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LexisNexis survey finds info pros are very interested in 2.0 technologies
By Dori Geise, Senior Director of Marketing, LexisNexis, Dayton, OH, USA

LexisNexis recently conducted a survey about trends and challenges facing information professionals today. The survey encouraged IPs to contribute their thoughts on how they see technology and knowledge management developing in their organizations. We limited participants to those considered information professionals as defined by the Special Libraries Association.

Because IPs are an important and valued LexisNexis user segment, periodically conducted surveys covering IP-related issues help identify challenges these professionals face and determine ways in which LexisNexis can help IPs address these challenges. LexisNexis and SLA jointly conducted a similar survey two years ago. This year, we expanded on that original survey to identify new responsibilities and services IPs have added to increase their presence and perceived value and identify the most successful new IP initiatives launched in the past year.

Leveraging technology to enhance information services

Information professionals are savvy when it comes to leveraging technology to make information more valuable, relevant and accessible. Of librarians surveyed this year, 93% said they use intranets for managing and distributing information and 57% see collaborative workspaces as very important for the future.

The survey revealed an interesting breakdown and frequency of information sources accessed. It’s no surprise that information professionals are very in-tune with Web 2.0 developments; nearly four in ten (39%) access weblogs at least weekly, and more than a third (34%) access wikis.

When asked, “What is the most successful new initiative/service that you have launched in the past year?” respondents’ top five responses were:

1. Document search, retrieval, delivery and access enhancements, such as centralizing a document collection into a common Integrated Library System; OpenURL linking; RSS feed; taxonomy; and library portal integration, development or enhancement
2. Embed or migrate IP services within business units
3. Increase, provide or offer new training
4. Enhance or standardize process and quality control procedures
5. Provide assistance and services proactively

Other notable mentions included digitizing important or historical print sources, providing collaborative workspaces and creating wiki-type databases.

Advancing technologies are changing librarians’ role

In their increasingly proactive role, IPs are facing increasing responsibilities and tasks without the luxury of extra time. The Internet appears to be speeding up the pace at which IPs are supposed to function on an everyday basis. This lack of adequate time, along with a lack of adequate funds or staff, was named the greatest obstacle facing IPs at the moment; as technologies advance almost instantaneously, IPs are expected to keep up with the newest available resources. Turnaround times are expected to keep pace with today’s ever-increasing amount of available information.

What can assist IPs to keep up with growing expectations? More, the survey determined. More staff, more content acquisitions, more user training, more intranet development. In other words, an increase in funding and resources to match the increase in pace and amount of information librarians are expected to have at their fingertips.

Information professionals’ answers to “Which of the following means of information distribution
does your organization currently utilize? Of these same means of information distribution, which do you
believe will be the most important to information professionals and their internal clients five years from now?”

Regarding their role, findings revealed that IPs for the most part feel they are more and more serving as educators for their internal clients and becoming more proactive members of the research process. Instead of simply gathering and presenting information, IPs are moving toward a more involved consultant position in relation to their customers. In addition, a majority of surveyed IPs reported an increase in their involvement in design and evaluation of information systems they use.

LexisNexis headed in the right direction

The survey results affirm we’re on the right track in terms of product developments to help information professionals. In the Web 2.0 arena, LexisNexis has teamed up with Newstex Blogs on Demand and recently won an SIIA Codie Award for the best blog aggregation via LexisNexis. Also LexisNexis has formed an alliance with Newscom and World Picture Network to make their images and graphics available to LexisNexis customers. These images are in addition to the McClatchy-Tribune text archives and images added in February. Moves like these bring more value to our products that IPs use. We’re happy to see that results of our recent survey are in synch with our increased product capabilities and utilization of Web 2.0 technologies.

www.lexisnexis.com