BIALL Handbook of Legal Information Management

For this new handbook BIALL (British and Irish Association of Law Librarians) has brought together an unparalleled team of respected experts to provide authoritative and up-to-date best practice guidance on the key legal information issues for every type of service, focusing particularly on the balance between electronic and printed resources, free and charged services and electronic and on-site access. Beginning with a survey of the growth of law librarianship, and an analysis of different types of services and users, the Handbook goes on to discuss research techniques for hard copy and electronic information, giving tips on how to 'know it all and find it fast'. Subsequent chapters describe how to source and organise different types of legal information; how to choose and purchase library management systems; and how to manage budgets and financial demands. A chapter on staff management, training and professional development looks both at practical day-to-day staff concerns and future skills issues. Other chapters cover copyright, data protection and ethical issues; knowledge management; and virtual learning environments. The Handbook concludes with examples of a variety of legal information services which describe the particular professional demands and conditions that they present. The BIALL Handbook of Legal Information Management offers a professional reference for managers and staff of all types of legal information services on the challenges they face in their work every day.

Contents: Foreword; Preface; Acknowledgements; Glossary; Law libraries and their users, Jules Winterton; Sources of legal information and their organization, Guy Holborn; Legal research - techniques and tips, Peter Clinch; Library and information systems management, Mandy Webster; Financial management: planning and charging, Michael Maher; Managing legal information professionals, Jacky Berry; Copyright and data protection, Elaine Ansell; Knowledge management, Sue Doe; The role of taxonomies, Christine Miskin; E-learning and virtual learning environments, Sue Pettit. Case Studies: Academic law libraries, David Hart; Freelance legal information specialists, Helen Dewar; Government department libraries, Jackie King and Sandra Naylor; Law firm libraries, Fiona Durrant; Overseas law librarianship, Vanessa O'Meara; Professional society libraries: the Northern Ireland experience, Heather Semple; Ethics in law librarianship, Jonathan Gordon-Till; References and bibilography; Index.