Keywords
Citation
Fourie, I. (2002), "Free Business & Industry Information on the Web", Online Information Review, Vol. 26 No. 2, pp. 122-129. https://doi.org/10.1108/oir.2002.26.2.122.3
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
On the back cover of Free Business & Industry Information on the Web, the Internet is aptly described as a very powerful research tool and an essential resource for anyone wishing to undertake research on business and industry. It is also one of the biggest time‐wasters ever invented. A publication selecting the most useful free business and industry information sources available on the Internet should therefore be extremely useful.
Pedley focuses on resources of interest to people doing business in the UK, as well as UK exporters. It is not meant to be an exhaustive list of sites, but rather sites judged useful by the author. In the introduction a number of useful tips are also provided for those sceptical of the quality of information available “free”. They can, for example, consider the provider of the information and other sites linking to the particular Web site. If all efforts to identify the right business resources fail, the reader is advised to check Ask a Librarian <http://www.earl.org.ul/ask/index.html> and Information Outpost <http://www.informationoutpost.com>.
Pedley divides the content into 13 chapters covering portals for business, basic company information, company financial and investment research, regional information, industry information, finance and investment, information for UK exporters, business news, biographical information, other business information, the personalising of Web services and how to keep up to date. The publication concludes with an alphabetical listing of organisations and providers, a subject index and a very basic glossary. Each site entry includes the site name, address, provider and a brief description on the scope and usefulness of the site.
A brief list for further reading is included. One of these publications, The Business and Economy Internet Resource Handbook by Phil Bradley, should be a useful supplement.
Free Business & Industry Information on the Web is a well‐bound publication presented in an easy‐to‐read format. It is highly recommended to anyone interested in business and industry information, and especially to information professionals who can bring the publication to the notice of keen and enthusiastic Internet users.