Connie Smith

But I talked with someone who really does, Connie Smith, Head Librarian at the Philadelphia office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.She paints quite a different picture from the traditional Dewey-decimal librarian with a bun in her hair shussing people in a huge book-filled room.

"The library as a physical space is going away," Connie says."While there always will be a respository for books (because research shows there are differences between how much someone will read and download from a computer screeen versus how much they will read in a book), we really are pushing knowledge down to lawyers' desktops.Our role is about managing knowledge -- and managing the technology that manages knowledge.It's not about shelving books."

There is a division of labor -- and personality -- in most sophisticated law libraries.There are those who conduct research themselves and/or teach lawyers how to perform effective research, and there are more management or organization-oriented people who oversee the library and research function.
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Connie had always been interested in library science, in systematically organizing and accessing knowledge.But after earlier roles in academe and not-for-profit organizations, she loves the strategic and tactical aspects of large-firm library management."I like making things work," she says, and that includes overseeing the financial, technology and personnel demands of a sophisticated, state-of-the-art system."In the Philadelphia office, we have two MLS-degreed librarians, three BA or BS paraprofessionals researchers, plus seven other support staff, plus someone to run it all -- me. It's a real team, and everyone must collaborate to make it work; this is not the place for a loner."

"I love this job.Unlike my earlier job in academe, where I was treated simply as a go-to technical resource, here I really feel part of a team.I am not a lawyer by training, but I am essential to the lawyers -- and they know that.I think my judgment and my planning are respected.
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Connie says the most constant challenge is to keep pace with technology."We have to stay current even as technology, systems, software and whole approaches to organizing legal information evolve constantly.We really can't plan out longer than about two years, because information management may move in directions we can't foresee today.

"This is also probably the greatest strain on law librarians.By nature, librarians are people who need and like order.We organize things.

Under the direction of the Head Librarian, Connie Smith, the Gardendale-Martha Moore Library is a 7,730 square-foot building that offers a meeting room, reading porch, typing rooms, and other amenities.

Connie Smith, Head Librarian(215) 963-4755FAX: (215) 963-5299

Under the direction of library director, Connie Smith, the library has grown to more than 55,000 items that include books, audio books, videos, DVDs, and more.The computer center features eight public computers, Internet access, Microsoft Office programs, and games for learning.

Connie SmithFirm Director of Library ServicesMorgan Lewis & Bockius LLP