Every business library will need the latest edition of the Congressional Directory, as all business firms have at some time correspondence with, or need information on, congressmen, committees, departments and bureaus of the Government, also diplomatic and consular service. This volume may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C., for 60 cents, in cloth binding.
The membership lists of national organizations representing different professions and industries are also very valuable, such as the membership of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, and other associations devoted to business interests as well as to professional work. The city directory and telephone list of any community must not be forgotten as helpful reference aids, also state gazetteers, and the collection of directories of various cities to be found at the public library will be found most useful.
G. P. Putnam Sons, New York City, publish a handbook called Directory of Mailing Lists, Obtainable in Book or Pamphlet Form, price $2.50, which tells where printed mailing lists of certain industries or classes of people may be obtained free or at a reasonable price.
Public Affairs Information Service, a weekly or bi-monthly cumulated service, according to the needs of subscribers, and cumulating in an annual volume, published by the H. W. Wilson Company, New York City, is a subject index to articles in current periodicals, pamphlets and books covering current economic problems. Price upon application. It is a valuable index to consult at the public library, as it is too expensive for the small business library.
Thomas' Register of American Manufacturers—"first hands in all lines"—is an indispensable directory. It is published annually by the Thomas Publishing Company, New York City, price $15.00. The entries are in three main sections. The first section classifies the manufacturers according to their products, in an alphabetical subject list; the second section lists the manufacturers alphabetically by their names, gives addresses, branch offices and officials for many of them; the third section lists all the popular trade names alphabetically, and there is an alphabetical index of subjects at the beginning of the volume, with plentiful cross references to all the subjects listed in section one.
Hendricks' Commercial Register of the United States is similar to Thomas' Register, but is especially devoted to the interests of contracting and construction industries. It is published annually by S. E. Hendricks Company, New York City, price $12.50.
Exporters and importers will find most useful, Kelly's Directory of Merchants, Manufacturers and Shippers of the World, 1921, Kelly Publishing Company, 70 Fifth Avenue, New York City, price $20.00.
The organization, personnel of management, earnings and financial history of industrial corporations in the United States are given in Moody's Manual of Railroad & Corporation Securities, published annually by Poor's Publishing Company, New York City. The publisher expects to issue the 1921 edition in four volumes as follows:
Vol. I—Railroads.
Vol. II—Public Utilities.
Vol. III—Industrials.
Vol. IV—Mining and Oil Companies.
The 1921 price will probably be $15.00 per volume.