Membership Benefits

Members of the Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP) enjoy savings on information products and other purchases, live and virtual learning opportunities, marketing visibility, and a brilliant and supportive community. AIIP also recognizes outstanding new and veteran members each year.

Eligibility for some benefits is determined by membership level. Typically, those levels are determined by the vendor, not by AIIP.

Savings on Information Products

• Special AIIP member pricing and services from key information industry vendors, such as Lexis/Nexis, Dow Jones Factiva, and Dialog (Industry Partners program) and Hoover's, Information Today, and the Copyright Clearance Center (Industry Affiliates program). Review a full list of current Industry Partners and Industry Affiliates.
   
  
• Discounts on business and personal purchases from a variety of companies (Business Partners program).

Learning and Skills Development

• Annual Conference, with content for both new and experienced info pros.
   
  
• Webinars on specialty topics in information and business management topics.
    
  
• Mentoring of Full members by experienced AIIPers through the no-cost AIIP Volunteer Mentoring Program.
   

Marketing Visibility

• AIIP Member Database and Directory -- Get found in the source for independent info pros worldwide.
   
  
• Advertising in the AIIP Connections newsletter gets you noticed.

Community

• AIIP-L Discussion List -- Use AIIP's private electronic forum to stay in contact with colleagues, brainstorm about research sources, share technology and business tips, and receive encouragement and helpful feedback.
   
  
• AIIP Connections -- Our newsletter shares association and industry news, advice and tips, and feature articles. Highlight your accomplishments, share your expertise, and get published!
   
  
• Annual Conference -- Learn, network, and meet potential partners and subcontractors for your next big project. 

Awards and Recognition

• Connections Writer's Award
  Information Today, Inc., sponsors a writing contest for AIIP. A $350 travel award for the Annual Conference is given to the writer of the best article published in Connections each year. 
   
  
• Myra T. Grenier Award
  A $600 stipend is awarded to a new or aspiring independent information professional to assist their attendance at the AIIP Annual Conference. 
   
  
• Roger Summit Conference Sponsorship
  The Roger Summit Conference Sponsorship provides $1000 to enable an AIIP member to attend the AIIP Annual Conference. The Roger Summit Conference Sponsorship is intended to facilitate awareness of the benefits of attending future conferences and support and nurture an AIIP member who hasn't previously attended an AIIP Annual Conference.
   
  
• Sue Rugge Memorial Award
  This award consists of a $500 cash stipend awarded to a Full member of AIIP who has significantly helped another member through formal or informal mentoring.

It's like being part of a huge, international family - I feel like I am surrounded by supportive colleagues, even though I work on my own.

- Michele Bate, England

As an IIP in Europe, membership in AIIP is a lifeline to me. It’s crucial for staying current with information industry trends, maintaining expertise as a searcher, honing business skills, and understanding business ethics issues. Any information specialist can be independent, but one cannot be professional without belonging to AIIP.

- Valerie Matarese, Italy

I joined AIIP before I had even started my business...one of the best investments I have made. The lively discussion list, the collegial tone of AIIP members, great discounts from our industry partners and affiliates, lots of professional development through webinars and our annual conference. I can't imagine being an info-entrepreneur without belonging to AIIP.

- Mary Ellen Bates, USA