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For an overview of BRASS activities, view the BRASS brochure!

Congratulations to  Celia Ross, our new BRASS Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect and Susan Neilson, BRASS Member-at-large – and thank you to all who were willing to run. Link to full RUSA election results.

Message from the Chair

BRASS is looking forward to another successful conference in Anaheim and to celebrating its 20^th Anniversary as a RUSA section!

Most of us will begin with:
        BRASS New Members Reception on Friday, June 27, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria (1550 Disneyland Dr., Anaheim).  Sponsored by Morningstar, this 3^rd annual event gives BRASS members a chance to meet members, network, and relax before the conference.  

During the conference, major BRASS events include:

• Friday, June 27, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m - "Business Librarianship 101: Core Competencies for Business Librarians," Pre-conference at Hyatt Regency Orange County, Royal A/B

• Saturday, June 28, – BRASS Forum: "Academic Outreach 2.0—for Business!" Anaheim Convention Center, 203 A

• Sunday, June 29, 10:30 am– 12 noon – BRASS Discussion Group starting off with “Library 2.0, Business Reference, and the Tech Savvy Generation.” Anaheim Convention Center, 210 A-C

• Monday, June 30, 8:30 - 11:30 am – BRASS Breakfast at 8 am, sponsored by Standard & Poor’s, and Program: "Bull's-Eye! Targeting the Right Consumer with Market Research,” Hyatt Regency Orange County, Royal E/F

• Monday, June 30, 4 – 6 pm - RUSA Awards Ceremony and Reception, including BRASS award winners.  Disneyland Hotel, Disneyland South Ballroom

        On Monday evening, 7:00-10:00 PM, join past and present members of BRASS while we celebrate our 20th Anniversary as a section with the theme, “BRASS@20: Celebrating the Business of Business Librarianship.” Come to the Anaheim White House Restaurant (887 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim) for the festivities, sponsored by Standard & Poor’s and Gale Directory Service. Contact Bobray Bordelon for further information, and please send any photos, posters, memorabilia, etc., for displays to Michael Oppenheim.

The conference concludes for BRASS with the Executive Committee Meeting on Tuesday morning, 8:00 AM. All committee chairs of both regular and virtual committees should attend. 

Thanks to all of the current committee members, committee chairs, support position volunteers, and Exec members for their excellent work for BRASS over the past year. 

Judith Faust
BRASS Chair, 2007-2008

Annual Conference Events

The schedule of BRASS meetings and events at the 2008 Annual Conference is now available, complete with room locations.

Business Librarianship 101 Pre-conference
Business Librarianship 101: Core Competencies for Business Librarians Friday, June 27, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM. Hyatt Regency Orange County, Royal A/B

Business Reference and Services Section, Reference and User Services Association, of the American Libraries Association invites you to attend a pre-conference workshop at the ALA Annual Conference, Anaheim, California.

This full-day interactive educational workshop is designed for beginning business librarians, generalists who have assumed responsibility as business librarians, or any academic, public, or special librarian interested in the field of business reference. Speakers: Mark Andersen, Division Chief, Business, Science & Technology Division, Chicago Public Lib; Bobray Bordelon, Pliny Fisk Librarian of Economics and Finance, Princeton University Tickets: Advance: ALA Member: $95; Non- Member: $140; Student/Retired Member: $57. Onsite: ALA Member: $135; Non-Member: $170; Student/Retired Member: $97. Event Code: RU1

BRASS Reception
Friday June 27, 2008; 5:30-7:30 PM , Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria, 1550 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, CA 92802

BRASS would like to take this opportunity to welcome all new members to a casual-dress reception this summer in Anaheim, CA at Naples Ristorante E Pizzeria located in Downtown Disney, approximately one mile from the Anaheim Convention Center (see walking map at http://tinyurl.com/3zghdt).  There will be delicious food and beverages for your enjoyment, with Morningstar generously sponsoring this event for BRASS. If you joined in the last year or if you joined prior to that and still feel like a new member, then this reception is for you. This is a great opportunity to meet other BRASS members, enjoy good food and start to get plugged into the world of business librarianship. We look forward to meeting you and getting to know you better.

BRASS Forum: “Academic Outreach 2.0: for Business!”
Saturday, June 28, 1:30– 2:30 pm, Anaheim Convention Center, 203 A

Several librarian panelists will present their experiences with successful Library 2.0 Outreach Projects: Andy Spackman and Leticia Camacho of Brigham Young University will present on 2.0 outreach from different vantage points in their university, and Laurie Bridges of Oregon State University will speak on using Meebo and Del.ico.us for outreach at OSU. Please join us for this Business Reference in Academic Libraries presentation – we think you’ll find it stimulating.  Business Reference in Academic Libraries and Business Reference in Public Libraries committee meetings will follow the Forum in the same location.

BRASS Discussion Group on Library 2.0, Business Reference, and the Tech Savvy Generation
Sunday, June 29, 2008, 10:30 AM.-12:00 PM. Anaheim Convention Center, 210 A-C

Please join the BRASS Discussion Group at ALA Annual in Anaheim for a lively discussion of business reference issues in academic and public libraries. At Annual, our discussion will first focus on Library 2.0, then open to other topics from the floor. This is a great opportunity to network with fellow business librarians and discuss topics of interest. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

The BRASS 2008 Conference Program: Bull’s-Eye! Targeting the Right Consumer with Market Research
Monday June 30, 2008, 8:30-11:30 AM. Hyatt Regency Orange County, Royal E/F

The Program will feature a panel presenting information and answering questions about target marketing. The discussion will include background on niche marketing and customer segmentation; a snapshot of the U.S. manga market and grassroots efforts for reaching customers; and information on demographic, geographic and lifestyle reference sources. Panelists: Wendy Diamond, Business Librarian and Head of Reference, California State University - Chico; Jack Kyser, Director, Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation; Marco Pavia, Director of Marketing, Tokyo Pop; Jeremy Ross, Director of New Product Development, Tokyo Pop; and Dr. Stevina Evuleocha, Associate Professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, CSU East Bay.

BRASS 20th Anniversary: BRASS@20: Celebrating the Business of Business Librarianship
Monday, June 30, from 7:00-10:00 PM.

Join in the festivities as BRASS celebrates its 20th anniversary as a section at the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim with the theme “BRASS@20: Celebrating the Business of Business Librarianship.”  Catch up with old friends and make new ones at the Anaheim White House Restaurant (887 S. Anaheim Blvd. Anaheim, CA 92805) on Monday June 30, from 7-10 pm.  The party features a buffet dinner and is being sponsored by Gale Directory Service and Standard & Poor’s. Many fun activities are being planned. Send your favorite pictures and memorabilia to Michael Oppenheim who can be reached at moppenhe@library.ucla.edu.

Awards

Gale Cengage Learning Award for Excellence in Business Librarianship
Gary White is this year’s recipient of the Gale Cengage Learning Award for Excellence in Business Librarianship. The Gale Cengage Learning Award for Excellence in Business Librarianship is a citation and $3000.00 cash award to an individual who has made a significant contribution to business librarianship. Contributions may include: authoring seminal publications, development of innovative programs, outstanding teaching of business librarianship, or strong leadership in professional associations.

Gary White is a business librarian par excellence. He is a practitioner, educator and leader. He has published extensively in this field and has presented at numerous professional meetings and conferences. White’s publications and presentations have enabled many information professionals to navigate the world of business information more efficiently and effectively. He is a leader in the field of business librarianship, most notably as the Chair of BRASS and now as a Director-At-Large for RUSA. BRASS is pleased to recognize Gary White for his extensive contributions and leadership in the field of business librarianship

Dun & Bradstreet Public Librarian Support Award
Elizabeth Malafi, Business Librarian at the Miller Business Resource Center of the Middle Country Public Library, is the winner of the 2008 D & B Public Librarian Support Award. This is a $1,000 travel award given in recognition of outstanding service to the library profession and the business community. Malafi has built a strong relationship between the regional business community and the Miller Business Resource Center by demonstrating her excellence in providing reference service and her creative and dynamic attempts at successful programming and outreach. Her work has made the library a very visible, valuable and respected business resource in the Mid-Suffolk County, Long Island, New York community.

Dun & Bradstreet Outstanding Service to Minority Business Communities Award
Ka-Neng Au, business librarian, John Cotton Dana Library, Rutgers University, Newark (N.J.), is the 2008 recipient of the Dun & Bradstreet Award for Outstanding Service to Minority Business Communities. The award is sponsored by Dun & Bradstreet and presented by the Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS) of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA The award, $2,000 and a citation, is given to a librarian or library that has created an innovative service for a minority business community or has been recognized by that community as an outstanding service provider. Minority business is defined as Hispanics, African Americans, Asians, Native Americans or people from the Indian subcontinent, as classified by the U.S. Government for minority-owned businesses.

“Au goes beyond his traditional responsibilities as a business reference librarian at Rutgers University to help the Rutgers-Newark Small Business Development Center (http://rnsbdc.newark.rutgers.edu/) develop and teach classes to small business owners—a vast majority of which are minority owners" said Susan Wolf Neilson, award committee chair.

“I am very honored to be selected for this award," stated Ka-Neng Au. "The award also honors the long-standing relationship between the John Cotton Dana Library and the Rutgers-Newark Small Business Development Center.”


Gale Cengage Learning Student Travel Award
Daniel Hickey, Graduate Student at School of Information Science at the University of Pittsburgh is the recipient of the Gale Cengage Learning Student Travel Award. This is a $1,000 cash award given to a student enrolled in an ALA accredited master’s degree program who has demonstrated an interest in a career as a business reference librarian. The award enables the student to attend the ALA Annual Conference and a one-year membership in the Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS) of RUSA.

Hickey’s references point to an impressive list of accomplishments as a first semester library school student, such as being selected for a competitive joint internship with the Hillman Reference Department and the Business Library and the student government position as the Faculty Liaison for the school’s graduate organization, SISGO where Hickey serves as a voting member of the School of Information Science’s Council tasked with representing the student body’s interests. In addition, Hickey’s application clearly showed his enthusiasm and commitment to Business Librarianship as a career choice and promise for becoming an active member in BRASS.

Upon being notified of the award, Hickey said, “It is both a pleasure and honor to be selected as the recipient of the Gale Cengage Learning Student Travel Award. At the 2008 annual conference, in addition to the sunny climes, I look forward to participating in the vibrant dialog facilitated by the ALA. I would like to thank the BRASS selection committee for this exceptional opportunity, as well as Dr. Sherry Koshman, Elizabeth Mahoney, and Eve Wider for their energetic support!”


BRASS Emerald Research Grants
Two $5,000 cash awards donated by Emerald Group Publishing have gone to three librarians to support research in business librarianship. Amy Van Scoy and Hyun-Duck Chung of North Carolina State University in Raleigh will perform research on virtual reference transcripts. Eleonora Dubicki of Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey, will look at the research needs of business students.

This is the second year that Emerald Group Publishing Limited has donated two $5,000 cash awards to ALA members seeking support for conducting research in business librarianship.

Eleonora Dubicki, assistant librarian, Monmouth Univesity Library, Monmouth University, West Long Branch (N.J.) will receive one of the 2008 Emerald Research Grant Awards, administered by the Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS), a section of the Reference and Users Services Association (RUSA).  Dubicki’s  study will look at the research needs of business students.  An assessment of the importance and value placed on print resources, library research databases and World Wide Web resources will be performed.  The information-seeking behaviors of business students related to these resources will be examined, as well as satisfaction with available resources.

“Eleonora Dubicki’s was one of many proposals attempting to capture research behavior patterns of business students,” said Jennifer Boettcher, BRASS Development Committee chair.  “Her research will assist all business librarians in assessing their collections and services to better meet the needs of business students.”

“I am really excited about this project, and the award will provide me with the funding to do a first class research project,” said Dubicki.  “I also look forward to presenting and publishing my research.”

Hyun-Duck Chung, librarian, and Amy Van Scoy, assistant head of Reference, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, are co-recipients of the second 2008 Emerald Research Grant award. They are doing research on virtual reference transcripts.  Virtual reference transcripts contain a wealth of data that librarians can use to better understand the needs of their patrons, how their library’s resources are used and how reference staff are responding to patrons’ needs.  Subject-specific questions, especially business reference questions, can be challenging and offer insight into the use of expensive resources and students assignments.

“Chung and Van Scoy are looking at ways to support business librarians by assessing chat transcripts as training tools,” said Jennifer Boettcher, BRASS Development Committee chair.  “Their work will give the profession a fresh view on how to use ubiquitous chat transcripts that fill our desktops in public and academic libraries.”

 

Volunteers Wanted!

As ever, BRASS welcomes new members, not only with the Friday night reception, but as active participants, to work with us on committees or in support positions. To volunteer for a committee in the upcoming year, whether as a virtual or regular member, please contact Rita Moss, Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect of BRASS, by using the BRASS committee volunteer form.