I have just reread Donna Heroy's article "Outsourcing Library Services:
Death Knell for the Profession or an Idea Whose Time Has Come?". I must
admit I liked the article the first time I read it and still do. I don't
like the title (I usually don't like headlines) but I do like the
content. The article is, in fact, a "news piece, not an opinion piece".
I agree with Roger Parent that the Association is "trying to provide a
vehicle for members to communicate with each other on this matter",
obviously they have succeeded. Since not all law librarians are on
law-lib, the Newsletter serves as another vehicle to disseminate
information. Outsourcing is an alternative method of providing library
service. Should we ignore it? Should we bury our heads in the sand?
Will it just go away? Did the Association (by printing an article)
endorse outsourcing? I do not believe so. While Mark Estes' reply was
legalistic (he is after all a law librarian) it was true. Will the ABA
Journal report on the Justice Dept's criticism of the law school
accrediting process (see the NY Times 6/28/95 pg. 1)? I expect so! Will
that report endorse the Justice Dept's position, or simply report it. I
found Heroy's article very inforative. She gave us interviews with
players we had not previously heard from. The article educated,
stimulated and encouraged coversation. The last few issues of the AALL
Newslettewr have been worth the price of membership. I prefer discussion
of issues over city tour guides. Ms. Heroy could have published her
article in her own journal or (my guess) any number of publications. By
choosing the Newsletter she demonstrated that she is still a librarian at
heart. The choice is not between outsourcing and the death of
librarianship. The choice will be a mixture of traditional
librarianship, outsourcing and a combination of the above. I submit that
this is also not only a private law firm concern. As the artice
demonstrates government libraries have long been outsourced. If the
Justice Dept. attacks accrediting standards on one level can other
issues be far behind? Will academic libraries be outsourced? Who
knows? Is outsourcing the end of librarianship? Reread the article, it
is full of opportunities. Librarians can own outsourcing firms. We can
be multi-firm librarians. we can serve other constituents that
previously could not afford us. I urge you to attend at AALL
"Outsourcing: Boon or Bane for Law Libraries?" Tuesday, 7/18/95-2:45pm
and the "Hot Topic" Wednesday, 7/19/95-1:15pm (concerning law library
outsourcing). Also please send any comments re. outsourcing to Patricia
Patterson, Chair; Task Force on the Value of Law Librarians in the
Information Age (another unfortunate title). I still mourn what happened
to the librarians at B&M, however, I also feel sorry for the attorneys
that must function without their librarians. Time will judge McBreen's
and the Chicago office of B&M's actions. Until then I refiuse to bury my
head in the sand. Peace! Al Podboy, Baker&Hostetler, Cleveland, Ohio.
(216-861-7101)
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