Business Reference and Services Section names 2016 achievement award and grant winners

CHICAGO—The Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS) of RUSA has selected the winners of the 2016 achievement awards, research and travel grants which recognize the profession’s most exceptional librarians, libraries and projects involving business reference services today.

The BRASS Mergent Excellence in Business Librarianship Award winner is Jared Hoppenfeld, business librarian at Texas A&M University. Hoppenfeld is recognized for his lasting service on many BRASS committees, his outstanding published works on topics relevant to academic and public business librarians, including “Information-Seeking Behaviors of Business Faculty,” the most-downloaded article of 2014 in the Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship, and his continued support of business students, entrepreneurs and veterans. This award is sponsored by Mergent, Inc. and offers $4,000 to a librarian providing outstanding business reference services.

The Emerald Research Grant Award winner is Lisa O'Connor, associate professor, School of Library and Information Science, University of Kentucky, for her study, “Why Aren't Millennials Taking Stock?:  Assessing the Role of Information Literacy in Market Avoidance.” O’Connor will attempt to develop and test an instrument to measure behavioral intent, designing and testing instructional content and persuasive message campaigns, and measuring the impact of those interventions. The findings of this study will derive valuable information for business librarians to use in the design of their own financial literacy programs for millennials. This award is sponsored by Emerald Group Publishing and consists of one $5,000 grant awarded to an individual or team seeking funding support to conduct research in business librarianship.

The Global Financial Data Academic Business Librarianship Travel Award winner is Ruth D. Terry, business and government information librarian, assistant professor at the University of Alaska-Anchorage, for her promising work in the area of academic business librarianship. This award is sponsored by Global Financial Data, which consists of citation and $1,250, and is awarded to an individual new to the field of academic business librarianship in order to support travel and attendance to the ALA Annual Conference.

The Morningstar Public Librarian Support Award, winner is Susan Wolf Neilson, librarian, Wake County Public Libraries (N.C.). Neilson was selected for her support of the business community through public library programming, librarian training and working with community business organizations to make her library a great resource for business owners and entrepreneurs. This award is sponsored by Morningstar and offers $1,250 to a public librarian providing business reference services, to support travel and attendance to the ALA Annual Conference.

The BRASS SimplyMap Student Travel Award winner is Katherine Glasoe, student at the School of Library and Information Science, Simmons College for her potential to be very influential in the field of business librarianship and her impressive work and academic experience. Sponsored by SimplyMap, this award offers $1,250 to assist with travel and attendance to the ALA Annual Conference and a one year BRASS membership to a student in an accredited MLIS program.

The RUSA Achievement Awards Ceremony and Reception will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 26 at the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando. All conference attendees are invited to the event. Additional event details will be available on the conference website in April.

The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a Division of the American Library Association, represents librarians and library staff in the fields of reference, specialized reference, collection development, readers’ advisory and resource sharing. RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. Learn more about the association at www.ala.org/rusa.