Defining the New Law Department Library

In 1983 legal research accounted for ten percent of a lawyer’s time. Thirty years later, with data available instantly through advanced search platforms, a survey indicates that they spend even more time on research.

This counter-intuitive result suggests there is a need to define the role of a new “library” within the law department. As the volume of available data continues to increase, lawyers will need to either dedicate more time to research, develop an increasing reliance on outside counsel for both legal and non-legal information, or bring in information professionals.

Many department heads may feel the Internet makes information professionals superfluous, but the promise of quality information through a simple free search on Google or other search engine often is not realized.

Among the points to keep in mind when considering today’s corporate law library: The costs and volume of required materials are high, but these materials may be shared across the organization. The need for general law books has given way to the need for specialty materials. The expectation of just-in-time information means that access to digital materials is essential, and it is available for both legal and non-legal materials.

The new library offers a digital collection, curated by professionals who understand the information practices of users they serve. It delivers services that respond to high demand with ever-tightening time frames. And it stays current with technology, information resources and user needs, as it provides service that maximizes resource value.