Making Sense of Business Reference: A Guide for Librarians and Research Professionals

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.

Celia Ross has worked in business reference in a variety of settings, from a small venture capital firm to a global consulting firm and in public and academic libraries. Along the way, she learned many of the skills and techniques she describes in this book. She is past chair of the Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS) of ALA's Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) and teaches an online course through RUSA on business librarianship. She has presented at conferences and written journal articles and book chapters on business reference. Currently she is a librarian at the University of Michigan's Kresge Business Administration Library.