AALL Spectrum Celebrating Our Differences
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AALLSpectrumCov_Feb 1/10/06 1:58 PM Page 1 Volume 10 AALLNo. 4 February 2006 SpectrumAALL: A Century of Leadership 1906-2006 Celebrating Our Differences An Exploration of the Diversity in Law Librarianship In This Issue Teaching Legal Research to the Public How to Identify Your Library’s Brand Perspective: Is the Profession Perpetuating its Own Shortage? www.aallnet.org AALLSpectrumCov_Feb 1/10/06 4:02 PM Page 2 A partnership that works The LexisNexis® Librarian Relations Group For over 12 years, you’ve had a partner working for your success— the Librarian Relations Group. What makes our partnership with you work? We think it’s a matter of give and take—you give your input and we incorporate it to help A partnership that works. make you and your organization a success. Not only do we tailor specific solutions to fit your needs, but we also offer exclusive resources to enhance your professional growth —including a Web site, newsletter and professional development opportunities, all designed for information professionals. How can you tell our commitment to you is unsurpassed in the field? You are as much a part of the picture as we are in a partnership that works. Find out more about how our partnership will work for you at: www.lexisnexis.com/infopro A focused mission, a proud tradition, a treasured relationship— The LexisNexis Librarian Relations Group. LexisNexis and the Knowledge Burst logo are registered trademarks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used under license. © 2005 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. AL8618 AALLSpectrum_Feb 1/13/06 8:33 AM Page 1 letter from the editor Volume 10 No. 4 February 2006 AALL Spectrum Celebrating Our Differences Editorial Staff by Paul D. Healey, [email protected] Director of Publications and Managing Editor Julia O’Donnell [email protected] his month, AALL Spectrum continues to explore issues that are Editorial Director Paul D. Healey worth discussing as part of AALL’s centennial year. These are [email protected] T broad issues that will have an impact on the Association and Copy Editor Robert B. Barnett Jr. law librarianship for years to come. Diversity is an issue that emerged Graphic Designer Kathy Wozbut in the latter half of AALL’s first 100 years. It will continue to be an 2005–2006 Law Library Journal and AALL Spectrum important topic for the foreseeable future, so it seemed appropriate for Editorial Board and Advisory Committee Chair Richard A. Leiter a Spectrum issue theme. In looking for articles for this issue, we wanted to concentrate Members on both broad diversity issues as well as emerging themes. I hope we’ve managed to do Beth DiFelice Mary Ann Parker Mark E. Estes Maria Protti so in the limited space we have. Naomi J. Goodman Paul D. Healey (ex officio) Gender is a good place to start when thinking about diversity in the profession. Kurt X. Metzmeier Frank G. Houdek (ex officio) Matthew M. Morrison Daniel R. Campbell (ex officio) Librarianship has historically been a predominantly female profession and, like nursing Kristina L. Niedringhaus Kathie J. Sullivan (board liaison) and teaching, one in which men, although fewer in number, have tended to rise farther 2005–2006 Executive Board President Claire M. Germain and faster. The historical gender statistics for law librarianship are interestingly different Vice President/President-Elect Sarah G. Holterhoff from librarianship in general, but still raise important questions. So then, does gender Secretary Darcy Kirk Treasurer Joyce Manna Janto matter in law librarianship today? Mary Rumsey has written an article for this issue that Immediate Past President Victoria K. Trotta explores that question. Mary is a past winner of AALL Spectrum’s Article of the Year Executive Director Susan E. Fox Members Award, and like all of her work, this article is as interesting as it is well written. Steven P. Anderson Anne K. Myers I think the question of whether gender still matters is answered partly by a Kathy Carlson Merle J. Slyhoff Lyonette Louis-Jacques Kathie J. Sullivan conundrum that Mary ran into while writing the article. She spoke to a variety of people looking for quotes for the article and found that almost none of them were willing to be AALL Spectrum (ISSN: 1089–8689) is published monthly except January and August with combined September/October by the identified in the article. We decided to go ahead with publishing anonymous quotations American Association of Law Libraries, 53 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite because of the very interesting portrait it paints of the gender issue in law librarianship 940, Chicago, IL 60604. Telephone: 312/939-4764, fax: 312/431- 1097, e-mail: [email protected]. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, today. Illinois and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AALL Spectrum, 53 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 940, Chicago, One of the ways that AALL supports diversity is by allowing for groups and forums IL 60604. within the organization that reflect particular groups and identities. For this issue of Writers wanted — contribute to your Association’s magazine. Spectrum we thought we’d look at two of these: a brand new AALL caucus and an For guidelines, visit www.aallnet.org or contact Editorial Director established standing committee. The 2005 Annual Meeting in San Antonio saw the Paul D. Healey at [email protected]. inauguration of the new Latino Law Librarians Caucus. Dennis Kim-Prieto, himself a AALL Spectrum Deadlines Articles are due on the following dates: brand new member of the profession, is a member of the caucus, was present at the first 2006 Issue Deadline meeting, and has written an article for Spectrum that looks at why the caucus was formed Vol. 10, No. 7 May March 2 No. 8 June April 6 and what it hopes to achieve. No. 9 July May 4 The more established group that we look at in this issue is the Standing Committee Copy sent through a columnist or guest editor should be submitted for Lesbian and Gay Issues of the Social Responsibilities Special Interest Section. This to him or her well in advance of the monthly deadline. group has been a part of AALL for 20 years. Elvira Embser-Herbert tells us how the AALLNET: www.aallnet.org committee came to be and describes its goals. Advertising Representatives Another important issue addressed recently in Spectrum is that of recruiting new Benson, Coffee & Associates 1411 Peterson Ave., Park Ridge, IL 60068 members to the profession and particularly the challenges presented by the anticipated Telephone: 847/692-4695 • Fax: 847/692-3877 upcoming wave of retirements. Craig Eastland wrote a very good article on the topic for E-mail: [email protected] the November 2005 issue of Spectrum. Not everyone believes that this issue is as dire as AALL Spectrum is a free benefit of membership in the American Association of Law Libraries. Of each year’s dues, $42 is for one year it seems or as simple. Sid Kaskey has written a response to Craig’s article in which he of AALL Spectrum. Nonmembers may subscribe to AALL Spectrum for challenges some of the assumptions being made and highlights some other issues that, $75 per year. For membership and/or subscription information, please contact the American Association of Law Libraries at the address above. he feels, may exaggerate the problem. Now matter how you feel about the topic, I think The American Association of Law Libraries does not assume any you’ll agree that Sid’s response is thought provoking. responsibility for the statements advanced by the contributors to, In a related vein, Ellie Slade has written an article on compensation issues for nor the advertisers in, the Association’s publication. Editorial views do not necessarily represent the official position of the Association. the profession and raises the question of whether law librarian compensation reflects All advertising copy is subject to editorial approval. the actual value of law librarians to the organizations they serve. She points out, in All contents copyright 2006 by the American Association of Law effect, that the problem of replacing retiring librarians may solve itself if our jobs are Libraries, except where otherwise expressly indicated. Except as otherwise expressly provided, the author of each item in this issue has eliminated because our employers don’t understand our value. Also related is our public granted permission for copies of that item to be made for classroom use or for any other educational purpose, provided that (1) copies relations article this month. Written by Susan Fowler, it explores the idea of branding are distributed at or below cost, (2) author and AALL Spectrum are libraries—again in service of proving our worth to those who use our services. identified, and (3) proper notice of copyright is affixed to each copy. For items in which it holds copyright, the American Association of There’s a lot more in this issue of Spectrum as well. For example, our professional Law Libraries grants permission for copies to be made for classroom development article this month is by Paula Seeger and looks at how to teach legal use or for any other educational purpose under the same conditions. research skills to members of the public. She takes an interesting approach that might be useful for any librarian who deals with members of the public. We hope you find this issue of Spectrum interesting and useful. I AALL Spectrum February 2006 1 AALLSpectrum_Feb 1/13/06 3:21 PM Page 2 table of contents pg. 18 features 8 Practicing Law Librarianship: Teaching Legal Research to the Public What we CAN DO to serve the public and gain supporters for our libraries by Paula Seeger Public Relations: Even Law 10 Libraries Need a Brand How to identify your library’s brand and use it to its full potential departments by Susan Fowler 22 Ad Index 12 La solución seremos todos (We Will All Be the Solution) Memorials Why the AALL Latino 39 Carol Alpert (left) formed the Standing Caucus matters to you Member to Member Committee for Lesbian and Gay Issues in by Dennis C.