Cost: $295 (includes lunch and coffee services) 
 

Overview
Web search engines, Web directories, metasites — all are useful tools for finding the right sites efficiently and effectively. For any question though, one tool may be much more appropriate than another. In this workshop we’ll look at which tool to use when, and the relative strengths, weaknesses, and applications of each category of tool. Each of the major directories and search engines will likewise individually be examined in terms of specific strengths, weaknesses, and unique applications. Numerous subtle and often overlooked features and characteristics of these tools will be highlighted.

As for metasites, we’ll see why this category of tool needs more recognition and learn how to easily locate the best metasites in any area. Specialty search engines, meta-search engines, and special finding tools will also be examined.

The emphasis of the workshop will be on practical applications and on knowledge that will enable attendees to most effectively and efficiently find the answers they need. A detailed booklet will be provided as well as a Web site containing links to all sites covered in the workshop.

The Seminar Will Cover: 

• Categories of Web Finding Tools
• General Web Directories
• Major Directories — Strengths, Weaknesses, Special Features
• Metasites — What They Provide and Why They are Critical
• A Sampler of Metasites
• How to Find Metasites for Any Area
• Search Engines
• The Major Engines — Strengths, Weaknesses, Special Features
• Other Popular General Web Search Engines 
• Specialty Search Engines 
• Meta-Search Engines
• Special Finding Tools 

Who Should Attend?
Those who use the Web for research and would like to more fully understand and make effective use of the entire spectrum of Web “finding tools.” Those who do research for themselves, those who do research for others, and those who teach others to use the Web for research should all find this workshop valuable.
 

About the Presenter 
Ran Hock, author of The Extreme Searcher’s Guide to Web Search Engines (Information Today, 1999), has his own company, Online Strategies, which specializes in creating and presenting seminars on the effective use of Web resources. He has created and presented courses on searching the Web for professional associations, businesses, schools, libraries, and government agencies. In addition to his recent book, he has published numerous articles on various aspects of online research. During his career he has served as a reference librarian and has held management and training positions with Dialog and Knight-Ridder Information Services. Ran is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Maryland, College of Library and Information Services and also at Lesley College (Cambridge, MA), where he teaches in the Technology in Education Program. During his career, he has trained over 7,000 online researchers in the U.S. and abroad.

Cost: $295 (includes lunch and coffee services)
 

Overview
Competitive Intelligence (CI) research in the 21st Century requires new strategies for capturing the “best” information. Learn new approaches to evaluating and using the multitude of electronic sources now available online and new techniques for keeping up with what’s happening — stateside and worldwide. This fast-paced class covers a wide range of online sources and presents the best tools for building profiles of both industries and individual companies. Research techniques are examined in the context of at least 15 data elements necessary for sizing up competitors. Specific vendors, database files, and Internet sites are covered, with examples.
 

Course Outline

Online and Database Sources

• CI Strategies Using Electronic Information
  Defensive CI, shadowing, benchmarking, etc.
• What to Consider When Comparing and Evaluating Online Sources for Competitive Intelligence 
  Twelve criteria for making the best choices
• The Broad Issues to Be Considered
  When tracking a competitor or industry online
• The Industry Checklist
  The top seven topics to cover in studying an industry, and where to capture the data electronically for loading to a CI database
• Twelve Categories of Sources for CI and Tips for Maximizing Their Use
  Which categories yield which types of data needed for CI Checklists
• The Company CI Checklist—What to Look for and Where to Look
  Covers 13 categories of information and provides names of preferred online or Internet files for each category
• Locating the Same Checklist Items Outside the U.S.
  Europe, Asia, and non-U.S. North America
• Political Risk and Country Reports
  What sources are most timely, most comprehensive, most cost-effective
• Database Producers/Vendors
  Finding CI information using major commercial vendors, such as Factiva, DIALOG, and LEXIS-NEXIS

Internet Sources

• Why Use Commercial Online Sources If You Can Surf the Web?
  When is the Internet the best source for CI? Pitfalls for the unwary Internet searcher; comparison of data from online and Internet sources, with cost analysis.
• Searching the Internet
  Discussion of the major search engines — how they work (and how they don’t); how to avoid Internet overload.
• What CI Can Be Found Using the Internet?
  Government sources (U.S. and foreign), locating experts, checking up on competitors, advertising and marketing information, and more.
• WWW Sites and Other Internet Locations for Useful CI Information
  URLs for dozens of the hottest sites — and for many lesser-known but valuable resources; what’s free, what’s fee?
  Take-Home Materials: course book and disk of bookmarks

About the Presenter
Helen Burwell is president of Burwell Enterprises, Inc., which provides consulting and research services to the information industry and the international business community. The company also publishes The Burwell World Directory of Information Brokers, which is widely used by business and industry for outsourcing information research. As principal of the Information Professionals Institute Seminars, Ms. Burwell shares her expertise nationwide in a series of seminars covering online and business information topics for information professionals as well as the broader corporate community. She is a frequent speaker at regional, national, and international conferences, and is the author of Online Competitive Intelligence, published by Facts On Demand Press, 1999. Helen Burwell is a founding member of the Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP) and served as the organization’s first president.

Cost: $295 (includes lunch and coffee services) 
 

Overview
This full-day workshop focuses on the foundations of knowledge management (KM) and describes what involvement in KM can mean for an information professional’s career. It looks at how information professionals can add value by partnering with the knowledge-hungry in their organization and what can happen when those opportunities are missed.

After sharing the results of various case studies, there will be an interactive session examining KM projects and ideas. Areas discussed will include KM technology infrastructure, organizational positioning, complexities, and competencies.
 

Course Components Include:

• Knowledge Management: What it is and isn’t
• Cases: Who is doing what? What’s working, and what’s not? What lessons can we learn from them?
• Complexities: What are the components of a KM initiative? Who are the major players who must be involved? What type of technology infrastructure is required? What does KM really involve and where does one begin?
• Competencies: What skills and experiences are required to be a participant or leader in a KM initiative? An opportunity for participants to identify those competencies they have, those they need, and to draft an action plan for pursuing involvement in a KM initiative.

• Explain the various components involved in a knowledge initiative
• Identify the competencies required to participate in knowledge initiatives
• Apply the learning from those information professionals who have been or are participating in knowledge initiatives
• Create an action plan for pursuing a knowledge initiative in their organizations

Who Should Attend?
This workshop is aimed at information professionals (librarians, Intranet managers, and research professionals) who need to increase their understanding of knowledge management concepts and knowledge initiatives. Those who are being called upon to reinvent and re-describe their professional services will find this day invaluable.
 

About the Presenter
Stephen Abram, Vice President of IHS/Micromedia Limited, has written and taught extensively on the topics of transformational librarianship, leadership, and knowledge management. He has been teaching courses for the Special Libraries Association and for the University of Toronto Faculty of Information Studies for the past 10 years. This course has been taught worldwide for three years.

Cost: $295 (includes lunch and coffee services)
 

Overview
Discovering new sites on the Web is not a problem; hundreds exist for every topic under the sun.  Identifying those to which you should link when time and money are a consideration —- not to mention comprehensive in nature, timeliness, and accuracy of the data —-is the key.  This seminar will provide participants with objective information and evaluation as to the nature, extent, and quality of information resources on the Internet.

Internet sources will be approached from a highly practical perspective by an information professional who supports the research needs of organizations on a daily basis.  What’s available and how do we find it, how do we validate what we find, and how can we be kept informed of new developments?

This one-day workshop will help you identify and evaluate Web sites in your subject area, distinguish hard information resources on the Net from the soft, understand how traditional online services are approaching the technology and how they intend to compete with the “upstarts.”  Attendees should come away with a greater understanding of what resources are available to them, prepared to develop a strategy to deal with future technological and likely social developments.
 

Course Outline

• Streamlining your Web search: understanding your choices
• Searching aids: Internet search tools, WWW search engines, specialized servers, and Web channels
• Identifying those search engines, pathfinders and/or specialized servers that are most appropriate for your subject area
• Traditional publishers, databases, and publications vs. resources created for the Net
• Subject-specific search strategies for locating resources in your field
• Criteria for evaluating Web sites
• Identifying contributors to discussions and verifying their qualifications
• Being realistic and managing the expectations of others
• What we can expect in the future: New resources, tools and technologies
• General news and current affairs
• News sources: Global, national, and local press and coverage
• Public opinions, social, and lifestyle issues
• Personalized news services: Which is right for you?
• People news and biographical material that ring true
• Laws and regulations, education and religion
• World constitutions, international treaties, and legal documents from around the world
• Government sites, legislative information services, legal libraries, and important links
• Human rights libraries and watchers
• Formal education; continuing (adult) education; distance learning; and special education needs and fulfillment
• Religions of the world, traditional and cult
• Sources for scientific and technical information
• International standards, national requirements, and industry specs
• Health and medicine, traditional and non-traditional approaches targeted to the consumer and the practitioner alike
• Academic libraries and scholarly discussions
• Patents and trademarks; medicine and health; engineering and the environment; chemicals and pharmaceuticals
• Maps, atlases, climate, and weather
• Economics, business, and finance
• Economic and financial data: Where to go and what to believe —NGOs, government agencies, and research studies
• Labor issues and employment opportunities online
• Key academic libraries, bulletin boards, and research papers
• Foreign trade data and opportunity scans
• Industry and market analyses
• Identifying trade associations with real data online
• Stock and bond market data and trading options
• Commerce, on and off-line: Malls and gateways for conducting industry-specific research and transactions
• Public and private company-specific data and sites
• Using recruitment services and advertising on the Net to gather competitive intelligence

Who Should Attend?
This program is designed for information professionals who wish to expand access to subject resources through the use of the Internet. Some knowledge of print and electronic resources (CD-ROM and online) is advised.  
 

About the Presenter
The session will be conducted by Barbie E. Keiser, Director of the Kathryn & Shelby Cullom Davis Library of The College of Insurance in New York City.  A comprehensive bibliography of additional readings and listings of recommended Web-based resources will be distributed.