How to Expand Your Legal Library With Digital Content

A legal library does not need to be rebuilt to benefit from digital content.

For library administrators, knowledge managers and legal operations leaders, the more useful question is which titles, practice areas and user groups warrant expansion through a digital package.

The answer will differ by organization. A high-use practice guide may be needed by attorneys in several offices. A specialized treatise may be better suited to a smaller audience that prefers print. The goal is not to replace a working collection. It is to make the right resources easier to use, share and manage.

A digital law library is an expansion strategy, not a replacement for print

A digital law library is a centrally managed collection of legal eBooks made available to authorized users. It can include treatises, deskbooks, practice guides, legal reference materials and other professional publications selected for an organization’s needs.

For many organizations, digital content works best as part of a hybrid collection. Print remains valuable for extended reading, highly specialized materials and users who prefer a physical book. Digital formats can broaden the reach of titles that need to be consulted across locations or outside the library.

Start with the titles and users who would benefit most

Expansion decisions are easier when they begin with the collection’s real patterns of use. Rather than moving titles in bulk, identify the publications that create the most friction in print alone.

·      Titles consulted frequently by attorneys, staff or students in more than one location

·      Publications used by practice groups that work remotely, travel regularly or need material in court

·      High-demand resources that are difficult to keep available to everyone who needs them

·      Practice areas where a broader or more current collection would address a clear gap

·      Publications whose use can help inform future title and package decisions

This approach keeps expansion grounded in the organization’s work instead of treating digital content as an all-or-nothing format choice.

How to evaluate legal eBook packages

Package decisions should begin with content relevance, not title count. A large collection has limited value if it does not support the organization’s active practice areas, jurisdictions or research priorities. Library leaders should also consider how a package fits with titles they already own in print or through other resources.

As packages are evaluated, ask:

·      Does the content support the practice areas, jurisdictions and user groups that rely on the library?

·      Does the package add meaningful depth or fill a clear collection gap?

·      Can users read titles through the devices and locations where they do their work?

·      Does the platform make it easy to search within an eBook, use the table of contents, highlight passages and save annotations?

·      Can administrators manage the collection and review title-use information to guide future decisions?

Use collection data to guide the next expansion

A digital collection can provide information that is difficult to see in a print-only environment. Usage reporting can help library administrators identify titles that receive sustained attention, recognize uneven demand across the collection and make more informed decisions about future purchases or package changes.

That does not mean usage alone should determine every decision. Specialized titles can be essential even when they serve a smaller group. But usage data gives library teams another practical input alongside attorney feedback, practice needs and budget.

Build a collection that works in print and digital

The strongest collection strategies do not force every title into one format. They match the resource to the work. A widely used deskbook may make sense in a digital package, while a reference title used primarily for sustained reading may remain in print. Some publications may warrant both.

A thoughtful mix can help organizations extend the value of the collection they already have while giving users more flexibility in how they consult it.

How LexisNexis Digital Library supports collection expansion

LexisNexis Digital Library brings an organization’s selected legal eBooks together in one centrally managed collection. Authorized users can read titles in a browser or mobile app, download available publications for offline reading and use features such as in-book search, table-of-contents navigation, highlighting and annotations.

For library administrators, the platform can simplify the electronic purchase, update and distribution of publications while providing title-usage reports and collection-management tools. Organizations can build packages around LexisNexis treatises, deskbooks and practice guides, along with available content from participating legal publishers.

See how LexisNexis Digital Library can support your legal collection.