Next Generation Corporate Libraries and Information Services

CONSTANCE ARD offers information and content management solutions through her consulting practice Answer Maven. Before launching the consulting practice, Ms. Ard was a practising law librarian for 12 years. She received her MSLS from the University of Kentucky in 1995. Throughout her career, Ms. Ard has worked to develop a strong background in management and research as well as project management. Ms. Ard specialises in working with organisations to assess information problems, user needs and expectations and offering solutions to improve and leverage company expertise to solve those problems. This specialty includes working closely with management, end-users and information technology. Technology and information are irrevocably intertwined and in order to meet user requirements information and content managers must work collaboratively with IT to ensure organisations meet their business goals. Ms. Ard is expert at facilitating those relationships. Currently Ms. Ard serves as the Chair-Elect of Special Libraries Association Legal Division and will become Chair in January 2010. She received the Outstanding Chapter Member Award from the Kentucky Chapter of Special Libraries Association in 2006 and the Professional Member Award in 2008. She also received the Kentucky Libraries Association Special Librarian of the Year Award in 2007.

Chapter 1: The role of librarians and information professionals Marketing Public relations Training Knowledge/content management Business analysis Professional services team members New and additional areas of responsibility An old role with a new twist Library services into the future Summary Chapter 2: Administrative and managerial skills People Politics Resource management Negotiating effectively with the suppliers of commercial legal information Distributive versus integrative negotiation Prepare in advance Be confident Identify a good BATNA Close properly Read the small print Additional management activities Other administrative duties Chapter 3: Embedded services - Co-location with internal clients Case study: Living with clients and the effect on information services Co-location Funding Reporting Why embed? Library innovation or organisation procedure Activities Who is the best marriage partner? Evaluation What lies ahead? Chapter 4: Competitive intelligence Practicalities and best practices Getting started Evaluation and return on investment CI as an emerging information service Case in point Future opportunities Chapter 5: Understanding and implementing online tools What are online services? Web 2.0 and 3.0 Case study: How online tools have changed information delivery in a law firm Library tools now and in the future Cloud services Open source solutions Virtual reference and more Traditional research tools Chapter 6: Using social media in corporate libraries Defining 'social media' How corporate libraries could use social media Concerns around adoption Achieving potential Case study 1: YMCA - The evolving role and skills of information professionals The role of information professionals at YMCA Collaboration and technology skills to improve delivery Subject expertise Information delivery mechanisms continue to change Other innovative information solutions The future in skills and opportunities Case study 2: Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP - Raising the profile of library and information services Take account of the firm's business strategy Consider your location Consider a name change Support cross-firm initiatives Pioneer new technologies Packaging your services Measure your work levels Demonstrate recognition The benefits of promoting your service Case studies 3 & 4: Lessons to be learned from public libraries Yarra Plenty Regional Library: Deploying Web 2.0 technologies Challenges and opportunities Successful innovative programmes at YPRL Outcomes Staff changes and implications Skills and roles for the future Casey-Cardinia Library Corporation: Blending marketing and electronic resources Observations and conclusions Index