This document discusses the evolution of knowledge management (KM) in law firms and the role of librarians in KM. It summarizes how KM has shifted from a technology focus in the 1990s to emphasizing people and processes. The document outlines key aspects of successful KM programs such as defining KM, identifying champions, gaining support and buy-in, starting small, and measuring success. It argues that librarians are well-positioned to take a leading role in law firm KM given their experience organizing content.

1. Knowledge Management & Libraries
TAMING THE KM MONSTER
Jaye A. H. Lapachet
& Camille D. Reynolds
SLA Legal Division KM Webinar
September 26, 2012

2. Real World KM

3. I want to find THIS top
TANK TOP

4. TOP RESULTS: Tank Swim Suits
BOTTOM RESULTS: Mesh Jerseys

5. Thinking of new terms
–tank
–tshirt
–top
–sleeveless

6. Desperation Search: Tshirt
Search Terms: Sleeveless Tank

7. Yay! Some results that
look like what I want

8. Found it!

9. Lessons
• Check synonyms for terms and link them
• Consider slang; even unappealing slang
• Omit search results the user has already
looked at

10. The Evolution of KM in Law Firms
KM in the 1990s
– Technology Focused
– Hype
“The Crash”
– People & Process
Focus
– Opportunity for
Librarians

11. Knowledge Management:
What it IS and IS NOT
What is KM?
– Capture
– Search
– Collaboration
– Analysis
– Process
What KM is not
– Magic
– Technology alone
– Easy

12. The River
Managing the Flow of Knowledge
• CRM InterAction
• DMS
• Intranet
• Group inboxes
• Conversations
• Relationships
• Email
• Other

13. The Role of the Librarian
• Content vs. Container
– Organize the content regardless of
container
– Organization can add more value
than information itself
• Organization’s content curator
• Already organize external content
– Why not internal content?

14. KM as Change Management
It’s not about buying and rolling out
technology, it’s not about giving people new
toys, and it’s not about adding another task
into the project framework – it’s about
changing the way people think.
– Knoco Stories Blog
“Top 7 Reasons why KM Implementations fail”
http://bit.ly/oKUs6N

15. Must-Haves for Successful KM
• Define KM for your org
• Identify a Champion
• Solidify support from
management
• Get buy-in from
affected staff
• Start Small

16. What Problem will you Solve?
“At its heart, KM concerns itself with
solving business problems.”
– S. Lasteres “Aligning through KM”
Information Outlook (June 2011)

17. Staff Assessment
• Understand staff
resources needed
• Don’t overpromise
• Are there low-value
tasks that can stop?

18. The Right Tools

19. From Library to KM

20. eLibrary

23. Application to Internal Content
Online eFiling of court
documents directly
into DMS
External team wiki
content moved to
intranet for easier
KM staff access

24. Library to KM via SharePoint
• Packaging research
results
• Displaying electronic
titles grouped into
practice area tabs
• Delivering ongoing BD
research updates
• Linking research
directly into SP
extranets if provided to
your firm

25. Library to KM via SharePoint

26. Connecting Repositories

27. Connecting Repositories

29. Challenges
• Change Management
• Money
• Staff Resources
• Time

30. “Do or Do Not, There is NO Try”
http://bit.ly/pzm31s

31. Librarians are from Venus
IT are from Mars

32. Measuring Success

33. KM=Connections

34. Questions?
Thank you!
Camille Reynolds Jaye A. H. Lapachet
Director of Risk Management & Manager of Library Services
Information Services Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass LLP
Fenwick & West LLP San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, CA
linkedin.com/in/camillereynolds linkedin.com/in/jlapac