Information and strategic monitoring are primarily a matter of human analysis of information. But it is also an iterative process that involves the use of appropriate tools at each stage. The Communauté de pratique de veille en santé et services sociaux du Québec (CdPVeille3S) compiled a dynamic directory of these tools. Overview of this project and interview with the two designers, Josée Berthelette, information monitoring professional, and Céline Bélanger, information professional and president of Cogniges.
A directory: why?
The CdPVeille3S, established in 2009, consists of approximately 20 monitoring professionals and various committees, such as the Communications and Best Practices Group. In 2025, this committee revised a poster highlighting effective monitoring techniques. The original edition featured a static inventory of resources.
The goal was to revitalize this list, which meant more than just naming the tools: they had to categorize them, provide brief descriptions of their uses, update the information, and make it widely available. Notably, when they embarked on this project, there was no existing directory, so they addressed a previously unmet need. With enthusiasm, Josée and Céline undertook this challenging task.
Are you part of the intended audience?
This resource is designed for you if:
- You are involved in monitoring and want to stay up to date on the tools you can use in your work, either to complement or replace your current tools.
- You are a current or aspiring information professional and are considering getting involved in monitoring activities.
- You are curious about monitoring but find it overwhelming to research all the tools that support it.
Organization and management of information: how does it work?
The Répertoire des outils numériques de veille contains nine folders. Five of the folders correspond to the stages of the monitoring process: monitoring planning, information gathering, information analysis and processing, dissemination, evaluation and continuous improvement. The Integrated and Collaborative Platform (Plateforme intégrée et collaborative) category lists versatile tools, while the Costs (Coûts) category distinguishes between free and paid tools. Finally, the Favorites and New Releases (Coups de cœur et nouveautés ) category allows regular users to be notified of new content.
If you’re interested in the behind-the-scenes work, here is some information on how the directory was compiled. The designers began with the initial list from the first edition of the “Best Practices” poster. To expand this list, they conducted a survey among CdPVeille3S members to find out which tools they were using. Josée then developed a concept map to organize this raw data into the different stages of the monitoring cycle. Once structured, the information was entered into a master document, a dashboard in Excel format. The directory is continually updated by the Veille sur la veille Working Group, the Communications and Best Practices Working Group, the members of the CdPVeille3S, and their readings.
Outlook
The directory currently includes about 60 tools. In addition to continuously expanding it, the designers envision the following for its future:
- The directory is well known, used, and shared: a communication plan is underway to this end, aligned with the best practices for monitoring.
- Internet users contribute suggestions and provide feedback.
- The directory is included in the monitoring training kit for future librarians and documentation technicians.
- Artificial intelligence-based monitoring tools are integrated into the directory.
- The section on free and paid tools is developed.
- The CdPVeille3S regularly updates the directory.
Write to us at one of the following addresses: joseeveille@gmail.com or info@cogniges.com.
References
Berthelette, J. et Bélanger, C. (2024- ). Répertoire d’outils numériques de veille. Communauté de pratique de veille en santé et services sociaux du Québec (CdPVeille3S).
Communauté de pratique de veille en santé et services sociaux du Québec. (2024). Fiche de présentation du répertoire d’outils numériques de veille.
Berthelette, J. et Bélanger, C. (2025). Répertoire d’outils numériques de veille : présentation à la FMD3S du 30 mai 2025. Journée de formation FMD3S 2025.
Jamet, V., Pitre, M-C., Bélanger, C., Berthelette, J. et Houtekier, C. (2025). La veille en santé et services sociaux : nos bonnes pratiques. 2e éd. Communauté de pratique de veille en santé et services sociaux du Québec (CdPVeille3S).