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Activities:
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FORTHCOMING - Contact the committe chair if you are interested in coordinating events in the coming year.
2007
July 26 Introduction to basic patent and trademark searching (USPTO) - USPTO librarian Christine Black.
Nov. 7 PubWEST and ESPACENET, the European Patent Office's website - PTDL librarians Jim Miller and Bob Kackley UMd-College Park.
2003
Spring Semester - All are welcome to visit the Business Information class (LSC 819) being taught in Catholic's Library School. Review the Semester Schedule and visit us when we cover a subject of interest. If you plan to visit, please let Jennifer know.
2002
November 13- PROGRAM: Business Services and Outreach, Jennifer Boettcher, Georgetown University
June 27- DINNER: Taste of Morocco in Arlington
2001
July 24- PROGRAM: Cybertour of International Web Sources, Sheri R. Lanza,Global
InfoResources
July 11- PROGRAM: Finding U. S. Government Economics Statistics, Deborah
Klein, Bureau of Labor Statistics
January 21- PROGRAM with Washington Statistical Society: Data Presentation
A Guide to Good Graphics and Tables, Marianne W. Zawitz, Bureau of Justice
Statistics. Slides
and Handouts
To learn more about the Washington Statistical Society (WSS) visit the web site or contact Wendy.Rotz@ey.com, (202) 327-7822, for information on school activities and the Quantitative Literacy (QL) Group.
2000
October 11- VISIT: Trade Research Assistance Center
June 28- PROGRAM: Print and Electronic Small Business Resources at Arlington Central Library, Elizabeth Cline (Arlington County Central Library)
March 28- PROGRAM: International Trade Sources, Mike Donnelly (Library of Congress)
1999
May 19- PROGRAM: Doing research for nonprofit, Liz Farley (Dialog)
May 11- DC-SLA granted unaffiliated status
March 24- PROGRAM: Web Enabled Databases, Eva Holtsmark (O-Tech International, Ltd.)
February 16 - PROGRAM: Introduction to Marketing Sources, Jennifer Boettcher (Georgetown University)
February 12- Creation of BIF-L Listproc, BIF-L@listproc.georgetown.edu
January 13- Meet at China Garden with interested people to form the group. Name created and future program suggestions discussed.
January 6- Made the request to BUSLIB, BRASS, DC-SLA, DCLA, and LLSDC discussion lists
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What is BIF?
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 BIF is an informal group of information professionals whose interests include business and economic data and sources. We are made up of special, public, & academic librarians, information brokers, analysts, publishers, vendors, and general researcher. Our events are free and open to the public. We meet irregularly throughout the year, generally in the evenings at the Arlington Public Library. Occasionally we have field trips to visit collections of distinction.
To learn more about Business Information Finders, join BIF-L.
Send e-mail to listproc@listproc.georgetown.edu
Put nothing in the subject line, in the message space type "subscribe BIF-L [your name]".
Please contact 2008 BIF Chair, Michael Gruenberg
mgruenberg@csa.com if you are interested in BIF events in 2008.
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BIF's History - How did it start?
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Jennifer Boettcher - When I moved to DC, I was excited about finding other information specialists who shared the jargon of business librarianese. When casting about for peers, I learned of an inactive group of business professionals. Instead of saying "shucks-darn, I missed the glory days for Business Librarians in DC," I asked around if anyone was interested in forming a new group of information professionals with a business focus. I talked with the former leaders of the old business group. I also asked the leaders at the Northern Virginia Information Specialist group if they thought if there would be too much cross over which might dilute the information professional base if another group was formed. The advice from the leaders was to become a leader. Conception accomplished.
The next thing was to turn the concept into action. I posted the following message to targeted listservs in January of 1999.
"Hello Enterprising Librarians (SLA, ALA, DCLA,& Interested Parties): I am starting an informal group of business information specialists in the Washington, DC area. You can be in marketing, finance,management, real estate, accounting, insurance, or other fields. The proposed activities will be a listserv, informal dining once a month,training approximately once a month, and optional networking. The resources we have so far are an agreement with DC-SLA to be an informal affiliation, meeting facilities at Georgetown University, and a need to know more. Come join other business librarians. Contact Louis Abramovitz at labramovitz@wbklaw.com to be added to the group."
The response was grand, over 35 local responses!
As with all conceptions, events moved quickly. The founders met at Arlington's China Garden, and decided to give birth to a new group. With the birth came the choice of name and how to raise the fledgling alliance. By the end of the January, Business Information Finders (BIF) was named, thanks to Eva Holtsmark, and it was determined to raise BIF as an unaffiliated or informally affiliated group within the DC Chapter of SLA.
In early February, BIF-L@listproc.georgetown.edu listproc was created to act as the home for discussing BIF activities. Unaffiliated status means a member of BIF does not have to be in SLA, a minimum of three programs take place each year, meetings must be announced in Chapter publications, events must be open to chapter members, etc. Our status does not have to conform to the many facets of the SLA Divisions and includes anyone interested in business.
There is no formal organization. Anyone can plan an activity as long as they announce it to everyone. Raising the infant BIF requires good fostering. We live in the DC area, we work in "Information Central," home of decisions which will affect the world. And we play a role in it all. We share with our organizations, customers, and patrons our expertise and insights. We have a village of brilliant and giving professionals to help it along. The people attending events learn and grow and the people organizing the events are enhanced, too.
The future of BIF is full of hope and growth. You can help, by volunteering our expertise in speaking or hosting an event. To keep current on the development of BIF, we welcome you to join the listproc by mailing listproc@listproc.georgetown.edu. Do not put anything in the subject field. In the message field type "subscribe BIF-L [your name]" and wait for a response. If you have more questions please contact Michael Gruenberg or any proud member of BIF.
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