Internet training reply.
----------
From: CGOODMAN@maysval.com
To: Victoria Lynch
Subject: RE: Internet training
Date: Thursday, September 18, 1997 6:36PM
----------
From: owner-law-libÄSMTP:owner-law-libÉucdavis.eduÅ
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 1997 11:58 AM
To: Law-Lib
Subject: Internet training
I apologize if this question has been posted before by others, but I
need some information regarding training on the internet.
We are in the process of rolling out firm-wide access to the Internet
(long overdue, I know), and I'm curious to hear how different firms have
handled training. If you have a minute or two and can provide me with
some info. I'd be very grateful. The particular information I'm looking
for includes:
1. Does the entire firm have acces to the Internet, or is it limited to
attorneys? chiefly attorneys but others (paralegals and non attorneys) on
an as needed basis
2. Was the Library involved in any (or all) of the training for staff?
ALL
If so, did you conduct group sessions, individual sessions, hands-on
training versus overhead transparencies or powerpoint presentation
etc.? Group sessions in a training room set up with 8 pcs for hands on
demonstration as well as an instructor pc with overhead projector set up
Did you contract training out to an outside company? If so, did they
specialize in LEGAL resources on the internet or was it a general
overview?
3. How much instruction did each individual receive? (Was a time limit
specified?) 2 hour sessions. Mostly from 5:30 - 7:30 pm Tues or Thurs
over 3 month period of time. Done in conjunction with a firmwide rollout
of whole new windows system year ago. Thus greater cooperation with these
hours because of the vastness of the project. If we had only been
introducing just the internet, I'd have probably tried mostly 12:00-2:00
sessions. Covered almost no techy stuff. Took about 45 minutes to
explore together 5-6 bookmarks set up on each pc (villanova, Martindale
Hubbell, federal court locator, Virginia sources, etc.) get a "feel" for
it, demonstrate linking, pull downs, backtracking, etc. As I went, would
mention what a URL is, ISDN lines, http meaning, etc. Then another 30
minutes to expose to search engines. One of the hardest things to teach.
Gave couple of quick exercises to try to find anything they could on a
major client, find the wall street journal, etc. Then about 30 minutes
on folders and organizing and then 15 minutes showing how to move text
from the internet into a document or an e-mail. Kept very basic.
4. Did you provide everyone with a list of legal related bookmarks? a
basic list was developed (not nearly as much thought or time for planning
as would have liked) and downloaded to each pc so that everyone had some
bookmarks when he got his new pc.
5. How do you handle requests from attorneys for individual instruction
(it could take all day!!!) Offered repeat sessions later on several
occasions with the same 2 hour structure. Caught most of the folks
really interested. Since then, refresher and help are done at their desk
but usually limited to 15-30 minutes. Held a recent "brown bag lunch"
for attorneys interested in the internet. Came with any questions they
had. Was very profitable. Caught a lot of the miscellaneous questions,
especially such things as organizing into folders. Searching is always
something they wish for more exact information on. Want it to be more
like Lexis and Westlaw. Assure them it isn't and that the information
should always suspect when found on the internet.
6. Do you provide any non-legal (read: non work related) instruction
(i.e., how do I find a good bed & breakfast or football tickets or
cheesecake recipes)? only by way of illustration of the vastness of
possibilities
7. Who in the firm is responsible for managing your home/web page? A
committee of mostly attorneys and marketing. Still under development.
Bogged down because too much attorney involvement.
Do you have any input? No, but in part by choice. NO time. Anticipate
becoming a lot more involved in 1998 when an intranet is scheduled to be
introduced. Do you have a specific "Library" area on the
firm's web page? Do you allow clients to access the Library's
reference and research resources through the web page?
Any answers to any of these questions (or any other input you may have)
will be greatly appreciated.
TIA,
Victoria Lynch
Law Library Director
Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP
Philadelphia, PA
victoria.lynchÉobermayer.com or
ormh1Éix.netcom.com
(215) 665-3181
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Nov 14 2007 - 20:49:43 PST