Many thanks to all who responded to the question posted on my behalf regarding
downsizing a library through the use of electronic resources and one central
library vs. satellite libraries.
The overwhelming consensus is that satellite libraries do not work. I agree!!
Some of the reasons cited were: difficulty in staffing and maintaining
collections; unable to enforce circulation policy; satellites become a haven
for attorneys' personal collections and require dealing with "donations" to
the library; where does the core collection reside; and how many duplicate
sets of books will be needed.
These are the same issues I have already presented to our management. FYI:
during the past year I was given a new immediate supervisor. I no longer
report to the law firm administrator but to the Manager of Practice Support
who is a member of the MIS Department.
Our firm is moving toward making more information available electronically.
The preference is to have CD-ROM. I was told that we would not have duplicate
sets of books bacause if it was available on CD-ROM, that would be the medium
people would need to use. The other concerns have not been discussed at
length at this time.
A ray of hope in this saga is that I believe our practice group chairs would
also prefer one library (information center). As I said before, this matter
is in no way resolved and your comments will provide me with additional input.
Thank you again,
Kathy Steen
Graydon, Head & Ritchey
Cincinnati, OH
(posted by Anne Abate, Dinsmore & Shohl)
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