Solve the Communication Gap, Show ROI, Evolve Your Firm’s Library

Law firms are now metrics-driven organizations.  A modern library, therefore, must yield a demonstrable return on investment.  To do so, information professionals need to expand their services and role within the firm to meet and lead new and rapidly changing needs, deliver enhanced value to changing stakeholders within the firm, and now also capture the relevant data that will demonstrate all that value back to firm leadership.   

This evolution requires individuals working in and with the library to have an open mind of how the skills of the law librarian team can be optimized, allowing for information professionals to find innovative ways to add value, including: collaborating with new departments within the firm, utilize metrics to showcase value and articulate ROI, and leveraging technology to improve the delivery of information. 

Feit Consulting surveyed librarians, administrators and legal information specialists to assess the current status of law libraries and better understand, confirm or dispel the issues surrounding the move towards modernization.  We found, however, a common theme amongst administrators interviewed in our research as, “I don’t know what I don’t know. I rely on my librarian to tell me.”

This sentiment is reflected in our survey in which a significant 50% of respondents indicated that the person they report to either “slightly understands” or “does not understand” the role of the library, revealing a serious disconnect.  

This communication gap is not going to serve as the foundation for the evolution library professionals need to facilitate and it needs to change.  Even more challenging, only 37% of respondents indicated the library’s strategies are derived from the firm’s larger strategic plan as illustrated below.

To address these issues, Feit Consulting has developed detailed roadmap to help information professionals solve these communication gaps and evolve the modern library, Beyond Virtualization:  Transforming the Law Library.  You can see a preview of Beyond Virtualization:  Transforming the Law Library here.  The comprehensive white paper is also available for purchase or let’s discuss your firm’s specific needs.  Contact us at info@feitconsulting.com.