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9th July 2009
No.281
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About FreePint
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FreePint publishes newsletters, websites, magazines and resources for the information industry. The FreePint Family of publications publishes practical tips, product reviews, expert tips, research collections and hands-on tools to support information work of all kinds. The FreePint Bar provides a Q&A forum for getting your research questions answered and building a network of peers worldwide.
This twice-monthly free FreePint Newsletter serves as a guide to the latest content, including discussion at the Bar, tips articles, vacancies, professional development events, product reviews, editorial commentary and more. Subscribing is free and connects you with the information community around the world. Subscribe today.
The latest announcements, including publication contents, can always be found at the FreePint Feed. Subscribe to RSS for the FreePint Feed for fastest updates.
Please share FreePint with others by forwarding this newsletter.
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Editorial
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By Sara Waddington
 Congratulations to Johanna Muller, a librarian at Geneva University's Library of Science, and Hilary Nickell, an author and freelance professional, who both receive free membership of SLA, paid for by FreePint.
FreePint and the board of SLA Europe selected them from a pool of candidates who all submitted comments on why they wanted to join SLA, how they hoped to be engaged with SLA Europe in particular and what value a membership would have to their career development. This was the first time that FreePint and SLA have collaborated on a membership award. As the programme has been successful, it is anticipated that it will be repeated in the future.
 In this issue of the FreePint newsletter, we examine Kim Dority's article 'Disability Statistics: Challenges and Sources'. Finding reliable disability statistics - especially reasonably current ones - can be a challenge even for those who work in the world of disability every day. Kim shows us how to get started researching disability numbers and details some valuable resources for statistics gathering.
An intriguing new business trading platform is also unveiled in Douglas Laird's article 'Business Insight: BestforBusiness'. The platform works as an online and physical service for every business, individual or organisation in the UK and Douglas explains the components and benefits of BestForBusiness, as well as his ambitious plans for the platform's growth.
Don't miss VIP's new VIP Report: Survey on Outsourcing, which documents perspectives, opinions and concerns of information professionals regarding the outsourcing of information services. VIP subscribers receive the report at no additional charge as part of their subscription.
FUMSI has also published the results of its FUMSI Report: Survey on Intranet Management which details how info pros rate their organisations for intranet strategy, who is running intranet budgets and staff, and challenges identified by info pros in making the most of their intranets. The report is included in FUMSI subscriptions and with any purchase of the FUMSI Report: Folio on Intranet Management, which provides six practical FUMSI articles on managing intranets, plus our editor's commentary and recommendations.
Sara Waddington
Senior Managing Editor
FreePint
FreePint is a Registered Trademark of Free Pint Limited (R) 1997-2009
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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 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/
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My Favourite Tipples
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By Debbie Cresswell
- The DCSF has put together a useful website on Programme and Project Management (PPM) which helps you to work through the various stages of your programme or project, from start-up to closure report.
- The Telegraph announced its Top 50 list of the best internet shopping websites in February this year and I still use it. If you are on the look-out for good online deals and money-saving tips for the family budget, look no further...
- Buying or selling online? eBay is a useful resource to spot items for sale in a range of categories (antiques, business, art, books, clothes, cars etc.). With a diverse community of individuals and small businesses, eBay offers an online platform where millions of items are traded each day.
- Browse the BBC Movies archive for film reviews, interviews etc. by film genre or film title. Fascinating stuff...
- Search for over 4 million royalty-free photographs, vector illustrations, video footage, audio tracks and Flash files at iStock. You can join for free and buy stock with iStock credits to download the files you need.
Debbie Cresswell is a sales and marketing coordinator in the automotive industry and regularly deals with customer enquiries and information requests.
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://web.freepint.com/go/family/contribute>.
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Trial FUMSI - only £39 for three months
Order online »
For the cost of a single FUMSI report, you can get FUMSI for three months and share with every location of your organisation to gauge its value.
Take a no-obligation trial today and get:
- June: FUMSI Report: Folio and Survey on Intranet Management
- July: FUMSI Report: Folio and Survey on Social Media in the Enterprise
- August: FUMSI Report: Folio and Survey on Alternative Search.
Plus the monthly FUMSI Magazine and internal reuse of all materials -- intranet, internal newsletter, custom training packets...
Request sample materials, or order online today.
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Share Your Insights from SLA 2009
Contribute to the FreePint SLA 2009 Special Report and receive a free copy of the publication
"...the experience of attending a conference on this scale was invaluable. I really appreciated the many networking events..."
Couldn't Make It?
You can still contribute. Tell us how you followed the proceedings - whose Tweets, updates, blog postings or RSS feeds did you find useful?
Or simply register your interest, and we'll send you a copy of the report upon publication.
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FreePint Bar
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By Sara Waddington
Software/tools for analysing files on a shared network drive, the job market in the US for info pros, FreePint's SLA experience and social media reports 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 »
FreePint Bar
- Can anyone help a Bar member find any software or tools that could help her to analyse the files on a shared network drive and come up with a new and more meaningful structure? She would appreciate advice, hints and tips from the Bar.
- The FreePint team has had a great time meeting with subscribers, customers, sponsors, contributors and fans at SLA 2009 in Washington, D.C. What's been the best session so far? What new ideas are you bringing home? Share your insights here, or contribute them to our SLA 2009 Special Report. Every contributor gets a free copy of the full report upon publication.
- One FreePinter would appreciate the Bar's thoughts on services such as FENS, Celebrities Worldwide, London@Large and Precise Media services. She also asks if any libraries used any of the Profile Group's main competitors.
- Another member is planning a move to the US and would value suggestions from the Bar on finding a way into the job market in the US with her 7 years' experience and an MSc in Information and Library Management.
- In July, FUMSI will be publishing a report to help organisations plan, implement and measure their use of social media. As part of that project, we invite you to participate in a brief online survey about how you and your organisation use social media. Take the 5-minute survey. We'll send a copy of the survey report to anyone who completes the survey and provides a valid email address.
Visit the FreePint Bar »
FreePint Feed
The FreePint Feed keeps you up to date on what's new across all the sites in the FreePint Family.
Visit the FreePint Feed »
Sara Waddington is Senior Managing Editor of FreePint. She can be contacted at sara.waddington@freepint.com
The FreePint Bar is where you can get free help with your tricky research questions.
Subscribe to the free FreePint Digest to receive a weekly update of the latest Bar discussion, plus FreePint Feed announcements.
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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.
Become a fan of FUMSI on Facebook »
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:
Disability Statistics: Challenges and Sources
 By Kim Dority
FUMSI: Find
Finding consistent and comprehensive statistics on disabilities around the world can prove extremely challenging, due to differences in definitions, tracking frequencies, and the number of agencies tracking those numbers. Kim Dority provides valuable insights on how and where to get started with disabilities research, including a list of international organisations collecting that data.
WHAT'S INSIDE: 'Multiple agencies track multiple aspects of disability. In larger or more developed countries, different governmental organisations focus on specific aspects of disability. For example, one department might gather unemployment statistics, another might focus on increases in the number of veterans returning with disabilities, while yet another might track how many people with disabilities (PWDs) live in group housing.'
Read, print, save or forward this article now »
Business Insight: BestforBusiness
 By Douglas Laird
FUMSI: Use
With 'only' ninety years as Birmingham Central Library's business information system, Business Insight is still finding ways to stay relevant. During the current economic crisis, that means the creation and launch of BestForBusiness, a new business trading platform that works as an online and physical service for every business, individual or organisation in the UK. Douglas Laird explains the components and benefits of BestForBusiness, as well as his ambitious plans for the platform's growth.
WHAT'S INSIDE: 'Now some of you may be thinking 'But where's the business information?' My point is: without a coherent plan for finance, sustainability and responsibility, what is the point of the product? Specialists like us need to take more heed of the advice and information we give out and apply those principles to our own work, rather than simply developing another stand-alone product.'
Read, print, save or forward this article now »
Also recently added to the FUMSI database:
Browse all FUMSI articles »
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Discover Nexis®Direct
LexisNexis® offers world-class content, information and workflow solutions for professionals in the legal, risk management, corporate, government, accounting and academic markets - to make their jobs faster, easier and more productive.
Nexis, our comprehensive news and business information service and Nexis®Direct, our new tool for business users, provide quick access to premium content covering news, companies, executives and industries worldwide.
To find out more, visit our website or call us on 020 7400 2984.
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VIP Features
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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 Magazine No. 67 includes:
- A special two-page section called VIP Horizon. Based on conversations with subscribers, we are experimenting with ways to help you communicate internally around issues and challenges in information work. We invite VIP subscribers to extract the VIP Horizon pages, add your notes, and share them freely throughout their *entire* organisation, regardless of their distribution level.
- Success Story: Neil Infield of the British Library's Business & IP
Centre talks to VIP's Tim Buckley Owen about the Centre's remarkable achievements over the last three years.
- New Media: Twitter and alternative social sites are replacing traditional ways of finding information on the Internet. Guest editor Malcolm Coles explains how to get the best out of them.
- Close-Up: Highlights from Joanna Ptolomey's comparative review of two leading citation databases, Scopus and Web of Science; and of Jonathan Gordon-Till's close look at Cision Social Media, which allows you to track and analyse social networking sites.
- Under Pressure: The days of predominantly print publishers regarding their websites as profile raising loss leaders seem to be dying fast. VIP reports on the turmoil in the business-to-business sector, and rounds up the latest industry and product news.
In the next VIP: We review a recent addition to the Alacra suite of
products, Alacra Pulse, as well as RightTrade.
Purchase VIP Magazine No. 67 from the VIP Website, or start your subscription now.
VIP LiveWire
VIP contributing editors comment daily on what's happening in the industry.
Visit the LiveWire for their insights, and subscribe to the free VIP Wires Weekly for regular alerts.
VIP Wires Weekly is generously sponsored by LexisNexis.
Recent posts:
- Just as newspapers are debating whether to continue offering free access to articles online, with editors and proprietors questioning the viability of the free internet business model used by the major newspapers, we hear of a couple of business information publishers experimenting with the freemium business model.........
Direct link to posting: http://www.vivavip.com/go/e21546
- This is a source of company information that I have never used before, but it does seem very useful. All law firms write client memoranda and articles for their client in house lawyers, which act as a source of know-how, and are often useful introductions to a topic. By making their.........
Direct link to posting: http://www.vivavip.com/go/e21527
- Zubed Jobs is a new free service that allows jobseekers to pinpoint opportunities in their field anywhere in the United Kingdom. Nothing particularly special about that - except that Zubed Geospatial, the company behind the venture, isn't a recruitment firm but a provider of bespoke geographic information system (GIS).........
Direct link to posting: http://www.vivavip.com/go/e21509
VIP
LiveWire »
VIP Wire
Information-related product and news announcements. Post your
releases and receive news FREE.
VIP Wire »
VIP - Subscribe
and Back Issues
Start a trial subscription today for only £80 for three months. Visit http://web.vivavip.com/go/shop/volume/trial/ to start your trial. You can also purchase back-issues of VIP from the VIP Archive.
VIP Archive »
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New: FUMSI Report: Folio on Intranet Management
Electronic filing cabinet? Or strategic information asset? Learn from the experts on how to maximise the value of your organisation's intranet.
Includes tips and techniques provided by:
- Patrick Walsh
- Chris McGrath
- Helen Day
- Marc Stephenson
- Kate Simpson
(Only need one of these articles? Find it now in the FUMSI article database)
PLUS commentary, advice and additional resources provided by Karen Loasby, FUMSI Contributing Editor: Manage
Learn more and purchase »
Also available:
Or subscribe to FUMSI to receive all FUMSI Reports as part of your subscription.
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Jinfo - Jobs and Events in Information
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 Jinfo is the central location for supporting your information career. The Jinfo Jobs database lists vacancies, and the Jinfo Events database lists workshops, conferences, training, webinars and other professional development opportunities.
Start a free subscription to receive the weekly Jinfo Update, with a complete list of the latest vacancies and events, or search the databases 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/>.
Jinfo Jobs:
Here is a selection of the latest featured vacancies in the Jinfo database:
- GLP Archivist Pfizer Records Service Centre
The role of the Pfizer Records Service Centre (PRSC) GLP Archivist will be to assure that all archived preclinical records...
Recruiter: Pfizer Global Research and Developement
Country: United Kingdom
- Information Assistant
We currently have an opportunity for an enthusiastic team player with a commitment to information work/librarianship.
Recruiter: The King's Fund
Country: United Kingdom
- Freedom of Information Officer
Do you have a good knowledge of FoI legislation? Can you be a champion for FoI, internally and on external groups?
Recruiter: Sue Hill Recruitment and Services Limited
Country: United Kingdom
- Business Researcher - South East London
Experienced Business Researcher to deal with varied research enquiries in the financial / business sector.
Recruiter: Glen Recruitment
Country: United Kingdom
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Digital Resource Editor
The successful candidate will be responsible for the identification and analysis of non-journal/book digital resources such as data sets, images, and videos in the social sciences and humanities field.
Recruiter: TFPL
Country: United Kingdom
- Graduate Trainee
Recruiter: Weekes Gray Recruitment
Country: United Kingdom
Browse all Jinfo
Jobs »
Jinfo Events:
Here is a selection of the latest featured events in the Jinfo database:
Browse all Jinfo
Events »
Jinfo - the best place for information-related job vacancies and professional development opportunities.
- RECRUITING?
- Advertise a vacancy for just GBP 195
- 10% discount for agencies
- 50% discount for registered charities
- RUNNING AN EVENT?
List it on Jinfo to reach a targeted audience seeking professional development opportunities
- Get started at <http://web.jinfo.com/events/load/>
- Partner events listed for free; enquire at <support@jinfo.com>.
Find out more today at <http://www.jinfo.com/>
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| Highlights from ResourceShelf and DocuTicker
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Gold
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A look back at what the FreePint Newsletter covered at this time in previous years:
- FreePint No. 256, 10th July 2008. "Finding Competitive Information for Growing Companies" and "ISO Management Standards, Intranets and Information Architecture"
- FreePint No. 233, 12th July 2007. "Project Handbook Report and Tool Kit: Research and Scoping" and "Looking East: Chinese Research Sources"
- FreePint No. 209, 13th July 2006. "On the Verge of Revolution - Open-access Publishing" and "Impressions of SLA"
- FreePint No. 185, 30th June 2005. "An Insider's View of Google Answers" and "Promoting Information and Search Skills"
- FreePint No. 163, 15th July 2004. "In the Groove at the Grove - A review of the Perfect Learning Conference" and "Usability - ignore it at your peril!"
- FreePint No. 140, 10th July 2003. "Copyright and the Internet: Myth and Reality" and "The Product Development Cycle"
- FreePint No. 116, 11th July 2002. "Content Management"
- FreePint No. 91, 5th July 2001. "D.I.Y. Site Design" and "Obtaining Grants"
- FreePint No. 66, 6th July 2000. "Panorama of Engineering Portals" and "Surfing the Sludge - Tips on Good Web Page Design"
- FreePint No. 42, 8th July 1999. "Electronic commerce" and "Plastics and Rubber Information on the Internet"
- FreePint No. 18, 9th July 1998. "Small is Beautiful: Being a Small Business on the Internet" and "Statistical Information on the Web"
FreePint Newsletter Archive »
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| Forthcoming Articles - Provisional
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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:
Sara Waddington (Senior Managing Editor, FreePint), Debbie Cresswell, Kim Dority, Douglas Laird, Nancy Davis Kho (Copyeditor), Robin Neidorf (General Manager), William Hann (Publisher), Douglas Brown (Proofreader).
Advertisers/Sponsors:
Quantum2 from Dialog, LexisNexis, Sue Hill Recruitment and Services Limited, Glen Recruitment, TFPL, Weekes Gray Recruitment, Pfizer Global Research and Developement, The King's Fund.
(c) Free Pint Limited 1997-2009 <http://www.freepint.com/>
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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
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House, Lamer Lane, Wheathampstead, Herts, AL4 8RQ
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