Editor's letter: Libraries in the spotlight

Welcome to the February/March issue of KIM Legal. In this issue, we shift the economic focus to the law firm library – or information service – function, which is arguably going to be facing more scrutiny than ever before as firms seek to stabilise their business. It would be far too simplistic to suggest that, for the legal librarian, budgets have always been difficult to justify and attain. In fact, numerous people that we have spoken to in our research for our forthcoming conference on legal libraries have enjoyed a fairly loose rein during the economic boom period of recent years. Fee earners have become accustomed not only to loose-leaf documents, but a plethora of online and hard-copy resources at their disposal. Now that times are difficult, is the library or information centre the first point of call for cost-cutting? In this issue’s cover feature, Daniella King raises some points that are as pertinent to us, as providers of management advice and training, as they are to those individuals and departments responsible for acquiring the externally produced information that lawyers rely on to perform their roles effectively. We may focus on ensuring that the information we include in our journals and publications is ‘must have’ and ‘need to know’ content, but what happens when our audience is squeezed by the recession and forced to slash costs wherever they can? In the case of libraries it’s all about communicating the value that the department brings to the business, getting the most out of your existing systems and resources, keeping a close eye on renewals and, most importantly, enhanced and continuous communication with the finance department. All this, combined with the constantly evolving day-to-day challenges and scope of the role – as detailed by Paul Byfield later on in the magazine (page 27) – suggests that library and information services have many challenges to contend with over the coming months. Elsewhere in this issue, Stephen Denning offers insight into the art of storytelling to enable successful and influential change management programmes (page 14), and Heather Robinson takes an opportunity to turn the economic crisis on its head and talk-up the benefits of knowledge management, not just in surviving the credit crunch, but in planning for success during the recovery period – the last of which saw the rise of KM awareness throughout the industry. We would be interested to hear how you have been coping with current challenges, along with any feedback on the magazine or subjects that you would like to see covered, at the usual address: kclifton@ark-group.com

Kate Clifton,
Head of editorial

Features

Feature: A changing information environment This article is for subscribers only
Paul Byfield explores the constantly evolving roles of the law firm library and information professional.

Masterclass Part II: Exploring intranet usability and redesign This article is for subscribers only
In the second of this series on intranet usability and redesign, Stephen Musselwhite details the options available to those looking to redesign their intranet, having completed usability testing.

Masterclass: Capitalising on the upside of the downturn This article is for subscribers only
Heather Robinson explores the use of knowledge management techniques in a recession.

Feature: Storytelling This article is for subscribers only
Choosing your words carefully can help to generate genuine enthusiasm for organisational change. Stephen Denning reports.

Cover feature: TO CUT OR NOT TO CUT? This article is for subscribers only
Many libraries and information units are being faced with difficult decisions regarding the retention of resources. Daniella King considers the thorny issue of cutting costs, and the impact of the current economic climate on library budgets.

Regulars

The last word: What should you be doing? Free
There are four inextricably linked aspects of a firm’s collective body of knowledge. Simon Haigh shares the approach that Australian firm Minter Ellison is adopting to weather the current economic storm and maintain competitive advantage.

Opinion: Making the case This article is for subscribers only
Tony Byrne, founder of CMS Watch, examines the business case for – and against – social software.

Opinion: Creating know-how online Free
Publishing updates and thought leadership online is an effective way of showcasing your firm’s know-how and building your brand, but when it comes to article structure and format, there are certain rules that apply. James Tuke discusses how to make the most of such opportunities – from engaging the target audience, to applying basic journalistic principles to sustain their interest.

Thought leader: Maintaining momentum Free
The effects of the downturn in the markets law firms and their clients trade in are being felt across the sector. In such a climate, most firms will be looking at two priorities: managing their costs and winning new work. For knowledge-management (KM) professionals this is the perfect time to demonstrate precisely how what you do is aligned with the needs of your firm’s business. But, where do you start?