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19th June 2008
No.255
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About FreePint
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FreePint 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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Editorial
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By William Hann and Robin Neidorf
 For many of us, our satisfaction with work is closely tied to the people involved -- colleagues, customers, suppliers and peers. Conferences, workshops and networking events appeal in large part because they bring people together. For a 'wish you were there' review of April's Library and Information Show in Birmingham, check out Adrian Janes' article. And if you've been in Seattle with us this week for SLA's annual conference, take a few minutes to add your comments, favourite learnings, and 'aha! moments' on our online form (you can also comment via email, phone, fax or voice mail) -- your comments will be included in our SLA Special Report, and you'll get a free copy!
 Work environments can be either ruined or enhanced through the chemistry between coworkers. If you've ever had the gift of working in an environment in which the employees truly enjoy each other, you know exactly the positive impact it has on everyone's productivity!
 Because the human element is so critical, managers need to do everything within their power to foster healthy relationships at work. Attention to communication, diversity and the particular needs of different employees is as important as attention to the details of project management and budgets.
Seasoned workers may be baffled by the behaviours and values of some of the youngest workers -- the so-called Digital Natives, who have grown up with technology and the Internet and are now making waves in the workforce. Derek Law offers insight into this distinctive group of workers in his article 'Convenience Trumps Quality: How Digital Natives Use Information'. If you're trying to make sense of how the brilliant new hire (the one with the discreet piercings) thinks, this article is a must-read.
Knowing how to appreciate and bring out the best in others is essential for success in today's workforce. It also makes work a lot more fun. If you're not having enough fun, consider your options -- check out the latest listings at Jinfo. And if you are looking for more Digital Natives or other workers, a listing on Jinfo gets you in front of information talent of all kinds.
At Free Pint Limited, we feel incredibly fortunate to have staff who are intelligent, skillful, thoughtful and committed. They're also a lot of fun to work with. Which makes everyone's work just a little bit better.
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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Direct from SLA 2008: Your Ideas, Learnings and Insights
<http://www.vivavip.com/sla/>
Share your experiences at SLA 2008, and be part of an exciting project published by VIP Magazine. Our editors will take your contributions and compile them in our SLA Special Report. Every contributor receives a free copy!
Contribute via online form, email, voice mail or fax. Learn more and contribute now: http://www.vivavip.com/sla/
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Back By Popular Demand:
Handwriting Analysis
Visit Dow Jones Booth 401
SLA Annual Conference
15th - 18th June 2008, Seattle, USA
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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 the Scientific business of Thomson Reuters. 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.thomsonreuters.com/
quantum2/
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My Favourite Tipples
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By Tom Szczepanik
- WordPress is a popular (free!) choice for blogging according to recent FreePint Bar. You can use your own domain name for a few dollars.
- Google Translate recently added 10 new languages: Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Finnish, Hindi, Norwegian, Polish (at last!), Romanian and Swedish. You can mouse over text to view original language.
- A9 allows you to search inside books by Amazon - for example <http://a9.com/freepint> shows where 71 books mention FreePint.
- Google Book Search the full text of books and see some with previews - for example <http://www.google.com/books?q=Freepint> shows 49 books with previews out of 81 on FreePint.
- Wikipedia (see "To Use or Not To Use" by Caryn Wesner-Early in FreePint 219) allows other people to collaborate with you on articles researched using the above tools.
Tom Szczepanik is the son of Edward Szczepanik, the grandson of Stanislaw Janikowski and great-grandson of Leopold Janikowski the Polish ethnographer (1855-1942.
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FreePint Bar
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By Sara Waddington
 The
FreePint Bar is generously sponsored by Dow Jones Factiva
Conference presentation videos, library management systems, book suppliers, predictive software and knowledge management are hot topics on the Bar at the moment. See a round-up of recent conversations below and click through to join the discussion. Post your research dilemmas to the FreePint Bar
- One FreePinter is looking for feedback on measuring the value of an organisation's knowledge and successful approaches applied, and lessons learned, by other Bar users. Can you help?
- Another Bar member wonders if there are any conferences (focused on librarians and information professionals) which take videos of spoken presentations given during the conference and than make these videos available on their conference website.
- For a special publication opportunity, be sure to check out VIP Magazine's SLA Special Report - FreePint is asking conference attendees to share their impressions, learnings and insights from the event. FreePint editors will combine submissions into a PDF report, which will be distributed to all contributors, VIP subscribers, and offered to SLA members. If you attended SLA this week and want to contribute (via email, phone, fax or online), visit http://www.vivavip.com/sla/ or please respond to this message.
- One Barista has received an enquiry looking for the top 5 library management systems and top 5 book suppliers in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US. Would anyone be able to signpost him to any reports in this area or any relevant websites? If you can help, please post your reply.
- Can you help another Bar user, who is looking for software that will process predicted demand data - location of job, date, duration, skillset required - for a company's services over the course of a year, to show the optimum allocation of a limited workforce (around the UK). The objective would be to minimise 'out of area' travel throughout the year for the workforce.
Sara Waddington is senior managing editor of Free Pint Ltd. She can be contacted at sara.waddington@freepint.com
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/>.
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FUMSI Features
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 FUMSI 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, which are free to read, browse, email, print or save. Here are the most recent additions:
Convenience Trumps Quality: How Digital Natives Use Information' FUMSI: Use
With digital natives' beginning to enter the workforce, it's incumbent on information professionals to understand and adapt to their work methodologies in order to maintain relevance. Derek Law posits that this generation's aliteracy' creates an opportunity for information professionals to position themselves as experienced teachers of information literacy.
WHAT'S INSIDE: This new breed of information user doesn't simply want everything made simple. They have a quite different value structure. On the one hand they want choice, being much less clear that there is right information and wrong information, but at the same time they want selectivity.'
Read, print, save or forward this article now. »
Library and Information Show 2008: Information Literacy is Key' FUMSI: Use
This year's Library and Information Show (LIS) in Birmingham put a spotlight on user empowerment, with vendors introducing features and functions that engage users and enhance access. In his report from the show, Adrian Janes also describes how information literacy has become a critical issue for information professionals.
WHAT'S INSIDE: Information professionals need to take on similar roles, while also promoting information literacy. In the Bedfordshire example, some rooms are designated as caves' where librarians involve themselves with students' projects in a practical way, demonstrating databases and advising how to assess the types of information found in searches.'
Read, print, save or forward this article now »
Also recently Added to the FUMSI Database:
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Jinfo - Jobs in Information
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 The Jinfo service enables you to search and advertise information- related job vacancies.
Start a free subscription to receive the weekly Jinfo Jobs Update, with a complete list of the latest vacancies, or search the database at any time (free).
Jinfo Jobs in the FreePint Newsletter are supported through our partnership with Quantum2, an innovative skills development programme offered by the Scientific business of Thomson Reuters. Learn more at <http://scientific.thomsonreuters.com/quantum2/>.
Here is a selection of the latest featured entries in the Jinfo database:
- Research Fellow, Health Informatics
Research Fellow, Health Informatics needed to model our data and workflows and introduce a database for clinical data extraction
Recruiter: National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health
Country: United Kingdom
- Resources Manager and Senior Researcher
A leading international law firm has a new opening in their London office as a twelve month fixed-term...
Recruiter: Sue Hill Recruitment and Services Limited
Country: United Kingdom
- Information Officer
Responsible for supporting the provision of access to information sources, offering information services, advice & training.
Recruiter: Weekes Gray Recruitment
Country: United Kingdom
- Records Manager
Heading up the team responsible for providing a centralised records management service.
Recruiter: Economic and Social Research Council
Country: United Kingdom
- Account Manager
Account Manager required for the market-leading research body and publishing body in the legal profession.
Recruiter: TFPL
Country: United Kingdom
- Knowledge Manager - Stand Alone
Knowledge Manager to manage, develop and improve information flow in new Stand Alone position in the City.
Recruiter: Glen Recruitment
Country: United Kingdom
[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/>
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/>
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On the Ticker: Use DocuTicker for Full-Text Resources <http://www.docuticker.com/>
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:
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Recently in VIP
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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.
 VIP issue no. 54 includes:
- Market Intelligence: VIP reviews the Euromoney Business Library, the content database from Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC.
- Data Visualisation: Chris Murphy urges researchers and users to take advantage of rich and exciting new data visualisation tools.
- VIP adds a new section on recent company acquisitions.
Purchase this issue from the VIP website, or start your subscription now: <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:
- <http://www.vivavip.com/go/e6950> Against all the odds, the credit rating agencies seem to be emerging from the subprime debacle with their reputations at least patched up, if not undamaged.....
- <http://www.vivavip.com/go/e6792> You'd expect one of the most economically successful countries on earth to be top of the heap when it came to broadband penetration - yet, as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development reported recently - http://digbig.com/4xamt - the United States barely scrapes into the top ten.
- <http://www.vivavip.com/go/e6720> Another widget story comes from Experian - http://www/experiangroup.com/ who has announced the launch of a widget that includes business information from its commercial database, BizSource.
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.
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| Highlights from ResourceShelf and DocuTicker
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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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Share Your Expertise with a Global Audience
We're constantly seeking case studies, how-to articles, and hands-on
insight to help others find, use, manage and share information at work. Contact any of our editorial team with your suggestions and submissions:
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Gold
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A look back at what FreePint covered at this time in previous years:
- FreePint No. 232, 28th June 2007. "Beyond Online: In-Depth Report from SLA" and "SLA Special Report: Your Wish Was Our Command"
- FreePint No. 208, 22nd June 2006. "The Rise of DocuTicker: So Many Reports, So Little Time" and "Technology and Industrial Innovation Resources on the Web"
- FreePint No. 185, 30th June 2005. "An Insider's View of Google Answers" and "Promoting Information and Search Skills"
- FreePint No. 161, 17th June 2004. "The Impact of the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act on Records Management World Wide" and "RSS: Less hype, more action"
- FreePint No. 139, 26th June 2003. "Taxation Law Resources Online - Tax Doesn't Have to be Taxing" and "Searching Free Trade Mark Databases on the Web"
- FreePint No. 115, 27th June 2002. "RSI and the Library and Information Science Professional"
- FreePint No. 90, 21st June 2001. "Do you Google?" and "Electronic Health Information : A boon and a curse!"
- FreePint No. 65, 22nd June 2000. "Internet Intelligence - analysing web-sites for competitive intelligence" and "WAP Technology and Services"
- FreePint No. 41, 24th June 1999. "Answering back" and "Finding Links to the Past: archaeological resources on the Web"
- FreePint No. 17, 25th June 1998. "Finding information products and services via the Net" and "Bioscience Information on the Internet"
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Forthcoming
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FORTHCOMING ARTICLES
[Provisional]
- Information Architecture conference coverage
- Copyright Summit conference coverage
- Determining 'Excellence': how one judge made the cut
- Phone 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/>
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Contact Information
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Address:
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:
William Hann (Managing Editor, FreePint), Robin Neidorf (General Manager, FreePint), Tom Sczepanik, Sara Waddington (Senior Managing Editor, FreePint), Douglas Brown (Proofreader).
Advertisers/Sponsors:
Dow Jones Factiva, Scientific business of Thomson Reuters, Weekes Gray Recruitment, Sue Hill Recruitment and Services Limited, Glen Recruitment, TFPL, National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health, Economic and Social Research Council, 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 forward this email to <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, General Manager, <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.
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House, Lamer Lane, Wheathampstead, Herts, AL4 8RQ
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United Kingdom:
United States:
Germany:
Kenya:
