|
18th December 2008
No.267
|
About FreePint
|
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/>.
|
|
|
Editorial
|
By Sara Waddington
 With the connective and sharing powers of social networks comes great risk, as information some might consider private can be easily discovered and shared. Human relationships, and the context of individual items being shared, are considerably more complex than social networking systems currently model.
 Miles Rochford highlights these often overlooked issues, in his article 'Designing for the Social: Avoiding Anti-Social Networks'. We are simultaneously, he says, making it easier to share information and harder to control the distribution of that information.
"Today we delegate privacy to other people, and other systems. Cause and effect are separated, 'possession' of information means nothing, and there is no central way of managing information. Combined with rapid, even real-time, delivery (no social delay), there is a greater risk of unwanted information sharing," he says.
Information architects, and designers generally, have an important role to play in the design of social networks to minimise negative outcomes and ensure that the most important elements of offline social behaviour are supported in the tools developed for online social networking. In his article, Miles offers a list of techniques to help designers understand how to address these issues.
The availability of so much information on the Internet, free at the point of use, has helped lead the public to believe that any piece of information it seeks is just a click away. This can undermine user appreciation of the investment that goes into paid-for information services provided by market intelligence specialists.
In his article 'Free Data: Turning It into Something Worth Paying For', David Gudgin points out that, while free information on macroeconomic trends is relatively easy to find on the Internet, the value of that data can sometimes be questionable. He shows how paid-for information differs from information found through free sources by highlighting how Euromonitor International conducts its macro-economic research.
If you were at the recent Online Information exhibition in London, you might have seen the FreePint stand, offering delegates a range of information briefings from its FUMSI and VIP editors (VIP has just released its Big Three comparative review - Nexis, Factiva and Dialog). We also announced the winner of our FUMSI article award at the exhibition. Our full OI show report, compiled by visitors and exhibitors at the event, will shortly be available.
This is our last issue of the FreePint newsletter before Christmas, so season's greetings to all our readers.
Have a very happy festive season and we will see you next year!
Sara Waddington
Senior Managing Editor
Free Pint Limited
FreePint is a Registered Trademark of Free Pint Limited (R) 1997-2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Favourite Tipples
|
By Diane Raper
Of course, my favourite no.1 Tipple has to be the website I run and maintain - Lawlinks. It not only contains links to all the sites I want our students to use, but it gives them help and support for all the occasions when they need help and guidance and I am not there. It also acts as a shortcut answer for lots of FAQs - I just email links rather than long explanations.
- Most of my work is about accessing legal information on the net. Apart from paid for services, which we use (see http://www.kent.ac.uk/lawlinks/electronic-law-library/index.html if you are interested), I really admire organisations who devote so much time and effort to making useful information so freely available. My number one heroes in this respect have to be the webmasters and contributors to UK Parliament, particularly that most used of pages that enables me to guide enquirers to digital versions of parliamentary papers. And, now that Hansard has been made available, everything is so much more accessible to all who need it without long treks to check paper collections.
- Another site that has much free useful information is the incredible World Bank Group's pro bono global research project.
- Students get quite confused about abbreviations and referencing, so a big thanks to my colleagues at Cardiff who have created two really good websites that they share with the world: The Cardiff Index to Legal Abbreviations is a lifeline for students who cannot work out what abbreviations means and to me when they come in with a half scrawled reference which only has a single word from the journal title.
- Citing the Law is Cathie Jackson and Ian Bradley's guide which enable even the most stressed student to understand what they need to do and relieves me of having to do any further explaining.
Season's greetings to all my Tipples!
Diane Raper currently works at the Templeman Library at the University of Canterbury where she is the academic services liaison librarian for law. She worked for a number of years in the City of London managing information services for law firms and the Law Society before making a career change and working as a service development manager in the NHS. She has been back working in law for the last two years and enjoys teaching a new generation of lawyers how to use legal source materials and managing the Lawlinks website.
Diane also researched and wrote a comparative review of LexisNexis Butterworths and Westlaw UK for the June 2008 issue of VIP Magazine.
Would you like to add your Favourite Tipples suggestions for the FreePint newsletter or write an article for FUMSI (Find, Use, Manage or Share Information?).
If so, please contact Sara Waddington at sara.waddington@freepint.com with your ideas or visit http://www.freepint.com/author/
Back to top ^
|
|
|
|
 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 Dialog. 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://quantum.dialog.com/
|
|
|
FreePint Bar
|
By Sara Waddington
Market information on refrigerant gases in Europe, comments on an OI special report, company data, pdf readers and household statistics 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.
The FreePint Bar is generously sponsored by Mark Logic and Dialog.
- One 'Pinter requests help with an enquiry for market information on refrigerant gases used within Europe. He wishes to know the number of refrigeration compressors that are installed annually in Europe and, if possible, past or future trends.
- One member would appreciate advice from the Bar on finding out the number of companies by sector that went bust during the last recession. He would prefer data for the UK but US data would also work well. Any tips on sources would be most gratefully received.
- Another 'Pinter is looking for a pdf reader that automatically converts and displays pdf text in a font that is easily readable on a computer screen.
- Can Baristas help a Bar member who is interested in finding statistics on the number of households by type of dwelling for major industrialised countries ie flats versus terraced houses, detached houses etc. He needs this for the Australian plus a range of international markets (including UK, France and USA).
- FreePint is hard at work on its Special Report from Online Information. Be sure to share your insights if you attended (or even if you watched from afar), and request a copy of the report if you couldn't attend: Contributions to http://www.freepint.com/events/online-info-2008/ Request a copy at http://www.freepint.com/events/online-info-2008/rsvp.htm.
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/>.
Back to top ^
|
|
|
FUMSI Features
|
 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:
Free Data: Turning it into Something Worth Paying For
FUMSI: Use
While free information on macroeconomic trends is relatively easy to find on the Internet, the value of that data can sometimes be questionable. David Gudgin from Euromonitor International talks us through the process of how macro-economic market research is validated.
WHAT'S INSIDE: 'Even countries assumed to have reliable information houses often have to make serious revisions to their data. After the last census, France was forced to significantly revise its population data upwards, as it had previously underestimated the birth rate. As such, the population forecast for 2050 has increased from 64 million to 75 million - which pushes the country past Germany in the number of inhabitants.'
Read, print, save or forward this article now. »
Designing for the Social: Avoiding Anti-Social Networks
FUMSI: Share
With the connective and sharing powers of social networks comes great risk, as information some might consider private can be easily discovered and shared. Miles Rochford discusses how the ubiquity, eternity and serendipity found in social networks places unique demands on information architects to help promote order.
WHAT'S INSIDE: 'Essentially, we have created our own version of The Truman Show. A world which is simultaneously painful and seductive, with relentless honesty, where it is impossible to hide (or, as I suggested at the IA Summit with just a hint of hyperbole, 'a prison for humanity')'
Read, print, save or forward this article now »
Also recently Added to the FUMSI Database:
Back to top ^
|
|
|
|
|
|
New FUMSI Report: Federated Search Report and Tool Kit
Maximise access to and use of *all* your resources -- explore federated search!
Author Jill Hurst-Wahl provides guidance on research, team development, due diligence and implementation and measurement. 10 hands-on activities take you from planning through completion.
FUMSI Subscribers: 50% off list prices!
Learn more and purchase at http://web.fumsi.com/go/report/manage/1178
|
|
|
VIP Features
|
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. 60 includes:
- The Big Three Revisited: Pam Foster and Jill Fenton present VIP's annual comparative review of the leading news services, Dialog, Factiva and Nexis, plus the results of a FreePint community survey on how users interact with the Big Three for news research
- The Crunch: As the threat of global recession looms, Sylvia James goes behind the headlines to sort out the real causes of the credit crunch
- Getting Real: From promotion and relationship management to recruitment and networking, Sheila Webber identifies ten business uses for the publicly-available 'virtual world' Second Life
- Crisis and Opportunity: We report on potential new roles for info pros in managing information governance, business intelligence and risk assessment, along with all the regular industry and product news.
In the next VIP: VIP reviews Onesource.
Purchase VIP issue no. 60 from the VIP website, or start your subscription now.
Special note: Subscribers receive a *free copy* of the full report of data from our user survey of the Big Three. Log in to your FreePint account to access the full report.
Also available: Sector reports providing insight into how representatives of the financial, consulting, legal and government sectors use the Big Three, and more. Purchase sector reports individually or as a set - see page 107 of VIP for information, or contact support@vivaVIP.com.
Receive headlines from industry press releases in your inbox every week, and click through to view the entire release. The VIP Wire is the place to collect your industry news subscribe for free at http://www.vivavip.com/order/digest/
Recent posts:
- Morningstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: MORN), a leading provider of independent investment research, has announced it has acquired 10-K Wizard, a leading provider of SEC EDGAR (Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval) filing research and alert services, for $12.5 million subject to working capital adjustments...... Direct link to posting: http://www.vivavip.com/go/w68911
- Emerald Group Publishing Limited, the world's leading publisher of management research, has partnered with the EuroMed Research Business Institute (EMRBI) to sponsor the 2008/2009 Emerald/EMRBI Business Research Award for Young Researchers....... Direct link to posting: http://www.vivavip.com/go/w68888
- The Special Libraries Association (SLA) today announced the results of its annual salary survey. For the second year, the SLA Salary Survey and Workplace Study contains salary information and other data from respondents in SLA Europe in addition to the U.S. and Canada. For the first time, the 2008 study contains a chapter on competitive intelligence (CI) salaries in the US....... Direct link to posting: http://www.vivavip.com/go/w68798
Request a sample issue of VIP, or start a trial subscription today for only GBP 80 for three months. Visit http://www.vivavip.com/sample.html to request a sample or start your trial.
Back to top ^
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jinfo - Jobs in Information
|
 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 Dialog. Learn more at <http://quantum.dialog.com/>.
Here is a selection of the latest featured entries in the Jinfo database:
- Senior Researcher - Investment Banking
Experienced Investment Banking Senior Researcher for permanent job to specialise in Financial Institutions sector.
Recruiter: Glen Recruitment
Country: United Kingdom
-
L&T Librarian
Learning and Teaching Librarian: 5th January - 17th July. Write learning activities, deliver helpdesk services, assist in online info skills training and write update sheets for the library's electron...
Recruiter: TFPL
Country: United Kingdom
- Principal Librarian
Interim manager for a short-term position with a County Council in Wales.
Recruiter: Sue Hill Recruitment and Services Limited
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/>
Back to top ^
|
|
|
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: Modern-Day Piracy
No, we're not talking about downloading 'illegal' media. We're talking about piracy on the high seas - something that has lately bubbled to the surface in the news media. 2008 has been a good year for pirates, judging by this Live Piracy Map from UK-based ICC Commercial Crime Services (CCS), the anti-crime arm of the International Chamber of Commerce.
Read the rest, including live links
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:
Back to top ^
|
|
|
|
|
|
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:
|
|
|
|
|
Gold
|
A look back at what FreePint covered at this time in previous years:
- FreePint No. 243, 20th December 2007. "FreePint Reports from this Year's Online Information Exhibition at Olympia" and "1997-2007: A Decade of Find, Use, Manage, Share"
- FreePint No. 220, 21st December 2006. "Convergence Counselling: Integration of IT Departments and Libraries" and "2001 to 2006: Five Years of Information Architecture"
- FreePint No. 196, 15th December 2005. "Information Sources for Social Exclusion On The Web" and "Online Information Conference 2005"
- FreePint No. 173, 16th December 2004. "Outsourcing Research to India" and "The Open Archive Initiative (OAI) and Google Scholar"
- FreePint No. 150, 11th December 2003. "Taking a look at media information professionals and asking: what makes a successful conference?" and "From Fortune 500 to Handelsblatt's European 500 two years on - a final look at some useful European and International Rankings"
- FreePint No. 127, 12th December 2002. "Home Pages: Websites for the Homeworker" and "Archive Television - A Survey of Websites"
- FreePint No. 102, 13th December 2001. "Tracking the Net" and "Free Pint In 2001"
- FreePint No. 77, 14th December 2000. "A Look at Online Auctions" and "Horseracing on the Web"
- FreePint No. 52, 16th December 1999. "Free Pint in 1999" and "Review of Online Information 99"
- FreePint No. 28, 17th December 1998. "Review of Online Information 98" and "Free Pint in 1998"
- FreePint No. 4, 18th December 1997. "Is Meta a Bit or Much Better?" and "Review of Online Information 97"
Back to top ^
|
|
|
Forthcoming
|
FORTHCOMING ARTICLES
[Provisional]
FUMSI
- Automatic Classification
Blogging on Federated Search
- Better Knowledge Management
VIP
- One Source interview/review
- LexisNexis interview
- ISI Dealwatch
- SSRN
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 ^
|
|
|
Contact Information
|
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:
Sara Waddington (Senior Managing Editor, FreePint), David Gudgin, Miles Rochford, Diane Raper, Nancy Davis Kho (Copyeditor), Robin Neidorf (General Manager), William Hann (Publisher), Douglas Brown (Proofreader).
Advertisers/Sponsors:
Quantum2 from Dialog, Mark Logic, Sue Hill Recruitment and Services Limited, Glen Recruitment, TFPL, FUMSI, VIP, 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, with your request and registered email address, 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.
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 ^
|
|
|
United Kingdom:
Australia:
Spain:
Germany:
