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21st January 2010
No.294
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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 Robin Neidorf
When a technology begins to bridge the gap between experimentation
and normalisation, it's common for it to be subject to study. Professionals begin
to research the tools, identify key metrics for applying and measuring their
success, and build libraries of case studies demonstrating what the tools can
and cannot do.
No doubt, then: Social media has now successfully made the
transition.
 Current FUMSI articles take up the theme of researching social
media, in different ways. First, in the latest Find article, Emily Wheeler and Samara
Omundson share a
methodology to determine 'Influence Ranking' in social media. Their rigorous
approach could be used by any organisation to measure influence in social
media.
Daniel Ghinn also adds to research-based knowledge in the area, with a case study on how pharmaceutical firms use the tools for research and communication. His article is the first in a
three-part series that will explore how different industries have made the most
of social media for business purposes.
A thoughtful approach to gathering and analysing information
is, of course, a key element of what information practitioners do all the time -
and a core value of FreePint. Next week I'll be presenting to the Information Industry Summit the
results of VIP's Economic
Impact Research published in September 2009, reviewing what nearly 450
respondents told us about their information staff, content budgets and coping mechanisms for
supporting their organisations' information needs through difficult times. I'm looking forward to sharing
these results with the publishers who make available the resources that help us
do our jobs.
One of the fascinating elements of research is the shift in
perspective the data-gathering phase can bring. Our Copyright Policies and
Practices project is nearing completion, and the amalgamation of comments
from around the world, from a range of industries, makes clear that more
confusion than clarity characterises today's interactions with copyrighted
content at work. If you haven't yet done so, there's still time to complete the survey on how you interact with content. Watch for announcements on publication of results, and register your interest to participate in future research projects.
But for a shift of perspective, nothing beats commentary
from event delegates... and you can get dozens at once with the newly published
FreePint Online Information 2009 Special Report. With insights from
December's exhibition and conference, this year's report will fill the gaps if
you missed the show, and refresh your memory if your experience there has been
lost in the mists of time... also known as the holiday season.
We welcome your comments about the report, and everything we do, either at the FreePint Bar, via email or online at our suggestion box. We look forward to hearing from you.
Robin Neidorf
General Manager
FreePint
FreePint is a Registered Trademark of Free Pint Limited (R) 1997-2010
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My Favourite Tipples
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By Irina Ibraghimova
These are web sites and resources that help me develop my training materials and teaching skills, and to recommend existing training options to my customers who work in the field of medicine and health care:
- EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative's
(ELI's) 7 Things You Should Know About series provides concise information on emerging learning technologies. Each 2-page brief focuses on a single technology or practice and describes:What it is; How it works; Where it is going; Why it matters to teaching and learning. Some recent topics covered: Google Wave, Microblogging, Collaborative Annotation, Data Visualisation. Each ELI brief presents a scenario for the use of the described technology in teaching and learning.
- JISK InfoNet infoKits contain 'self-help' material and promote the effective strategic planning and management of information and learning technology within institutions. 40 infoKits cover such topics as: Social Software, Time Management, Process Review, Portfolio Management, Information Lifesycle, etc.
- Find it fast!
A series of 10 video tutorials from the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library (Yale University) on the various evidence-based practice (EBP) information resources. The series is called "Find It Fast" because these resources help to find clinical information faster.
- Health Sciences Online
Health care practitioners and trainers can search for any health sciences topic from over 50,000 courses, and other learning resources . Materials are selected from accredited educational sources including universities, governments, and professional societies. Use of Google translator provides an option of searching in your own language.
Irina Ibraghimova holds a Ph.D. in library sciences. For the last 15 years she has worked on information and communications technologies for health projects internationally, providing on-site and distance training on information retrieval, evidence-based practice, and library and information management. In 2008 together with colleagues from the USA, Croatia and Ukraine, she started a group of international consultants, HealthConnect International: http://www.healthconnect-intl.org/
You can receive Tipples via Twitter at: <http://www.twitter.com/myfavtipples>
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 submit them to support@freepint.com.
View the guidelines at: <http://web.freepint.com/go/family/contribute>.
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Working In A Wired World
Three workshops with Euan Semple from Incisive Media
- 24 February: Getting to Grips with the Wired World
- 10 March: How to Manage the Networked Workforce
- 24 March: Strategic Advantage in the Post-Industrial Age
£400 per workshop, or register for *all three* for only £800
Learn more and register »
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FreePint Bar and FreePint Feed
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Subscribe to the free FreePint Digest to receive a weekly update of the latest
FreePint Bar discussion, plus FreePint Feed announcements.
FreePint Bar
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 sponsors make this resource available at no cost. Current sponsors include:
Since the start of January, a number of intriguing questions have been posted to the FreePint Bar. As always, Bar visitors share their experience freely, so jump in and add your voice:
- In what might be the most unusual question asked for months, one Bar user asked for information on whether there are special machines or manufacturies dedicated to the creation of coffin hardware. Our own Joanna Ptolomey (contributing editor for both FUMSI and VIP) offered one suggestion for finding out. What's yours?
- Is 'Account Wiring' a term you're familiar with in relation to customer development? If so, you have exactly the information needed by another Bar user, who is wondering what her client means by it. Post your definition and help her along...
- Another Bar user is looking for examples of good redesign efforts in government websites. We know there are some great ones out there -- share your favourites.
- Redesign often comes on the heels of customer research, a field FreePint is increasingly involved with. Register your interest in learning about our future research projects. Participants receive a summary of results as our thank-you for participating in any project.
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 »
Subscribe to the free FreePint Digest to receive a weekly update of the latest
FreePint 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 »
Follow FUMSI on Twitter »
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:
Evolution In Source Evaluation: Using Social Media Data
 By Emily Wheeler and Samara Omundson
FUMSI: Find
Social media tools give companies unprecedented access to the voice of the customer, but are only actionable if there is a consistent means of evaluating the source. Emily Wheeler and Samara Wilson provide real-life examples of how they developed metrics for evaluating the influence of media sources.
 WHAT'S INSIDE: 'Once we completed this preliminary research, we began grouping metrics into categories based on how the data defined or illustrated influence. We ultimately identified five Influence Attributes: Reach, Buzz, Engagement, Content and Audience.'
Read, print, save or forward this article now »
Pharmaceutical industry: a discovery-led approach to social media
 By Daniel Ghinn
FUMSI: Use
Social media is increasingly important for business, but its application and utility can differ from sector to sector. In Part 1 of this three-part series, Daniel Ghinn discusses success stories and challenges with social media in the pharma market.
WHAT'S INSIDE: 'Whilst the primary objective of the social media examples above may be to allow the pharmaceutical company to engage in two-way dialogue with people, the internal discovery opportunities are significant and essential components for future successful ongoing engagement'.
Read, print, save or forward this article now »
FUMSI - Forthcoming Topics
- Social media industry case studies
- Leveraging RSS
- Review of Google Wave
- Venture capital fund information
- Knowledge architecture
If you have a suggestion for an article topic, or would like to write, then please contact <support@freepint.com> or read the notes for authors at
<http://web.freepint.com/go/family/contribute/>.
Browse all FUMSI articles »
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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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Today's knowledge economy is powered by information but operates on Internet time. Knowledge workers have access to more information than ever, but less time for decision making.
Dow Jones Enterprise Media Group combines respected reporting with innovative technologies to drive additional value from news, data and information.
For our customers, this means increased productivity and competitive advantage, all of which lead to a more intelligent - and profitable enterprise.
Download our free ebook on value in the knowledge-driven enterprise »
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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 »
 Insight from our Editors, in VIP Magazine
Cloud computing is now at the top of the hype cycle and should shortly enter the next stage - the 'trough of disillusionment' - according to Mike Spink of the IT consultancy Gartner. The IT industry has invested massively in the infrastructure to provide cloud computing services, but the result is likely to be disappointment as the hyped benefits fail to deliver a magic bullet.
Featured in the InScope section of VIP Magazine No. 73
In Europe, business registers operate on a national or regional basis, only storing information on companies registered in the territory where they are competent. But now a European Union Green Paper, The Interconnection of Business Registers, is looking at ways of improving access to information on businesses across the EU, acknowledging the increasingly cross-border nature of company activity to take advantage of opportunities offered by the Single Market.
Featured in the Tap the Wire: Industry News section of VIP Magazine No. 73
Microblogging service Twitter and professional-focused social network LinkedIn have collaborated to allow LinkedIn users to post status updates to their Twitter feed and use tweets to update their LinkedIn status on a selective basis. Expect to see news in the future of additional partnerships focused on making Twitter usage an inherent element of business communication.
Featured in the Tap the Wire: Product News section of VIP Magazine No. 73
Purchase VIP Magazine No. 73 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 Dow Jones.
Most Read Postings on the LiveWire Recently...
- For those of us not sponsored by employers to attend the Online 2009 conference, the free seminar programme on the exhibition floor is a useful alternative and generally provides visitors with a range of interesting, useful and thought-provoking sessions.
Read the full story at: http://www.vivavip.com/go/e27341
- What's playing the biggest part in changing the information landscape: policy, technology, money or attitude? It was one of a series of challenging questions put to a panel of information specialists at an event organised in London by SLA Europe.
Read the full story at: http://www.vivavip.com/go/e27260
- The European Union has published a green paper called 'The Interconnection of Business Registers' which considers how to improve access to information on businesses...
Read the full story at: http://www.vivavip.com/go/e27213
- The November issue of VIP magazine will contain a review of the news offerings of Dow Jones and LexisNexis, via Factiva.com and Nexis, providing a summary of new functionality and other enhancements added to the two services over the past 12 months. However, 'content is king' and without it, no amount of interface wizardry would help the information professional. The review therefore looks in depth at the sources of both services, with particular focus this year on the financial services sector.
Read the full story at: http://www.vivavip.com/go/e27249
Always feel free to comment on any item on the LiveWire, and if you do not yet have a free subscription to the VIP Wires Weekly, you can sign up now »
Purchase VIP Magazine No. 73 from the VIP Website, or start your subscription now »
VIP LiveWire »
VIP Wire
Information-related product and news announcements. Post your releases and subscribe to the free VIP Wires Weekly for regular alerts.
Recent VIP Wire announcements...
- FreePint makes unique contribution to event reporting with its delegate-written reports. The latest, on Online Information 2009, has been published and is available at no cost by completing the online request form...
Read the full Press Release at: http://www.vivavip.com/go/w83856
- Oxford and Boston, 19th January 2010 - Credo Reference, the award-winning online reference library, has signed an agreement with Hodder Education to incorporate three major subject references into the Credo collection. These will be the first Hodder Education titles licensed to Credo...
Read the full Press Release at: http://www.vivavip.com/go/w83855
- Global Business Register Ltd., the premier provider of European, official company information, and Infogreffe, the Economic Interest Group which unites the registrars of France's 135 commercial courts, today announced the signing of a distribution agreement for the provision and distribution of official company information covering over 3 million companies registered with the national companies register in France...
Read the full Press Release at: http://www.vivavip.com/go/w83795
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 »
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 - Forthcoming Topics
- Plunkett Research
- Company Watch
- Small business credit resources
- Hoover's
If you have a suggestion for an article topic, or would like to write, then please contact <support@freepint.com> or read the notes for authors at
<http://web.freepint.com/go/family/contribute/>.
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Three Top-Selling FUMSI Reports for the Price of Two
Stock your organisation's learning library for research skill development in 2010 with these three top-selling FUMSI Reports:
- Folio on Competitive Intelligence
- Folio on Alternative Search Engines
- Folio on Research Essentials
Packages start at £78 for single-site.
Learn more and order »
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You Won't Know Until You Trial
Start 2010 with a FUMSI or VIP trial subscription, and find out how productive you and your team can be.
FUMSI: Helping everyone Find, Use, Manage and Share Information -- 3 month global trial for only £39.
'...the practical, tactical lessons-learned support professional development in an environment where none would be available...'
Order now »
VIP: In-depth, unbiased product reviews and insightful analysis of changes in the content market that will affect your content portfolio.
'I know of no other source that is as highly targeted to my work as an information manager...'
Order now »
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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:
- Records Manager
A Records Manager is required on a 12 month basis to support a central team within our client's organisation...
Recruiter: Weekes Gray Recruitment
Country: United Kingdom
- Records Manager - Legal
Records Manager for newly created vacancy at prestigious Law Practice to implement systems, deal with compliance issues and manage a small team...
Recruiter: Glen Recruitment
Country: United Kingdom
- SPIRE Programme Change Manager
Recruiter: House of Commons
Country: United Kingdom
- Alliance Manager
Can you secure Content Licensing Agreements with new and existing providers, whilst developing strong and lasting relationships?
Recruiter: Sue Hill Recruitment and Services Limited
Country: United Kingdom
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Information and Records Manager-File Plan
A regulatory public body is looking for a temporary Information and Records Manager to design and...
Recruiter: TFPL Intelligent Resources
Country: United Kingdom
- Assistant Information Officer
Supporting the enquiry service to the whole firm, and help maintain our information resources & current awareness services...
Recruiter: Drivers Jonas LLP
Country: United Kingdom
- Senior Health Information Scientist
Senior Health Information Scientist - 1 year Maternity Cover - Glasgow £29,789 - £39,273...
Recruiter: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland
Country: United Kingdom
- Information Scientist
Literature searching to support clinical guideline development...
Recruiter: National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health
Country: United Kingdom
Browse all Jinfo Jobs »
Jinfo Events:
Here is a selection of the latest featured events in the Jinfo database:
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LILAC 2010
LILAC is the Librarians' Information Literacy Annual Conference, organised by CILIP's Information Literacy Group
Organiser: LILAC
Date: 29-31 Mar 2010
Country: Ireland
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ICI-1 - Competitive Intelligence Basics Workshop
Organiser: Institute for Competitive Intelligence
Date: 1-2 Mar 2010
Country: United Kingdom
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Getting most out of Google™
Bring the most relevant hits to the top of your Google™ search list and even get the answers to quick reference enquiries.
Organiser: CILIP
Date: 21st Jan 2010
Country: United Kingdom
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Copyright in the Web 2.0 environment
Learn about the practical ways to deal with difficult situations and managing your own professional and personal development.
Organiser: CILIP
Date: 28th Jan 2010
Country: United Kingdom
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TFPL Connect Conference 2010
Two-day event for knowledge and information management leaders; 10% discount with registration code...
Organiser: TFPL
Date: 24-25 Mar 2010
Country: United Kingdom
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Working in a Wired World
Three one day training workshops looking at Working in a Wired World.
Organiser: Incisive Media
Date: 24th Feb - 24th Mar 2010
Country: United Kingdom
Browse all Jinfo Events »
Jinfo - the best place for information-related job vacancies and professional development opportunities.
- RECRUITING?
- Advertise a vacancy for just £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. 269, 22nd January 2009 "Web Analytics and Information Architecture" and "RSS and Scholarly Journal Tables of Contents: the ticTOCs Project, and Good Practice Guidelines for Publishers"
- FreePint No. 245, 24th January 2008 "Have a Beta-test Mind -- Just Do It!" and "The Leaving Employee"
- FreePint No. 222, 18th January 2007 "Public Eye: Using Eye Tracking Software To Improve the Usability of Your Website" and "Risk Management Report: An Essential Toolkit for Businesses"
- FreePint No. 198, 19th January 2006 "Engineering: the changing information landscape" and "Trends in business information, provision and use"
- FreePint No. 175, 27th January 2005 "Professional Networking Online" and "Business awards: a review of the UK market"
- FreePint No. 152, 22nd January 2004 "Choosing and Changing Your Web Host" and "Global Resources for Forest Information"
- FreePint No. 129, 23rd January 2003 "Deep Linking" and "The 8 A's of Information"
- FreePint No. 104, 24th January 2002 "Winter Olympic Adventures Online" and "Using Wireless Technology - where does the library fit in?"
- FreePint No. 79, 18th January 2001 "Internet Resources for the Voluntary Sector" and "Online Business News: A Tale of Boom and Bust?"
- FreePint No. 54, 20th January 2000 "Search Engine Promotion" and "Architecture: the science and art of finding it on the Web"
- FreePint No. 30, 21st January 1999 "Information quality on the Internet" and "Computer Assisted Journalism"
- FreePint No. 6, 22nd January 1998 "Diagnosing Web Problems" and "The Best Medical Information on the Web"
FreePint Newsletter Archive »
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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:
Robin Neidorf (General Manager), Irina Ibraghimova, Emily Wheeler, Samara Omundson, Daniel Ghinn, Nancy Davis Kho (Copyeditor), William Hann (Publisher), Douglas Brown (Proofreader).
Advertisers/Sponsors:
Dow Jones, Marketresearch.com, Incisive Media, Dialog, Sue Hill Recruitment and Services Limited, Glen Recruitment, TFPL Intelligent Resources Recruitment, House of Commons, Drivers Jonas LLP, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health.
(c) Free Pint Limited 1997-2010 <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
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House, Lamer Lane, Wheathampstead, Herts, AL4 8RQ
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