BRASS Notes
by
Elizabeth Malafi, Editor
From the BRASS Chair
Business has been hopping since the last update! BRASS has hosted a series of virtual discussions this fall as well as a virtual publishers forum on Advertising and Marketing Resources which included Kantar Media, SRDS, AdSpender, and the Kilts Center for Marketing at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (which distributes Nielsen datasets). BRASS also hosted a cocktail hour at the Charleston Conference November 6th at Victor Social Club. BRASS Business Reference in Academic Libraries is hosting an online symposium on December 17th.
The BRASS Executive Committee has approved a name change for the “Business Reference Sources” Committee to “Business Information Sources” Committee to reflect a focus on the greater business information landscape. BRASS have also adopted a new “Best Practices for BRASS Presenters in Regard to Accessibility”, to be released soon on the BRASS-L listserv and in ALA Connect. BRASS executive voted to approve it for use in the handbook in the tips section and for use across the organization. Chairs, please review this document before BRASS discussions and meetings. Thank you, Halley Todd, for your work on this important issue.
On BRASS Executive Committee, work continues on revising the BRASS handbook. I have also had a meeting with the RUSA president and executive director concerning the Future of BRASS taskforce, which was very productive.
BRASS “leans out” of ALA Midwinter but we do have BRASS Discussion Group at ALA Midwinter 2020 in Philadelphia to which you are all invited. Time and location TBD. Chairs of BRASS committees – look out for a doodle poll for the planning of our second online meeting of
the year of the BRASS Leadership Council (formerly referred to as the BRASS executive board).
Will we see you in Chicago this summer? Plans are shaping for ALA Annual 2020. BRASS is sponsoring an all-day Friday preconference “Let’s Get Down to Business: Using Business Research Competencies and the ACRL Framework to Redesign Business Information Literacy Instruction”. Thank you BRASS, Education Committee, for your work on this proposal. Look out for calls for participation involving the preconference.
BRASS has also been approved for its 2020 program: “Follow the money: Help watchdogs, whistleblowers, and our communities find and understand financial trails and organizational relationships”. This program will be cosponsored by the Government Documents Round Table (GODORT) and ACRL Politics, Policy and International Relations Section (PPIRS). Thank you BRASS, Program Planning Committee, for your work on this program.
Last, but certainly not least, the call has gone out for BRASS awards. One of the greatest gifts we can give each other is appreciation. Please consider nominating yourself or a colleague:
BRASS Excellence in Business Librarianship Award sponsored by Mergent by FTSE Russell.
$4,000 and a citation to a librarian that has distinguished themselves in the field of Business Librarianship
BRASS Public Librarian Support Award sponsored by Morningstar
$1,250 in travel funds for a public librarian who has performed outstanding business reference service, and who requires financial assistance,to attend the ALA Annual Conference
BRASS Student Travel Award sponsored by SimplyAnalytics
$1,250 monetary prize is given to a student enrolled in an ALA accredited master’s degree program to fund travel to and attendance at the ALA Annual Conference and a one-year membership in the Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS) of RUSA
BRASS Emerald Research Grant Award sponsored by Emerald Publishing
$5,000 awarded to an individual or team seeking support to conduct research in business librarianship.
Academic Business Librarianship Travel Award sponsored by Global Financial Data.
$1,250 and a citation and to an individual new to the field of academic business librarianship in order to support attendance to the ALA Annual Conference
Ilana Stonebraker
BRASS Chair 2019-2020