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9th October 2008
No.262
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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 Sara Waddington
 Information can help to shape the way that we think, behave and interact with others. In this issue of the FreePint newsletter, we examine innovative ways of finding information (through social networking) and using it in a life-saving capacity (evidence-based medicine or EBM). Social networking offers info pros new, and exciting, avenues for information gathering whilst health specialists rely on information to support clinical audits, guidelines and sometimes even changes in medical practice.
Info pros can use social networks to find answers to a range of questions - these networks are one source of many to consider in everyday reference and research work. Social networks, made possible by Web 2.0, are essentially people-, rather than topic- centric, and one of several next generation communications and collaboration tools that include blogs, wikis and social bookmarking.
 As Amelia Kassel explains, in her article 'Social Networking: A Research Tool', dozens of social networking sites have given rise to potentially useful information that can be included in the information professional's toolkit. Participants worldwide contribute and collaborate with online discussions readily available, creating new knowledge bases that are not yet fully recognized as information sources. Use social networks, says Amelia, to help confirm what you think or believe, and how to better or more clearly and succinctly articulate what you know.
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is a means of aiding doctors find information to optimise the care they give their patients. Zena Woodley, in her article 'Making a Difference to Patient Care - Using Evidence Based Medicine', provides real-world examples of EBM success from information practitioners.
New reports and tools for FUMSI subscribers, as well as new Folios, are available from the FUMSI website. Stay in touch - please send your suggestions, ideas and requests to support@freepint.com, or use our online suggestion box.
Sara Waddington
Senior Managing Editor
Free Pint Limited
FreePint is a Registered Trademark of Free Pint Limited (R) 1997-2008
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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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Information Management Solutions Exhibition
2-4 December 2008, Olympia Grand Hall, London
Register free at http://www.online-information.co.uk/promo/freepint1
Discover latest Search, Content Management and Web 2.0 Solutions
Wide range of free seminars and case-studies
Unique networking opportunities
Plus - New Seminar Stream - Marketing Through Social Media
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My Favourite Tipples
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By Eleanor Bradsell
Looking for some useful marketing resources? Try these below:-
- The Chartered Institute of Marketing's website offers useful hits and tips for marketing and business development, including weekly updates of the latest trends and marketing headlines.
- Marketing Week is a UK magazine for marketing news, opinion, information and jobs. It covers issues such as advertising, media, PR, online marketing, trends and offers a supplier database.
- The official website of the American Marketing Association offers a free newsletter containing customised information - a good resource for marketing ideas and guidance.
- The Audit Bureau of Circulation (UK) provides free access to the circulation, distribution and attendance data for ABC-certified magazines, newspapers, exhibitions and directories within the UK and Republic of Ireland.
- ABCe is an industry-owned, non-profit distributing organization. It can be used as a source of independently audited data for electronic media measurement in the UK and Ireland.
Eleanor Bradsell is a marketing specialist in the automotive OEM industry.
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/
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Online Information Exhibition
2-4 December 2008, Olympia Grand Hall, London
Experience latest developments, launches and innovations first-hand
Over 230 International Exhibitors
Wide range of free seminars, masterclasses and case-studies
Dont miss definitive showcase for information industry
Register Free at http://www.online-information.co.uk/promo/freepint
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Planning to attend Online 2008? Let us know:
- Participate in the FreePint Special Report on Online 2008
- Learn when our editors will be delivering talks at our stand
- Request sample publications
If you can't make it to London, you can still get the benefit:
Complete the RSVP form, and we'll send you a free copy of the FreePint Special Report after the event!
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FreePint Bar
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By Sara Waddington
Freeware and software recommendations, research sources, value stream analysis as well as freelance consultant rates 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 Barista, who wishes to produce a website, is looking for freeware recommendations from Bar users to help her with html pages.
- Another Bar member wants to find software that will save hundreds of complete web pages, file them and search across these pages offline. Can you help?
- Can you help another 'Pinter who is looking for information for a list of resources that will be useful for people who want to research information on individual police forces - their performance, structure and anything else related to the forces themselves (i.e. most similar force groupings). Do you know of any useful websites or industry sources that may be of use with this?
- Another Barista would appreciate some help from Baristas with experience of doing a value stream analysis for a library service. She is particularly interested in how you record volume measures in a customer driven environment where the requirement for each output varies constantly. Can you help her with suggestions?
- Can you help another 'Pinter find examples of freelance consultant rates, specifically market research freelance rates?
- Don't forget that the latest additions to FreePint Events are now online. For promotion of your information-related event, simply complete the free listing form.
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:
Social Networking: A Research Tool
FUMSI: Find
Social networks aren't just a valuable way to manage your business and personal connections; these days they're a valuable potential source of hard-to-find research information. Amelia Kassel describes how to get the most of the content that network members are contributing to sites like LinkedIn and Vidipedia.
WHAT'S INSIDE: 'One of the significant values of social networking is connecting with those who have direct experience with companies, products, or services and are expert in a field. A range of responses include pros and cons. Moreover, the LinkedIn Answers format encourages inclusion of links to specific sites, often leading to quality sources.'
Read, print, save or forward this article now. »
Making a Difference to Patient Care Using Evidence Based Medicine
FUMSI: Use
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is a means of aiding doctors find information to optimise the care they give their patients. While some worry about the influence that health economics has on the adoption of EBM, Zena Woodley provides real-world examples of EBM success from information practitioners.
WHAT'S INSIDE: 'One [EBM example] I can remember from recent times: I was asked to do a search in the morning, I handed the paper(s) over to the surgeons concerned who (following a quick appraisal) then changed the operation they were going to perform on the basis of the evidence gathered by our search.'
Read, print, save or forward this article now »
Also recently Added to the FUMSI Database:
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Reuse FUMSI articles for training, marketing, sharing ideas
Browse the database:
http://web.fumsi.com/go/article/
Not sure where to start? Others find these useful:
Sponsor-supported free reuse, or cost-effective ad-free versions
Request information: support@fumsi.com
Or click 'License' at the top of any FUMSI article
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To blog or not to blog... That is the question.
Get business-oriented answers with the New FUMSI Report: Social Media Tools Report and Tool Kit
Author Patrice Curtis provides organizations with answers rooted in business strategy and goals. 7 hands-on activities create structure, build a business case, and create measurable outcomes with social media tools. Get your questions answered, and make social media tools a strategic part of your communications and community-building plans.
FUMSI Subscribers: 50% off list prices!
Learn more and purchase at http://web.fumsi.com/go/report/
share/1113
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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 Dialog. Learn more at <http://quantum.dialog.com/>.
Here is a selection of the latest featured entries in the Jinfo database:
- R&D Temporary Administrator
Seeking support for web/knowledge management projects and events
Recruiter: Royal Institute of British Architects
Country: United Kingdom
- Supervisor - Technical Services - Dubai Library
Zayed University is seeking an experienced Supervisor to head the Technical Services team.
Recruiter: Zayed University
Country: United Arab Emirates
- Digital Library Services Manager
Medical body seeks a Digital Library Service Manager to join the team to cover maternity leave
Recruiter: TFPL
Country: United Kingdom
- Researcher - Business Development
Researcher to support Business and Marketing initiatives and provide competitor profiles. 35 hour working week.
Recruiter: Glen Recruitment
Country: United Kingdom
- Communications and Public Information Officer
London Borough seeking temporary Communications and Public Information Officer to manage/develop public information service
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/>
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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. 58 includes:
- Face to Face: Insight into the value of face to face networking 'outside the walls' and how it can foster innovation.
- ebic Previewed: Two previews of TFPL's European Business Information Conference (ebic), upcoming in Berlin.
- Tools of the Trade: A look in depth at ISI Emerging Markets' IntelliNews and at Dow Jones Factiva's Companies and Executives.
- Towards Intranet 2.0: Chris McGrath suggests ten steps to transforming your intranet.
In the next VIP: We take a close look at BvD's Amadeus and FAME products.
Purchase VIP issue no. 58 from the VIP website, or start your subscription now: <http://web.vivavip.com/go/vip/58>
Now publishing the VIP LiveWire
Commentary on the industry, by the VIP editorial team. Get its insight on trends, products, user needs and more. You do not need to subscribe to VIP Magazine in order to receive the free weekly headlines from the LiveWire (learn more and subscribe now).
Recent posts:
- <http://www.vivavip.com/go/e11928> Technorati released its annual report on the state of the Blogosphere. The report is broken down into an introductory section and five sections dealing with topics such as...
- <http://www.vivavip.com/go/e11878> Even the most irrepressible optimist must be struggling to work out to whom the ill wind currently blowing through the financial services sector brings any good. There will be no shortage of helpful ideas for survival over the coming months - and beleaguered information professionals owe it to themselves to look at them, even if that means a lot of false starts before something finally works.
- <http://www.vivavip.com/go/e11696> Events have moved fast since Outsell signed off on its latest Information Industry Market Size, Share & Forecast Report. Predicting a 4.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the industry to 2011, Outsell believes http://digbig.com/4xnjr that the market will hold steady in 2009 and beyond, despite the challenging economy.
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.
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Highlights from ResourceShelf and DocuTicker
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 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:
ResourceShelf Special Collection - Media Guides, Factbooks, Fact Sheets, Press Kits..
Last June here on ResourceShelf, we started "collecting" media guides, factbooks/fact sheets, and press kits from a variety of government agencies, professional societies and other organizations. Why? Because they are so utterly useful. Since these resources are designed for primarily for media outlets, they are content-rich, and may also include photos and/or contact information...
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:
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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. 239, 11th October 2007. "Charting a New Course: The Future of Information Work" and "Your Online Identity: Key to Marketing and Being Found"
- FreePint No. 215, 5th October 2006. "What They Say and Do: Practical Tips for Harvesting Reliable User Feedback for Planning" and "Business Information Trends: Adding Value and Creating Customised Applications"
- FreePint No. 192, 13th October 2005. "Pulse on Germany - German sources of business information on the World Wide Web" and "Trends in business information, provision and use"
- FreePint No. 169, 14th October 2004. "Web Accessibility: Ensuring Access for All" and "Trends in business information, provision and use"
- FreePint No. 146, 2nd October 2003. "Problems with Good Credit Information on Chinese Companies" and "Digital Preservation - Barbarians at the Gate"
- FreePint No. 122, 3rd October 2002. "Effective Writing: How Good Copy Can Make Your Information Work Harder" and "From Knowledge Economy to Knowledge Ecology? - IBM's David Snowden Maps a 'Third Way' for KM at Open University Seminar"
- FreePint No. 97, 4th October 2001. "Tax Links" and "Taxonomies are what?"
- FreePint No. 72, 5th Ocotber 2000. "Influence of the Internet on the Patent Process" and "All change for search technology?"
- FreePint No. 47, 7th October 1999. "Sources of UK Financial Information on the Internet" and "Getting Good References"
- FreePint No. 23, 1st October 1998. "The Good Times are not about to end, unfortunately" and "There's an awful lot of coffee in Brazil: Coffee information on the Web"
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Forthcoming
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FORTHCOMING ARTICLES
[Provisional]
- Asia Pacific Research
- Second Life for Business
- Web Analytics and Information Architecture
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:
Sara Waddington (Senior Managing Editor, FreePint), Amelia Kassel, Zena Woodley, Robin Neidorf (General Manager), William Hann (Publisher), Douglas Brown (Proofreader).
Advertisers/Sponsors:
Quantum2 from Dialog, Royal Institute of British Architects, Zayed University, Sue Hill Recruitment and Services Limited, Glen Recruitment, TFPL, FUMSI, VIP, Jinfo.
(c) Free Pint Limited 1997-2008 <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.
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