MEMBERS MAY have noticed that Sweet & Maxwell rather abruptly withdrew the BADGER Alerter service at the end of July. Enough of you noticed and complained to the Committee to prompt us to write to Sweet & Maxwell on behalf of CLIG. We voiced our strong complaint about the short notice given and, in many people's view, unacceptability of the alternative Westclip Current Awareness Service as it presently stands. I know many of our colleagues were also writing on behalf of their employers, BIALL made representations and a letter also went out from the Bristol Law Librarians Group.
I am pleased to say that customer power still holds some stead at Sweet & Maxwell. As a result of the feedback received the BADGER Alerter service has been temporarily reinstated until 31st December 2000 to give customers more time to make the necessary adjustments and become familiar with the Westlaw UK Current Awareness service. Sweet & Maxwell reminded us that the BADGER Alerter service was always temporary until a full internet-based current awareness service could be provided. Indeed the information in BADGER is now being taken from the highlights section of the Westlaw service.
Some people were concerned that the withdrawal of BADGER signalled an intention to wind down the Current Legal Information service in favour of Westlaw. Sweet & Maxwell gave us strong assurances in its reply that it is committed to maintaining and developing the CLI service in both CD-ROM and Internet formats. Indeed, over the next year, it is investing in the CD-ROM product to migrate it from 16 bit to 32 bit Folio technology and investing in the purchase of new web-server technology for the Internet service.
We hope this response goes some way to addressing our members concerns. If there is anything else you are worried about or have a question on and believe CLIG should be lobbying on your behalf please contact me.
Susan Mansfield is Information
Manager of Legal Services at Shell International and Chair of CLIG