In our economic system, every business is part of a larger industry group, and every business holds or conducts one or more lines of business. Industry groups and lines of business are identified by NAICS or SIC numbers, or "codes," as many call them. Each code represents a specific industry or line of business. Economic agencies of the government use these numbers to collect, organize and publish data and analysis; researchers use these numbers to study changes and trends in business industries; and entreprenuers use them to clarify their own business operations (to get a clear sense of where their business "fits" in the bigger economic picture), to find information about their and other markets, and to navigate and mine information products like databases, print/online business directories, and economic websites. Knowing about NAICS and SIC numbers is perhaps one of the most important things a librarian can help an entrepreneur or researcher know about business information.
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