See also: International Trade | Company Research
Getting Started in the LibraryThis library guide points you in the direction of some basic library resources for completing library assignments and writing research papers in this course. Many of these resources are available from the library's homepage at http://www.lib.ipfw.edu/, so you may want to bookmark both the homepage and this guide.
Here are some resources to get you started:
Gaining an OverviewTo develop and refine your search, it often helps to consult a specialized dictionary, encyclopedia, handbook, textbook, guide, or bibliography. These tools are designed to offer an overview of your topic or research problem written by an expert. They may provide an historical perspective, a chronology of events, definitions of terms or concepts, or bibliographic references leading to the literature in a particular field of study. Many useful reference works are now available online. These handy e-reference collections are accessible via Find Resources By... Subject, Title, or Type on the library's homepage.
Selected Reference Works for this CourseCountries and their Cultures, 4 vols. (Reference GN307 .C68 2001) This encyclopedia provide anthropologically informed, signed articles with an extensive bibliography of books and Web sites. The article on "France" (vol. 2, p. 791) presents information on geography, demography, language, history, ethnic relations, food, economy, social structure, social welfare, political life, the arts, etiquette, and much more of interest to students of French culture.
Dun & Bradstreet's Guide to Doing Business Around the World (Reference HF1416 .M78 2001) This handbook provides an overview of business conditions and the social climate in different countries. See the chapter on "France" (p. 145). Find other works like this by searching IUCAT or WorldCat; try this search strategy:
(export marketing or international trade or intercultural communication) and (cross-cultural studies or handbooks).
French culture and society : the essentials. (Reference DC33.7 .F7265 2001) This text has broad coverage of most aspects of French culture. See p. 179 "Nationalism". This brief article describes the role government plays in business in France.
International Marketing Data and Statistics, 24th ed. (Reference HA42 .I56 2000) Produced by Euromonitor, this compendium provides statistical data relevant to consumer markets in more than 160 countries. Many tables span a 22-year period, 1977-1998.
Kompass-France : répertoire général de la production française, 4 vols. (Index table, Reference HC272 .R38 2004) French language publication indexing 100,000 "B to B" companies. Some English instructions for using this directory are included.
Selected Books on Reserve for this CourseCountry Report: France The Economist Intelligence Unit (Paper Reserves)
Czinkota, M; Ronkainen, I; Moffett, M. International Business
Doing Business in France (Reserves HG5472 .D65 1989)
Do's and Taboos Around the World for Women in Business (Reserves G156.5.B86 D67 1997)
Using Government InformationThe U.S. government is an excellent source for primary research materials. Helmke Library has been a selective federal depository for U.S. government publications since 1965, receiving items in the categories of business, the census, commerce, defense history, education, health, justice, foreign affairs, presidential and congressional materials. Many federal government publications are freely available in digital format, and these resources can be accessed using IUCAT Catalog. The library's Public Information Reference Service (PIRS) provides research assistance as well as access to the wealth of local, state, federal, and international government information on the Web. The Allen County Public Library is also a federal depository library.
Searching the InternetFor some information needs, the Internet may supplement library resources. To begin an Internet search, try one of the many search engines on our Internet Search site. One that works well is Google, which ranks results by number of links leading to a site. The section on Subject-Oriented Tools includes directories that have evaluated and selected sites for specific subject areas, such as the Librarians' Index to the Internet.
Because the World Wide Web is a massive, tangled directory of knowledge producers, research, facts, and entertaining tidbits of information, you must be critical about the material you find there. Quality and validity are not assured when anyone can publish anything, anytime, without the benefit of scholarly peer review. There are many useful guides and tutorials to help you understand how to navigate and evaluate Web sites, including Is Your Web Site Credible?
And Finally, Ask a LibrarianLibrarians and skilled information assistants are always available to assist you. Visit the Service Desk to meet an information assistant who will help you get started. You are welcome to make an appointment with Your Subject Librarian if you need more in-depth assistance.
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garrisoj@ipfw.edu
2101 E. Coliseum Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499
260-481-6499
Fax: 260-481-6509
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Judith Garrison M.L.S.
Reference & Information Services Librarian; Liaison to School of Business & Management Sciences, Labor Studies, Division of Public & Environmental Affairs; Assessment Coordinator
Helmke Library, LB 160 |
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