I see a "virtual law library" as containing online datatases (LEXIS, WESTLAW,
DIALOG, RLIN, OCLC, etc.), CD-ROMs (LegalTrac, CIS Masterfile, treaty and UN
doc indexes, etc.), Internet resources (OPACS, electronic conferences/lists,
Gopher servers, etc.), online catalogs (with periodicals indexes, etc. on
menus), interactive video (like the CALI exercises), etc. No microforms or
hardcopy materials anywhere. And the "patrons" would dial into this library
to use the sources directly. If they needed assistance, they would check
online "Help" guides (pathfinders, research guides, tutorials, etc.), or send
e-mail to library staff.
Some concerns with this "virtual" world:
1. No voice or face-to-face interaction;
2. Where does the librarian fit in here?
3. It emphasizes "access" over "ownership", so how to assure continued
access and predictable holdings (what control do we have over what goes into
the database and what gets taken out; can we guarantee that we'll have the
equipment in the future to access the information?);
4. Given the rapidity of changes to the databases (additions, deletions, new
interfaces), how to maintain bibliographic control over them?
5. How would a "virtual" library share their resources with one that isn't?
6. How to guarantee accuracy of the contents, determine authorship/origin,
etc.?
Some problems with existing electronic resources:
1. Can't handle graphics very well (left out);
2. Not many foreign and international legal materials;
3. Few monographs/books, rare/archival/special materials, non-business
related topics such as human rights, etc.;
4. Fullness/completeness not guaranteed (selected articles from a
periodical, only certain volumes of a looseleaf service, ads?);
5. Not enough standardization/compatibility;
6. Wasteful (in terms of excess generation of paper);
7. Hard to keep up with new sources;
8. Varied patron/user needs, yet clear preference for electronic over
hardcopy.
Seems like we don't have a truly "virtual" law library yet, but patrons who
prefer to use electronic sources or so it seems. We need to identify how our
users are actually going about doing legal research so that we can work with
them actively in building a virtual law library, creating databases that they
need and making them aware of other electronic sources that they can tap
into.
Ciao,
Lyo.
---- P.S. Copyright issues are also cropping up, especially with publication of government documents in electronic format by commercial publishers. ----
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 03/07/00 PST