In a message dated 95-11-28 13:33:52 EST, lcurcixg@counsel.com (Library
Curci-Gonzalez -- Morgan ^ Finnegan - New York) writes:
>I call your attention to the "Case of the Incredible Shrinking
>Library" a front page article in yesterday's (Monday Nov 28) New
>York Law Journal. Several NYC firm librarians are quoted on the
>effect attorney desktop access to computerized research has had on
>the role of law firm librarians and on the size and staffing of a
>law firm library.
>
>
Law librarians do themselves and their firm a disservice if they do
not evaluate computerized research in light of:
1) The initial cost, endless repair/upkeep and fast (almost monthly)
obsolescence of the computer equipment needed.
2) Complexity in using several different programs, especially when trying
to network.
3) The ongoing cost of usage and/or updating
4) The rock bottom prices used-book dealers are charging these days
(example: a 1,061 volume Fed 2nd/3rd can be had for under $4,000)
5) The reluctance of many courts to accept cites from electronic sources.
6) The unreliability of computers (They like to crash the night before
the biggest trial of your firm's life.)
7) The serious degradation of access speed for multiple users of CD-ROM
towers.
8) The difficulty attorneys have in "working on the train" with
electronics (Who gets to take home the state reporter CD tonight?)
Do you you believe your firm is going to pay a *library* specialist
(rather than a computer nerd) to explain the turtle speed at which your new
software serves multiple users? Are you looking forward to telling your boss
that your just-purchased CD-ROM tower is obsolete because some single-disk
services now come out in 3 disks? Is it time to replace last year's hot
486's with this year's hot Pentiums (which will be obsolete next year)?
Computers are great tools, but not the only tools. Power saws are
great tools, too. But did you ever hear of a carpenter who threw away his
*hand* saw?
Librarians should conduct research (Isn't that something librarians
*do*?), and share the results, to protect their job and their profession.
Malcolm
National Law
312-382-8282
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