Open AccessIndependent information professionals in Europe: Using geopolitical and cultural boundaries to advantage
Author(s) -
Matarese Valerie
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
bulletin of the american society for information science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1550-8366
pISSN - 0095-4403
DOI - 10.1002/bult.2011.1720370314
Subject(s) - geopolitics , economic geography , political science , geography , regional science , politics , law
Building and running an information service business in non-Anglophone Europe is complicated by the multicultural environment. This paper analyzes how geopolitical and cultural factors influence the client base and service portfolio of independent information professionals (IIPs), by drawing on data from a survey of 18 entrepreneurs working in 11 countries of continental non-Anglophone Europe. These European IIPs facilitate the exchange of knowledge locally, across Europe and globally, by developing niche services that leverage language skills and local knowledge and that adapt to the impact of currencies.