Finance Strategy Booklist

January is a good time to plan business accounting and finance strategies for the new year. Here is a list of recent additions to the library’s collection on the subject of small business finance.

Financial Management 101: Get A Grip On Your Business Numbers, 2nd EditionÂ
Self-Counsel Press, 2008.

J.K. Lasser’s Small Business Taxes 2008: Your Complete Guide To A Better Bottom Line Â
Wiley, 2008

Legal Forms For Starting & Running A Small Business, 5th EditionÂ
Nolo Press, 2008.

QuickBooks 2008: The Missing ManualÂ
O’Reilly, 2008.

Tax Savvy For Small BusinessÂ
Nolo Press, 2008.

The Law (In Plain English) For Small Business, 2nd EditionÂ
Sphinx Pub., 2007.

Titles listed above are linked to the Library’s online catalog so you can see item locations and status. Once you’re in the catalog, click on the picture of the book cover for a synopsis and other information.

OverDrive for Business

Have you checked out downloadable media from Overdrive lately? 81 new business titles have been added to the collection in the past year, including:

  • Business Financing: 25 Keys To Raising Money
    by Dileep Rao, Ph.D., Richard Cardozo, Ph.D. and Eric Conger
    Format – OverDrive WMA Audiobook
  • Business Planning: 25 Keys To a Sound Business Plan
    by Edward E. Williams, James R. Thompson, H. Albert Napier, and Eric Conger
    Format – OverDrive WMA Audiobook
  • Dealing With Problem Employees: A Legal Guide
    by Amy Delpo, Lisa Guerin
    Format – Adobe PDF eBook
  • Secrets of Millionaire Moms
    by Tamara Monosoff
    Format – Mobipocket eBook
  • The Sales Manager's Guide to Developing A Winning Sales Team
    by Gerhard Gschwandtner
    Format – Adobe PDF eBook
  • What Customers Want: Using Outcome-Driven Innovation to Create Breakthrough Products and Services
    by Anthony W. Ulwick
    Format – Adobe PDF eBook

Did you know that OverDirve has business related video content as well? Check out these interviews with business authors from the Expanded Books Interview series:

  • Expanded Books Interview: Chocolates on the Pillow Aren't Enough
    by Jonathan Tisch
    Format – OverDrive Video
    Duration – 4 minutes
  • Expanded Books Interview: Copy This!
    by by Paul Orfalea
    Format – OverDrive Video
    Duration – 5 minutes
  • Expanded Books Interview: Improvisational Negotiation
    by Jeffrey Krivis
    Format – OverDrive Video
    Duration – 4 minutes
  • Expanded Books Interview: Expanded Books Interview: The Millionaire Maker
    by Loral Langemeier
    Format – OverDrive Video
    Duration – 3 minutes

New to our eMedia collection, MP3 Audiobooks! This format is compatible with iPods, iPhones, cell phones and just about any device that can play MP3 files!

To download our MP3 content, please make sure you have OverDrive Media Console 3.0 (or newer) installed on your computer.

How do I access Overdrive?

  • Go to the library's eMedia page
  • Take a few minutes to read the Quick Start Guide. The guide has information on the type of materials available, check out procedures, and how to place items on hold.
  • Downloads are required to use Overdrive; the Quick Start Guide has instructions and links for downloading.

Put your computer into high gear and enjoy Overdrive.

Doing Business: Mapping the Global Business Environment

World Bank’s Doing Business

Thinking about starting a business in another country? Then you’d better take a trip there to figure out how to get things started.

But wait! You don’t have the time or money for travel — you’re saving for the business and working hard to get it together! Not to worry. World Bank’s Doing Business interactive mapping site allows you to discover how easy (or difficult) it is to do business in 181 economies worldwide.

This site doesn’t just map the dull stuff like GNP and population — it gives you info on the corruption level you’ll have to deal with when starting a business in another country. You can also find out what the infrastructure issues are; how convoluted the bureaucracy is; how likely it is that your business will be ripped off by employees. This is stuff you don’t usually find in a reference book!!

If you’re serious about business-related expatriation, then you should really start with this site. It’s easy to use and will give you a good foundation for further exploration of your possible new business climate.

How to File a Consumer Complaint

So many different agencies handle consumer complaints, that it’s confusing to figure out which agency you should complain to. For example, should you contact the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office or the Public Service Commission? There’s so much division of jurisdiction that one might be tempted to file a complaint about it. 😉 But before you do that, try looking at some of the following charts and links as a guide.

The Baton Rouge Better Business Bureau handles complaints that involve buyers and sellers, where there is an item that has been sold or has been advertised for sale. Complaints may be filed by either a consumer or another business.

The Better Business Bureau will not handle:

  • Anonymous complaints
  • Allegations of discrimination or violations of constitutional rights
  • Complaints involving professionals such as lawyers or doctors (unless it involves billing procedures)
  • Debt collection
  • Disputes that are already in litigation

BBB of South Central Louisiana

Phone: (225) 346-5222
Fax: (225) 346-1029
748 Main Street
Baton Rouge LA 70802

Most complaints against businesses located in Louisiana should be directed to the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office. However, complaints about certains types of businesses, such as utility companies, for example, will be directed to other agencies. Refer to the following chart.

If your complaint concerns: Then contact:
Automobiles
Telemarketing
Landlords & tenants
Credit issues
Collection agencies
Home improvements and construction
Home appliances and furnishings
Health clubs
Travel
Charitable solicitations
Sweepstakes
Work-at-home programs
Multilevel marketing/business opportunities.

Office of the Louisiana Attorney General
Consumer Protection Section

P.O. Box 94005
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9005
Disaster Hotline: 1-800-351-4889

Motor Carriers
Telecommunications
Utilities such as Electric, Gas, Water and Sewage

Louisiana Public Service Commission

602 North 5th Street
12th Floor
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
(225) 342-4404
1-800-256-2397

Filing a Complaint With the Louisiana Public Service Commission

Insurance companies, agents and adjusters

Louisiana Department of Insurance

Post Office Box 94214
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
General Information: 1-800-259-5300 or 1-800-259-5301
Direct Telephone numbers: (225) 342-5900 or (225) 342-0895

Insurance Fraud

Complaints against medical professionals should be filed with the appropriate licensing or regulatory agency. Refer to the following chart to find the correct agency, with a link to their website and contact information.

Type of professional Regulatory board or agency
Physicians (MD and D0)
Acupuncturists
Acupuncturist Assistants
Athletic Trainers
Clin Exercise Physiologists
Clin Laboratory Personnel
Midwives (lay)
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Physician Assistants
Podiatrists
Perfusionists
Polysomnograph Personnel
Radiological Technologists
Respiratory Therapists

Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners

630 Camp Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 568-6820

Chiropractors

Louisiana State Board of Chiropractic Examiners

8621 Summa Avenue, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70809
(225) 765-2322

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA)
Nurses
Nurse Practitioners

Louisiana State Board of Nursing

17373 Perkins Rd
Baton Rouge LA 70810
(225) 755-7500

Dentists

Louisiana State Board of Dentistry

365 Canal St, Suite 2680, New Orleans LA 70130
(504) 568-8574

Optometrists

Louisiana State Board of Optometry Examiners

P.O. Box 555
Oakdale, LA 71463
(318) 335-2989

Licensed Practical Nurses

Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners

3421 N Causeway Blvd, Ste 505
Metairie, LA 70002
(504) 838-5791

Psychologists

Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists

8280 YMCA Plaza, One Oak Square, Bldg 8B, Baton Rouge LA 70810
(225) 763-3968

Here’s some miscellaneous state agencies:

Concerning the operation of state government

Louisiana Office of Inspector General

P.O. Box 94095
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9095
(225) 342-4262

Filing a Complaint

Employee complaints against employers

Louisiana Workforce Commission

1001 North 23rd Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802-3338
(225) 342-3111

The following federal agencies handle consumer complaints.