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19th February 2009
No.271
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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
 As the amount of information on the Internet has exploded, searching has become complicated. In this issue of the FreePint newsletter, Donna Fryer urges us to remember the 'traditional' sources of information, such as fee databases, because they can often shorten search time, give the most accurate information in a clearly organised manner and often have the most workable format to edit for quality output.
Her article, 'People Information: Finding Accurate, Authoritative and Well Organised Data', highlights that too much information is not a good thing. Quality, targeted and easily-found information will please your clients and will, most likely, help you stay within your budget because of the shorter search times involved.
 Highly precise and targeted information provision were also the targets attained by Veronica Fraser, when she took over management of a government department call centre. In her article,'Answering the Call: Better Knowledge Management = Better Customer Service', she shares her experience in taking a step back to analyse ways to improve customer experience and decrease employee turnover through the use of collaborative tools and flexible technologies. Her first step was to pull together all the information held into a searchable database which became the key knowledge resource for the Customer Service Centre.
Don't forget that a raft of new articles, reports and tools, as well as new Folios for FUMSI subscribers, are available from the FUMSI website. Stay in touch - please e-mail 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) 1997-2009
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My Favourite Tipples
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By Joanna Ptolomey
Alcohol-related harm issues are a global problem costing billions of pounds/dollars to governments and taxpayers every year. The problems include social, health and criminal justice. Interventions range from social and public policy to health and legislation and are being influenced at a global level but also in the community setting. There is a lot of data out there, so where do you start when building up the picture globally, regionally, nationally and locally?
- The Big Picture: Alcohol consumption rates, costs of harm to country economies, burden on the taxpayer and health system, overviews of legislation and policy and policy options for reducing harm. WHO and EU reports have great data and good overviews, country by country, and they also provide sources of specific country information.
- Let's get clinical: There are very specific clinical interventions for the different types of alcohol abuse and harm. Always check the "gold standard" evidence base, the Cochrane Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses, for the highest level of critically appraised evidence. Cochrane reviews are also sometimes integrated into the full version of the Medline database.
- Social Policy Concerns: Why do people drink excessively and in particular patterns? How does gender, sexuality, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and age play a part? Does public policy and legislation encourage alcohol-related harm? There are a couple of key organizations that provide excellent high quality qualitative research to answer some of these key questions. These include the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Alcohol Education Research Council, Institute of Alcohol Studies and the Marin Institute.
- Alcohol and Social Responsibility Groups: In all research, you must avoid bias, so look at the problem from all angles. Perhaps the alcohol industry can play a part in the discussion too, so be open to sources such as partnerships with the drinks industry. See the European Forum for Responsible Drinking, the International Center for Alcohol Policies and The Century Council.
Joanna Ptolomey is a freelance information consultant specialising in research services, consultancy and bespoke training courses for professional researchers and end users. Joanna started her career as a librarian in the NHS before moving to a worldwide consultancy group to work in business information.
She is a Board member of the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), the independent advisory body to the Scottish government and Scottish Ministers on library and information matters.
She can be contacted at info@joannaptolomey.co.uk
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.onopoly.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
Tools for finance and treasury managers, guest speakers for an information event, permission rights for databases and publishing trends 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.
- One 'Pinter requests help with finding tools to assist a US-based finance and treasury manager perform tasks such as setting up international accounting structures and procedures, calculating international cash transfers and determining/planning worldwide cash movements and dividends.
- One Bar member is trying to find guest speakers for an event entitled 'Organising Information' in the UK.
- Another 'Pinter is looking for established guidelines/good practice for providing permission rights to an organisational database. Any pointers to research or guidance would be gratefully received.
- Another 'Pinter has requested help locating recent statistics on publication trends for scientific periodicals. In particular, he would like data on the number of articles or pages appearing in journals.
- Can you help a Barista with a ranking of the main companies in Monaco?
Visit the FreePint Bar »
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.
Help with study for information-related courses is available at the FreePint Student Bar.
Subscribe to the twice-weekly email digests at <http://www.freepint.com/subs/>.
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Touch the LiveWire
Subscribe for free to VIP's editorial headlines
http://web.vivavip.com/forum/LiveWire/
Our editors bring you insight on what's happening in the information
industry and how it will affect your work. Free weekly digest of
postings keeps you informed.
"... an invaluable barometer of what's going on in the information industry."
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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:
People Information: Finding Accurate, Authoritative and Well Organised Data
FUMSI: Find
Although free information on people abounds on the Web, the quantity isn't always matched by quality. User-generated information, for instance, may skew accuracy, and verification can be tricky. Donna Fryer recommends revisiting the 'Big Three' fee databases of Factiva, Dialog and LexisNexis to be sure that the people data you use is reliable.
WHAT'S INSIDE: 'Going back to the days when things were simpler and you could rely on only having to know search parameters in fee-based databases, searchers need to keep in mind that database searching is often a better alternative to Web research and we need to reacquaint ourselves with the 'Big 3' (Factiva, Dialog, and LexisNexis) fee-based database offerings.'
Read, print, save or forward this article now »
Answering the Call: Better Knowledge Management = Better Customer Service
FUMSI: Use
When she took over management of a government department call centre in September 2004, Veronica Fraser had experience with library and information services but none with call centres. She shares her experience in taking a step back to analyse ways to improve customer experience and decrease employee turnover through the use of collaborative tools and flexible technologies.
WHAT'S INSIDE: 'Our performance records show a step change from September 2004 onwards, with fewer calls abandoned as wait times improved, more calls answered and better information provided in response to oral and emailed questions - all with the same technology and the same number of information advisers.'
Read, print, save or forward this article now »
Also recently added to the FUMSI database:
Browse all FUMSI articles »
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Stay in Touch with Demand for Talent
http://www.jinfo.com/
Subscribe to the free weekly Jinfo Jobs Update to stay informed about vacancies. Know the value of your skills, whether or not you are currently seeking a new role.
Now including event listings! Find professional development, webinars, conferences, workshops and more.
Free to subscribe now: http://www.jinfo.com/subs/
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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.62
- People Information: Donna Fryer advises on finding reliable data on people using 'The Big Three'.
- Under Review: Joanna Ptolomey assesses the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) in its 15th year of existence; and Diana Nutting looks closely at ISI DealWatch.
- Inside Aggregation: Paul Al-Nakaash of LexisNexis explains the processes involved in the vendor-publisher licensing relationship.
- Creative Input: the UK government's IPO has begun a review of copyright with a view to amending it for the 21st century; and other industry news and product updates.
VIP Magazine No.62 »
In the next VIP: KYC review.
Purchase VIP issue no. 62 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
for free to receive weekly updates at http://www.vivavip.com/order/digest/
Recent posts:
- For small companies using Twitter to promote their products and services might seem like a cost effective idea. Many large companies are going it, and digital media agencies are already selling their services to create tweets for clients.......
Direct link to posting: http://www.vivavip.com/go/e16258
- Not only can enterprise content management help you work more efficiently - it's also environmentally friendly. That at any rate is the verdict of Gartner, in a recent report Enterprise Content Management Strategies for Green IT.......
Direct link to posting: http://www.vivavip.com/go/e16087
- Business information providers have always played a key role in supplying firms with comprehensive and timely company data. Businesses which have had to cut back on their marketing budgets in these straitened times are having to become more efficient in their sales prospecting........
Direct link to posting: http://www.vivavip.com/go/e16171
VIP
LiveWire »
VIP Wire
Information-related product and news announcements. Post your
releases and receive news FREE.
VIP Wire »
VIP - Subscribe
and Back Issues
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. Purchase back-issues of VIP from the VIP Archive.
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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:
- Records Manager
Seeking records manager with communication skills for crucial role in national security
Recruiter: Stafford Long
Country: United Kingdom
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Learning Services Manager
Senior position holding responsibility for different areas including Library, IT support and Learning development such as e-learning.
Recruiter: TFPL
Country: United Kingdom
- Research / Analyst - Financial Services
Do you have City Financial Services Sector in-depth knowledge, research, analysis and creative writing skills?
Recruiter: Glen Recruitment
Country: United Kingdom
- Project Information Officer
Covers a wide range of social care subject areas. Carry out research, produce written reports and supporting resources as required. Opportunity to contribute to developing methods of supporting research...
Recruiter: SCIE
Country: United Kingdom
- Office Manager
Office Manager, Bicester £35-40,000. Take charge of an international book provider & collection support company's UK office
Recruiter: Sue Hill Recruitment and Services Limited
Country: United Kingdom
Browse all Jinfo
Jobs »
[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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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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| Highlights from ResourceShelf and DocuTicker
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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:
 United States:
- AIIP 23rd Annual Conference
26 - 29 March 2009
Annual business development and education conference for independent information professionals.
 United Kingdom:
- CILIP's Umbrella 2009
14 - 15 July 2009
Umbrella is the flagship event of CILIP: The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. It is a well-established, must-attend biennial gathering for library and information professionals.
Free listings
United Kingdom:
United States:
 Australia:
 Spain:
 Germany:
*** 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. 247, 28th February 2008. "Managing Successful Vendor Contracts: Part 1 - Preparation" and "Online Digital Special Collections in English Universities: Promoting Awareness"
- FreePint No. 224, 15th February 2007. "Beyond Music: Integrating Podcasting into Your Business" and "Life of the Party: Social Web Browsers"
- FreePint No. 200, 16th February 2006. "Health intelligence sources in diabetes" and "Digital repositories in UK universities and colleges"
- FreePint No. 177, 24th February 2005. "Website Usability" and "Recycling - A Growth Industry"
- FreePint No. 154, 19th February 2004. "Electronic Information for Occupational Safety and Health - Challenges for the Information Professional" and "Legal Issues For Information Professionals. How UK Copyright Law Has Changed With The EU Directive"
- FreePint No. 131, 20th February 2003. "France - Business and Economics Sources on the Web" and "Poisons, Potions and Toxins - Toxicology Sources on the Web"
- FreePint No. 106, 21st February 2002. "Searching for 'The Daily Me'" and "So you want to start your own business? Web resources that every budding entrepreneur should consult before taking the plunge"
- FreePint No. 81, 15th February 2001. "Economics sources" and "Aboriginal Australia on the World Wide Web"
- FreePint No. 56, 17th February 2000. "UK Political & Government Web Sites" and "Topics and Collections: An Alternative Metaphor for Using the Web"
- FreePint No. 32, 18th February 1999. "Environmental Information on the Internet" and "New Library: now comes the action"
- FreePint No. 8, 19th February 1998. "A New Light on the Horizon" and "Current Awareness Research on the Internet"
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Forthcoming
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FORTHCOMING ARTICLES
[Provisional]
FUMSI
- Automatic Classification
- Alternative Search Engines
- Federated Search Blogging
- Research: A Strategy for Raising US $1 Million
VIP
- Interview with Robin Bew of EIU
- KYC Review - LexisNexis and Dow Jones Watchlist
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), Donna Fryer, Veronica Fraser, Joanna Ptolomey, Nancy Davis Kho (Copyeditor), Robin Neidorf (General Manager), William Hann (Publisher), Douglas Brown (Proofreader).
Advertisers/Sponsors:
Quantum2 from Dialog, Mark Logic, Sue Hill Recruitment and Services Limited, Glen Recruitment, TFPL, Weekes Gray Recruitment, Stafford Long, SCIE, FUMSI, VIP, Jinfo.
(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.
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