http://www.phelpsresearch.com/ResearchNOTES Phelps Research Tips and Tricks Bulletins en-us Jul 2011 Copyright 2011, Marcy Phelps October 2011 http://www.phelpsresearch.com/March2012.aspx The U.S. government is one of the largest publishers of free information on just about any topic. But with all those resources from so many agencies, it's difficult to find exactly what you need. In this issue of ResearchNOTES, I share some of my favorite tools for navigating U.S. government resources: March 2012 http://www.phelpsresearch.com/February2012.aspx It's hard to believe that it's been nearly a year since the publication of my book, Research on Main Street: Using the Web to Find Local Business and Market Information. Since I'm always on the lookout for new sources of local-level business information, this issue of ResearchNOTES spotlights some of my latest finds for learning about places: February 2012 http://www.phelpsresearch.com/January2012.aspx There's more to research than just finding information. The next step is making sense of what you've found and determining what it means to you and your organization. In this issue, I'd like to share some of my top tips for turning information into insights: January 2012 http://www.phelpsresearch.com/December2011.aspx On the web, change occurs quickly and continually. It seems that every day we hear about another one of the latest-and-greatest search tools being closed down - or altered beyond recognition. To help you keep up with this never-ending frenzy, ResearchNOTES brings you the latest updates on a few of my favorite online resources: December 2011 http://www.phelpsresearch.com/November2011.aspx Last month, I spoke at an all-day Searcher's Academy workshop in Monterey, California. I look forward to this each year, because it gives me an opportunity to co-present with and learn from some of the biggest names in the information industry. In this issue of ResearchNOTES, I'll share some tips I learned from these pros... November 2011 http://www.phelpsresearch.com/October2011 Last month, I shared some favorite Google alternatives. Yet another way to supplement the Google habit is to use a search engine that covers a specific subject area or type of information. In addition to ready access to specialized information, tools like these save time and effort by helping me avoid sorting through pages of irrelevant Google results. In this issue of ResearchNOTES, I've lined up some handy specialized search tools for your consideration: October 2011 http://www.phelpsresearch.com/September2011 Last month, I brought you some Google advanced features that help target the information you need. But Google's not the only game in town - and thorough searches always involve more than one search engine. In this issue, I'll highlight a few of my favorite Google alternatives... September 2011 http://www.phelpsresearch.com/August2011 As many of you know, I often use professional online databases for research, with their specialized content and advanced searching capabilities. I also use Google for most projects, but it's difficult to sort through the junk to find the gold. This issue of ResearchNOTES includes some favorite advanced search features that I use to cut through Google's clutter and find the answers to my clients' questions... August 2011 http://www.phelpsresearch.com/July2011.aspx Like many of you, I spend most of my day working on a computer. My livelihood relies on the internet and the apps on my laptop, tablet, and smartphone - but it's not easy staying ahead of the latest hardware, software, and tech trends. In this ResearchNOTES, you'll read about some tools that I find useful for keeping up with technology... July 2011 http://www.phelpsresearch.com/June2011.aspx It's June, and I'm planning for vacation next month, which – as has been the tradition in recent years – involves relaxing on the beach with a Kindle loaded with lots of good books ... June 2011 http://www.phelpsresearch.com/May2011.aspx President Harry Truman's famous frustration at hearing "on the one hand this – but on the other hand that" advice about the economy is as understandable today as it was back then. The economy is still a hot topic – and it's even more complex. So where do you go when you need easy-to-understand information about ... May 2011 http://www.phelpsresearch.com/April2011.aspx In our professional lives as in our personal lives, we are often faced with ethical questions--and few would argue that it's not always easy, in our complicated world, to know exactly what 'the right thing' is ... April 2011