Library Databases

Published: November 23, 2010

Updated: February 9, 2023

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.

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.

Press, F. (2023). Financial press: Redfin CEO predicts 'terrible consolidation’ in the real-estate sector, but says it will ultimately be good for the industry. Singer Island: Newstex. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
The year of the buyer: Canada’s luxury real estate market shifts in favour of buyers as opportunities emerge post-pandemic: Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto rebalance at new benchmarks, as strong economy bolsters Calgary market. (2023, Jan 18). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
Back to reality for Canadian luxury real estate as markets adjust to economic headwinds: Calgary leads luxury market performance, as Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal sales come into balance. (2022, Oct 19). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
Sawatzky, B., & Local Journalism, I. R. (2022, Aug 14). Inflation, interest rates, and the inevitable real estate market cooldown. The Canadian Press. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
Condominium sales dominate Canadian luxury real estate market as post-pandemic recovery bolsters city living: Luxury condominium sales boom leads Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal gains, as sellers’ market conditions strengthen in Calgary. (2022, Apr 13). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
A better way home: BC real estate association boards publish sweeping recommendations for government to address challenges in BC’s housing market: The 30+ recommendations are aimed at addressing current concerns with the province’s housing market, the real estate transaction process and consumer protection. (2022, Feb 28). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
Consumer confidence and economic optimism bolster canadian luxury real estate market as downtown living revitalizes: A return to city living and enduring pandemic influences drive price gains and active fall market, as scarce inventory undermines potential sales, according to Sotheby’s International Realty Canada. (2021, Oct 06). NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
Haute residence real estate network continues partnership with Clara Hartree: Haute residence continues partnership with acclaimed real estate agent Clara Hartree in its invitation-only haute residence network. Currently in her second year as a member of haute residence, Clara Hartree exclusively represents the high-end real estate market in West Vancouver, British Columbia. (2021, Apr 23). PR Newswire. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
Business matters: Getting to know you: Callaghan O’Connor, real estate agent and investor (2022). Singer Island: Newstex. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.

Mergent Online

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.

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.

TBRC. (2022, September). Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market Global Briefing 2022: Ukraine-Russia War Impact. [Report Code MKB440F.] Retrieved from BCC Research Centre.
TBRC. (2022, September). Real Estate Market Global Briefing 2022: Ukraine-Russia War Impact. [Report Code MKBB217I.] Retrieved from BCC Research Centre.
TBRC. (2022, May). Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Market Global Briefing 2022. [Report Code MKB440E] Retrieved from BCC Research Centre.
TBRC. (2022, May). Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Global Market Competitor Briefing 2022. [Report Code MKB440D] Retrieved from BCC Research Centre.
TBRC. (2022, May). Real Estate Investment Competitor Outlook 2020: COVID-19 Impact and Recovery. [Report Code MKB217F]. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre.

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.

MarketLine Industry Profile: Real Estate in Canada. (2021). Real Estate Industry Profile: Canada, 1–46. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.
Orland, K., & Altstedter, A. (2020). Cracks in Real Estate Market Fail to Rattle Canada’s Big Banks. Bloomberg.Com, N.PAG. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.
Van Santvoort, A. (2019). Is housing market pot heating up?: REAL ESTATE Most Canadians think dispensaries will lower their home value, but the data disagrees. Business in Vancouver, 1535, 10–11. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.
HARDY, J. (2023). The Buoyant: Real Estate Market. Business in Calgary, 33(1), 44–45.
Kiviaho, A., & Toivonen, S. (2023). Forces impacting the real estate market environment in shrinking cities: possible drivers of future development. European Planning Studies, 31(1), 189–211.Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.
Barnes Reports: Offices of Real Estate Appraisers Industry (NAICS 53132). (2023). United States Offices of Real Estate Appraisers Industry Report, 1–184. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.
Ali, Z. S., & Jiachen Song. (2022). Digital Platforms and Real Estate Industry during COVID-19. International Real Estate Review, 25(4), 1–25. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.
Martiniello, B., & Verhaeghe, P.-P. (2022). Does the neighbourhood of the dwelling and the real estate agency matter? Geographical differences in ethnic discrimination on the rental housing market. Urban Studies (Sage Publications, Ltd.), 59(15), 3201–3221. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.
Gococo, E. (2022). Post-Pandemic Real Estate Market: Moving Towards a More Balanced Market. Business in Calgary, 32(11), 87–89. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.
Lee, S. (2022). The 2023 playbook for real estate investor financing: The coming months are likely to see greater focus on single-family rentals, reduced credit availability and new competitors entering the market. National Mortgage News, 47(3), N.PAG. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.
Davenport, S. (2020). The Real Results of Real Estate: Local facilities and diverse business lines generate revenue for Alaska Native corporations. Alaska Business Monthly, 37(7), 84–85. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.

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.

(2023). Commercial real estate brokerage - quarterly update 1/3/2023. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from First Research Industry Profiles.
(2023).Nonresidential building construction - quarterly update 1/23/2023. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from First Research Industry Profiles.

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.

Buchko, M. (2022, March). Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada / CANADA INDUSTRY (NAICS) REPORT 53121CA / REAL ESTATE AND RENTAL AND LEASING IN CANADA. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld database.
Kanda, S. (2022, September). Real Estate Asset Management & Consulting in Canada / CANADA INDUSTRY (NAICS) REPORT 53139CA / REAL ESTATE AND RENTAL AND LEASING IN CANADA. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld database.
Buchko, M. (2022, January.) Real Estate Appraisal in Canada / CANADA INDUSTRY (NAICS) REPORT 53132CA / REAL ESTATE AND RENTAL AND LEASING IN CANADA. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld database.
Rose, A. (2022, October.) Global Commercial Real Estate. GLOBAL INDUSTRY REPORT K6111-GL / GLOBAL REAL ESTATE AND RENTING. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld 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. (2022, January). Housing: Canada. Marketresearch.com Academic. Retrieved from Marketresearch.com Academic database.
Freedonia Focus Reports. (2020, October). Real Estate: United States. Marketresearch.com Academic. Retrieved from Marketresearch.com Academic 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.

(2023). Commercial real estate brokerage - quarterly update 1/3/2023. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from First Research Industry Profiles.
(2023).Nonresidential building construction - quarterly update 1/23/2023. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from First Research Industry Profiles.

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 Research Department. (2022, July 26). Consumer confidence in the value of real estate in Canada as of July 2022. Nanos; Bloomberg.. Retrieved from Statista database.
Statista Research Department. (2022, September 7). Share of real estate investments made in the main property markets in Canada in 2021.Goodman Report. Retrieved from Statista database.
Statista Research Department. (2021, August 17). Vacancy rates for residential real estate in the Greater Vancouver area from 2009 to 2020.Goodman Report. Retrieved from Statista database.
Statista Research Department. (2023, January 31).Average house prices in British Columbia, Canada, in 2022, with a forecast until 2024. CREA. Retrieved from Statista database.
Statista Research Department. (2021, May 31). Number of real estate employees in Canada 2016-2021. StatCan. Retrieved from Statista database.
Statista Research Department. (2021, May 31). Average weekly wages of real estate employees in Canada from March 2017 to March 2021. StatCan. Retrieved from Statista database.
Urban Land Institute; PwC. (2021, December 1). Real estate prospects in Canada in 2021, by city. Urban Land Institute; PwC. Retrieved from Statista database.
(2022). Statista dossier on residential housing in Canada. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
(2022). Statista dossier on office real estate in Canada. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
(2022). Statista dossier on luxury residential real estate in North America. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
Urban Land Institute; PwC. (2021, December 6). Significance of disruptors for the real estate market according to industry experts in the United States in 2023, by issue Retrieved from Statista database.
Statista Research Department. (2021, October 4). Leading real estate websites in the US, by monthly visits. eBizMBA. Retrieved from Statista database.
Urban Land Institute. Emerging trends in real estate- United States and Canada 2023. PwC. 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.

(2021). The National Association of Realtors: Coming Home. WARC Awards for Effectiveness. Retrieved from WARC database.
(2021). Coldwell Banker: Inclusive Ownership Program. SABRE Awards, Gold. Retrieved from WARC database.
(2021). National Association of REALTORS: The Fight for Fair. WARC Media Awards Entrant, Effective Channel Integration. Retrieved from WARC database.
(2021). Ceruzzi Properties: The mural @ the centrale. Cannes Creative Lions, Entrant. Retrieved from WARC database.
Connors, M. (2018, May). Zillow builds out its consumer-insight ambitions. Event Reports: TMRE in Focus. Retrieved from WARC database.
Golgan-Tilstone, E.; Mullen, M.; Butler, A. (2020). Century 21: Relentless Moves. WARC Awards. 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.

Growth slowing down as rate hikes sink in: Shallow contraction expected in early 2023 after Bank of Canada's efforts. (2023, Feb 01). Toronto Star. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database.
Carmichael, K. (2023, Feb 01). Interest rate hikes bringing balance; long high of housing-led growth comes to end. National Post.. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database.
Aldrich, J. (2023, Jan 31). Real estate organizations to vote on merger in march. Calgary Herald. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database.
Aldrich, J. (2023). CREB considers merger with AREA to improve real estate efficiencies. Calgary Herald. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database.
Da Silva, M. (2023). Predictions for the housing market, lower internet costs and stable stocks: Must-read business and investing stories: Plus, the real savings when you own an electric vehicle. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database.