In December we sent out a survey to assess how the dramatic changes in technology and law firm economics were impacting our members in order to inform any discussion regarding  a possible name change of our SIS.

The vast majority (70%) of the respondents to the  survey indicated that the word "librarian" does not describe their current position. There was a virtual tie on the issue of a name change.  A slight majority of 13 out of 341 votes cast  preferred keeping the name the same.

Some of the objections to the name change were unfounded.

Changing the name would be expensive? No it would cost nothing. I doubt that original members of our SIS hired a consulting firm to create the Private Law Libraries name. The board would simply propose a possible alternative which reflects the  dramatic changes impacting our members. We conduct votes using survey monkey which costs nothing.

Changing the name means we abandon any association with libraries? Not necessarily. It is my personal opinion that at the very  least the name should be changed from "Private Law Libraries"  to "Private Law Librarians." 70% of the respondents indicate that their libraries continue to shrink. I doubt that a majority of the members would think it is wise to keep the focus on shrinking spaces called libraries rather than on themselves as  professionals.

Feedback Which Supports the Name Change

Creating  a more inclusive name recognizes the many non-library activities performed by our members. Many of our members provide "non-library" services, in Competitive Intelligence, Business Intelligence, Knowledge Management, records, docket, web development, and other emerging digital roles. Members are intentionally embedding information professionals in practice groups outside of the library. The word "library" understates and implicitly excludes members from being considered for emerging opportunities outside "the library."

"Librarian" doesn't describe what most of us do. We need a name that reflects the feedback from the 70% who said that the word "librarian" no longer fully described what they do.  

A simple compromise would be to simply create a hybrid name which accommodates our roots and the expansion of our activities and opportunities.   "Private Firm Librarians and Knowledge Professionals"  or "Private Law Firm Librarians and Information Professionals " acknowledge our roots and a signal to our firms and the larger world that our members engage in a broader range of activities beyond traditional librarianship, it also combats the stereotypes that generate unconscious biases at the highest levels of our organizations. It combats the suggestion that when libraries shrink we become less important.

Here are some key statistics from the survey:

42% of the respondents work in firms where they have a considered or acted on outsourcing.

27%  work in firms that have retained outside consultants to assess administrative operations

55% have proactively centralized functions

71% have reduced space occupied by library in the past 5 years.

25% have begun a liaison/embedding program

95% indicate that their jobs have changed substantially or somewhat in recent years.

The PLL Board welcomes your feedback. Here is a link to the full survey results. Thanks to all the participants.

Honoring Our Members - Celebrate Yourself and Your Colleagues.

The PLL Board recently proposed a range of new awards for PLL members. We want to know about your new projects and initiatives. Your work can inspire others.  Please review the new opportunities for PLL awards and take the time to nominate yourself or a colleague. It is a simple process - just end us an email with the nominees name and accomplishments for one or several categories