Sure, we get tired of the incessant offers from law library management vendors to look at new products and features. It’s hard enough to take good advantage of the resources we already have and to keep on top of the developments that our current vendors are rolling out. Here are five reasons to accept those offers of product demonstrations if you’re in a decision-making or recommending role in legal library management or firm administration.

1. If a product you’re using now breaks, you’ll have some alternatives in mind. I had an experience with a product that failed a firm for a variety of reasons (but not quite so blatantly that we could call it a breach of contract.) We tried unsuccessfully to get the shortcomings addressed. Because we had done some demos, we were able to implement a new resource without missing a beat. Regardless of the reason for dissatisfaction with an existing resource, it’s nice to have other solutions up your sleeve when you need them.
2. Situations change. A new department head, COO, or practice group lead comes on board and, all of a sudden, a need emerges or is supported and a type of product that seemed unnecessary is now desirable. If you’ve stayed on top of information resources and related tools, you’ll be able to quickly name some options for review.
3. Pricing increases can be outrageous. When a publisher once presented a renewal proposal at a 19% price increase, it proved handy to know the alternatives for that subject or practice area and to have sales contacts on hand to quickly get quotes for other services, putting me in a better negotiating position and, ultimately, providing the information I needed to jump to another excellent provider at a much more reasonable cost.
4. Getting multiple quotes may be standard protocol. Even if that’s not the case, it’s smart to take a formal look at competing information resources and legal library management tools to compare content and features and to habitually seek more than one quote. It keeps publishers and information vendors on their toes and results in more favorable pricing and other terms. And you’ll know what to include in a list of requirements because you’ve seen demos from a variety of vendors to help inform your RFP or RFQ (in addition to carefully considering your organization’s needs, of course.)
5. You don’t know what you don’t know. As a decision maker, you don’t want to rely on outdated impressions of products and services. By scoping out new capabilities and new products, you’ll be able to expect more of the resources and legal library management vendors you currently use because you’ll know what’s possible.

Your organization’s information professionals and law librarians are expert in researching products and services, staying on top of emerging resources, organizing internal processes for needs identification and product reviews, coordinating vendor demos, negotiating with information vendors, and recommending solutions. Tap their experience.