The Bloomberg Terminal is a dedicated computer that offers access to the Bloomberg Professional service, Bloomberg Government (BGOV), and Bloomberg Law (BLAW) and is located in the Commerce Research Library (HCHB Room 1984).
Reservations are required to use the Bloomberg Terminal. If you are logged in and a second person logs in to the Terminal, you will be logged out. Please respect your colleagues by using the Terminal during your reservation window.
These instructions will be sent to your email after reserving a time slot.
Because Bloomberg contains an enormous amount of information, it can be challenging and a bit overwhelming in the beginning. Take advantage of the following tools to help you quickly master the initial learning curve.
Use the <HELP> Function
Press the green HELP key once to describe the function you are using. Press it twice to chat in real-time with a Bloomberg customer representative.
Use Bloomberg's Cheat Sheets
Cheat Sheets, like the ones linked on the right, list the common functions to help you navigate the terminal. Type <BPS> for the full cheat sheet directory.
Visit Bloomberg University
Type <BU> and access training videos and informational papers. Sign up on the terminal and access <BESS> Bloomberg Essentials Online Training webinars at your desktop or participate in live training at the regional Bloomberg office on K St, where everyone in the seminar gets their own terminal to practice on.
Seamlessly Link to Excel
Download data into spreadsheets to make analysis easier. You can build your own or use one of Bloomberg's templates, then set it to automatically update your data each time you open it.
Need More Training?
The library regularly offers in-person classes with our Bloomberg trainers and Bloomberg Market Specialists for DOC staff. To request one-on-one training from either a librarian or our Bloomberg trainer, please fill out a training request.
Use the steps below to setup news alerts on the Bloomberg terminal and have them forwarded to your .gov email address:
Step 1 - Create a message rule so that your alerts are automically forwarded to your .gov email address.
Step 2 - Setup a news alert on any topic of interest.
Below are just a few shortcuts to get you started. Let us know which functions you use the most or any topics you'd like us to offer training on!
<NEWS>
Real-time news updates from a multitude of websites, tickers, and wires. See the top stories of the day, narrow your search by language (then translate!), global region, keyword, source, and more. Use <MRUL> to create a forwarding rule and news alerts will be sent straight to your .gov email.
<BGOV> Bloomberg Government
Track legislation and regulations, find hearing transcripts and CRS reports, view staffing directories, and access other government intelligence tools. BGOV reports both minutiae (who got a subcommittee appointment on the Hill) as well as "deep dives" and analysis on policy, appropriations, legs and regs, and more. You can also subscribe to Bloomberg BNA newsletters that will go to your .gov email.
<BI> Bloomberg Intelligence
Independent research by Bloomberg analysts that covers everything from the macro picture to company-level operating, financial, and valuation information. Use this as a starting point to aggregate data available in other parts of the terminal.
<RES> Research Search Engine
Search or browse all available research OR within a company page, use <BRC> to see research on that particular company.
<DS> Document Search
Locate reports, PR announcements, financial documents, research, transcripts, and more.
<EQS> Equity Screener
Locate the number of companies within a certain industry in a certain area (public companies only).
<PSCR> Private Equity
Similar to <EQS>, this function provides data on private companies.
<RELS> Related Securities
See the parent/subsidiary relationships between companies.
<MA> Mergers & Acquisitions
Locate companies with investments or purchases, along with capital market data. Slice and dice this data many ways. Use <CACS> to show single corporate actions.
<SPLC> Supply Chain
See quantified relationships between buyers and sellers.
<BMAP> Bloomberg Maps
Commodity maps that beautifully show shipping data. Search for specific vessels or vessel types, track choke points, view movement terminals, and then save it all under "My Maps" to view the updated data later.
Check availability and reserve the Bloomberg Terminal using our booking tool below.
Please note: the Bloomberg Terminal may only be reserved by DOC staff stationed in HCHB.
1401 Constitution Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20230
Email: research@doc.gov
Monday to Friday
8:30am to 5pm
Closed on Federal Holidays
General Public - by appointment only