Hill Library Blog

If You Want to Change the IRS - Speak Up!

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:12:00 -0500

Have you ever wanted to tell the IRS how to do its job? You already have a voice through the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel. On June 6 through 8, St. Paul will play host to a regional meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) that will examine the submitted taxpayer issues and make recommendations to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Citizens, who are selected from among 700+ applicants each year, participate in this Panel to advise the IRS on current and proposed initiatives that focus on improving service, enforcement and tax compliance for small businesses and individuals.

The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel was established in October 2002 under the Federal Advisory Committee Act as a way of improving IRS responsiveness to taxpayers needs. The panel offers a unique opportunity for citizens to influence both the American tax administration system and the organization of the IRS.

Taxpayer input is critical to helping the IRS improve customer service and operation, but many taxpayers don't know where or how to speak up, said Anne Rasmussen, Vice Chair of Area 5 TAP Region and member of the Small Business/Self-Employed TAP Committee. Rasmussen is also CFO/COO of the St. Paul-based James J. Hill Reference Library that specializes in providing small businesses and individuals with practical business information at no charge.

The Department of the Treasury recognizes that the Panels provide the essential forum for direct citizen input into Internal Revenue Service (IRS) decision-making. TAP members represent the typical taxpayer and provide the IRS with invaluable insights that are crucial to sound tax administration, said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. There are seven geographically based committees and the Panels are demographically diverse with representation from each State.

While TAP has 100 members nationwide, Minnesota has two representatives, Anne Rasmussen and Bradford Lee, who sit on TAP’s largest regional Panel comprising 18 members, which also includes representatives from Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Oklahoma.

“The last time TAP members held a meeting in St. Paul was many years ago,” said Rasmussen. “While all TAP committees and sub-committees meet monthly via teleconference, during the summer TAP members meet face-to-face in various cities across the U.S. to examine issues and concerns in-depth.”

While visiting St. Paul, TAP members are planning to do some sightseeing around the town. “We are planning a tour of downtown St. Paul and a stroll in Rice Park including a visit to the James J. Hill Reference Library’s landmark building,” added Rasmussen.

To learn more about the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel, please visit www.improveirs.org. If you have any ideas about how to improve the IRS service, please call 1-888-912-1227.

Business Website of the Week - Statistics Explained (your guide to European Statistics)

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:14:00 -0500

So often government statistical sites are rich in data but hard to navigate and decipher. No longer can this be said for Eurostat, the official compiler and publisher of just about all things statistical for the European Union, with the release of Statistics Explained.

Using a Wiki-type platform, Statistics Explained makes European data more easily accessible and understandable, with charts and graphs along with any background needed for understanding the numbers, links to related information, and a glossary of terms.

Statistics Explained currently features over 700 articles. To find the information you need, browse by statistical theme, category, or use the search engine.

It's rare that a website can successfully fill the needs of both novices and expert users, but

Statistics Explained may well be one that does. If you do business or have an interest in the European Union, be sure to bookmark it today.

Business Website of the Week - BrowserShots.org

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:18:00 -0500

BrowserShots lets you virtually look over the shoulder of your website visitors, any of whom may be using a different web browser and operating system. These differences can have an impact on their experience with your brand.

Submit your web address, choose your screenshot options, then wait a few moments while the system works its magic. You'll be presented with screenshots of your web page as it appears on the browser(s) you selected.

You can select the specific operating systems and browser versions you want to test (from over 80 choices). You can also specify special settings such as screen size (width), color depth (bits per pixel), Java enabled/disabled, Javascript enabled/disabled/version, or Flash enabled/disabled/version.

Handy when you want to verify your website appears as you planned -- even for a visitor without the latest and greatest in operating systems or web browsers -- Browsershots.org can find a place in any DIY web designer's toolbox.

Financing Your Business

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:21:00 -0500

As you make your plans for the next week, please consider joining TiE Minnesota and the James J. Hill Reference Library on Thursday, February 25 at 6 p.m. to hear Dr. Dileep Rao speak about how the business banking relationship fits into and shares space with the broader challenge of financing a beginning and growing business.

Dr. Dileep Rao, author of the newly released book, ?Bootstrap to Billions,? will share a wealth of information gleaned from 28 of Minnesota's most successful entrepreneurs, many of whom are business place "household" names. Dr. Dileep Rao: an Entrepreneurial Columnist for Forbes.com, has financed more than 450 ventures and projects, managed five businesses, advised entrepreneurs, governments, and area developers, and is an award-winning professor in New Business Development in MBA programs in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Dr. Rao has a Ph.D. in business administration and has written nationally acclaimed books. Dr. Rao is an adjunct professor at the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota.

The event will take place at Radisson Roseville, 2540 North Cleveland Avenue, St. Paul.

Registration fee: Hill Members $20 / Non-members $20.

Business Website of the Week - The Conference Board

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:57:00 -0500

Where can you find a greenhouse gas report and tools on consumer spending trends all in one place? Try the Conference Board. The Conference Board is an independent membership organization that “publishes information and analysis, makes economics-based forecasts and assesses trends, and facilitates learning by creating dynamic communities of interest.”

Its programs include: CEO/C-Suite, Citizenship & Sustainability, Economics, Human Resources, Leadership Development, Risk Management, and more. Each program includes relevant news, reports, and tools. For example, you can download the greenhouse gas report from the Citizenship & Sustainability program, or use tools to find consumer spending trends in the Marketing program.

While some content requires purchase, there is a large quantity of free content offered by The Conference Board. To check it out, visit http://www.conference-board.org/.

Business Website of the Week - Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE)

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:22:00 -0500

Use the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) to identify state, local, utility, and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. DSIRE is actually two databases – one on renewable energy and one on energy efficiency – that you can search individually or simultaneously. There’s also a section with information on federal incentives.

You can find incentives using an interactive map, or use DSIRE’s summary maps or summary tables. Summary maps include grant programs for renewables, loan programs for renewables, rebate programs for renewables, PACE financing, and more. Summary tables include financial incentives for renewable energy, financial incentives for energy efficiency, and rules, regulations and policies for both.

There is also a library of reports, technical papers, and articles authored by DSIRE staff. To access the incentive maps, tables, and reports, visit DSIRE at http://www.dsireusa.org/.

Business Website of the Week - bit.ly

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:20:00 -0500

If you’ve got long URLs that you’d really like to share, use bit.ly to shorten them first. bit.ly is a simple URL shortener that also allows you to share media files (i.e., photo or video) by uploading them to the site.

Just paste any long link into the box on bit.ly and click shorten. Better yet, sign up for a free account to get real-time statistics and a complete history for your bit.ly links, as well as set up your saved preferences.

bit.ly offers a number of tools, such as bit.ly twitter search, sidebar bookmarklet, browser extensions, a blog, and more. You can even sign up for a pro version of the service if you desire additional functionality and customization. Visit http://bit.ly/ and try it today.

Business Website of the Week - You're the Boss: The Art of Running a Small Business (NYT)

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:16:00 -0500

You’re the Boss: The Art of Running a Small Business, from the New York Times, is a collection of resources to assist you with your small business.

Resources include articles and columns, a toolkit, guides, multimedia, case studies, and a small business advisor section organized by topic. There’s even a business plan competition list that’s regularly updated with business plan competitions and related events.

To use these resources, visit You’re the Boss: The Art of Running a Small Business online at http://www.nytimes.com/pages/business/smallbusiness/index.html.

Business Web Site of the Week - PolicyMap

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:30:00 -0500

If you’re looking for a powerful online mapping tool, use PolicyMap to “capture data in visually powerful ways through custom maps, tables, and reports.”

Users can create and save data maps for their area(s) of interest, including neighborhoods, zip codes, cities, states, and more. Users can also create tables to compare data across locations or to study data over time, or they can create reports about specific geographies or locations.

PolicyMap is available at various subscription levels. There’s a free level, as well as standard, premium, and even student subscription levels. The free level includes datasets such as Census, Postal Service, FBI’s city crime rates, County Business Patterns, HUD, and more. Find out more about this innovative geographic information system at http://www.policymap.com/.

Business Web Site of the Week - Career Guide to Industries

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:16:00 -0500

Use the Career Guide to Industries to find information on occupations, training and advancement, earnings, job prospects, and more for dozens of industries.

Search by topic using the “Search CGI” box available on every page, browse the industry links provided on the left navigation bar, or see a list of all industries at http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgindex.htm. You can also access links to information about the job market in each state at http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgjobout.htm.

The Career Guide to Industries is a companion to the Occupational Outlook Handbook; both publications are provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Business Web Site of the Week - National Center for Education Statistics

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:05:00 -0500

If you’re looking for a source of education-related statistics, visit the Institute of Education Sciences’ National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

NCES is part of the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences. It is the primary organization that collects, analyzes, and reports on education-related data in the United States. NCES reports complete statistics on the condition of American education and education activities internationally.

In addition to education statistics, NCES also provides other tools, such as the ability to search for schools, colleges, and libraries, or use the college navigator to identify schools that best meet the user’s criteria. You can access NCES at http://nces.ed.gov/.

Business Web Site of the Week - Deloitte International Tax and Business Guides

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:02:00 -0500

“Whether you are a company that operates in multiple jurisdictions, or are looking to expand globally, having access to accurate and timely information on taxation and other business conditions is critical to your success.” This information is available via Deloitte’s International Tax and Business Guides.

Topics covered by the guides include: investment climate, business and regulatory environment, foreign investment, choice of business entity, corporate and individual taxation, and employment law.

To learn more about the tax and business landscape of more than 120 locations, check out the guides today.

Business Web Site of the Week - WorldCat

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:23:00 -0500

Search the collections of libraries in your community, or around the world using WorldCat.

WorldCat is a global catalog of library collections from libraries around the world. It currently catalogs 1.4 billion items and you can search for books, music CDs, videos, and more. You can search for all locations of a specific item and then locate it in a nearby library, if available. You can even find research articles and other digital content that you can view directly online.

To try WorldCat for yourself, visit http://www.worldcat.org/ today.

Check Out Our Spiffy New HillSearch!

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:41:00 -0500

The redesign of the HillSearch site is here! We're excited about it, and we think our HillSearch members will be as well.

See at a glance the premium databases that are available in HillSearch, and use the descriptions to determine which one is best suited for your unique business research needs. Check out the additional and enhanced tutorials, use the newspaper and journal search engine, explore the possibilities for HillSearch to help your business.

For those of you who are not HillSearch members, sign up for a free trial and see what all the buzz is about. And buzz aside, see what HillSearch can do for you to make yours a smarter and more successful business.

Business Web Site of the Week Wall Street Journals Career Section

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Where can you search for jobs, as well as find information on career news, trends, training, and more? Try the Wall Street Journal’s Career section.

Search for jobs by location, salary, or industry, or read about “The Five-Second Commute” or “Creating a Resume That Sells.” Learn how to reinvent yourself, hone your career strategies, or check out the education resources if you’re considering returning to school.

To access these features and more, visit the Career section of the Wall Street Journal.