Originally published in Reference and User Services Quarterly (RUSQ) Vol 57, No 2 (2017).
Each year, the Business Reference Sources Committee of BRASS selects the outstanding business reference sources published since May of the previous year. This year, the committee reviewed nine entries; of these, two were designated as “Outstanding,” six as “Notable,” and one as a “Notable New Edition.” To qualify for these designations, each title must meet the conventional definition of reference: a work compiled specifically to supply information on a certain subject or group of subjects in a form that will facilitate its ease of use. The works are examined for the following: authority and reputation of the publisher, author, or editor; accuracy; appropriate bibliography; organization; comprehensiveness; value of the content; currency; unique addition; ease of use for the intended purpose; quality and accuracy of index; and quality and usefulness of graphics and illustrations. Each year, more electronic reference titles are being published. Criteria for evaluating electronic reference titles include the following: accuracy of links, search features, stability of content, and graphic design. Selected works must also be suitable for medium and large academic and public libraries.
Outstanding
Finance for Normal People. By Meir Statman. New York: Oxford University Press, 2017. 488 p. $34.95 hardcover (ISBN: 978-0-190-62647-1). Contact the publisher for e-book price.
The International Business Archives Handbook: Understanding and Managing the Historical Records of Business. Edited by Alison Turton. New York: Routledge, 2017. 462 p. $225 hardcover (ISBN: 978-0-754-64663-1).
Notable
Research Handbook on Gender and Innovation. Edited by Gry Agnete Alsos, Ulla Hytti, and Elisabet Ljunggren. Cheltanham, UK; Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar, 2016. 304 p. $175 hardcover (ISBN: 978-1783478118).
The Big Book of Dashboards: Visualizing Your Data Using Real-World Business Scenarios. By Steve Wexler, Jeffrey Shaffer, and Andy Cotgreave. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2017. 432 p. $49.95 paperback (ISBN: 978-1-119-28271-6). $32.99 e-book (ISBN: 978-1-119-28308-9).
The Data Industry: The Business and Economics of Information and Big Data. By Chunlei Tang. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley, 2016. 216 p. $79.95 hardcover (ISBN: 978-1-119-13840-2).
Handbook on the Economics of the Internet. Edited by Johannes M. Bauer, and Michael Latzer. Cheltanham, UK; Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar, 2016. 608 p. $330 hardcover (ISBN: 978-0-85793-984-5).
The Routledge Companion to Business History. Edited by John F. Wilson, Steven Toms, Abe de Jong, and Emily Buchnea. Abingdon, UK; New York: Routledge, 2017. 394 p. $240 hardcover (ISBN: 9780415855563). $67.95 e-book (ISBN: 9780203736036).
The Startup Checklist: 25 Steps to a Scalable, High-Growth Business. By David S. Rose. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2016. 320 p. $32 (ISBN: 978-1-119-16379-4).
Notable New Edition
Richard K. Miller & Associates Market Research Handbooks. Loganville, GA: Richard K. Miller & Associates. $1,600 for a collection of six.
The BRASS Business Reference Sources Committee contributing members are: Benjamin Hall, selections editor; Jordan Nielsen, chair; Lauren Reiter, nominations coordinator; Adele Barsh, Holly Inglis; Felipe Castillo; Erin Wachowicz; and Greg Fleming.
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