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Press Release from Primary Research Group, Inc.
) October 28 2003--This report looks closely at how nine law libraries -- six
from major or medium sized law firms, two university law school law libraries and a
public law library -- are grappling with the issue of the digitization of legal information
services. The purpose of the report is not to expound an ideology in favor of or against
digitization, but to explore and, if possible, find common themes in the approaches taken
by nine law libraries in North America.
Although no single approach dominated, several common themes emerged from the
interviews, which are summarized below:
1) Although there is no pressing need for law libraries to move towards virtual reference
services it is quite useful to use software that tracks who uses library reference services,
for what purpose and for what length of time.
2) Young lawyers tend to be more proficient searchers than older ones but virtually all
lawyers share an aversion to the specialized training on legal databases that they
unquestionably need, especially since the advent of net technology has led many lawyers
to do their own searching rather than relying on librarians to do it for them. A culture
change seems unquestionably necessary here but in the absence of such a change
librarians interviewed suggest luring patrons with food, politicking with higher
authorities and grabbing new hires before their work load reaches normal levels -- in
order to squeeze in as much training as possible. Information proficient lawyers may also
reduce the basic search load for the library staff liberating their time for the most
sophisticated searches.
3) Coordinate purchases among the various law firm offices, eliminate duplication when
possible and license firm wide when feasible. Centralize purchasing authority as much as
possible in order to enhance economies of scale in product purchases.
4) Reach out to other libraries to seek partnerships. Use consortium connections,
reference services and sites, listservs and web sites to combine resources with other
librarians to lower costs.
5) Aggregate buying power with other libraries when possible in related academic
libraries or the law libraries of other firms.
6) There was no real consensus on the gradual elimination of print resources. However, in
general, it can be said that law librarians contemplating the elimination of print reporters
should carefully think out the implications for archival access.
7) Unquestionably, the trend is towards less floor space, less paper and more use of
digital resources. The debate is over the speed and degree of digitization, not about the
basic trend.
8) Digitization does not necessarily free up librarian staff time. Indeed, the negotiation of
digital licenses and the acquisition of digital resources generally takes far more time than
the equivalent effort for print materials. Print purchasing terms are more standardized and
are updated.
9) The percentage of online services fees billed back to clients ranged very widely, from
20% to more than 80% of total charges.
10) Virtually every library interviewed has recently completed, is undergoing, or plans a
major redevelopment of its web site.
11) Ebook vendors have made significant headway into the legal market and products
offered by publishers, aggregators and distributors are apt to take a growing share of the
law library book market in coming years. The legal market for such materials has grown
faster than many other markets.
12) Use of CD-ROM, though in definite decline, is still at higher levels in the legal
market than in many other library markets.
13) Although law librarians have generally adjusted well to less physical space and
reduced, stagnant or slow growing print budgets, they have generally not adjusted well to
staff reductions. The idea that digitization reduces demand for library services is not
accepted and appears to be unwarranted.
14) Although librarians make most procurement decisions, partners appear to have more
influence over materials acquisition decision-making than do their counterparts in
academia, business and medicine.
Creating the Digital Law Library
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