(September 1, 2009) – Reed Smith LLP, one of the 15 largest law firms in the world, added another new page to the law library playbook this week, as it became the first global law firm to deploy Altarama Information Systems’ RefTracker Reference and Request Management System.

RefTracker provides Reed Smith’s library research team an integrated, firmwide platform for efficiently delivering research services to all attorneys. With a simple click, the firm’s attorneys can now submit research requests to the firm’s entire global team of research librarians.  Although Altarama software is widely used in academic, public, special, corporate and government libraries worldwide, Reed Smith is the first law firm to work with Altarama’s developers to adapt RefTracker to meet the complex and divergent needs of global law firms.

“The launch of RefTracker puts Reed Smith well ahead of the information management technology curve for law libraries,” said Tom Baldwin, Reed Smith’s Chief Knowledge Officer. “It is also another innovation that will help our team meet the high goals we’ve set across the key dimensions of Pace, Innovation and Quality. With the successful rollout of RefTracker, it’s clear the PIQ Initiative is firing on all cylinders, keeping Reed Smith on the cutting edge where law firm research management and library functions are being re-defined.”

RefTracker supports Reed Smith’s librarians in providing all traditional research services to the firm’s attorneys. In addition, it allows them to build a dense and nuanced legal knowledge base that will be second to none. This knowledge base will track and store information requests, so that recurring requests can be processed more rapidly. Other major law firms have been watching Reed Smith’s development process and monitoring its progress in adapting RefTracker.

Founded in Sydney, Australia, Altarama Information Systems incorporated in the US for the Americas and Europe in 2004.  When Reed Smith librarians and technology professionals saw the RefTracker system for the first time, they were managing research requests using a tool created by the firm’s IT Department.  As the research team’s needs expanded, they developed a “wish list” of enhancements they hoped to add.  Altarama collaborated with Reed Smith’s knowledge officers and research professionals to customize RefTracker for the law firm’s global environment, which currently spans eight countries across more than 10 different time zones.

“Reed Smith has taken a highly successful reference management system and collaborated with its developers to make modifications that will meet the needs of a global law firm library, which are extremely different from other libraries,” said Ronda Fisch, the firm’s Director of Research & Library Services. “Ref Tracker provides the firm with real advantages. Not only are all of our librarians able to view and track new requests as they arrive, they also are able to seamlessly join forces and act as a team when responding to these requests, no matter where they originate.”

In just the past few weeks since the internal launch of RefTracker, Reed Smith attorneys have been able to submit research requests to the firm’s 17 reference librarians and staff using the new system.  Attorneys have also benefitted from RefTracker by adding attachments, tracking the progress of their requests, submitting requests for research training and sending the research staff comments and suggestions in real time.

“One of the most exciting and practical new features integrated into the new system is the ability for our librarians to immediately launch a desktop training session in direct response to a lawyer’s request, without either having to exit the RefTracker system or launch any other software tool,” said John J. DiGilio, Reed Smith’s National Manager of Research Services.  “The launch of this integrated training and information delivery process is a giant step in our journey to create a robust library educational program that is powerful, as well as easy to access, understand and use.”

Reed Smith also modified RefTracker to generate custom monthly reports on the number and type of reference requests processed, which will give its librarians and the firm management actionable information about the library’s work flow and the demand for its reference services. These metrics will provide helpful information for the library managers to know which practice groups utilize library services as well as offer intelligence about the resources of which attorneys make the most use.  RefTracker will help ensure Reed Smith is getting the most value from its resources. 

“Reed Smith’s knowledge management and reference personnel came to us as highly sophisticated library system users and developers.  They knew what they needed and how they wanted RefTracker to work for them,” said Arthur Brady, President of Altarama (USA).  “The firm’s research team worked with us every step of the way as we extended our peerless request management system to address Reed Smith’s specialized needs.  We are as delighted as they are that the system has been launched and has already provided the firm’s attorneys and legal professionals the around-the-clock service they require to effectively and efficiently meet their clients’ needs.”

The RefTracker launch was the second innovation rolled out by Reed Smith this month. In early August, the firm’s Knowledge Management and Library team members were the first to integrate applications from SharePoint and Ozmosys to enhance the firm’s Intranet by streamlining the law firm’s business and information needs.

About Reed Smith

Reed Smith is a global relationship law firm with nearly 1,600 lawyers in 23 offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.  Founded in 1877, the firm represents leading international businesses, from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises.  Its lawyers provide litigation services in multi-jurisdictional matters and other high-stakes disputes; deliver regulatory counsel; and execute the full range of strategic domestic and cross-border transactions.  Reed Smith is a preeminent advisor to industries including financial services, life sciences, health care, advertising, technology and media, shipping, energy trade and commodities, real estate, manufacturing, and education.  For more information, visit reedsmith.com.

U.S.: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Oakland, Princeton, Northern Virginia, Wilmington, Silicon Valley, Century City, Richmond

Europe: London, Paris, Munich, Greece

Middle East: Abu Dhabi, Dubai

Asia: Hong Kong, Beijing

About Altarama Information Systems

Altarama (USA) and Altarama (Australia) are privately-held companies that have been helping libraries manage their reference operations since 2001, with hundreds of clients around the world.  Altarama owners and managers are librarians and library automation experts who average more than two decades of experience in the field. For more information, please visit www.altarama.com.