In 2018, Ithaka S+R gathered representatives from 14 libraries to understand how undergraduate business instruction can be better supported. This is the first in a series of projects that will examine teaching practices (as opposed to research practices), in an effort to identify the range of support scholars need across their academic responsibilities. Investigating the teaching practices and concerns of business instructors has proven an illuminating first foray in this series. While, in some respects, students are students regardless of discipline, as business education developed over the past century, it also came to be distinguished by several unique practices and emphases that gave rise to unique needs, and hence, unique supports. (https://sr.ithaka.org/publications/teaching-business/)

This is a guide to sources on the research assignment for Econ 337, Economics of the Public Sector

Using established guidelines and criteria, a working group of the BRASS Business Reference Sources Committee voted to adopt these recent titles as either or noteworthy Following extensive discussion on the merits and shortcomings of each, three were voted for inclusion in the outstanding category. Seven additional works were selected as other noteworthy titles. Brief reviews are included. Many business reference sources were evaluated. This year's selections include interdisciplinary titles, significant new editions of standard works, and titles with an international focus. Selectors and reference librarians serving business users will find these sources to be valuable additions to their reference collections. All are suitable for public and academic libraries. OUTSTANDING TITLES The Encyclopedia of Taxation and Tax Policy, 2nd ed. Ed. by Joseph J. Cordes, Robert D. Ebel, and Jane G. Gravelle. Washington, D.C.: Urban Institute, 2005. 499p. alkaline, soft $75 (ISBN 0-87766-752-7). Public finance can be a difficult subject for students and citizens to comprehend, with its use of often-complicated economic theory and arcane jargon. Couple this difficulty with the impenetrability of governmental program design and tax law concepts, and it's quite easy for lay people to get lost in this topic. The second edition of this well-designed reference work provides a nice compass to help navigate the topic of tax policy. The volume editors are academically and vocationally well qualified in public finance; the writers of the individual entries are a mix of academics and public and private sector tax practitioners. The entries are well written and concise, and rang true with this reviewer's understanding of the subject area. The work effectively addresses the major topics in U.S. public finance and tax policy. Entries included address: * economic and public-finance principles and concepts (for example, ability to pay, benefit principle, tax incidence); * major tax types (income, sales, property); * key features of major taxes (charitable deductions, investment tax credits); * methods of tax and expenditure analysis (generational accounting, dynamic scoring); * budgeting processes and structures (Highway Trust Fund, Congressional Budget Office); and * tax administration issues (tribal taxation, state, tax amnesty) The book contains 235 entries arranged in a standard A-Z encyclopedia layout with an extensive 22-page index. The editors report that the work reflects extensive updating of the entries in the first edition plus 45 new items. Individual entries often include a short definition of the concept, followed by a one-quarter to several page treatment of the topic depending on its scope and complexity Many entries include extensive, authoritative bibliographies. The authors make effective use of tables and graphics as needed for illustrative purposes. Cross references to related entries are included. A WorldCat search yielded no comparable reference works on tax policy. While a key strength of the work is its clear presentation of often technical concepts to a lay or generalist audience, experts in the field will also find it useful as a refresher and referral source. This encyclopedia is suitable for all academic, selected special, and medium-to-large public libraries.--John P. Heintz, University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota Encyclopedia of White-Collar and Corporate Crime. Ed. by Lawrence M. Salinger. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage, 2005. 2 vols. acid free $325 (ISBN 0-7619-3004-3). This timely source fills a gap in the reference literature. There is nothing similar that combines criminal and unethical behavior in business, medicine, and politics, as well as the people involved in that behavior. The Encyclopedia employs a broad definition of these types of crimes. …

Statistical information is one of the most important forms of government publication. Librarians receive some training in how to locate and use government statistical information in reference or government documents classes, but the coverage is usually cursory and most librarians could use more education. This paper reviews the literature and available print and electronic statistical resources and outlines a course for librarians in government statistics, suggesting classroom or self-study instructional methods; identifying key information on search strategies, ready reference sources, and detailed topical statistical sources; and suggesting issues for librarians to be aware of in helping their patrons locate and use statistics.

Government information traditionally published in printed form is increasingly appearing on federal agency websites. This transition generally results in better access to information. However, these changes raise a variety of bibliographic control and access problems for the Federal Depository Library Program. This article provides an overview of these issues, examines responses to date, and provides the perspective of a government manager on some of the access issues, arguing that rather than fighting the changes librarians need to help the system evolve by embracing proactive solutions.