The MSL virtual reference desk: CONSUMER INFORMATION

General

• Better Business Bureau: BBB recommends and helps people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust.
• Consumer Protection: Federal resources from USA.gov.
• Consumer Reports A-Z Product Guide: Not all information is available. Check below for library resources to access Consumer Reports publications.
• Consumer World: Consumer resources, from buying advice to filing customer complaints.
• Consumers Union: Informative and educational materials on many consumer issues. Consumers Union is the policy and action division of Consumer Reports.
• Federal Trade Commission--Consumer Information: Includes links to free credit reports, news on scams and more.
• Household Products Database: Health and safety information from the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services.
• National Consumer Law Center: Common legal problems.
• Publications.USA.gov: Operated by the Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC), U.S. General Services Administration, this site serves as a central source of information about federal government publications helpful to citizens.

Cleveland and Ohio

• Better Business Bureau of Cleveland
• Consumer Protection: State and local consumer agencies in Ohio from USA.gov.
• Consumer Resources | City of Cleveland
• Cuyahoga County Consumer Affairs
• Living in Ohio | Consumer Protection: From Ohio.gov.

Full-Text Resources Paid for by the Michael Schwartz Library

• OneSearch: Do a topical search of our electronic resources and catalog entries i.e. "pet food industry" or "Automobile industry -- Product defects and recalls." Available on campus or by remote authentication.
• Subject Search Consumer Education: General search for consumer information which includes books, ebooks, and videos. Electronic resources available on campus or by remote authentication.
• Subject Search for "Consumer Education" -- Periodicals Catalog: Entries that include links to listings such as Consumer Reports and Consumer Reports Buying Guide. The electronic resources are available on campus or by remote authentication.

More Library-Provided Resources

• Cleveland Public Library Consumer Resources: Some resources may require library card and pin number.
• Cuyahoga County Public Library Resources: Click on the DIY/Consumer tab. Some resources may require a library card and pin number.

Specialized Resources

• Automobiles (price & review information on new & used cars):
  • Edmund's Automobile Buyer's Guides
  • Kelley Blue Book
• Energy:
  • Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
• Health:
  • Health Information (National Institutes of Health)
  • MLA Top Health Websites (from the Medical Library Association)