INFORMATION BROKER
By Trudy B. Robertson
A web guide for students or professionals interested in the occupation that is also known as information entrepreneur, information consultant, or information researcher.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS (AIIP)
The home page of an international association of owners of information businesses includes resources such as membership information and the Code of Ethical Business Practice. Three major links are shown below.
INDEPENDENT INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS WHITEPAPER
The Whitepaper profiles the job of the information broker (IB).
INDEPENDENT INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL COURSES
This is a list of courses offered that teach how to be an IB.
INDEPENDENT INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE
This guide contains lists of periodicals, databases, search strategies, and books and articles organized by year of publication.
CONSULT ONLINE DIRECTORY (SLA)
This is a database of Special Libraries Association members who are an IB and desire to be included in the directory that is available for members and nonmembers to locate and hire consultants for commercial projects.
THE EUROPEAN INFORMATION RESEARCHERS NETWORK (EIRENE)
This is the professional association that represents over 65 information brokers from European countries. It works to promote contacts and increase commercial activity.
LAMA LIBRARY CONSULTANTS DIRECTORY, ALA/LAMA, LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
SOCIETY OF COMPETITIVE INTELLIGENCE PROFESSIONALS (SCIP)
This is the professional association of researchers who specialize in competitive intelligence concerning industry.
ESTABLISHED IB BUSINESS WEB SITES
Mary Ellen Bates is the principal of Bates Information Services, a research consulting firm based in Washington, DC. She does mentoring and provides a free quarterly e-newsletter.
Practical, accurate, and concise information that supports the online researcher is presented through a print newsletter and book available for sale.
This is a focal point for those seeking to hire the services of reliable and ethical brokers. An international IB directory is maintained with over 1800 IB in 51 countries. Mentoring support is provided, and books are available for sale.
Amelia Kassel is the principal of her long established business based in California. She has training programs, seminars, and retreats. Her newly published book about searching Wall Street is available for sale.
This is the site of IB Keith Londrie II, an associate member of AIIP. Support and networking opportunities are offered.
Barbara Wagner is the president of her company. Mentoring and training are available, as well as her publications.
COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES TARGETING ENTREPRENEURS
This online entrepreneur business magazine sells products to help customers start up their own businesses. The URL proceeds to the "Information Broker Startup Kit" which is a free article excerpted from a book that is for sale. The comprehensive article is titled How to Become an Information Consultant.
Site created July 2002 Send comments to jrob14@bellsouth.net