Making Sense of Business Reference: A Guide for Librarians and Research Professionals--eEditions e-book

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Item Number
7400-0849
Published
2013
Publisher
ALA Editions
Pages
200
Format
eBook
Samples

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  • Description
  • Table of Contents
  • About the author
  • Reviews

In times of recession, the library is more critical than ever for those who want to start a business and need to do research, and academic and public libraries are at the heart of a growing need to research business questions. An "accidental business reference librarian by trade," Ross explains how to provide quality reference help on issues from marketing to finance--for business people, students, and even business faculty. Honing in on fundamentals, this practical guide

  • Explains how to conduct the reference interview, with tips for helping clients help themselves
  • Identifies important business resources, both free and fee-based
  • Offers chapters devoted to industry and market information; small-business needs; international business research; investing and the stock market; and marketing and demographics

A detailed bibliography functions as both a standing reference for desk use as well as a collection development aid for building a core business collection. Including numerous illustrative case studies, Making Sense of Business Reference takes the guesswork out of doing business.


Preface
1 The Business Reference Question2 The Business Reference Resource (aka the Business Reference Database)3 Company Research4 Industry Research5 Company Finance6 Investment Research7 Consumer Research and Marketing/Advertising8 Business (and Other) Statistics9 International Business10 Small Business11 Other Handy Business Reference Resources and Tips12 Business Reference Wrap-Up
Appendix: StumpersIndex

Celia Ross

Celia Ross is senior associate librarian at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship. She has gained business research experience in a number of settings, including a venture capital firm, a global consulting firm, and a large public library. She is a past chair of RUSA’s Business Reference & Services Section (BRASS) and the recipient of the 2014 Excellence in Business Librarianship Award.

"An excellent refresher or primer, depending on one's background. It is highly recommended for frontline professionals in public and academic environments … this resource should be required reading for library and information science students. Those who read it will gain not only competence, but also confidence. "
--Public Libraries

"This is an excellent manual … It will be valuable for business researchers in any field and librarians in every type of library."
--CHOICE

"Scoped with just the right amount, and type, of practical guidance to help new business librarians to quickly develop a working knowledge base in this specialty area … it reads as if you have an expert coach in business reference helping you each step of the way. "
--Academic BRASS

"Even the most experienced business librarian will appreciate and benefit from the strategies and tips found in this work. This book is also useful no matter the type of library, and librarians in public libraries and academic libraries will find the advice useful and to the point."
--Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship

"A practical, hands-on guide to business reference for readers who function as librarians, professionals, and researchers … will make an excellent addition to any business collection, reference collection, or business/finance collection at an academic library (community college or four-year college/university) and public library."
--Reference Reviews

"The book begins with an excellent chapter on techniques for conducting business reference interviews. It should be mandatory reading for everyone starting out in the field and is a useful review for everyone else … I highly recommend this book to academic and public librarians who regularly work with business-related questions."
--Public Services Quarterly

"As a practicing business librarian, I found all resources mentioned to be extremely relevant. (Many of them I use regularly.) … This book provides web addresses, database names, research strategies, tips and ideas that any librarian will find relevant and useful. I highly recommend it for any librarian, business or otherwise."
--Australian Library Journal