What I learned at the Library of Congress

I had the opportunity to conduct research in the Library of Congress Business and Science Reading Room this week. What an amazing experience. The next time you get to DC, I highly recommend taking the time to obtain a library card and visiting the reading rooms.

Two copies of every copyrighted item: song lyric, business concept, book, picture, play, recipe, et al, that has legally obtained a copyright is located within in the Library of Congress. The copyrighting department is so huge that the building has its own zip code! Over 10,000 items are received and catalogued each day.

I had the opportunity to walk among the stacks and view a variety of business and marketing books. In one book, "Business Writers Book of Lists," by Mary A. DeVries, I learned about the most common objectives in a business message (I'm paraphrasing):

• make initial contact
• acquire, provide or exchange information
• instruct
• ask or grant a favor
• thank
• change behavior or attitude
• praise
• reprimand
• strengthen a relationship and encourage feelings of goodwill
• build a favorable image of one's self or company
• buy or sell
• begin or end something

In additional to conducting research for a business project I also had the opportunity to view the city through the eyes of a professional photographer. Continue reading here over the next few postings for what I learned about my business through the eye of a camera!