Recent Articles

You say Tomato, I say Tomato

February 15, 2012 03:01

The following paragaph was part of the editorial comments I made in the Pinhawk Librarian News Digest email (also part of Pinhawk Blog) that I send out each morning.  The topic is something I have something to say about so, instead of taking the entire editorial comment to tell you what I think,...

Strategy for Survival – What do Librarians Need to do to Stay Relevant – Part One

August 24, 2011 11:18

As technology continues to change, so do the roles librarians play.  We are no different than any other profession in that respect.  If you think about it, we are, like “The Desk Set” staff, expendable – at least in the minds of those who manage companies, firms, and other types...

Knowledge Management all the Time: Transitioning into a New Role

August 22, 2011 11:47

NOTE: While the first 3 paragraphs look like this is an article about me, it is really about all of us in the library profession.  Please read on. It’s been some time since I published a new post.  My summer has been filled with a new job, new industry, new co-workers, new terminology with an...

Private Law Libraries SIS Change as Action Summit

May 31, 2011 11:29

From the Private Law Libraries Special Interest Section of AALL: AALL Private Law Libraries SIS Change as Action Summit: July 23, 2011    8:30-5:00 p.m. Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia PA in conjunction with the 2011 AALL Annual Meeting Register now and find out what all the buzz is...

An Open Letter to New (and Seasoned) Library Directors or How to Interview for Success

May 09, 2011 11:24

Dear New Library Director, Congratulations on your new position.  No doubt you’ve worked hard to get where you are.  Your career so far has been in public or technical services or, possibly, working as a solo librarian or information specialist.  In fact, this may be your first job right out...

Cost Recovery of Online Legal Research: When is Overhead NOT Overhead

April 28, 2011 16:44

My last post focused on creating a policy on cost recovery of legal research (resources).  This one is a follow up to that post prompted by another article on the topic of clients paying for overhead, Are You Paying for Your Law Firm’s Overhead?   I found it refreshing that the author did not...

Legal Research One of Leading Irritants says New Survey on Cost Recovery

April 22, 2011 13:59

A new Legal Technology News article, Cost Recovery Breeds Client Frustration in New Survey, written by Robert Mattern, reports that legal research is one of the leading irritants for law firm clients.  He further reports that the number of firms that do not charge clients for this service is 27% ...

On Cleopatra, Gender Inequity, and Salary Stagnation

April 15, 2011 17:22

In a blog post today titled Cleopatra & Law Librarians, Mary Abraham suggested that (based on a recent biography), Cleopatra would not likely take on the job of a law librarian in today’s world because of the pay inequity in our profession which is largely female.  She further asked why...

Cutting Costs of Online Research Services

March 29, 2011 12:49

It has been 11 years since I cancelled my first set of reporters.  What followed was the cancellation of all print reporters in that firm.  Like many of you reading this post also experienced, it wasn’t easy.  That said, we can now say that most of the lawyers within  firms (who cancelled...

staff

March 28, 2011 23:44

Staff If your firm does not charge clients for the research your staff does, suggest it be done.  This may seem like opening a can of worms but I’ve seen the client charges for library staff research pay for the research positions.  Yes, firm librarians are doing more research devoted to...