This is a guide for the information professional interested in becoming an information broker. Brokers, also called independent information professionals or research professionals, provide information services to organizations such as corporations, law firms, the general public, and banks. They perform services such as document retrieval and delivery, establishing and maintaining special libraries, and analysis of data into a value-added report. Brokers use a variety of research methods from online database searching  to public records searching to personal interviews.

Starting your own information brokerage requires much more than good searching skills, however. It also requires marketing skills, small business expertise, and database and computer equipment expenses. This guide provides information about each of these requirements with many sites created by information brokers themselves.

Getting Started in the Field

 Bates Information Services--Mary Ellen Bates

Mary Ellen Bates is the president of Bates Information Services and a frequently published author of books and articles on the online information industry. She was the 1996-1997 President of AIIP, the Association of Independent Information Professionals. Her site includes the following information:

• Articles and Books. A bibliography of books and articles Bates has written or contributed to such as Super Searchers Do Business: the online secrets of top business researchers,  Getting Your First Five Clients, and "Emerging trends in Information Brokering". Particularly useful are the links to her selected recent articles on the web.
• Speeches. A bibliography of her speeches and presentations which include some links such as "Tips From the Super Searchers: how expert online searchers find business information", "The Web as a Research Tool" , and "Using the Web for Research, or Free vs. Fee".
• Online Deskbook. This is an outline with links of Online Magazine's Essential Desk Reference for Online and Internet Searchers. Although the links have not been updated since December 1998, the list and some links are useful for information such as ways to search the Internet, information about the Internet, web sites of online information services/databases, and Internet Resources for Online Searchers.
• For Your Information. A newsletter published by Bates available at this site or by free e-mail subscription. The articles include topics such as "Stating Current" and "The Future of Libraries" and contain related links.

 Burwell Enterprises, Inc.

This organization's site is intended for those wanting to learn more about the profession of information brokers. The site includes information on:
• The Burwell World Directory of Information Brokers available for online searching.
• Publications including the Information Broker newsletter, survival and searching guides, and legal issues.
• Hot Bytes. Links are provided to start up business advice, the Burwell bibliography to several hundred newspaper and magazine articles about the profession, professional associations, and frequently asked questions.
• Seminar descriptions, schedules, and registration information.

This site provides information on the information brokerage profession and a list of resources that may be useful. It introduces the profession and describes the market, potential clients and where to look for information. The "Statistics Behind the Data" provides statistics on who has purchased information and the amount spent in past years and what kind of information is sought most. Lists of database vendors and online services are also provided.

 Marketing Base Mentor

Marketing Base's site provides information for the types of research available, online databases used, and sample projects, and strategies. While this information is useful for how an established information brokerage (since 1984) operates, the site also provides information for beginning professionals. The mentoring program instructs how to start an information brokerage with information for pricing, marketing strategies, what databases to use, and other essentials. An outline of the course is provided and the pace is set by the individual. Also useful are links and citations to speeches, slide presentations, seminars, and publications about the information professional field.

Associations

 American Library Association

The ALA seeks to promote and improve library and information services. Interests include intellectual freedom/censorship and copyright/intellectual property among many others. The site provides links to numerous subject oriented lists and discussion groups, library related electronic serials, and conferences. A link to their magazine, American Libraries is also available and allows for searching past issues.

 American Society for Information Science (ASIS)

Operating for over 60 years, ASIS is among the first to bring information professional together and now boasts of a membership of over 4,000. ASIS provides high quality and unique education and conference programs, highly regarded publications and journals, and other professional services for information systems developers, on-line professionals, information resource managers, librarians, record managers, and others. Within ASIS are smaller interest groups so that members can share their specialized interests and talents with others in the same fields.

• Publications. Links are provided to Annual Review of Information Science and Technology (ARIST), The Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science (available in full-text), Journal of the American Society for Information Science (JASIS), and the ASIS bookstore. Particularly useful is the February/March 1995 issue of The Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science which has a special section dedicated to information brokering.
• Membership. Benefits include subscriptions to the Bulletin, the Journal of the American Society for Information Science and JobLine (ASIS's regular listing of career opportunities in the information professions), participation in the ASIS Placement Service, which brings job seekers and employers together at ASIS conferences, a listing in and receive a copy of the Handbook & Directory, membership in the local ASIS chapter (where one exists) and the opportunity to join ASIS Special Interest Groups, and a variety of discounts.
• ASIS-L LISTSERV

The general email based discussion list for the American Society for Information Science (ASIS). Everyone is welcome to subscribe

 Association of Independent Information Professionals

AIIP began in 1987 and now has over 750 members. Services and activities include a quarterly newsletter, an annual membership directory and a Conference and Annual Meeting each spring, a private electronic discussion list on the Internet for networking and AIIP business, a referral program for interested clients, exhibits at trade shows, and negotiations for discounts with with vendors of information products and services.

In addition to organization information, this site also provides information about the  field of information brokers by describing what is an information professional in their white paper and providing background information in their organization description. The site also provides an alphabetical membership listing and an order form for related products such as Conference tapes about searching tips, business guides, and professional papers.

SLA consists of "information resource experts who collect, analyze, evaluate, package, and disseminate information to facilitate accurate decision making. SLA's members are employed by corporations, private companies, government agencies, technical and academic institutions, museums, medical facilities and information management consulting firms." Some members include information brokers.

Membership in SLA includes the following benefits: subscription to Information Outlook, SLA's monthly magazine, Who's Who in Special Libraries, SLA's annual membership directory, discounts on books and publications, conferences and exhibits, continuing education programs, public and government relations, ongoing research, and employment and career services.

The Association is divided into smaller units of chapters, divisions & caucuses. Chapters are geographically based and divisions are organized by subject/specialty. Caucuses are less formal groups of members who have similar interests for networking. Member rates are $125.00 and smaller unit memberships are an additional $12-15.00.

Resources

EContent (formally Database)

This magazine provides information for professional searchers concerning database systems, tips, and techniques, reviews, and Internet content. The site contains full-text to current and past issues and a link to the archives for Database magazine. Industry news is also available. This allows for searching the 2000 and 1997-1999 archived Industry News sections for both Online and EContent magazines. Viewing the yearly alphabetical indexes is also available and helps to find related articles and issues. Also listed are links to profession-related conferences.

This site, created by Joe Ryan, provides many categories of information and useful links within them. Topics include Guide to Guides, Listservs and Newsgroups, and Associations. Most links are related to the information profession.

 Searcher: The Magazine for Database Professionals

This magazine "explores and deliberates on a comprehensive range of issues important to the professional database searcher. The magazine is targeted to experienced, knowledgeable searchers and combines evaluations of data content with discussions of delivery media. Searcher includes evaluated online news, searching tips and techniques, reviews of search aid software and database documentation, revealing interviews with leaders and entrepreneurs of the industry, and trenchant editorials." It is issued 10 times a year at a subscription rate of $69.95.

The site offers past issues with links to articles, mostly in full-text for free. The current issue also offers some full-text.

Recognizing the complexity of the Internet, Webforia's Research Center has been designed to help navigate it. The Guide to Web Research page has links to their suggested place to begin searching, including tips from professional searchers. Industry Profiles spotlights a professional in the information industry each month and provides links to past profiles. Amanda Kassel, Mary Ellen Bates, and Susan Detwiler are among the past profiles that include information brokers. Webforia also produces and E-zine for free e-mail subscription.