Contact:
Created by Natasha Arguello, University of Texas at San Antonio, Tom Ottaviano, Cornell University, and Kim Bloedel, University of Iowa.
Review Cycle
The Committee reviews this guide every year. To report broken links, please send an email to rusa@ala.org and put “BRASS Education Committee” in the subject line.
Scope
As the blurb says, this guide contains links and resources for both new and veteran business librarians to use for selecting reference materials and databases.
Popular BRASS Resources
- BRASS Business GuidesCore resources and best websites across business subjects.
- BRASS Business Research CompetenciesOutlines targeted skills and learning outcomes, and provides a standard vocabulary for 10 common business research areas.
- BISdex (Business Information Sources Index)
BISdex is a website that provides quick insights into leading and emerging business information sources; by and for librarians. BISdex is a project of the BRASS Education Committee and is available to BRASS members.
To access BISdex: Fill out this Google Form to Request Access. You can also sponsor access for a colleague who is not a BRASS member, such as a collections librarian at your institution.
Follow Business Librarians on Social Media
- BRASS on ALA ConnectALA Connect provides all Business Reference and Services Section members news and information about RUSA-BRASS programs and activities.
ALA Connect replaces the BRASS-L listserv as the location for section communications. BRASS membership is required for access. - Business Librarians on FacebookCareer development opportunities, calls for submissions, and announcements; a community of support and a space where business librarians can ask questions and share expertise.
- #RUSA_BRASSFollow BRASS on Twitter
- #bizrefBusiness reference on Twitter.
- Buslib-l on LinkedInOnline community of business librarians. Participate in discussions, ask questions, and share expertise; find career development opportunities and job announcements.
- Making Sense of Business Reference on FacebookCelia Ross, the author of the "Making Sense of Business Reference" book, offers resources and tips on business research.
New Business Librarians Group
The New Business Librarians Group is an interest group of business librarians within their first five years of professional work. New Business Librarians Group meets online on Adobe Connect and also at ALA Annual. Their discussion in past years has focused on many "starting up" tasks such as introducing yourself and your services to your departments, seeking professional development for those starting out, and building professional networks. There is strong emphasis on networking and new business librarians supporting each other. Membership in BRASS or ALA is not required to join.
Business Reference Best Practices
- Guidelines for Business Information ResponsesThis fifth revision of the Guidelines for Business Information Responses is designed to assist information services staff in meeting user needs to resolve business information inquiries, as developed by members of the American Library Association.
Business Reference FAQs
A great way to identify relevant resources to answer your business reference questions. Access to resources will depend on institutional or individual subscriptions.
The original Business FAQ platform was hosted at the University of Pennsylvania Library. The membership was limited to the members of the Association of Business Library Directors. Today, most business FAQs are hosted on the Springshare's LibAnswers platform.
- Business Research FAQ, Stanford Business LibraryFrequently asked reference questions at Stanford Business Library
Listservs
- BUSLIB-LBUSLIB-L is a listserv where business librarians from special, academic, and public libraries of all sizes, corporate information professionals, information product and services vendors,and anybody else can ask business reference-related questions and share their expertise. Search online archives for background information.
- SLA ConnectMost division discussion lists from the Special Libraries Association are open to non-members. Business & Finance, Competitive Intelligence, Academic and other lists will be of interest to business librarians.
