market Research Collection brings together four sources to help students more easily conduct the research they need to produce business plans, marketing plans, startup plans, market growth analysis, and strategic and financial plans. Includes access to: Hoover's Company Profiles, OxResearch, Barnes Reports, and the older Snapshots Series, which includes market research overviews on over 40 industries and 40 countries to 2008.

City of Vancouver’s Open Data Portal

How to access: The guide can be viewed through the link above and is free to use.

The Government of Canada routinely collects vast quantities and kinds of information on a diverse spectrum of topics. Now the City of Vancouver is making this information available to the public in a single concise searchable portal called Open Data 101. This data is accessible to the public and structured in an easy to understand format.

First Research Industry Profiles

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, or faculty you can access many of these reports through ABI/INFORM and/or Business Market Research Collection (Proquest).

Covers over 900 industry segments. Updated on a quarterly basis, these industry profiles contain critical analysis, statistics and forecasts to help you engage key prospects, coach key clients, and deepen customer relationships. You can search for reports by NAICS, SIC or keyword or browse by category.

  • First Research Industry Profiles. (2021). Automobile parts manufacturing - quarterly update 2/22/2021. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from Business Market Research Collection database.
  • First Research Industry Profiles. (2021). Remediation & environmental cleanup services - quarterly update 3/1/2021. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Collection database.
  • First Research Industry Profiles. (2021). Retail sector - quarterly update 3/1/2021. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from Business Market Research Collection database.
  • First Research Industry Profiles. (2021). Specialty eateries - quarterly update 2/1/2021. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from Business Market Research Collection database.

IBISWorld Industry Reports

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

IBISWorld research is an independent, professional publisher of high-quality market research reports. These reports analyze the underlying structure and external forces that drive an industry.

  • Gonzales, E. (2020). Commercial building construction in Canada: Industry report 23622ACA. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld Industry Reports database.
  • Gonzales, E. (2019). Environmental consulting in Canada: Industry report 54162CA. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld Industry Reports database.
  • Kanda, S. (2020). Renewable Power in Canada: Industry report  22111BCA. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld Industry Reports database.
  • McGrath, S. (2020). Global biotechnology: Industry report L6724-GL. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld Industry Reports database.
  • McGrath, S. (2020). Beef Cattle Production in Canada: Industry report 11211CA. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld Industry Reports database.
  • Patel, K. (2021). Sustainable building material manufacturing in the US: Industry report NN005. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld Industry Reports database.

Marketresearch.com/Freedonia Focus

How to access: Check your local public or academic library to see about access. If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

While you can search this website only some Canadian libraries provide full-text access to the market research reports on industries and demographics for North American industries. They can range from 50 to 400+ pages in length, and contain charts, tables, and graphs, and key facts. Marketresearch.com has varied industry coverage and includes US and international information.

  • Freedonia Focus Reports. (2020). Foodservice single-use products: Canada. Market Research Academic. Retrieved from marketresearch.com academic database.
  • Freedonia Focus Reports. (2020). Siding: Canada. Market Research Academic. Retrieved from marketresearch.com academic database.
  • Packaged Facts. (2016). Garden and grove: culinary trend tracking series. Market Research Academic. Retrieved from marketresearch.com academic database.
  • Packaged Facts. (2015). Green household cleaning and laundry products in the U.S., 3rd edition. Market Research Academic. Retrieved from marketresearch.com academic database.
  • Packaged Facts. (2020). Meat, poultry & seafood alternatives: outlook for plant-based & cultured cell-based consumer products. Market Research Academic. Retrieved from marketresearch.com academic database.
  • Packaged Facts. (2020). Vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian consumers. Market Research Academic. Retrieved from marketresearch.com academic database.

Mergent Market Access

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

Provides access to US and international public company data. This database also contains data on companies that were acquired, went bankrupt, liquidated or merged out of existence from 1995 forward. Users can compare companies and export data into programs like Excel.

  • Mergent. (n.d.). America Greener Technologies Inc [Company Profile]. Retrieved April 12, 2021 from Mergent Online database.
  • Mergent. (n.d.). Code Green Apparel Corp [Company Profile]. Retrieved April 12, 2021 from Mergent Online database.
  • Mergent. (n.d.). Consolidated Ecoprogress Technology Inc [Company Profile]. Retrieved April 12, 2021 from Mergent Online database.
  • Mergent. (n.d.). Mojo Organics Inc [Company Profile]. Retrieved April 12, 2021 from Mergent Online database.

Statista

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

A simple to use statistics portal that integrates statistics from thousands of sources, on topics related to business, media, public policy, health and others. Statistics can be exported in PPT, XLS, PDF, and PNG formats. Some basic content available for free.

  • Statista. (2021). Clean technology investments globally. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Statista (2019). Consumers willing to pay a premium for sustainable non-food items in Canada in 2019, by claim. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Statista (2019). Edible insects. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Statista (2019). Green buildings in the United States. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Statista. (2020). How consumers purchase items in a sustainable way in Canada in 2019. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Statista. (2020). Natural and organic cosmetics market worldwide. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Statista. (2020). Organic food market in Canada. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Statista (2021). Sustainable consumption in the U.S. 2021. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Statista. (2020). Sustainable food industry - Statistics & facts. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.

WARC: World Advertising Research Center

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

WARC has case studies from major companies and advertising agencies, as well as articles from leading advertising journals and unpublished papers. It also includes company profiles, advertising spending statistics, and demographic and economic data.

  • Elden, J. (2020). Recycling content for a greener advertising future. WARC. Retrieved from WARC database.
  • Euromonitor. (2015). Eco Worriers: Global Green Behaviour and Market Impact - Executive Briefing. WARC. Retrieved from WARC database.
  • Payne, I., Clayton, G., & Baverstock, A. (2020). Clean, green and affordable: Striking a balance between sustainability, hygiene and value in packaging. WARC. Retrieved from WARC database.
  • WARC Staff. (2020). Lenzing patches sustainability knowledge gap in fashion with Tencel™ brand “Feel So Right” movement. WARC. Retrieved from WARC database.
  • WARC Staff. (2020). Weleda: Inner Nature. WARC. Retrieved from WARC database.

Newspapers and News Sources - UBC Library Research Guide

How to access: The guide can be viewed through the link below. Individual resources and databases will have different access requirements.

UBC Library has an excellent collection of current and historical newspapers from B.C., Canada, and around the world. UBC affiliates will have access to these resources.