Thanks to everyone who responded to this year’s poll. I will be reporting the results in two parts. Today I am reporting on processes and on Monday I will be reporting on which new products are making the grade and which products may be starting a slide into oblivion.We are once again being offered a chance to learn from the “Wisdom of Colleagues.”
START. The initiatives that were most often cited as priorities in  2014 and 2015 are: Client monitoring initiatives, workflow process improvements and personalized “high touch”outreach to
lawyers.
STOP
Print is still under fire. All manner of print is being tossed, books, subject
files and periodicals. The challenge of completely eliminating the routing of
print newsletters was noted repeatedly— even when a digital version is available – lawyers fight to keep newsletters coming in print. “But I prefer reading from a velum scroll!”

Another
recurring theme was  improving workload tracking. In many cases this involves eliminating generic workload tracking  software (access, excel) or IT
help desk software which doesn’t quite fit the workflow needs as well as  ditching manual tracking processes in favor of custom research tracking software.

 Here
is the  list of  additional services which were  stopped in 2014 or will be stopped in 2015:

  • Manning
    the reference desk.
  • Giving
    up IT help software in favor of research software.
  • RFID
    tagging of books.
  • Webinars
    replaced with SharePoint training gadgets.
  • LibGuides
  • Recording
    user passwords (“Forgot your password?” is now ubiquitous).
  • We
    stopped using a filing service
  • We
    cut way back on links in our Virtual Library.
  • We

    centralized techical services functions in our main office, eliminating redundant processes in 11 offices.

 Which
organizational initiatives were started in  2014?

  •  Software is being deployed to streamline workflow and analysis of workflow and resources:( Ref Tracker Illumen, Onelog and Quattrove).
  • Software which is being implemented to track use of digital resources include Research Monitor, Onelog and Quattrove.
  • Competitive intelligence initiatives are using Manzama and Linex.

Here  are additional responses:

  • Research
    Services started producing the highly formatted and structured CI reports
    and reports on all proposed lateral partners.
  • Research
    Monitor Administrative center provides real time digital resource usage
    data.
  • Started
    using ResearchHUB, the Research Moniotr module for mobile apps and
    websites.
  • Started
    a Twitter  and Linked-in accounts
    for the  Info Center.
  • New
    SharePoint portal
  • Added
    contract management data  to InMagic
    Genie module
  • Set
    up a digital library of Bender IP titles
  • Rebranded
    department from Library and Information Services to Knowledge &
    Research Services
  • Changed library staff titles to Director
    of Knowledge & Research Services and Knowledge and Research Services
    Assistant respectively.
  • West
    KM
  • Created
    Library App of the Week cards to promote library apps.
  • Process
    mapping litigation and counseling tasks.
  • Use
    of Summation Pro
  • We
    created CUI’s for Westlaw (Find and Print, e-books)
  • After
    being approached by a partner and his clients, I became an embedded
    librarian

Describe
any ORGANIZATIONAL (task/process/initiative) you plan to START in 2015:

Top Initiatives Cited:

  • Client monitoring initiatives
  • Workflow process improvements
  • Outreach to lawyers

Additional
initiatives cited:

  • Screening
    potential clients for litigation against law firms or bankruptcies, etc
  • Lawyer
    Process improvement. Working with a practice group to analyze a complex
    process in order to map out which products can streamline the process.
  • Using
    Instant Messaging to answer reference questions
  • Lexis
    ebooks on Overdrive
  • Optimize
    the Department’s billings, increasing Department revenue opportunities and
    decreasing expenses. 
  • Launch
    OneLog. 
  • Launch
    new SharePoint.
  • Personal
    follow up visits to attorneys requesting complex research
    assignments.  
  • Use
    Chrome River for library invoices.
  • Weed
    collection heavily prior to West LMA renewal.   Compare online resources for
    redundancy  3. Increase online
    delivery of routed periodicals.
  • Create
    Practice Group specific training videos.
  • Transition
    to WestlawNext from Lexis Advance in 2015.
  • Cross
    train research and technical services teams
  • Implement
    a library mobile app using Boopsie
  • Document
    requirements and business justification for KM project requests.
  • Reference
    Services & collection management processes reviews.
  • We
    plan to start a floor support program which will increase librarians’
    visibility.
  • Plan
    a “reference academy” where our librarians will share their
    special expertise with the rest of the group;
  • Moving
    our intranet pages to SharePoint 2013
  • Programmed
    standardized reporting (SQL).
  • Re-educate
    everyone on the value of WestKM and our internal work product

Coming Up Monday: The Start Stop Poll on Products, Best New Products, Best New Features and Ideas for completely new products! Stay tuned.