March 29, 2010
Yesterday, I met with a client about a possible Open Source Search Project. Today I’m meeting with some folks to talk about E-Discovery.
The thought that is on repeat in my head is that Search is perhaps the most critical component for cost-effective e-Discovery. Indexing, proper planning and all the other elements of e-discovery are important. The truth is that when it’s time to produce, the search mechanism is the best tool to produce the right stuff in the quickest manner possible.
So, I wonder how open source search will impact e-discovery. These two processes are growing in importance and application. Even small businesses have ESI that are subject to e-discovery. Will Open Source search provide an affordable option for those small businesses that can’t afford the Kroll and Applied Discovery options?
It’s certainly a possibility. MIKE 2.0 is offering some Open Source Solutions for e-discovery. And IT geeks everywhere have access to Open Source Codes to help with the backend grunt work.
I will continue to explore Open Source Search and its implications and impacts on e-discovery. If you have suggestions on sources I should not miss please leave a comment. These two applications are complex and an early morning thought after a weekend of exploration is just not enough.
Author’s Note: The mention of a commercial or open source application in this post does not constitute and endorsement. I have received no incentives to write this post.
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Information Management, Search | Tagged: E-Discovery, open source, Search | 
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Posted by answermaven
March 23, 2010
I read a post several weeks ago from 3 Geeks and Law Blog, bookmarked it and kept going back to it. Several of the speakers mentioned in this Ark Conference review are law librarians I have admired and learned from in the past, and will no doubt continue to learn from into the future.
When I worked on my Next-Generation Corporate Libraries and Information Services book last fall, law firms were a focus. (Note: The book was published by the Ark Group, the producer of the conference reviewed in the 3 Geeks Law Blog.) More significantly, Information Services were the focus of my attention. Knowledge Management, Embedded Services and innovative ways to add value to an organization’s information consumption were a few of the things I discussed.
Knowledge Management could be Research Power Sources
The portion of the 3 Geeks post that most captured my attention was the need for law libraries to take ownership of Knowledge Management and improve its reputation. I wholeheartedly agree. In a law firm environment, the users of KM are not “managing” knowledge they are consuming knowledge and repurposing it. A rose by any other name will serve the purpose.
Using metrics to sell the use of KM is just one part of expanding the conversation between librarians and management. The application of metrics for other purposes is just as important but I caution against measuring for measurements sake. The metrics must sell the service in which firm librarians want management to invest.
I loved it when I worked at the firm and would hear from users of the KM system: ” I know I saved myself 3 hours of work.” They saved this time because they were able to quickly locate documents that could be updated and used for a current project. Those are the metrics that matter, especially when seeking ways to show value to clients beyond a billable hour.
The Best Practices discussions reviewed can be a constant conversation in law librarianship. We must continuously strive to seek methods of improving service delivery, expanding reach into the firm through those services and tell the story in numbers that matter in order to maintain influence and retain or gain powers of position.
Leave a Comment » | Information Management | Tagged: Best Practices, knowledge management | Permalink
Posted by answermaven
March 17, 2010
Once I have a bit of time, I’m going to dive a little bit deeper into the Open Access movement stuff that is going on in the legal research world.
Sarah Glassmeyer, has a helpful new post titled Open Law? that gives a great run down of some sources. I’ve mentioned how I feel about the PACER Petition in previous posts. In , I hold true to my belief that PACER is a cost-effective tool.
The stuff that I stumbled through on the PublicResource.org site tonight made my eyes light up. Unfortunately I was not able to ignore the fact that this was definitely a resource that would have to be carefully reviewed to find just the right thing. This site has great depth in resources but it will not be a time efficient research tool.
I think the Open Law movement will continue to grow and develop, but the access will definitely require even more meaningful access as noted by Richard Leiter.
Leave a Comment » | legal research | Tagged: Open Access, PACER | Permalink
Posted by answermaven
March 15, 2010
There’s Room for Knowledge Management in Open Records
Over the past couple of months I have found myself doing a large amount of research in the realm of state legislation and regulations. The one thing that is clear from this work is that while information is significantly easier to find than it used to be, all states are not equal.
The sophistication and ease of use for each state’s system varies widely. Organizationally, the regulations are frustrating. Some regulations are spread through departments within departments others are deceptive. The deception comes from the appearance that there is a single place for all proposed rules and the information is complete. In reality, there are often other places within the wealth of state data that can and do contain this type of information. The reality of needing to look in multiple places is just part of the frustration. The lack of complete tracking information and an inconsistency even with the same state, depending upon the regulation and/or the responsible department increases the searcher’s blood pressure too.
Bringing Infrastructure up to Date is a Challenge
If ever a need for Knowledge Management was apparent, it is in the handling of these valuable open records resources. I certainly understand that the appearance, availability and frequency are dependent upon a number of factors ranging from human to fiscal resources. Not the least of these dependent factors is existing and available technology. Bringing old infrastructure to the 21st century is a huge and costly challenge.
However, I think organizations responsible for maintaining and making available to the public large amounts of information, should look closely at the impact a well executed content and knowledge management plan could have. Could human resources actually have a reduced burden if the full date was used in a legislative docket, especially a docket that ranges across two years? I think so.
Systems and processes in inputting data must be considered in light of the ultimate output and user. A capable Knowledge Manager will be able to balance the technological and information demands and capabilities against user expectations and desires. This information professional will establish and maintain protocols to benefit the organization at all levels.
There are many ways to handle information but it should be handled by a professional. At minimum, organizations responsible for providing access to public records should invest in an Information Professional to establish good protocols on the front-end.
Constance Ard 3/14/2010
Leave a Comment » | Information Management | Tagged: Best Practices, knowledge management, open records | Permalink
Posted by answermaven
March 10, 2010
Tomorrow I will be presenting to attendees at the Kentucky Chapter of SLA The Seed 2020 Business Case for Social Media . One may wonder, why I would present a “business case” to a room full of information professionals.
The truth is that information professionals in universities and corporations are educators and first adopters. So while everyone is just now jumping on the social media bandwagon, librarians in the academic community have been training and teaching the rest of the world how to use it and how to use it well.
Now that 57% of respondents, according Social Software in Business Survey (September 2009), are dedicating employee resources to corporate social media; the business case is growing in importance. (Source: Information Today January 2010)
Information professionals in corporate and special libraries must lead the strategy and implementation of use for successful social media. This medium, is a cornerstone of information and must be incorporated into the overall view of Knowledge Management. Organizations that place a high value on information must also dedicate resources to social media.
Constance Ard
Leave a Comment » | Business | Tagged: bus, Social Media | Permalink
Posted by answermaven
March 4, 2010
I have profiled Somerset Energy Refinery in the past, updated the profile and interviewed Michael Grunberg, the man who bought the refinery and brought it out of bankruptcy. This morning, I opened my email box to see an announcement about the sale of the business. It has been roughly 18 months since the initial purchase, spurred by Mr. Grunberg’s desire for a diversified investment outside of commercial real estate.
I don’t have an inside scoop on the sale but I can share with you a couple of video links that were included in my email. (Using Social Media for the sale is a great stride forward to this small town company.)
For Sale
http://vimeo.com/9729170 (23 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVr1FkMoGck (8 minutes)
The vimeo video demonstrates the investments made in the company, cleaning, repairing and renewing the equipment to profit. When I interviewed Mr. Grunberg in December 2008, he insisted that technology and efficiency were keys to profitability. In the theme of that mantra, Mr. Grunberg has been quoted as saying he invested $20M in buying and upgrading the refinery.
The refinery closed in February 2010 according to an IStockAnalyst reproduction of a Lexington Herald-Leader article.. Mr. Grunberg is selling the refinery for a quoted sticker price of $12 to $14M. The problem leading to the sell of the refinery was not sales, a problem that haunted the refinery in the past. The major business problem that a buyer will face is supply. I speculate that due to the evening out of oil prices overall, small refineries such as Somerset Energy, no longer have small oil producers seeking alternatives that would keep their transportation costs down.
If you buy into Mr. Grunberg’s statements on the video, his investment has taken the old refinery from the stagnant days of the 80′s into the cutting edge of the 21st century. The refinery, is ready for profit, if they can get the supplies of oil needed for refining. One might blame Marathon who seems to be working to retain the majority of oil supply, even those that have to drive by Somerset KY to get to Ashland. It’s an interesting business situation and one that will take political savvy and salesmanship to overcome.
It’s sad for me, a Somerset native, to see this long-standing company shut down once again. The impact on employment and good gas supplies is the immediately noticeable impact of this closure.
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Posted by answermaven
March 3, 2010
Last fall I presented at the Kentucky Bar Association’s CLE, the Kentucky Law Update, on the topic of Social Media. My co-presenter, Stuart Adams, and I did the presentation in a variety of cities throughout the state starting in September and ending in December. By the time we finished we had revamped our original notes, because the September version was out-of-date.
(photo from savethetigerfund.org)
One of the things we discussed was the impact that jurors have on the outcome of cases when they engage in social networking. It seems that the don’t talk about it mantra of olden days didn’t always translate when it came down to discussing, commenting and posting about an ongoing trial in the days of mobile social media use.
And this phenomenon is being addressed in a variety of manners. The latest is the drafted Model Jury Instructions on the Use of Electronic Technology to Conduct Research on or Communicate About a Case (December 2009). This effort combined with individual efforts by bar associations throughout the nation may rein in the misuse and subsequent mistrials of social networking in the judicial process.
The good news is that this Model and the implementation of strategic social media policies within law firms and other judicial system agents is getting in front of the problem. Proactiveness is a much better defense in this game.
Hat tip to the Law Librarian Blog
Leave a Comment » | Legal Issues | Tagged: Social Media, Strategic Planning | Permalink
Posted by answermaven
The thought that is on repeat in my head is that Search is perhaps the most critical component for cost-effective e-Discovery. Indexing, proper planning and all the other elements of e-discovery are important. The truth is that when it’s time to produce, the search mechanism is the best tool to produce the right stuff in the quickest manner possible.
