39
providing content to users in attractive books relative to user popularity and
platforms, the judges also emphasised interest, and to courses.”
IN BRIEF
the criterion of “coolness” of the Parker’s widget draws its inspiration
Winner of a JISC-funded competition for best library data widget, Book
application. “Parker’s application was in the stars, but it is clear that its
Galaxy Applet can be explored at
marked 5/5 for coolness,” says Kay. inventor’s feet remain firmly planted
http://users.ecs.soton.ac.uk/ajp3g08/mosaicbookgalaxy
He adds that the widget is the first of on the ground: “I hope to see the ideas Developer: Alex Parker, student at University of Southampton
its kind. “The data isn’t unique – it presented in my application applied to
To find out why JISC was so excited about this free Java widget, simply download
came from the University of Hudders- library search systems as an alternative
and install it, enter the virtual library spacecraft and see some of the driest data
field library – but there is not a lot of to keyword searches, but not as a
wrapped in galactic wonder. Just one warning: it can be hard to resist playing with
user data out there. The unique thing is replacement.” a73
the tool instead of focusing on the search results.
this way of modelling the world of Archana Venkatraman
My learned friends
how well established the library is in It highlights some weak spots in the
the firm and how well respected it is.” training of some professionals. For
According to the paper and the lit- example, some of the older lawyers,
A verdict in the E-Resources v Printed Matter case
erature reviews in it, electronic who have been in the firm a long time
resources have played a major part in and set in their ways, were not aware
legal research in the last few years but of the e-resources, and would not
a160 BOOK REVIEW also dedicated sections on the infor- are not perfect; sometimes there is no know how to use them if they were.
Info pro Joelle Rogan wrote this paper mation gathering process, interviews substitute for book research. It also Another problem highlighted is
after examining how legal profession- and recommendations. lists the possibility of tailor-made information overload. The paper sug-
als in a London law firm located Rogan clarifies that her research online services for the individual. The gests that libraries can make a differ-
information and how well their library was not necessarily looking to expose problem with the services already ence here, with the one in the case
met their information needs. It will weaknesses in the library service, and provided, Rogan found, was that they study providing an electronic tailor-
appeal to all those publishers and she reports positives about the lib- were not helpful for searching when made bulletin to summarise journals
legal information providers who won- rary’s information and enquiry service the lawyers did not know exactly what for the intellectual property depart-
der whether legal professionals prefer as being valuable and justifying the it was they were looking for. ment. This problem can also be
online tools or physical texts. library’s existence. The law firm Rogan surveyed had improved by good current awareness
It turned out that the books used by She adds: “An evaluation of the 79 partners, 150 other lawyers, more emails, which cut down the amount
the City firm’s lawyers were highly ability of the lawyers to cope with the than 250 support staff and over 40 the lawyers have to read.
valued by them, especially as some of new online systems available for them, areas of expertise in the leading legal Published by VDM, the research
the historical data was available only to use on their desk tops, and in the directories. She chose the firm because paper may lack ready-made solutions
in hard copy. As a result, there was no library, is a good way of discovering of its wide range of areas of expertise. to all digital age problems, but offers
sign of a paperless library or any plan what training is needed to help the Rogan says that such scope makes the a good starting point for exploring
to get rid of the physical collection. lawyers become more proficient in librarian’s work more varied and inter- the gaps between library services and
Rogan found that the lawyers had using all that is currently available.” esting as subjects range from intellec- professionals’ information needs.
different research methods; some pre- Rogan preferred in-depth interviews tual property, media, personal injury If a conventional text-rich research
ferred hard copy while others used the as her main source of data because and company law to travel, property, paper is not your preference, then go
full range of printed and electronic they were “qualitative and produced pensions, tax and employment. to the gripping interview sessions –
resources. Some lawyers’ first port of rich data for analysis, unlike ques- The case study is lucid, and full of they contain a volcano of information
call for a quick answer was, as it is for tionnaires, which people probably explanations, references and detail. In packaged tersely in Rogan’s questions
so many, the internet, whereas others wouldn’t take as much time over or addition to the elaborate explanation and the responses of lawyers as well
relied heavily on traditional sources care as much about.” of the firm and legal professionals, it as librarians. a73
such as Halsbury’s Laws. She believes that interviewing peo- describes the library infrastructure, Archana Venkatraman
The research paper is traditional in ple makes it easier to communicate staff, type of books and information
its format, with six major divisions: questions and explain them if inter- held, and opening hours – there’s even
introduction, literature review, meth- viewees are unsure what they mean, a physical description of the library.
IN BRIEF
odology, results, discussions and con- and also creates the opportunity for In addition, Rogan describes internal
Information Needs of Lawyers:
clusions. spontaneity. Besides, she did not want resources such as hard copy and elec-
a case study evaluating the
There to confuse the objectives of discover- tronic and method of enquiries.
information needs of lawyers in a
are ing what information provision was Rogan makes the paper an interest-
major City law firm
successful in the law firm and what ing read by sharing with us some of Author: Joelle Rogan
obstacles could be overcome and the unusual enquiries and searches by Paperback: 80 pages
improvements made. professionals. For example, she lists Publisher: VDM, 2009
“Lawyers tend to ask for the same two inquiries by lawyers dealing in ISBN: 978-3-639-19504-0
enquiries and have the same needs trademark issues. They were: find all
Explores the information-seeking
in any law firm,” she writes. the instances of the word ‘Batman’ in
behaviour of lawyers and how
“The differences come in the UK press ever; and what are the
successful libraries are in providing
the lawyers’ expecta- names of all the fruits in the world?
the information that legal
tions of the library The most interesting section of
professionals want. Get past the
staff and the quality the paper is the personal interviews
overview, literature review, scope of
of the library serv- between Rogan and the legal profes-
study to section six’s discussion, and
ice, which can vary sionals and librarians answering her
you’ll find out all you ever wanted to
from firm to firm carefully formulated questions on
know about legal libraries
depending on information habits.
WWW.IWR.CO.UK INFORMATION WORLD REVIEW DECEMBER 2009/JANUARY 2010
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