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4th December 2008
No.266
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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
 In this issue of the FreePint newsletter, we explore the theme of successful project management (finding and sharing information). This hinges on the ability to 'ask the right question' at the start of the process and then correctly utilise the wealth of information tools and sources around you to build a key knowledge base.
 An important step in matching your 'search' with your 'find' is asking the right question at the start of the process. The clearer the initial questions, the better the research result. Jane John explains this in more depth in her article 'Key to Research Success: Asking the Right Questions'.
She provides eight useful tips for helping to improve the quality of the client's question with the goal of taking the guesswork out of providing the answer. The scoping phase - helping clients to improve the quality of each question they ask - is becoming increasingly important for information professionals.
Once you have defined your question, correctly utilising the various information tools and sources around you to build knowledge is also key to successful project management. Wikis are one of the tools in this process and Scott Brown, in his article 'Wikis at Sun Microsystems: The Ongoing Evolution', describes the development of a cross-enterprise wiki platform as a way to move away from a 'static' web to a world where information can be updated much more quickly and be actively maintained by the group.
It started as a Confluence wiki platform to conduct project management, share data and connect teams internally but SunSpace now is, at its core, a wiki community that integrates functionality from many different social networking tools to create a more complex and nuanced community (internal and external) to share information. With so many employees in thousands of locations, the ability to connect with each other and share information effectively becomes paramount.
Don't forget that the latest issue of VIP includes a comparative review of Factiva, LN and Dialog - order it now, alone or with the full report from our user survey, or get the survey report free with your new subscription to VIP. You can also take VIP for a 'test drive' by requesting a trial subscription via the online request form.
Sara Waddington
Senior Managing Editor
Free Pint Limited
FreePint is a Registered Trademark of Free Pint Limited (R) 1997-2008
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My Favourite Tipples
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By Jonathan Gordon-Till
I'm a great fan of popular information and knowledge sharing gadgets, widgets and tools such as Flickr, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs, wikis, etc, and of collecting (and trying out) knowledge methods such as storytelling. The first three sites below bring together some of these from the perspectives of a knowledge management practitioner and a general manager.
- The Knowledge Sharing Toolkit is part of the CGIAR's (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) KM and ICT program. Apart from having a great collection of knowledge sharing tools and methods, it's a useful place to come to see how knowledge sharing initiatives make a difference in the real world.
- The APQC (American Productivity & Quality Center) is a member-based non profit organisation providing benchmarking and best-practice research for its members. I find the Knowledge Base one of the first places to visit when thinking about any new KM initiative, and many of the reports and case studies are free to access.
- I find Businessballs worth browsing to check out templates and hints & tips for many of the popular management tools such as ice-breakers, learning styles tests and market analyses. All the resources are free.
- Dave Snowden's blog on the Cognitive Edge site makes for challenging but entertaining reading. I find his particular views on the KM world worth proper consideration and often wish I was as intelligent as him!
- With a passion for rail travel as the only proper way to experience another country as a tourist, my favourite travel site has to be The Man in Seat Sixty-One. It has timetables, practical information, stories and links to every imaginable site for rail travel in just about every country with a rail system. Even if I'm never likely to travel in North Korea or Mali, it's still a fascinating site.
Jonathan Gordon-Till is an independent consultant in knowledge management (with a particular focus on office spaces and personal networks) and competitive intelligence (with a special interest in the metals markets of Kazakhstan and Russia). He is also employed as global KM Champion for one of the world's largest confectionery companies.
He has been working in the information and knowledge sphere for over 21 years and is also active in business ethics. He has a first degree in geology and Russian and is also a competent speaker of Hungarian. He can be contacted at jonathan@gordon-till.com.
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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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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FreePint Bar
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By Sara Waddington
Newsletter and competitive intelligence software, intranet manager requirements, information directories, yearly event advisors and file management are hot topics on the Bar at the moment. See a round-up of recent conversations below and click through to join the discussion. Post your research dilemmas to the FreePint Bar.
The FreePint Bar is generously sponsored by Mark Logic and Dialog.
- One 'Pinter has been asked to recommend e-mail newsletter software for a marketing client. Can anyone recommend a good FAQ or review source for various software?
- Another Barista need a 'fresh', updated report on competitive intelligence software including what is available, special features, prices, free sources, vendors, etc. He is also looking for a report on the use of digital platforms to access competitive intelligence by senior management.
- FreePint is launching a survey to gather information about the interests and needs of intranet managers. If you manage or contribute to the management of your organisation's intranet, please take a few minutes to complete this online survey. Respondents who provide a valid email address will receive a copy of the results. If you can help, let FreePint know.
- One member would appreciate advice from the Bar on whether the "Who's Who in the Information Industry" directory of managers within the major information departments still exists? If it does, she asks for the publisher details and wonders if there is a wider directory for Europe/US/World?
- Another 'Pinter is looking for a single source or list of 2009 photographic trade exhibitions.
- Can Baristas help a Bar member who is interested in techniques or sources for organising files and folders on a Windows file server (for ease of access and elimination of file duplication) to benefit a sales-driven organisation? Unfortunately, a Wiki is not a practical proposition in this highly secure environment.
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:
Wikis at Sun Microsystems: The Ongoing Evolution
FUMSI: Share
Since their start as a grassroots collaboration tool inside Sun Microsystems, wikis have come a long way. Scott Brown describes the evolution of wikis inside the enterprise and looks ahead at the role they may play for the company in the future.
WHAT'S INSIDE: 'The great thing about the launch of wikis.sun.com was that it provided an enterprise-wide wiki platform; there wasn't the need to try to convince a wiki admin to give you a space. The downside was, at least at the time of launch, there wasn't the ability to have a wiki just for employee use. The wiki had to be external-facing.'
Read, print, save or forward this article now. »
Key to Research Success: Asking the Right Questions
FUMSI: Find
Information professionals know that it may be easy to answer a client's research question, but it can be much harder to answer the question they meant to ask. Jane Johns provides eight helpful tips for helping improve the quality of the client's question with the goal of taking the guesswork out of providing the answer.
WHAT'S INSIDE: 'I have developed a series of elements to cover in client conversations. Each element drives back to the same goal - to enable me to envision, describe and feel exactly what will satisfy the client's needs. I want to spend as little time as possible answering the wrong questions and as much time as possible answering the right questions for each client.'
Read, print, save or forward this article now »
Also recently Added to the FUMSI Database:
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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
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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 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.
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:
- Are you interested in early modern British and European History? Take a look at Gale's State Papers Online. It is designed to be a rich digital resource for understanding 200 years of history from the time of Cardinal Wolsey to the Age of Enlightenment. Gales seeks to provide, via State Papers Online, almost 3 million pages of correspondence, reports, memoranda, and parliamentary drafts...... Direct link to posting: http://www.vivavip.com/go/e13951
- Officially launched November 20, the Europeana Portal provides users with access to digitised books, films, paintings, newspapers, sounds and archives from Europe's greatest collections. The digital content currently sums up to a total of two million items and aims at well over 6 million digital sounds, pictures, books, archival records and films by 2010. Direct link to posting: http://www.vivavip.com/go/e13950
- It's scant consolation to anyone who has just lost their job in the credit crisis, or may be facing that prospect, that salaries in the specialist information profession have remained comfortably ahead of inflation....... Direct link to posting: http://www.vivavip.com/go/e13920
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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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:
- Information Management Officer
Effective information management is at the heart of successful government.
Recruiter: Leicestershire County Council
Country: United Kingdom
- Information Assistant
Use your experience from law, education or libraries + your customer care experience to offer high quality info services to students & staff in York.
Recruiter: Sue Hill Recruitment and Services Limited
Country: United Kingdom
- M25 Web Services Project Officer
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a talented project officer to join the M25 Support Team (based in the LSE Library)
Recruiter: LSE
Country: United Kingdom
- Intranet Editor - Sharepoint
Leading UK-based charity with international operations seeking an Intranet Editor. This role will require the post holder to have a number of key responsibilities including internal communications, po...
Recruiter: TFPL
Country: United Kingdom
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Senior Researcher - Investment Banking
Financial Institutions Sector Specialist / Researcher required in permanent job for global Investment Bank.
Recruiter: Glen Recruitment
Country: United Kingdom
[The above jobs are paid listings]
NB: These are just a selection of information-related jobs in the Jinfo database <http://www.jinfo.com/>. Receive the latest job listings weekly with the free Jinfo Update. Free to subscribe at <http://www.jinfo.com/>
Jinfo - the best place for information-related job vacancies.
- JOB SEARCHING?
-- Free search and sign up to the Jinfo Newsletter
- RECRUITING?
-- Complete the form and advertise a vacancy for just GBP195 <http://www.jinfo.com/recruit/>
-- 10% discount for agencies
-- 50% discount for registered charities
Find out more today at <http://www.jinfo.com/>
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| Highlights from ResourceShelf and DocuTicker
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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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Events
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It is free to search and advertise information-related gatherings in FreePint Events »
Premium listings
These events are hosted by our partner organisations and/or advertisers:
 Netherlands:
Online:
Free listings
 United Kingdom:
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*** Submit your event for free promotion ***
New upgrade option for enhanced listing coverage
<http://www.freepint.com/events/>
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Gold
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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. 219, 7th December 2006. "Wikipedia: To Use or Not To Use" and "Social Revolution: Bloggers Dominate Online"
- 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. 51, 2nd December 1999. "UK Help and Welfare Information on the Web" and "Homepages: Househunting on the Internet"
- FreePint No. 28, 17th December 1998. "Review of Online Information 98" and "Free Pint in 1998"
- FreePint No. 3, 4th December 1997. "Getting the Most Out of Online 97" and "Getting Even Better Results from Search Engines"
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Forthcoming
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FORTHCOMING ARTICLES
[Provisional]
FUMSI
- Competitive Intelligence
Information Architecture
- Avoiding 'Anti-Social' Networks
- Web Analytics and Information Architecture
VIP
- Review of the Big Three
- Inside the Credit Crunch
- OneSource
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), Scott Brown, Jane John, Jonathan Gordon-Till, 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, LSE, Leicestershire County Council, 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 to <support@freepint.com>. For details about contributing, advertising or to see past issues, please visit the Web site at <http://www.freepint.com/>.
Please note: FreePint (ISSN 1460-7239) is a registered trademark of, and published by, Free Pint Limited. The publishers will NEVER make the subscriber list available to any other company or organisation.
The opinions, advice, products and services offered herein are the sole responsibility of the contributors. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the publication, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions.
This publication may be freely copied and/or distributed in its entirety. However, individual sections MAY NOT be copied and/or distributed without the prior written agreement of the publishers. Write to Robin Neidorf, General Manager, <robin.neidorf@freepint.com> for more details. Product names used in FreePint are for identification purposes only, and may be trademarks of their respective owners. FreePint disclaims any and all rights in those marks. All rights reserved.
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House, Lamer Lane, Wheathampstead, Herts, AL4 8RQ
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