| An information broker is an individual who researches or provides other information-related services on demand and for profit. This type of free-lance library service originated on the West Coast in the early 1970s and escalated rapidly beginning in the mid-1970s. The purpose of this study was to investigate and describe brokers and to develop a model for establishing an information brokerage firm.;The major findings of the study concluded that (1) The majority of information brokerage firms were established prior to 1980 by one principal holding an M.L.S. degree. (2) Services most offered by information brokers are research, consulting, online searching, document delivery, and manual searching. (3) Most (85%) participants accept no legal responsibility for information they provide clients. (4) Case study participants generally fit the typical entrepreneurial profile. (5) Money was not the impetus for initiating or remaining in information brokering; frustration with limitations/restrictions in traditional organizations primarily affected those decisions. (6) Copyright issues were of minor concern to most respondents. (7) Information brokers surveyed did not consistently follow standard or recommended business procedures in the establishment of their companies.;The case method of research was selected as the strategy for this study since the focus was on a current, real-life situation and primarily posed "how" and "why" questions, with the researcher having no control over events. One hundred twenty-five information brokers who were identified as having been in business for a minimum of 5 years were sent a questionnaire to determine their eligibility to further participate in the research, based on criteria defined by the researcher. From the 85 (68%) of the questionnaires returned, 6 individuals representing various sizes of firms were invited to be case study participants. The selected respondents were then interviewed, either in person or by telephone, using pre-determined questions. This interview focused on their individual characteristics and details of how they initiated their businesses. A model for establishing an information brokerage firm was then developed, based on interview responses and recommendations found in the literature. |
