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The Librarian's Expanding Role

Order the Electronic 2007 Law Librarian Survey from ALM Research

Overall, what percentage of its time does the library staff spend on the following activities? (Answers must add up to 100%)
Traditional librarian's work (e.g., legal research, managing staff and budgets, negotiating contracts with vendors) 57%
Marketing 17%
Training lawyers in computer research skills 11%
Developing competitive intelligence (e.g. researching laterals) 9%
Other 6%
Firms Responding 83

Is the library the main resource for marketing research?
Firms Percentage
Yes 55 63%
No 31 37%
Firms Responding 86

Is the library the main resource for developing competititve intelligence?
Firms Percentage
Yes 47 55%
No 39 45%
Firms Responding 86

Is the library the main resource for training lawyers in computer skills?
Firms Percentage
Yes 34 40%
No 52 61%
Firms Responding 86

Is the library an independent department within the firm?
Firms Percentage
Yes 81%
No 20%
Firms Reponding 87

Do librarians play an active role in the firm's knowledge management efforts?
Firms Percentage
Yes 17 20%
No 70 81%
Firms Responding 87

Do you manage your firm's intranet?
Firms Percentage
Yes 17 20%
No 70 81%
Firms Responding 87

Who does the library director report to?
Firms 2006
COO, director of adminisration, or executive director 55 63%
CIO or IT director 16 18%
Managing partner 3 3%
CFO or finance director 0 0%
Other 14 16%
Firms Responding 88

Do you enjoy your expanding role in these nontraditional librarian activities?
Firms Percentage
Yes 76%
I like it about the same as traditional librarian's work. 18%
My role has not expanded beyond traditional librarian's work. 4%
No, I prefer traditional librarian's work. 1%
Firms Responding 88

I am satisfied with the firm's direction for the library and its new roles.
Firms Percentage
Agree 29 33%
Mostly agree 44 50%
Ambivalent 11 13%
Mostly disagree 4 5%
Totally disagree 0 0%
Firms Responding 88

I am satisfied with management's recent decisions regarding the library.
Firms 2006
Agree 30 35%
Mostly agree 39 45%
Ambivalent 10 12%
Mostly disagree 8 9%
Totally disagree 0 0%
Firms Responding 87

(Law Firm Inc., July-August 2007)