Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/87421
Most younger attorneys were trained on both print and online sources. rationale behind their reasons depends upon how they were trained to research. When older attorneys were in law school, they were trained to use books. Some things are so much better and easier online that they've naturally migrated to using them (Shepardizing cases, for example), but, ultimately, if they were trained to use print when they were learning to research, they will continue to do so. Conversely, most younger attorneys were trained on both print and online sources — law school librarians today make sure they know how to use both. But the younger associates (and some senior associates and younger partners) took to using online resources and many never looked back. It's much easier to access online materials from home, you don't have to share books, and things are never off the shelf. This generation is much more comfortable with online research. Pricing is the only thing that makes them hesitate. Making a Case for Old and New Does this mean that legal resources are inevitably moving online as time marches forward? Well, it might in the long run, but, if it does, the transition will come slowly. A blended library including both print and online materials is the best approach for the time being and for the foreseeable future. Here are the main reasons why: 56 AALL/ILTA White Paper • Attorneys are creatures of habit. When they know where to find information quickly and effectively, they want to keep that source. Preferably in the exact same format and in the exact same place. If they use it often, they'd like to keep it in their office and on their desktop — electronically or literally. • Publishing companies own copyrights. If a book is useful and necessary, you can purchase a paper copy on its own or set up a contract for e-resources from the publishing company, which might be much more expensive and could be potentially less useful. Many smaller publishing companies have put their materials online behind paywalls, but the user interfaces are terrible. Subscribing to more than one or two of the larger and better organized online databases (e.g., Lexis, West and Bloomberg) might be cost-prohibitive. In those situations, it's often cheaper to keep the print versions rather than transition to online resources. If you do transition to online, keep the print versions on the shelf and up- to-date for a finite transition period. No one wants to learn a new research system the day before a brief is due. • Clients are savvy about billing. Part of the "new normal" legal economy is client pushback on legal research charges. When firms had print materials