 | 27th March 2008
No.249 |
About FreePintFreePint is a global network of people who find, use, manage and share work-related information. Members receive this free twice-monthly newsletter, packed with tips, features and resources. Joining FreePint is free at <http://www.freepint.com/> and connects information practitioners around the world with resources, events and answers to their tricky research and information questions at the FreePint Bar, our free online forum: <http://www.freepint.com/bar/>. Please share FreePint with others by forwarding this message. The FreePint Newsletter is available online in several formats and can be read, saved and forwarded at <http://www.freepint.com/issues/ >. |
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| EditorialBy William Hann and Robin Neidorf  One of the most exciting reasons for being in the information industry is that our core skills never go out of style. If anything, they become more valuable as information proliferates and grows ever-more critical to business success.
Not that long ago, sceptics argued that the advent of Google and new technologies like RSS would make information professionals obsolete. Tell that to the authors of our latest FUMSI articles.  First, Martin Belam explains the ins and outs of RSS -- not the technology or mechanics of it, but the nitty-gritty of managing yet another information stream on a desktop already close to bursting with resources. He provides practical tips for managing the technology, relying on basic information skills of sorting, organising, selecting and even deleting information. Even if you think you are already an RSS master, Martin's approach will enhance your use of this technology.
 Mary Ellen Bates is among the best known information consultants on the planet, and we are delighted to feature her work again. Her article on search engines provides a useful introduction to several alternatives to Google. As information practitioners have known for years, the real skill in research isn't searching but knowing where and how to search. Anyone can enter keywords into Google, but precise results require expert knowledge of the full range of resources. Mary Ellen is one of the best guides to those resources.
For those who have budget to pay for some or all of their information needs, the March issue of VIP, highlighted below, includes a comparative review of MarketResearch.com and Research and Markets -- both pay-per-report vendors of market research -- as well as an update on market research services covered in previous months. Again, it's the expert knowledge that makes a difference: Who knows which service will provide the best access to the right information at the right price? The information champion, that's who. If you are as excited by these opportunities for our skills as we are, let us know. Share your thoughts at the FreePint Bar about your latest information obsessions, interests and emerging skills. Ask questions about how you can apply traditional skills and credentials to new opportunities (don't forget to take a look at Rachel Singer Gordon's article on alternative careers for additional ideas). Tell us about a project success by contributing
an article to FUMSI, and spread the word to other practitioners around the world. Obsolete? Not a chance. Everyone is trying to figure out how to find, use, manage and share information more effectively to gain competitive advantage in business. With every new technology and innovation, our skills become more valuable, not less. Dance moves and fashions may come and go, but fancy footwork with information never goes out of style. William Hann, Publisher
Robin Neidorf, General Manager
Free Pint Limited
FreePint is a Registered Trademark of Free Pint Limited (R) 1997-2008 
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Everybody FUMSI! < http://www.fumsi.com/> Free Pint Limited's newest offering
However you Find, Use, Manage or Share Information, FUMSI can help: - Searchable article database of tips and features
- Access information by practice area
- Share, print or re-use articles easily with online interface
Now online: FUMSI Magazine Issues 1 and 2: <http://web.fumsi.com/go/magazine/ > Look out for Issue 3 where we examine alternative search engines, new career paths for information pros, RSS feed management and Web 2.0 content for intranets. |
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Economic Forecasts and Chinese Company Information
in VIP <http://web.vivavip.com/go/vip/ > Searching for information on financial services indicators and forecasts? VIP's February issue analyses and reviews what's on offer ... Plus an in-depth focus on QIN: researching and analysing Chinese companies. Order your copy today (GBP 54), or start your subscription now:
<http://www.vivavip.com/order/>
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| My Favourite TipplesBy
Sara Waddington  I tend to look for websites, or web tools, that can principally save me time. Here are a few free web tools and websites which help to do just that.
- DropSend is a free desktop tool that allows you to send or backup entire folders directly from your desktop. Folders or files can be dragged or dropped in. DropSend allows you to send files of up to 1GB and is suitable for sending jpegs, pdfs, MP3s etc. and the basic plan is free. Files can also be stored online.
- The WordReference
Dictionaries are free online translation dictionaries. WordReference also runs language forums where, if you have a question about language usage, you can first search thousands of previous questions. The website also features a number of tools that allow people easier access to the dictionaries. These include the WordReference Toolbar for Internet Explorer, as well as plug-ins and modules for Firefox and Google.
- EditGrid is an online spreadsheet which works solely in a web browser and is suitable for spreadsheets on the web that are shared, collaborated or published, It is free for personal users and 30-day free trials are offered for a premium subscription license.
- If you wish to purchase a book online, Bookbrain allows you to look for books by title, author, publisher or ISBN. It lists all possible suppliers, price and delivery charges. It will show a list of all the bookshops which stock the book along with prices, stock information, availability and delivery charges.
- Scoot is a comprehensive business and service directory, offering a fast and easy way to find information on over two million goods and services. If you wish to find local services (cinemas, plumbers, banks etc.) within the UK, it can save a lot of time.
Sara Waddington is senior managing editor for Free Pint Limited. Back to top ^ |
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Regional Research Series: Jump-Start Your Project
with an Insider's View < http://web.fumsi.com/go/report/find/> FUMSI Regional Research Reports will help research projects get off to the right start, by highlighting quality sources -- free and paid -- for research in key regions. Now available: European Union and Middle East/North
Africa. Coming soon: Asia Pacific and Latin America Read more and purchase online. 50% discount for FUMSI subscribers. |
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Mars and Venus for Information Professionals Are your stakeholders hearing the message you intended to send? Dow Jones webcast on 8th April, 2008 at 4.00-5.00pm GMT Presenters are Ulla de Stricker of de Stricker Associates and Barbie Kaiser, President of Barbie E. Kaiser Inc. Register for the webcast now http://digbig.com/4wpte |
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| FreePint BarBy
Monique Cuvelier < http://www.freepint.com/bar> The FreePint Bar is generously sponsored by Dow Jones Factiva  The FreePint Bar <http://freepint.com/bar/> is full of chatter about music, historic share prices and blogs. Read on for highlights, and then join the conversation.
- While thousands are trying to figure out how to get more people to read their blogs, one FreePint Bar member is trying to understand how to lock his down. It's an interesting idea: he and his company are looking to start an internal blog to track communications and meetings with customers, peers and potential clients. His concern is security. If you have an internal blog, how are you securing it? <http://www.freepint.com/go/b266200 >
- Accessibility and usability are always on FreePint's mind (check out this double-header from an earlier issue < http://www.freepint.com/issues/240806.htm>, and a quick search on 'usability' in the FUMSI database pulls up a number of tips and feature articles < http://digbig.com/4wpwa>), so we were interested in seeing some discussion about how to format distributed search interfaces < http://www.freepint.com/go/b235432>. Lend your ideas; we'll be watching this conversation.
- People named Michelle probably hear 'ma belle' in their sleep and Rhondas are probably often beseeched to 'help, help me', thanks to catchy lyrics. But what's out there for the rest of us? A Bar member has an interesting idea to create a name-lyric matching service, which has sparked a lively discussion <http://www.freepint.com/go/b270126 >. (NB: This writer hopes to find more flattering lyrics than Ween's "Monique the Freak" < http://www.mp3lyrics.org/w/ween/monique/>.)
- If you were to map a large set of company names and child company names onto the standard list of SIC codes, how would you go about it? One FreePinter is wondering if there are companies that perform this service. Ideas? < http://www.freepint.com/go/b268917>
- Share prices have been yo-yoing in the past few months, so a free and easy-to-us website that stores 20-year history of share prices could be useful, as one poster states <http://www.freepint.com/go/b269484 >. One possibility is <http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/>, frequently cited. Find out others in the discussion.
Sign up for the twice-weekly Bar Digest at < http://www.freepint.com/subs/>.
Monique Cuvelier has been the editor of the FreePint Newsletter and now serves as the contributing editor for FUMSI's Share practice area. She has edited, launched and written for many magazines, newspapers and websites in the US and UK. Learn more about her at < http://www.onopoly.com/support/team/>.
The FreePint Bar is where you can get free help with your tricky research questions <http://www.freepint.com/bar> Help with study for information-related courses is available at the FreePint Student Bar <http://www.freepint.com/student >. Subscribe to the twice-weekly email digests at <http://www.freepint.com/subs/ >. Back to top ^ |
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| | | | FUMSI FeaturesFUMSI publishes articles, tools, and a monthly magazine, to give you practical help with information skills. Visit http://www.fumsi.com/ However you Find, Use, Manage or Share Information, you'll find something in FUMSI to help. We add new articles to the FUMSI database in each practice area every month. Here are the most recent additions: "RSS Feeds: Managing the
Mechanism"
FUMSI: Manage RSS feeds can be an efficient way to monitor meaningful news on the web, but it's all too easy to get swamped. Martin Belam offers practical tips for managing RSS feeds to help users to get the most of these useful tools without feeling overwhelmed. WHAT'S INSIDE: If one of the stories you've erased was huge news, the chances are that people will still be talking about it a week later anyway. By giving yourself a clean slate you'll most likely only miss a few interesting teacup storms, rather than any big developments. Read, print, save or forward this article now » "Life Beyond Google: Some of the Best of the Rest"
FUMSI: Find Google search is the acknowledged search engine leader, but that doesn't mean that other search engines are obsolete. Mary Ellen Bates provides an overview of alternative search engines featuring metasearch and data visualization for more powerful search results than possible with Google alone. WHAT'S INSIDE: They may not have Google's range of products and services but, after all, how many free unlimited-storage email services do you need? Read, print, save or forward this article now » The FUMSI Magazine has been published!
Check out
the features: - Commentary by our four contributing editors
- FUMSI Focus -- hand-picked selections of web-based resources to help you with your work
- The latest feature articles in each practice area, plus jobs and events by practice area
Download
now » Back to top ^ |
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| Jinfo - Jobs in Information The Jinfo service enables you to search and advertise information- related job vacancies.
The Jinfo Newsletter now features CV Makeovers, in which a job seeker's CV is critiqued and revised by specialists in the field as well as career tips for all experience levels. Read the latest edition and subscribe free at <http://www.jinfo.com/newsletter/ >. Jinfo Jobs in the FreePint Newsletter are supported through our partnership with Quantum2, an innovative skills development programme offered by Thomson Scientific. Learn more at < http://scientific.thomson.com/quantum2/> Here is a selection of the latest featured entries in the Jinfo database: - Web Development Executive
The post holder will play an integral role in the continued development and day to day maintenance of the website.
Recruiter: TFPL
Country: United Kingdom
< http://www.jinfo.com/go/j8673>
- Business Researcher
Our client, a leading consultancy based in Oxford are looking to appoint a full time Business Researcher.
Recruiter: Weekes Gray Recruitment
Country: United Kingdom
< http://www.jinfo.com/go/j8716>
- Quality Standards and Procedures Officer
Use your Excel skills to extract information from this outer-London Borough's LMS and present information to managers.
Recruiter: Sue Hill Recruitment and Services Limited
Country: United Kingdom
< http://www.jinfo.com/go/j8717>
- Senior Researcher - Comp. Intelligence
West London - to deal with in-depth competitive intelligence research projects. Second language helpful.
Recruiter: Glen Recruitment
Country: United Kingdom
<http://www.jinfo.com/go/j8723 >
[The above jobs are paid listings] NB: These are just a selection of information-related jobs in the Jinfo database < http://www.jinfo.com/>. Receive the latest job listings weekly with the free Jinfo Update. Free to subscribe at <http://www.jinfo.com/>
Subscribe to the free Weekly update of the latest jobs, plus the monthly newsletter with career tips:
<http://www.jinfo.com/subs/>
Jinfo -- the best place for information-related job vacancies. - JOB SEARCHING?
-- Free search and sign up to the Jinfo Newsletter
- RECRUITING?
-- Complete the form and advertise a vacancy for just GBP195 < http://www.jinfo.com/recruit/>
-- 10% discount for agencies
-- 50% discount for registered charities
Find out more today at <http://www.jinfo.com/> Back to top ^ |
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| Develop Your Strengths with Quantum2  For a wide array of hands-on training and resource materials, turn to Quantum2, an innovative skills development programme provided *free* by Thomson Scientific. The programme helps information professionals: - Expand your services through strategic and business competencies
- Improve flow of information in your organisation
- Gain visibility and build value for your work
Discover best practices, *plus* the know-how to implement them.
Free monthly newsletter and further information at:
< http://scientific.thomson.com/
quantum2/> |
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*** Adding staff this year? Recruit on Jinfo!
*** < http://www.jinfo.com/> A cost-effective listing on Jinfo reaches active and passive candidates with the skills you need. Include a FUMSI category, and your vacancy will also be included on the FUMSI website and FUMSI Magazine for even broader reach! Get started today: <http://www.jinfo.com/recruit/ >
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| Recently in VIP
VIP publishes in-depth, unbiased reviews of business information products. If you purchase or use premium information resources, make VIP part of your professional reading every month.  Featured in the *NEW* March issue:
- Pay-as-you-go market researcher vendors compared
- An update on market research vendors reviewed in the past two years -- what's new from Profound, Euromonitor, Snapshots, Business Insights and Verdict Research.
For further information or to purchase a copy, please visit: http://web.vivavip.com/go/vip/ NEW: Now publishing the VIP LiveWire
Commentary on the industry, by the VIP editorial team. Get their insight on trends, products, user needs and more. Recent posts: Request a sample issue of VIP, or start a trial subscription today for only GBP 70 for three months. Trial offer is not available through the Web site; email support@vivaVIP.com for details. Back to top ^ |
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| Highlights from ResourceShelf and DocuTicker Every week, the editors of ResourceShelf explore a Resource of the Week. Get them for free every week via email by subscribing to the ResourceShelf
Newsletter.
Recently published:
Resource of the Week: Quick Guide to Military Information I've just completed a major update of a resource I've been maintaining for several years. Though it is not a glitzy resource by any stretch of the imagination, I thought it would also be helpful to share this Quick Guide to Military Information as a Resource of the Week. Unless you work with military information on a regular basis, it is can often be frustrating to find what you need. Full posting with live links: http://digbig.com/4wqcb 
DocuTicker publishes citations of full-text, free reports available on the web. Visit daily for new postings, or subscribe to the weekly DocuTicker
Newsletter.
Highlights: - Intellectual property, its uses and misuses, are always fodder for interesting studies. Check out our collection of reports at < http://www.docuticker.com/?cat=92>
- Is your energy green and carbon-neutral? Our 'energy' category offers a range of interesting reports on this complex industry: < http://www.docuticker.com/?cat=19>
- In the US, 'March Madness' has kicked off, creating celebrations amongst basketball fans. DocuTicker's collection on professional sports provides insight on the ins and outs of sport: <http://www.docuticker.com/?cat=49 >
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| EventsIt is free to search and advertise information-related gatherings in FreePint Events <http://www.freepint.com/events/ >. Premium listings These events are hosted by our partner organisations and/or advertisers: - "The Library + information Show"
23 - 24 April 2008
Now in its 19th year, the Library + information Show (LiS) is the event where the library and information community comes together.
Now the challenge is to evaluate technologies in light of their actual benefits to your organisation. And Internet Librarian International does just that.
OrganizerInformation Today Ltd.
Location: Birmingham
<http://www.freepint.com/go/e1228 >
- "Search Engine Meeting"
28 - 29 April 2008
This annual meeting, now in its 13th year, provides a forum and point- of-reference for all those interested in the domain of Search and Retrieval. The Meeting draws together those with a professional interest in search engines - such as search engine designers and developers - and those interested in applying search engines in their own professional environments. Search is at the heart of information retrieval; and the Search Engine Meeting provides an annual point of reference as to what is happening in this fast-moving and exciting field.
Organised by infonortics
Location: Boston, MA, USA
<http://www.freepint.com/go/e989 >
- "Managing Up: Partnering with Stakeholders to Achieve
Result"
15th May 2008
*Webinar*
This workshop focuses on techniques for building the credibility and relationships necessary to inspire productive change. It offers tips on communicating effectively with anyone who might affect the success of your work projects, by identifying and working with specific influencing or relationship building tactics and styles. In short, we look at how we "manage up" to achieve the results that we want for our service.
Organised by:Thomson Scientific
Location: London
Country:United Kingdom
<http://www.freepint.com/go/e1017 >
Free listings  United Kingdom:
 United States:
 Australia and Territories:
*** Submit your event for free promotion ***
New upgrade option for enhanced listing coverage <http://www.freepint.com/events/ >
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| Gold A look back at what FreePint covered at this time in previous years: - FreePint No. 226, 22nd March 2007. "Finding Facts: The European Union after 50 Years" and "Moving Up: Vertical Search Proliferates" < http://www.freepint.com/issues/220307.htm>
- FreePint No. 202, 16th March 2006. "Save yourself! Free resources for organising, maintaining and sharing the fruits of your web searches" and "Characterising the dragon - undertaking research in China" < http://www.freepint.com/issues/160306.htm>
- FreePint No. 179, 24th March 2005. "New Librarians and Open Positions: Bringing the Two Together" and "Key issues in complying with Freedom of Information legislation" < http://www.freepint.com/issues/240305.htm>
- FreePint No. 156, 18th March 2004. "Information Sources For Childcare On The Web" and "Curious about Clio? History and Historians on the Web" < http://www.freepint.com/issues/180304.htm>
- FreePint No. 133, 20th March 2003. "Military History on the Internet" and "Librarians & Comics" < http://www.freepint.com/issues/200303.htm>
- FreePint No. 108, 21st March 2002. "An introduction to the Netherlands on the web" and "Evolution or revolution: the future of scholarly publishing" < http://www.freepint.com/issues/210302.htm>
- FreePint No. 83, 29th March 2001. "In the Footsteps of Miss Marple - Female Detective Fiction Online" and "Quest for Liberty: History of the United States of America" < http://www.freepint.com/issues/290301.htm >
- FreePint No. 58, 30th March 2000. "Virtual Visits: Links to museums and the like on the WWW" and "Internet Development in the Middle East" < http://www.freepint.com/issues/300300.htm>
- FreePint No. 34, 18th March 1999. "Pharmaceutical/ health information on the Web" and "Who goes there...? - Access Control Issues for Internet-based information services" < http://www.freepint.com/issues/180399.htm>
- FreePint No. 10, 19th March 1998. "Working the Net" and "Business and Accounting Resources on the Web" < http://www.freepint.com/issues/190398.htm>
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| ForthcomingFORTHCOMING ARTICLES
[Provisional] - Legal Research
- Finding Government Information
- Using information effectively for a developing business
- Identity theft
- How to become an environmentally friendly organisation
- Due diligence research
If you have a suggestion for an article topic, or would like to write, then please contact FreePint's Editor Sara Waddington at sara.waddington@freepint.com or read the notes for authors at < http://www.onopoly.com/author/> Back to top ^ |
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| Contact InformationAddress: Free Pint Limited 4-6 Station Approach Ashford, Middlesex TW15 2QN, United Kingdom Telephone: UK: 0870 141 7474 Int: +44 870 141 7474 Directions and maps: < http://www.freepint.com/contact.htm> Contributors to this issue: Martin Belam, Mary Ellen Bates, Sara Waddington (Senior Managing Editor, FUMSI), Monique Cuvelier (Contributing Editor: Share), Robin Neidorf (General Manager, FreePint), Shirl Kennedy (Senior Editor, ResourceShelf and DocuTicker), Pam Foster (Editor, VIP), William Hann (Managing Editor, FreePint), Penny Hann (Production Editor, FreePint), Douglas Brown (Proofreader). Advertisers/Sponsors: Dowjones Factiva, Thomson Scientific, Weekes Gray Recruitment, Sue Hill Recruitment and Services Limited, Glen Recruitment, TFPL, VIP, ResourceShelf, DocuTicker, Jinfo.
(c) Free Pint Limited 1997-2008 <http://www.freepint.com/>
Technology by Willco < http://www.Willco.com/> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your subscriptions or password, visit < http://www.freepint.com/subs/> or email <support@freepint.com>. For details about contributing, advertising or to see past issues, please visit the Web site at < http://www.freepint.com/>. Please note: FreePint (ISSN 1460-7239) is a registered trademark of, and published by, Free Pint Limited. The publishers will NEVER make the subscriber list available to any other company or organisation. The opinions, advice, products and services offered herein are the sole responsibility of the contributors. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the publication, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. This publication may be freely copied and/or distributed in its entirety. However, individual sections MAY NOT be copied and/or distributed without the prior written agreement of the publishers. Write to Robin Neidorf, Managing Editor, <robin.neidorf@freepint.com> for more details. Product names used in FreePint are for identification purposes only, and may be trademarks of their respective owners. FreePint disclaims any and all rights in those marks. All rights reserved. FreePint is published by Free Pint Limited, registered in England and Wales. Registered Number: 3754418. Registered Office: Delaport Coach House, Lamer Lane, Wheathampstead, Herts, AL4 8RQ Back to top ^ |
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