| Since the advent of the "Information
Revolution" in the mid-1970's, there has been an increasing
demand for professionals who understand information systems and
who are skilled in the retrieval methods needed to manage business
information needs. Although many of these individuals are employed
by corporations and academic institutions, some prefer to work in
an entrepreneurial fashion: these are the independent information
professionals.
By 1987, Dr. Marilyn Levine, a professor of Library
and Information Science at the University of Wisconsin and the
owner of Information Express, an information brokerage firm, recognized
the need for a professional association to serve this new type
of entrepreneur. On June 6, 1987, the Association was organized
by twenty-six founding members who answered Dr. Levine's call.
AIIP's members are owners of firms providing such
information-related services as online and manual research, document
delivery, database design, library support, consulting, writing
and publishing.
The objectives of the Association are to:
- Advance the knowledge and understanding of the
information profession;
- Promote and maintain high professional and ethical
standards among its members;
- Encourage independent information professionals
to assemble to discuss common issues;
- Promote the interchange of information among
independent information professionals and various organizations;
- Keep the public informed of the profession and
of the responsibilities of the information professional.
AIIP is now in its sixteenth year, with nearly
700 members. The Association publishes a quarterly newsletter
and an annual membership directory, sponsors a private electronic
discussion list on the Internet for networking and AIIP business,
exhibits at trade shows, acts on behalf of members in negotiating
special discount programs with vendors of information products
and services, and holds a Conference and Annual Meeting each spring.
AIIP is recognized within the information industry
as the unifying voice for the independent information profession.
The Association works closely with database vendors and producers,
and other information providers, to ensure that the needs of its
members are considered.
In the Fall of 1990, the first AIIP Vendor Program
was established with Mead Data Central (now LexisNexis). Since
then, more than twenty additional vendors (including The Dialog
Corporation, Factiva, Chemical Abstracts Service, Burrelle's Information
Services and ECNext) have recognized the increasing role of the
independent information professional by negotiating special programs
with AIIP.
These programs include features
such as additional training and special pricing designed to meet
the operational needs of the Association and its members.
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