Working Together to Answer Tough Questions

The questions faculty ask us in Faculty Research and Scholarly Support (FRSS) run the gamut from requesting an obscure article to complex historical research. Recently, faculty questions have required us to search financial or other complex data sources. Fortunately, as a part of the greater Harvard community, we have access to a range of great resources to help us respond to these requests. 

One of the benefits of being a Harvard Law School Affiliate (i.e., faculty, student, or staff member) is that we have access to other libraries within Harvard University. When we need to work with faculty on data questions, we often use the resources available through the Harvard Business School’s Baker Library.  Baker Library’s Database Search webpage is an incredibly helpful site because it lists business-related databases that are also available to HLS Affiliates.  

Examples of Business-Related Databases we can easily access as HLS Affiliates include: 

• Business Plans Handbook: Sample business plans, templates, listings, glossary, and bibliography. 

• Capital IQ: Data on public and private companies, investment firms, capital transactions, and people. Includes S&P RatingsDirect. 

• EMIS (Emerging Markets Information System): Country and company information on Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East. 

• FactSet: Financial data analysis platform to analyze data from global equity and fixed income markets. 

• GuideStar Pro: Information about the missions, programs, and finances of IRS-recognized organizations. 

• Orbis: A global private company comparison database containing millions of company data points.  

• Passport: Market research reports on consumer products and industries worldwide from Euromonitor International.  

• Pitchbook: Information on companies, deals, funds, investors, and service providers across the private investment lifecycle. 

• Preqin: Data and information on private equity and venture capital companies, funds, and deals; debt and real estate. 

• ProQuest Historical Annual Reports: Company annual reports available through searchable PDF images covering 800+ US companies (1844-present). 

Most of the time, we can access the business databases regardless of our location. However, some databases (e.g., LSEG Workspace and Morningstar Direct) require us to visit Baker Library in person. Though it can seem far away, it is just a 20-30 minute walk, or we can use the Harvard Shuttle Bus. 

Thanks to these databases and the access we have to them, we’ve been able to work with our faculty on some very difficult research questions. Often, these are some of our favorite requests because they let us explore new areas of research and resources we don’t normally use (and meet/learn from colleagues outside of HLS).