Meet us at AIIP21

By Jan Sykes

The 2021 AIIP Annual Conference Committee invites members and non-members to become part of something new to AIIP—a virtual conference held over two and a half days in April. We have an amazing line up of speakers focusing on themes that are highly relevant to independent information professionals. While we will miss the vibe and energy of meeting in person, we are grateful that technology allows us to put safety first. We are confident that we are creating an equally engaging online conference experience.

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Pivot: The only move that matters is your next one

Presented by Jenny Blake

Reported by Debbie Wynot, Insight Matters and Library Consultants LLC

Editor’s note: This summary of our conference keynote presentation was originally published in the September 2017 issue of AIIP Connections newsletter, and—in 2020—it’s as relevant as ever.

For a conference program built on a theme of pivoting for success, could there have been a better keynote speaker than the gregarious and engaging Jenny Blake? Attendees were treated to an account of how a successful career development manager at Google left it all behind to follow her passions. Sound familiar, anyone?

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The Role of Info Pros in Information Retrieval: From Text to Thought, Presented by Joyce Ward

By Phyllis Smith

The Roger Summit Lecture Award is funded by AIIP Past Presidents to bring an inspiring and stimulating speaker to the AIIP Annual Conference. Roger Summit, the founder of Dialog—a pioneer in online information retrieval—and a longtime AIIP supporter, has inspired AIIP members with his demonstrations of self-renewal and continual learning. The 2020 recipient of the award, Joyce Ward, rolled with the punches after our conference was cancelled due to COVID-19 and delivered her lecture virtually on May 5th, 2020.

Joyce has 30+ years of experience in knowledge management and information retrieval technologies. She served as a VP of Enterprise Products and director of Content Classification at Northern Light, a product manager and director of Taxonomies and Semantic Enrichment at LexisNexis, and most recently as a senior ontologist and content specialist with the Amazon Search Knowledge team. She shared her deep expertise with AIIP members as she reviewed the role information professionals have played in bringing excellent search results to users of search engines.

Joyce recognized the role Roger Summit played in her own career as Dialog revolutionized research and led her into the world of taxonomies. She shared that search has evolved greatly and now produces more relevant results for complex, ambiguous queries. Joyce adds that, thanks to the information professionals working in the background, search results have a high level of precision despite complex data sets, ambiguous search queries, and algorithms that favor quantity over quality.

Information professionals advocate for the users through their understanding of the users’ vocabulary and what users see as good answers. We also look for patterns to improve search results.

Information professionals provide the machines with structured knowledge—classification schemes, taxonomies, rubrics, and blacklists, for example—which are used to develop models for improved search experiences Human classifiers are always better than machines, and precision in search results is directly due to their expertise.

Information professionals are experts who integrate diverse collections of content and map metadata to build filters that refine large data sets into relevant results. Their work ensures result sets are more than merely lists of “hits” and they are organized to make them more relevant to users.

Joyce suggested that there are opportunities for information professionals who are interested in taxonomy and ontology. There will be a new generation of search that is “accurate, intelligent, and well-mannered” and that will need the deep understanding of structured knowledge and subject expertise that is the domain of the information professional.

Phyllis Smith is a partner in ITK Vector Inc. in Ontario, Canada. She is currently developing her “encore career” working with empty nesters who want to reflect on their own life experiences and share them through stories and photos.

Internet Librarian International Conference Recap

By Birgit Bauer

Once again, several hundred librarians and information professionals from about 30 countries from all over the world met at the 2019 Internet Librarian International (ILI) conference in London on October 15th and 16th. More than 60 lectures and case studies, interactive sessions, and social events provided an overview of current developments and new ideas. Sessions on digital technologies and their use in libraries could be found in all six tracks, from user experiences to low cost high impact marketing, new visions, strategies and technologies, and the “rebooted” librarian.

A Look Outside the Box: Learning from Start-Ups

Who would have thought to hear a plea for technology start-ups at a conference for libraries? The first keynote, “Create, innovate, collaborate: learning from start-ups” was presented by Yvonne Campfens, consultant in the Dutch publishing industry. Campfens had studied in detail 120 independent technology start-ups in the publishing industry, such as Protocols.io or AboutResearch (German). The British Kudos (Growkudos.com), for example, helps researchers and authors ensure their publications get disseminated, found, and cited. AcademicLabs is a Belgian platform for matchmaking in R&D. Linknovate tracks market and technology information online for innovations and competitive information using machine learning algorithms and data analytics. The remarkable results of Campfens’ study: Some start-ups are already making millions of US$ in revenues and some have already been acquired – and, for the most part, not by scientific publishers as would have been expected. Campfens recommends cooperating with and learning from technology start-ups, the young companies often have good ideas and a different take on success, and they are fast, focused and flexible. (See her white paper at http://bit.ly/36Icm7p)

People come to work, study, meet, hangout …

Over the last few years it has already become evident that new concepts, thoughtful design, and numerous activities bring buzz into the previously silent libraries. Case studies on fun technology and coding sessions, virtual reality installations, creator spaces, or strong digital support by library staff gave food for thoughts.

New skills, new roles for Information Professionals?

Some participants were particularly interested in the future of their profession. Denise Carter, research consultant from Switzerland and member of AIIP, inspired with her presentation on the “future-proof librarian”. She compared key skills McKinsey defines as necessary for all employees by the year 2030 with the ones librarians already have: “We ARE well-placed to help our own organizations and society by providing guidance and knowledge (and wisdom) on data governance, data quality, information literacy, and ethics.” But “New roles do not come to us – now is not the time to be passive but to push us forward and let the world know what we can do.”

Research, Taxonomy, and more

Recent developments in research, tools and databases were highlighted by several AIIP veterans: Marydee Ojala, co-chair of the conference, and Arthur Weiss, Aware Ltd. (Great Britain), gave their views on recent developments in the main conference. Marydee, Mary Ellen Bates and Karen Blakeman (GB) presented news on search engines and search techniques in the pre-conference workshop, “Search Skills Academy”. Heather Hedden, AIIP member as well, spoke on the Taxonomy Boot Camp next door.

Other sessions covered topics such as libraries for distance learning, user experience, repositories, open source management, artificial intelligence and machine learning in libraries, and many more. Overall, the 2019 Internet Librarian International Conference was an inspiring event with great insights, and I am already looking forward to the 2020 conference.

Birgit Bauer is the owner of Bauer Business Research, a consultancy based in Vienna, Austria, specializing in market intelligence and research training. She is a long-standing member of AIIP. Her research book “Jobsuche im Internet – einfach, schnell, erfolgreich” will be available in the summer of 2020.

AIIP 2020: Don’t Miss Early Bird Registration!

by Karen Klein, AIIP 2020 Conference Chair

Did you make a New Year’s resolution? Did it include bettering yourself, learning a new skill, starting an information business, or growing your existing business? Convert those resolutions into reality and register for AIIP’s annual conference in Denver, Colorado, USA from April 23-26, 2020.

You will meet consultants, researchers, freelancers, marketers, writers, and knowledge managers who have several things in common – they run their own businesses, want to succeed, and want you to be successful too.

The four-day event features dynamic speakers, thought-provoking sessions, and multiple networking opportunities. The program is built around four learning themes:

  • Professional Development
  • Business Development
  • Tools of the Trade
  • Personal Enrichment

If you are an AIIP member, take advantage of the Early Bird discount that expires on January 31 and save $100 off your registration fee. If you are not an AIIP member, now is the perfect opportunity to join and take advantage of the early bird conference rates. AIIP’s allied organization members in PIUG, SLA, and STC receive the AIIP member rate.

Over the last few months, AIIP members have shared their thoughts on the conference.

“It is literally my favorite conference of all-time.”

“I’ve gotten value from all the sessions and have met amazing people who ‘get’ what I do.”

“I go for the shot-in-the arm of catching up with colleagues and making new connections.”

“No matter what stage you are at in your business, you will come away having learned many new things that will be helpful to you in your business.”

“The programs are laser-focused, the content is of the highest quality, and there is always an impressive line-up of presenters.” 

“When I attended my first conference, I was warmly welcomed and have continued to enjoy the camaraderie, especially at the social events and dine arounds.”

In addition to the full-conference program, you can attend two premium pre-conference workshops for more in-depth learning opportunities.

Kelly Berry of ResourceAbility will present an interactive workshop “InfoPro Grow: Business Planning Techniques to Grow Your Business.” Kelly will share templates and techniques for looking at your business and determining key next steps for growth.  Topics for discussion include clearly defining your services, conveying a professional image, creating customer personas, developing a strategic plan, and assessing all 4 Ps of B2B marketing. 

Kelly Schrank of Bookworm Editing Services will present the workshop “To Be More Efficient and Consistent, Build a Better Checklist.” Workshop attendees will learn how using a comprehensive checklist that is created and updated for a specific task helps differentiate workflows, systems, and activities; increases quality, accuracy, and consistency; spells out details needed at the moment they are needed; tracks progress; documents metrics; and gives a sense of completion and peace of mind.

Check out these conference highlights:

  • Joyce Ward, the Roger Summit Award Lecture recipient, will share her perspective on making information findable. The long-time taxonomist and ontologist will draw on her experiences working for Northern Light, LexisNexis, and, currently, Amazon.
  • Keynote speaker Elizabeth Suárez will guide attendees through her exclusive and effective system that will leave you feeling prepared, confident, and excited to negotiate for everything you want – in business and in life. 
  • Attend thought-provoking and educational sessions in a variety of formats from lecture-style to intimate roundtable “Tips” sessions led by skilled facilitators.
  • Take advantage of evening dine-arounds at local restaurants to spend quality time with fellow attendees in a relaxed setting
  • Speaking of food, your full-conference registration includes the opening reception on Thursday evening, Saturday night’s gala awards dinner, three breakfasts, and two lunches.
  • AIIP members are known for their collegiality and generosity. Meet long-standing members of the information industry along with attendees who are at the start of their independent journey.

I look forward to meeting you in Denver. Keep your resolutions and be sure to register before January 31 to get the Early Bird discount.

Karen Klein is the owner of Fulcrum Information Resources, which provides businesses with customized research, technical writing, editing and project management services so they can make appropriate tactical decisions, improve their bottom line and use their resources effectively.

AIIP 2020: Save the Date!

by Karen Klein, AIIP 2020 Conference Chair

Set against the backdrop of Denver, U.S.A and the Rocky Mountains, AIIP’s annual conference takes place April 23-26, 2020.

Don’t miss this gathering of independent business owners, including consultants, researchers, freelancers, marketers, writers, and knowledge managers. It’s the ideal setting to meet with like-minded professionals with the shared experience of operating their own businesses.

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When a project diverges from plan: Lessons learned and recovery strategies

Cindy Romaine reports on a some practical tactics and strategies shared by three experienced AIIP members – Jennifer Pflaumer, Paroo, Loretta Shaw, LMRS Information Services, LLC and Jan Sykes, Information Management Services, Inc at AIIP 2019’s panel session – when a project diverges from plan.

Raise your hand if you’ve had a project that went perfectly according to plan. Not! It rarely happens. So how do you fine-tune and adjust your timeline, alter your communication strategy, and avoid scope creep so the project stays on track and the client stays in the “Win” column?

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Roger Summit Award Lecture: Confessions of an information professional

Each year at the Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP) Conference, the Past Presidents fund the Roger Summit Lecture Award to bring an inspiring and stimulating speaker to the AIIP Annual Conference. 

In 2019 the Lecture was delivered by Sue Feldman, founder and former president of the Association of Independent Information Professionals.  Sue is now President of Synthexis.  Kathaleen Porter reports on the insights gleaned from our esteemed colleague and founder of AIIP.

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