Continue your professional development by reading electrical publications regularly. As a small business owner, you need all the advantages you can get to stay one step ahead of your competition. The wealth of knowledge you gain from these publications affords you the opportunity to improve service to your customers and maintain a profitable business.

Reading electrical industry trade publications will help ensure you always know what's going on. Consider the following sources as you start researching different electrical publications for the ones that best serve your needs:

1. Rely on a pertinent book as a valuable electrical industry publication.

2. Stay current on trends, news and events with electrical industry and electrician magazines.

3. Use other electrical publications to your advantage.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase books as useful trade publications for electricians

Electrician books make sound reference additions to your library. Make certain that you keep the latest reference books on hand, since the National Fire Protection Association updates the electrical code and regulations frequently.

I recommend: Make sure your company owns the 2008 National Electrical Code, availble in bound format and on CD. The book features the latest rules for electrical installation in residential, commercial and industrial locations. This electrician publication includes revised requirements for AFCI and GFCIs in dwellings, new rules for tamper-resistant receptacles and new provisions that reduce worker hazards and correlate with NFPA 70E worker safety rules. Keep the American Electrician's handbook in your office for a handy reference. The hardcover book contains practical advice and facts for designing, installing, operating and maintaining electrical systems and equipment. For electrical how-to publications, consider purchasing How to Pass the Electrical Exam by Tom Henry. The book shows how to prepare and lets readers take and grade actual tests to identify strengths and weaknesses.

Subscribe to or bookmark your favorite magazines for electricians and others in the industry

An electrical industry or electrician magazine can provide you with quick access to facts, figures, events, advice and tips to help you build and improve your business.

I recommend: If you own an electrical supplies distribution company, subscribe to Electrical Wholesaling. Founded in 1920, the electrical industry trade publication strives to provide readers the information they need to sell more supplies and run their businesses more profitably. Bookmark Electrical Contractor, the official publication of the National Electrical Contractors Association. The magazine includes information on current and forecasted issues, case studies, integrated electrical systems reporting, day-to-day issues in the office and field, product and service showcases and code issues. Subscribe to EC&M and add the magazine to the list of your favorite electric industry publications. It caters to electrical professionals in large contracting firms, industrial plants and electrical engineering firms but provides a wealth of information useful to anyone in the industry. It includes in-depth technical articles, market/construction forecasts and product reviews.

Use other electrical publications when you need specific answers

An electrical publication like a report, online article, newspaper or newsletter can provide you with abundant information when you've got a question you want answered.

I recommend: Visit the Electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety and Health to view single-topic electrical industry publications. Most of the articles in the eLCOSH library deal with safety for electrical workers, so you may want to pass this link on to your employees. Also visit the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health website to read online electrical industry and electrician publications regarding safety. If you work in the western half of the country, subscribe to Electrical News, an electric industry publication geared primarily toward electrical building contractors and plant maintenance engineers. The twice-monthly newspaper includes regional news, calendar events, people profiles, company feature stories and product releases. Subscribe to the electrician publication The Informer. This bi-monthly newsletter covers the National Electric Code with articles on building inspections, safety/tools, apprenticeship training, electrical history, business law, electrical exam questions/solutions and new products.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Title a new folder Electrical Publications and place it on your desktop for quick access. You can place several titles from this guide in the folder for immediate access.
• •  Order your tabs for your NEC code book for quick reference ability on the job.