San Antonio! a Few Tips for Making the Most of the 2014 Annual Meeting Host City

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AALLI Spectrum Volume 18 No. 6 April 2014 AALL: Maximizing the Power of the Law Library Community Since 1906

In This Issue

07 Link rot in legal citations

11 Delving into the renaming conversation among private law librarians

22 Providing reference service: new approaches to old problems

Welcome to San Antonio! A few tips for making the most of the 2014 Annual Meeting host city

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Vol. 18, No. 6 April 2014 AALL Spectrum® Editorial Staff Marketing and Communications Manager fromBy Catherine the A. Lemmer editor Ashley St. John [email protected]

Editorial Director Catherine A. Lemmer [email protected] Why I . . . Copy Editor Robert B. Barnett Jr. Graphic Designer Kathy Wozbut keep a tattered and yellowing photocopy of “Why I Read?” by Randall Silvis (randallsilvis.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/why-i-read.pdf) pinned to my 2013–2014 Law Library Journal and AALL Spectrum Committee home office wall board. I came across this elegant essay in The Chronicle of Chair Amanda Runyon I in April 2011. I have since shared it many times, including last Vice Chair Deborah S. Dennison Higher Education week when I presented a copy to a bibliophile colleague at the Legal Resources Members Ashley Ames Ahlbrand Emily Marcum Centre (LRC) as a birthday gift. My favorite line from the essay reads: Judy K. Davis Alyssa Thurston “I do not tell them that being a human is a lonely, lonely business and that Shaun Esposito James E. Duggan (Ex-Officio) Grace Feldman Catherine A. Lemmer (Ex-Officio) only a couple of things can assuage that loneliness. Loving someone is the Timothy Gallina Gregory R. Lambert (Board Liaison) best remedy, I do not tell them. Making music is good medicine too. And so Ryan Harrington is reading, another form of love—an act of faith and trust and desire, an act of reaching out and of coming together.” 2013–2014 AALL Executive Board President Steven P.Anderson Keeping faith with that sentiment, I recently jettisoned clothing and shoes in Vice President/President-Elect Holly Riccio favor of literature. On my return trip to South Africa for the last three months of Secretary Deborah Rusin Treasurer Gail Warren my LRC fellowship, I instead lined the bottom of my luggage with the likes of Immediate Past President Jean M. Wenger Tim O’Brien, Jenna Blum, Melissa Fay Greene, Kathryn Stockett, Marcus Zusak, Executive Director Kate Hagan President Obama, and some favorite children’s books for my LRC colleagues. Members At JFK, my checked luggage weighed in at 59 pounds. Although quite willing Kathleen Brown Kenneth Hirsh Femi Cadmus Gregory R. Lambert to pay the $100 overweight fee, I casually mentioned that I was “taking books Amy Eaton Suzanne Thorpe to South Africa because they are expensive there.” At that, the baggage checker AALL Spectrum (ISSN: 1089–8689) is published monthly except tagged my luggage “heavy” but did not charge the overweight fee. Similarly, when January and August with a combined September/October issue by the American Association of Law Libraries, 105 W. Adams Street, Suite sneaking an extra carry-on into the plane, I simply mentioned books for South 3300, Chicago, IL 60603. Telephone: 312/939-4764, fax: 312/431- Africa and the ticket agent waved me through. Perhaps they too are familiar with 1097, email: [email protected]. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, Illinois, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address “Why I Read?” changes to AALL Spectrum, 105 W. Adams Street, Suite 3300, Even more fun than the hugs and exclamations I received when delivering the Chicago, IL 60603. books to their new owners in South Africa in book bags from NYC’s The Strand Writers wanted — contribute to your Association’s magazine. (www.strandbooks.com) is the daily conversations in which I engage about the For guidelines, visit www.aallnet.org/main-menu/publications/ spectrum/policy-spectrum.html or contact Editorial Director Catherine books. I continually prompt conversations to learn my colleagues’ impressions A. Lemmer at [email protected]. about the titles I lugged across the Atlantic Ocean. I’m vested, you see, because AALL Spectrum Submissions I brought some of my favorite reads. Article ideas for the following issues must be approved by the Conversations enhance not only our understanding of our place in the world, editorial director by the following dates: 2013-2014 Issue Approval Deadline but also our understanding of our work and our careers. Sharing experiences and Vol. 19 No. 2 November July 10 No. 3 December August 7 knowledge online and in person is what we do as information professionals. No. 4 February October 9 I was an official “law librarian” for less than two weeks when I attended my

AALLNET: www.aallnet.org first AALL Annual Meeting and Conference in Denver in 2010. At that meeting, I was warmly welcomed and given advice on a wide variety of law librarianship Advertising Representative issues. I shared contact information with new colleagues and was encouraged to Innovative Media Solutions stay in touch. The friends and colleagues I met during those four whirlwind days 320 W. Chestnut Street P.O. Box 399 at CONELL and the conference have remained valued sources of support, Oneida, IL 61467 information, and sharing to this day. Telephone: 309/483-6467 Fax: 309/483-2371 I look forward to the sharing of knowledge and experiences that is such an Email: [email protected] important part of the AALL Annual Meeting and Conference. At every meeting AALL Spectrum is a free benefit of membership in the American I learn something that further develops my career as a law librarian and change Association of Law Libraries. Of each year’s dues, $42 is for one year why I of AALL Spectrum. Nonmembers may subscribe to AALL Spectrum for leader. These are the reasons plan to attend the 2014 Annual Meeting in $75 per year. For membership and/or subscription information, please San Antonio. I hope that you too plan to attend, and I look forward to sharing contact the American Association of Law Libraries at the address above. with you the experiences, information, and opportunities that draw us together as law librarians. AALL Publications Disclaimer This publication is provided for informational and educational I also hope that you too will jettison some nonessentials in favor of literature. purposes only. The American Association of Law Libraries does As librarians, professors, researchers, and those who live in the world of words, not assume, and expressly disclaims, any responsibility for the statements advanced by the contributors to, and the advertisers in, we know the power of literacy. It is why I and many of you donate to the annual the Association’s publication. Editorial views do not necessarily AALL Children’s Book Drive. The 2014 conference marks the 16th anniversary represent the official position of the Association or of its officers, directors, staff, or representatives. All advertising copy is subject to of this wonderful program. So please plan to leave a little space in your bag for a editorial approval. The Association does not endorse or make any few children’s books or an Amazon gift card. guarantee with respect to any products or services mentioned or advertised in the publication. See you in San Antonio! I

All content copyright 2014 by the American Association of Law Libraries, except where otherwise expressly indicated. Except as otherwise expressly provided, the author of each item in this issue has granted permission for copies of that item to be made for classroom use or for any other educational purpose, provided that (1) copies are distributed at or below cost, (2) author and AALL Spectrum are Catherine A. Lemmer identified, and (3) proper notice of copyright is affixed to each copy. [email protected] For items in which it holds copyright, the American Association of Law Libraries grants permission for copies to be made for classroom www.aallnet.org/Blogs/spectrum-blog use or for any other educational purpose under the same conditions.

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contents

FEATURES

05 Public Relations: Market Your Library 17 A Credential to Expand your Potential How to create a library marketing committee Why taking the bar exam made me a better reference librarian By Deborah Schander By Kurt Meyer

07 A Dead Link, or a Final Resting Place Link rot in legal citations 18 Welcome to San Antonio! The co-chairs of this year’s Local Arrangements By Nick Szydlowski Committee offer some tips for your stay By Stacy Fowler and Liana Morales 09 One Among Many With so much legal information available for free online, what role remains for the law library? 20 Called to Write The AALL/LexisNexis Call for Papers Award has been Paul D. Healey and Paul J. Gatz motivating law librarians for nearly 30 years By Benjamin J. Keele and Sara Sampson 11 Dialectic of Transformation: The Shaping of a Name Delving into the renaming conversation among 22 Creative Reference private law librarians New approaches to old problems By Kristen M. Hallows and Christine Bowersox By Kerry Lohmeier and Anne Mostad-Jensen

15 Spine Bending The favorite novels of law librarians Correction: In the February 2014 issue By Stacy Fowler of Spectrum, Claire Germain’s name is misspelled on page 18. We regret this oversight.

Spectrum Communities AALL’s My Communities offers several opportunities to become more involved with AALL Spectrum. Join the Spectrum Photo Community to receive notices of article topics scheduled for upcoming issues of Spectrum. If you have a photo you think would fit well with an article, you can submit it to Spectrum for potential publication with that article. Interested in writing for Spectrum or the Spectrum Blog? Join the Spectrum Volunteer Pool, where you will receive announcements seeking authors for possible article topics, as well as book titles that are available for review on the blog.

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COLUMNS

From the Editor 01 Washington Brief 04 The Reference Desk 26

DEPARTMENTS

Member to Member 24 Stu’s Views 27 CENTER INSERT Views from You 28 Members’ Briefing

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Get a Free Year of AALL Membership with AD INDEX Nonmember Annual Meeting Registration 26 Renew Your AALL Membership Early Bernan 27 for a Chance to Win a Free Annual Bloomberg Law/ Meeting Registration 27 Bloomberg BNA inside front cover Next month in Spectrum 27 Thomson Reuters back cover

Online Only! Read More Spectrum Articles Online

Express Class: A Flexible Approach to Legal Resource Training

By Joseph D. Lawson tinyurl.com/kxpl3h6

One of the best services law libraries can offer patrons is training on new legal research tools and technologies. However, limited staff, a lack of training space, or patron scheduling conflicts can stifle even the best efforts to provide educational opportunities. In this article, the author reports on Express Class, a unique approach to legal resource training that combines flexible scheduling for busy patrons with a good return on investment for the law librarian’s efforts. Suggestions for marketing and sample class materials are included to help readers who want to put their own twist on Express Class.

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washington brief By Emily Feltren At State Level, Member Advocacy Makes the Difference UELMA gets law librarians in on the action

ASHINGTON, D.C., January law commissioners, state and local bar community, where both you and your 30, 2014—Although AALL’s associations, and library associations. lawmakers live. WGovernment Relations Office Retired director of the Washoe Following the enactment of (GRO) in Washington, D.C., is located County Law Library Sandy Marz was UELMA in California, State Senator just blocks from Capitol Hill and is involved in the successful campaign to Darrell Steinberg, chair of the Senate active in federal policy matters, the state- enact UELMA in her home state. As an Committee on Rules, highlighted the level policy work of AALL is an equally active member of AALL’s Nevada State bill’s value to citizen engagement: crucial part of our Association’s advocacy Working Group, Marz was well- “California will now become a national strategy and success. Recognizing that equipped to help enact UELMA. leader in state government transparency effective advocacy on information policy “Working on UELMA in Nevada and accountability through passage of issues at the state level is essential to the was challenging and rewarding,” she says. the Uniform Electronic Legal Material future success of law libraries, AALL “I worked with law library colleagues Act (UELMA) . . . . With unfettered and chapter members have asserted and a former state librarian who internet access to those verified records, themselves to become leading voices for provided valuable input. One of the at any time and from anywhere, the law libraries in their states, particularly Nevada uniform law commissioners, public is better served. UELMA is a through advocacy efforts on the Uniform who is also a former Nevada State necessity in our digital age and will Electronic Legal Material Act (UELMA). Senator, provided guidance and insight encourage more citizen participation UELMA advocacy has provided law into the legislative process. We had in the democratic process.” librarians an opportunity to raise the the opportunity to testify in support profile of their profession, a challenge of UELMA before the Judiciary State Inventory Volunteers they have met enthusiastically. Across committees. This experience proved to Help Pave the Way the country, AALL members and me that a librarian can have significant impact on access to official legal Last May, AALL created the State chapters have dedicated their time and information and ensure that the public Online Legal Information website to talents to organize and advocate in their has a source for trustworthy online legal host information about the status of states, building coalitions, forming new materials now and in the future.” states’ online legal materials. Drawn relationships, and laying the groundwork from data collected by more than for success. Through the ongoing 350 volunteers in AALL’s National dedication of our members, we’re Inventory of Legal Materials, the site confident that we’ll continue to see Inspired to Get Involved? covers the online session laws, statutes, enactments across the country this year. administrative register, administrative Read on to learn more about the efforts Join the AALL Government Relations code, high court opinions, and appellate of your colleagues and how you can help! Office, Government Relations Committee, court opinions of every state and the and advocates new and old at the 2014 District of Columbia. The website UELMA Brings Advocacy Legislative Advocacy Training at the updates AALL’s 2007 State-by-State AALL Annual Meeting and Conference in Report on Authentication of Online Opportunities to Your Backyard San Antonio. The enactment of UELMA continues Legal Resources and 2009-2010 State to be a top priority for AALL in 2014. Held Saturday, July 12, from 8:30 a.m. – Summary Updates published by the UELMA provides a technology-neutral, noon, this session will prepare Digital Access to Legal Information outcomes-based approach to ensuring participants to better advocate for Committee (DALIC) (then called the that those online state legal materials themselves and their profession. Learn Access to Electronic Legal Information deemed official will be preserved and more about proposed federal and state Committee). For each category of legal made permanently available to the legislation impacting law libraries, and material, the site tracks authentication, public in unaltered form. As a result, help to develop specific goals and tactics official status, preservation, permanent for influencing successful outcomes. UELMA advances states’ practices of public access, copyright, and universal accountability and transparency in Be sure to reserve your spot at the citation. providing legal information to the training during conference registration! In conjunction with volunteers in public. each state, DALIC members monitor During the past several years, AALL the accuracy of the information and its members have worked diligently and update the site as needed. The to support the drafting, approval, and From a purely logistical standpoint— information available on the website promulgation of UELMA. Thanks to which is an important one—state-level helps those advocating for UELMA to the leadership of AALL members and advocacy can prove to be much easier demonstrate the need for reform. chapters, UELMA has become law in than advocating at the federal level. “The nutshell reports on selected eight states: California, Colorado, Though the size and organization of the online primary legal materials for each Connecticut, Hawaii, Minnesota, legislature varies widely by state, it’s often state are an important tool in advocating Nevada, North Dakota, and Oregon. true that constituents form relationships for UELMA, where it is crucial to Although each state that has enacted with the state legislators more easily be able to provide clear and concise UELMA is unique in its policies and than with their members of Congress information to stakeholders, such as politics, AALL advocates used similar just by virtue of living in the same place. judges, attorneys, and legislators,” advocacy strategies to enact UELMA. For AALL members, this means that explains Anne Burnett, current chair Our members have lent their expertise, acting at the state level can provide an of DALIC. helped recruit sponsors, and reached out opportunity to influence the policies that will have a direct impact on your (continued on page 8) to stakeholders and allies such as state

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Public Relations MARKET YOUR LIBRARY How to create a library marketing committee

By Deborah Schander

uch has been written about regular business hours than you do. choose someone else. Whoever is the value that public relations If you want to focus your efforts on a selected, that person will oversee Mefforts and specific marketing particular group, such as judges or meetings, create agendas, assign tasks, plans have added to law libraries. students, consider asking one of them send deadline reminders, and ensure Whether it’s getting more students into to give you their inside perspective. recording of minutes. By its very nature, the library or letting clerks know about public relations work will include a lot of the latest new database, libraries are brainstorming and choices. Agendas for making their value known in new and each meeting will help keep the group creative ways. on task, and minutes will remind you of Although these efforts benefit the decisions made in prior meetings. The whole library, their creation tends to be chair can also guide with asynchronous the responsibility of one or two people. communications, such as email, among Even if that is the case, though, it is the group as well. worth considering ways to involve more voices in planning your outreach efforts. Take Time to Prepare One such way to do this is through the Once you have chosen your committee creation of a marketing committee. members, your first inclination may be to jump right in and start creating your Two Heads Are Better Than One marketing materials. However, if you You may be thinking, “The librarian don’t take the time to adequately prepare who does our marketing is great! for the task ahead, you risk making Why would we mess with a good thing?” uninformed decisions. Such decisions In that case, go you! There might be A table tent can be a small, subtle way of in a public relations project can lead you no need to change how you currently letting your target audience know about to target the wrong audience, highlight operate. Still, even when things are going your services. resources people already know about, well, there may still be room for growth or otherwise not get the most valuable or an occasional fresh outlook. A return for your efforts. marketing committee is just one way As you think about all of the unique you can help make your outreach efforts voices in your workplace, you’ll discover an ongoing success. your list of prospective committee A lot goes into the creation of members is getting lengthy. Not only marketing materials. A subject must be will you have an array of voices, but chosen; the tone and wording of the the more people you have, the more you language has to be crafted; and fonts, can divide up the work, right? A large color schemes, and images must be committee is great in theory, but it can selected. A marketing committee can lead to other problems too. Think about be tasked with helping to gather data, the logistics of bringing all those people wordsmithing text, and commenting on together for meetings. Perhaps adding design possibilities. Each person is going committee duties will put too much on to approach these tasks with a different someone’s already full workload. Take perspective, and their varying viewpoints these and other factors into account can bring a positive critical eye to the when forming your committee. One project. It can be easy to get caught up consisting of three to five members will Mouse pads are an example of a in the creation process, and it’s helpful probably be a good balance of workload promotional product that is functional to have others around to ensure that and perspective. If your chosen projects and informative. nothing is forgotten. would naturally involve a person (or department) who is not a full member Forming the Committee of the committee, you can always consult with that person on a one-off basis too. Preparing Your Committee The key to selecting committee members The first step in preparing the committee is to create a diversity of perspective. for its work is making sure that all While it may seem natural to pull Running the Committee members have a basic understanding of together a couple of librarians and get This likely goes without saying, marketing practices. One way to to work, there are others who could but a marketing committee is still a accomplish this is to have everyone do make valuable contributions too. Does committee. You will need someone to some background reading; you can then your firm have a communications or run the committee and to ultimately be discuss the reading and any questions marketing department? Ask someone in charge of its work. The most logical committee members have at your first with knowledge of your external choice is the person directly responsible meeting. Topics to consider in this reputation to comment. Perhaps your for your library’s marketing materials, discussion include defining terms (e.g., circulation staffers know more about though you might have a reason to the difference between marketing and what your library is like outside of

public relations), the cycle of marketing, goes into this part of the process, and and the steps involved in creating a having multiple people to share the load marketing plan. Two excellent resources is invaluable. for this are The Accidental Library Marketer by Kathy Dempsey and Creating Marketing Plans Marketing Today’s Academic Library: A Once you have gathered your data and Bold New Approach to Communicating analyzed it, your committee can start With Students by Brian Mathews (these writing marketing plans. These plans are applicable for other types of libraries, should start with a goal, detailing what as well). Short selections from those you hope to achieve with your efforts. books or similar readings can lay the These goals should be as specific as A digital sign can be a large, eye-catching way groundwork for guiding your committee possible. For example, a goal such as, to highlight your resources. and its activities. “We want to get more students into the library” is pretty generic; on the other hand, “We want part-time program campaign, we added the tagline “Here students to choose the library as their for you, wherever you are,” which also preferred location between when they served to remind each group that the get off work and when they go to their library’s services aren’t tied to our evening classes” is much more specific. physical location. Setting your goal will then determine the For our faculty, we collaborated with details of your marketing plan, from our faculty services librarian to hone the detailed background research to target message each faculty member received in audience, message, distribution methods, his or her one-on-one meeting with the and evaluation standards. You may also librarian. To bring those points home, decide to implement multiple marketing we also collaborated with the IT plans at the same time, each focused on department to replace the old mouse pad a different goal. in each faculty member’s office with a new one promoting library services. We created several types of materials The Heart of Your Plans for our part-time, evening students, Library marketing plans often focus on including digital signs and table tents. promoting library services or resources. The table tents, for example, were placed The ways in which you choose to do this in the quiet zone of our library (their can take many forms. Using the data preferred place to study). These signs your committee collects about your target were designed to look like a late-night audiences, you might decide the best way diner menu, reminding students of our to communicate with one audience is evening hours and free resources. through an in-person office visit and a The materials for our 1Ls were two- follow-up email and, for another fold: a series of digital signs promoting audience, through a digital sign and a Posters are a classic promotional piece. various resources (with short, simple casual table event, when you have a messages) that corresponded with more They can be placed where a large digital designated time and location for people sign cannot. Many law schools still rely in-depth printed posters that were placed to drop by and get more information. throughout the library and the law school. heavily on print advertising to students. Regardless of the delivery method, you Our initial feedback has been very will want to spend some time planning positive. The reference desk recorded what you will say or do. For those increased interest in the resources Gathering the Information examples, the committee could highlighted, and the circulation desk saw You Need brainstorm a list of topics to cover during improved check-out statistics. Students the office visit and table event, write the As Dempsey explains in her book, requested more ongoing reminders about text of any print materials, and decide on writing a specific marketing plan other products and services. One tenured layout and color scheme for a digital sign. actually comes toward the middle of the faculty member emailed immediately to Again, having multiple people provide marketing cycle, not near the beginning. say how much he loved his new mouse their personal viewpoints and attention to Before you can decide how you’re going pad. The committee continues to gather detail can strengthen the final product. to promote particular library resources, data on our current efforts and plan for you first have to determine your target new ones. audience(s), find out what their needs A Marketing Committee are, and determine how you can meet in Action Putting It All Together those needs with your resources. In this All this sounds good in theory, but Library public relations efforts can take process, it’s important to look at both how does it really look in practice? many shapes. A marketing committee internal and external perceptions about At Georgia State University College of can be just one way to create the library. In other words, what do Law, our committee implemented its promotional materials. Committee those who work within the library think first marketing plans this school year. members not only can share the about it versus those who use the library? Based on our background research, we workload of a large, ongoing project but Your research may yield surprisingly decided to focus on three goals: (1) also can ensure that multiple viewpoints different results from these two groups. increasing faculty awareness of services are represented and that the details of a You can gather this information in we offer beyond research assistance, (2) project or a target audience’s needs won’t a variety of ways. Focus groups, surveys, promoting specific library resources and be forgotten in the creation process. I SWOT analyses, and comment cards are services to our first-year law students, just a few possibilities. Deciding exactly and (3) encouraging part-time, evening Deborah Schander which to use for each target audience students to see the library as a quiet ([email protected]), Reference/Student will depend on how you determine they place for them to focus on schoolwork. Services Librarian, Georgia State University can best be reached. A great deal of work To tie all of the plans together as a College of Law Library, Atlanta

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A Dead Link, or a Final Resting Place Link rot in legal citations By Nick Szydlowski

webpage’s URL is often referred 45 million journal articles have been registry for publication metadata. Failing to as its address, but frequently it added to the CrossRef DOI registry. to use DOIs reduces the visibility of Ais more like a short-term sublet A DOI provides a persistent URL for legal scholarship and limits the ability of than a permanent home. The Internet use in citations. For example, one recent legal scholars and law schools to take Archive estimates that “the average life article by Boston College Law School advantage of emerging digital services. of a Web page is only 77 days if no faculty member Dean M. Hashimoto At the Boston College Law Library, effort is made to preserve it.” But the has the DOI of 10.1002/ajim.22120. we are investigating the possibility of impermanence of web resources has not Entering the URL dx.doi.org/10.1002/ assigning DOIs to the law review articles stopped their citation in law review ajim.22120 into a web browser will that are published electronically through articles and judicial opinions. A recent automatically redirect you to the our institutional repository. In the past, study published in the Yale Journal of publisher’s current webpage for that the primary obstacle to assigning DOIs Law and Technology, “Something Rotten article. If Wiley, the publisher, redesigns has been CrossRef’s requirement that in in the State of Legal Citation: The Life Span of a United States Supreme Court Citation Containing an Internet Link (1996-2010),” by Raizel Liebler and June Liebert, found that from 1996 to 2010, 14 percent of Supreme Court opinions contained a URL citation and that 29 percent of those URLs were now dead. A Harvard study, “Perma: Scoping and Addressing the Problem of Link and Reference Rot in Legal Citations,” by Jonathan Zittrain et al., reported that as many as 70 percent of law review citations that use URLs do not link to the cited material. This problem is not unique to the law, but legal scholarship has lagged behind other types of scholarly communication in taking measures to address the issue of link rot. There are now a number of options, both established and emerging, that the legal community should adopt in order to create sustainable citations to internet resources. its website and changes the URL for the order to publish with a DOI, journals Document Object Identifier (DOI) article, or if Wiley stops providing access must cite by DOI whenever one is Providing persistent access to digital to the article and access is only available available. Because the Bluebook standard information is a complex undertaking. through CLOCKSS and Portico, does not recommend or require citing by The first step must be to curate and where the journal (American Journal of DOI, it has not been feasible for us to preserve the content itself—easy enough, Industrial Medicine) is archived, the URL implement publishing by DOI. Citing right? However, even the most stable or temporary address will be changed by DOI begins a virtuous cycle, which digital repositories may, over time, in the registry to reflect the item’s will enable law reviews to assign DOIs require changes that affect the current location. As long as the to their articles, providing a permanent URLs of the items they registry is kept up to date, a URL for each article. contain. For this reason, we citation that uses a DOI URL also need systems to ensure will always point to the cited that even when archived Perma document, even if that document Although DOIs provide a proven content moves, there is a moves to a new URL. permanent URL that always solution to the problem of persistent DOIs are used in nearly every URLs for actively archived and managed points to its current location. field of scholarship, and many citation For scholarly journals other than digital content, providing a permanent standards require citation by DOI URL for more ephemeral web content law reviews, the Document Object whenever one is available. Indeed, the Identifier (DOI) system serves this presents a different challenge. This is DOI is accepted as the standard unique where Perma (perma.cc), a new web- purpose. A DOI is a unique identifier identifier for scholarly articles, and new for a digital object such as a journal based service developed by Harvard international infrastructure, such as Law School Library, offers a promising article. The DOI is stored in a registry the Orcid system for providing unique along with metadata about the item it alternative. identifiers for individual researchers, has The goal of Perma is to archive a refers to, including that item’s current been built to rely on CrossRef’s DOI address. Since June of 2000, more than stable copy of an existing webpage at

a permanent URL. When a law review assigned to content that Perma was not libraries, to begin assigning DOIs to editor or other user enters a URL into able to collect automatically. This option their own articles, creating a single the Perma interface, Perma visits the has been particularly useful in archiving persistent URL for each law review URL and, using web archiving software articles cited from SSRN. SSRN’s PDFs article. developed by the Internet Archive, are not available at a public URL, but Allowing citation by permanent URL creates an archived copy of the page. the direct upload option allows these files even when a print copy exists unlocks That page is then assigned a new to be archived in Perma. further benefits. The current print- permanent URL, referred to as a Perma preferred citation standard has extended Link, which can be used in a citation. Benefits Beyond Citation the life of print law reviews. Since 2009, A user visiting a Perma Link is presented Used in concert, DOIs and Perma have 75 law library directors and law first with a frame containing the current the potential to greatly reduce the librarians have signed the Durham site, along with links to several views of incidence of link rot in legal citations. Statement, calling for law reviews to the archived version of the page, which Citing by DOI and assigning DOIs move toward electronic-only, open- can be used if the site no longer exists at to law review articles and other digital access publishing. Allowing citation the cited URL or if the site has changed objects for which we accept responsibility by permanent URL, even when print since it was cited and the user wishes to would ensure that legal scholarship is available, would facilitate the move see the cited version. meets the standards of permanence that to electronic-only publication at a More than 40 law libraries have have been set by the larger scholarly significant cost savings for law schools partnered with Harvard to make Perma publishing community. For items that over the current environment, where available to their law review editors. At do not already have a permanent URL, both print and electronic versions must Boston College, our law reviews started Perma offers a complete solution, be produced, purchased, and maintained using Perma this past fall, and the editors archiving a copy of the original item over time. have generally found the service easy to and providing a Perma Link for use in Link rot not only impacts the use and intuitive. We have, however, citations. individual researcher who struggles to found it necessary to devote time to Solutions to the problem of link locate cited sources; it impacts the entire educating the editors about how, when, rot exist, and it is time for the legal legal scholarship infrastructure. The and why to use Perma. One area we community to adopt them. In this area, lack of effective systems for providing focused on in our outreach was making the Bluebook and the ALWD Guide to permanent access to digital sources has sure that student editors understand Legal Citation must lead the way by artificially sustained print publication. and account for the limitations of the recognizing the permanence of both Using a combination of Perma and service. Web archiving is a complex DOI URLs and Perma Links, by DOIs, law reviews are now in a position process, but Perma makes it look and requiring citation by a permanent to create reliable, permanent citations feel easy; editors must be instructed to URL, and by allowing citation to a to online sources. Law reviews and law inspect the archived copy of each site in permanent URL even when a print libraries should work together to begin order to ensure that the content they version is available. citing by permanent URLs and to move wish to preserve has been successfully toward publishing their own articles with Citing by permanent URL I collected. Certain types of content, would improve the usefulness of legal permanent URLs provided by DOIs. such as streaming media or articles where citations by reducing, if not completely Nick Szydlowski text is distributed over more than one eliminating, link rot. Citing by ([email protected]), Digital Services webpage, are not as easy for Perma to permanent URL would also enable law harvest. In those cases, Perma allows and Institutional Repository Librarian, Boston reviews to meet CrossRef’s citation College Law Library users to directly upload a file to be requirements and, with the help of their archived so that a Perma Link can be

washington brief continued from page 4 Join In! Relations/UELMA) to access these their state, and share resources and As this column is written, UELMA has important tools. lessons learned. The GRO also uses this been introduced in five state legislatures Have you been involved with forum to provide information and tips this year, and more introductions are UELMA advocacy in your state? Sharing to help you advocate in your state. For expected in the coming weeks. AALL your stories, tips, and tricks with fellow more information on this group or any and chapter members are working hard law librarians will help others gain of our state advocacy efforts, please to ensure future successes. confidence and knowledge to put into contact me at [email protected]. I hope The GRO provides many resources their own efforts. AALL’s Advocacy you’ll lend your voice to the chorus of to help you advocate in your state, Listserv gives AALL members an law librarians speaking out for their I including sample letters and testimony; opportunity to post news, questions, profession! or concerns to the hundreds of law links to audio and video recordings of Emily Feltren, hearings; and a list of enactments that librarians who subscribe to the list: join at www.aallnet.org/Documents/ Director, AALL Government includes covered legal materials, fiscal Relations Office, 25 impact, and effect date for each UELMA Government-Relations/aalladvoc law. DALIC is working on best practices subscribe.html. The GRO also Massachusetts Avenue, that will help stakeholders implement maintains a UELMA Community on N.W., Suite 500, UELMA in their states. Visit the AALLNET. Participants have used Washington, D.C. 20001 UELMA Resources page (www.aallnet. the list to ask questions, update their • 202/942-4233 • fax: org/Documents/Government- colleagues about what’s happening in 202/737-0480 • email: [email protected] • www.aallnet.org/gro

8 AALL Spectrum I April 2014 AALLApril2014:1 3/12/14 7:36 PM Page 9

With so much legal information One available for free online, what role remains for the law library? Among By Paul D. Healey and Paul J. Gatz Many

n days gone by, the law library was often the only source of reliable, Iupdated legal information. Today the World Wide Web offers a wealth of information that can be accessed free of charge by anyone with a computer and an internet connection. Rather than consult the legal information resources and services provided by a law library, practicing attorneys, law students, professors, and other legal professionals can instead find that same information on their desktop, laptop, or handheld device, quickly and without cost. This has big implications for law libraries, both in how they go about serving their users and in how they spend their collection-development and the 2013 American Bar Association The percentage of attorneys who dollars. The legal profession is still a (ABA) Legal Technology Survey Report reported starting their research with long way from the point where legal both indicate that practicing attorneys fee-based web resources was 36.4 percent professionals and students will be able are using free web resources for legal in 2013, while the percentage of to conduct all their legal research using research purposes. attorneys who reported starting research only the free legal resources available on In 2012, the ALL-SIS identified a with print resources was only 10.7 the web, if that day ever even actually task force that distributed a survey on percent. These data indicate a clear comes. But in order to properly position the legal research practices of attorneys. preference for using free web-based themselves in the spectrum of legal In the survey, 61.4 percent of responding resources in the initial stages of research. resources available and to properly attorneys reported that they use free However, when starting a research market their services, law libraries of web resources in their legal research project conducted solely online, the all kinds must understand how legal frequently or very frequently. Only 12.6 survey data indicate little difference in professionals and students are currently percent reported using them rarely or attorneys’ preferences for free or fee- accessing legal information. never. based web resources. Forty percent The 2013 annual Legal Technology of attorneys reported starting online Online Legal Research Habits Survey Report published by the ABA research projects by using fee-based Definitive information on research habits found that 92.9 percent of practicing online resources while 37 percent can be hard to come by. We have the attorneys use free web resources for legal reported starting online research projects most information about practicing research purposes and that 95.9 percent using free general search engines. attorneys. The Academic Law Libraries of attorneys use web resources in general. Among free resources, the 2013 ABA Special Interest Section (ALL-SIS) Study The ABA said that 50 percent of survey survey reports that 35.6 percent used of Attorneys’ Legal Research Practices and respondents reported starting research Google and 24.6 percent reported using Opinions of New Associates’ Research Skills projects with free web resources in 2013. a state bar association offering, which

presumably means Fastcase or provided they are aware of it and use it A first point is that purchased Casemaker. Other responses included properly. resources, both print and electronic, still government websites (14.3 percent), Fastcase and Casemaker are not free offer assurances of accuracy, authenticity, FindLaw (9.7 percent), and Cornell’s LII web resources, but nearly all state bars and usability that free web resources (9.4 percent). offer one or the other as a benefit of simply cannot match. Such resources also The ABA and ALL-SIS surveys membership in the state bar association. continue to provide more sophisticated present a picture of the legal research Both databases provide online access to access points and better editorial habits of practicing attorneys in state and federal case law, statutes, and enhancements than are available for free. which the use of free web resources regulations. Fastcase’s Federal Library As mentioned before, the free web legal is widespread. We know that attorneys features a full set of case opinions for the information environment is, like the rest are using free resources like Google, U.S. Supreme Court, all federal appellate of the web, unfocused, disorganized, and government websites, Cornell’s LII courts, all federal district courts, and all fragmented, containing information with site, and state bar association offerings, federal bankruptcy courts. Casemaker varying degrees of reliability. but we do not know what types of also features a “negative citator” called A more interesting question is how information (primary or secondary, CaseCheck+ and daily summaries of law libraries can take into account and factual or legal, statutes or case law) or state and federal appellate cases in its coordinate with the free web resources how much information attorneys are CasemakerDigest. being utilized by their users. One answer retrieving from these resources. It is Federal, state, and local government to this is that it is probably better to possible, however, to form some idea of websites all provide information useful embrace this development rather than shut how attorneys could use these resources to the legal researcher. Court websites it out. Law libraries can create research based on the types and extent of legal provide recent case opinions; legislative guides that collect, analyze, and evaluate information that they make available. websites provide statutory codes, as well free web resources, as well as explain as session laws and bills; and agency library resources that may have value to The Free Web Legal Information websites provide regulations, the user. The law library’s research guides Environment administrative decisions, and guidance. could serve as the first stop for users In particular, the Government Printing conducting free online research. Most law librarians will be fairly familiar Office’s Federal Digital System (FDSys) It is also important to remember with the range of legal resources available provides around 50 collections of that, in many ways, the law library for free on the web. Obviously, as a information from all three branches occupies the same role that it always single entity, the web is unfocused, of the federal government in the form has. The law library is not merely one disorganized, and fragmented, and the of authentic, digitally signed PDF provider of legal information among the full range of its coverage is unknown. documents. many free resources on the web. The law However, the ABA Legal Technology Cornell’s LII publishes electronic library is the system that selects and Survey points to certain resources as versions of core materials in numerous organizes that information in a way that being popular with attorneys, and a areas of the law, including U.S. Supreme enables practicing attorneys to find the brief closer look at those resources is Court opinions going back to 1992 law and trust in the reliability of the warranted. and the full U.S. Code. The LII also information that they have found. It should be no surprise that Google publishes secondary sources, such as The challenge remains to ensure is frequently mentioned as a starting Wex, “a collaboratively edited legal that legal practitioners are aware of point for research. Librarians, for the dictionary and encyclopedia,” and the role of the law library in the legal most part, use Google extensively provides links to other federal and state information environment. Maintaining but can also become frustrated with law material. that awareness will be a matter of the assumption made by many library It is clear that the free web legal educating both law students and users that everything in the world is on information environment contains a legal professionals about the use and Google and available for free. Google wealth of primary legal information, limitations of the free web, marketing users often fail to understand that along with a few citators and secondary the value of library services to a Google search will help the legal sources. To supplement these resources, stakeholders, and performing outreach researcher find only information the web offers other free resources, such to all types of law library users. I available on publicly accessible websites as legal blogs and websites of law firms, and only information that the Google Paul D. Healey law school libraries, and nonprofit algorithms deem relevant to the search organizations, that provide guidance ([email protected]), Senior Instructional terms. on both the law and legal research. Services Librarian and Associate Professor of Along those lines, we don’t really Library Administration, Albert E. Jenner, Jr. know how many legal practitioners Law Library, University of Illinois at Urbana- have discovered Google Scholar. The Where Does the Law Library Google Scholar database of published Fit In? Champaign case opinions covers U.S. state appellate Assuming that a legal professional or Paul J. Gatz and Supreme Court cases since 1950; student could conceivably find all the ([email protected]), U.S. federal district, appellate, tax, information necessary for completing graduate student at the and bankruptcy courts since 1923; and his or her task or for competently University of Illinois U.S. Supreme Court cases since 1791. representing a client using only free web It also features a rudimentary citator. resources, what value would the law Graduate School of Library This would be useful for practitioners library bring to the legal research process? and Information Science, Urbana-Champaign

10 AALL Spectrum I April 2014 AALLApril2014:1 3/13/14 3:52 PM Page 11

Dialectic of Transformation: The Shaping of a Name

Delving into the renaming conversation among private law librarians

By Kristen M. Hallows and Christine Bowersox

“It is no overstatement to claim that the Internet represents a disruptive technology of the same magnitude as the printing press. Librarians know this, and we know that our expertise is as valuable as it was in the days of the card catalog.” - Marcus A. Banks

aw librarianship, similar to other In the 1920s, the firm librarian’s explained that private law libraries were professions, emerged from humble existence was undocumented. The 1930s “in their infancy in the early twentieth L beginnings. Christine A. Brock’s saw an explosion in legal publishing; in century.” Some growth occurred in the “Law Libraries and Librarians: A the 1940s, current awareness services and 1950s, but the number of private law Revisionist History” (Law Library the first circulation system appeared, and libraries didn’t really start to climb until Journal, 1974) explained that the earliest cite checking was added to the list of the mid-1970s. academic law librarians were those whose library services. A library committee was Continuing with Dewey’s only qualification was the willingness to established in the 1950s, routing and development, the longest-running library accept a small salary: students, janitors, borrowing protocols were tightened newsletter began in the 1980s, and and old men. In 1914, the Supreme up, and mainstays such as pathfinders Westlaw was introduced. As with Lexis, and legislative histories were published. law librarians provided training. Library Court of New Mexico held that the The 1960s were relatively calm for staff “held elected office, wrote for office of State Librarian “was purely Dewey despite the social and political professional publications and spoke ministerial and called for the exercise of developments of the decade. The at continuing education seminars,” neither judgment nor discretion” [State v. collection continued to expand, and according to Seer. In the 1990s, Armijo, 140 P. 1123 (N.M. 1914)]. new book announcements were the term “information superhighway” As for private law librarians, relatively common. Entreaties for missing books was first used; perhaps most importantly, little about their history has been and reminders of library procedures “the emphasis had shifted . . . from published, as Gitelle Seer and Jill Sidford abounded; professional activities of the the procedural to the substantive as the stated in “The Evolution of Law Firm librarian were first noted in this decade library presented itself as an information Libraries” (Law Librarianship: Historical as well. The dominant development of resource rather than an enforcer of Perspectives, 1996). Seer traced the the 1970s was the advent of Lexis; also punitive rules.” history of Dewey Ballantine’s library by during this decade, additional library As recently as the mid-1980s, law examining surviving library and firm staff members (professional and libraries were almost entirely print-based. newsletters, which provided a veritable paraprofessional) were added. The upkeep of this paper-dominated timeline spanning most of the 20th Penny Hazelton echoed this account world was clerical in nature, and century. This history is briefly presented in her 1993 Library Trends article, “Law much focus was placed on collection in this article as a rare example of its kind. Libraries as Special Libraries.” Hazelton maintenance and development. Mindy

Maddrey, national library manager the storm surrounding the removal or tasks not included in the higher-level with Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, replacement of the term librarian has duties for which we’d like to be known. recounted that “researchers commonly heated up recently in the private sector. If librarian does not evoke the image pulled hundreds of volumes from the There appear to be three camps: those or feeling that you would like to be shelves on a daily basis as attorneys who prefer and fiercely defend the term, associated with your library or those who and staff tracked down specific legal those who want to shed it as soon as work in it, maybe a change is necessary; references.” D. Lynn Fogle, manager of possible, and those who would like to see conceivably, it is one of the quickest, library services with Greenebaum Doll & their colleagues redirect their focus to the most efficient ways to direct higher-level McDonald PLLC, explained that there provision of superior service. We tend to work your way. were two or three clerical staff members agree with the latter; however, we also Let’s not forget why private law for each professional librarian; by 2000, recognize the importance and influence librarians are having this discussion in the this ratio had reversed (The Changing of the words or “labels” we choose for first place: the need to remain relevant. Role of Law Firm Librarianship). ourselves and for others. Profit motive is the catalyst for this debate, In 2006, Katherine Rosin stated in Jeffrey Brandt, in his 2013 Law and a lack of it is the reason our academic “The Law Firm Librarian’s Essential Technology News article, “We May Not and public counterparts aren’t experiencing Contribution to the Law Firm” that, due Be Lawyers, But We Are Professionals,” the same growing pains. For example, the to technology and the resulting explosion stated that the name itself isn’t as possibility of a client objecting to a charge of information, law firm librarians now important as the attitude or belief the for librarian time is an issue unique to us. perform two very important functions: term promotes. Brandt discussed another We are also vulnerable to misperceptions information manager and information recent article from the same publication within the firm due to desire to cut costs. provider (emphasis ours). in which law firm employees were Generally, the need to communicate value Clearly, the print collection has divided into two categories: professional is the most acute. played a dominant role throughout and nonprofessional. Most would agree In the October 23, 2013, Law the majority of the history of law with Brandt that the term nonprofessional Librarian Conversations podcast on Blog librarianship; for this reason, clerical is insulting and, in our opinion, Talk Radio, PLL Chair Jean O’Grady and even punitive associations have been incredibly inaccurate. His article briefly mentioned her concern that the linked to the term librarian and have provided the Merriam-Webster continued use of the title librarian may led to more than a few stereotypical definition of nonprofessional: “being such discourage young, technology-minded images along the way—such as an only for recreation” or “lacking or people from entering the profession, austere person, usually a woman, showing a lack of expert skill.” The term as many may not realize that big data, “shushing” users among physical stacks is synonymous with “amateur” or web design, and other opportunities are of books—not the diverse group of “unskilled.” If this nonprofessional part of the job for many of today’s law technologically savvy men and women designation were appropriate to describe librarians. Naomi House, creator of the transitioning between the print and anyone in a law firm who isn’t a lawyer, blog I Need a Library Job (INALJ), digital worlds to find the most accurate we would begin to doubt the decision to queried: “I am proud to be a librarian, and cost-effective information. This invest significant resources in the salary but I know that this term (which I hold connection to the physical library and its and benefits of amateurs and unskilled dear) i[s] not a reflection of all I can do. upkeep is directly responsible for the employees to support the business of the Perception is important, especially misperceptions that fuel the renaming firm. when others are doing the hiring, so ask trend among private law librarians today. Similarly, in the September/October yourself—do I want to be a librarian or 2013 issue of AALL Spectrum, Carol do I want a job that will use my skill set? A Law Librarian by Any Other Ottolenghi described the impact of [emphasis ours]” Name? expectation-driven actions in her Law librarians in the private sector Who actually takes the time to look up examination of three terms typically are being renamed as we write, and there the definition(s) of a career path already used by librarians to refer to users: client, appears to be a wealth of debate with believed to be understood? During the customer, and patron. She explained that little consensus as to a suitable title; course of our research, we looked up the each term elicits certain expectations, further, if a better understanding of what Merriam-Webster definition of librarian, which greatly influence our interactions we do is desired, isn’t it counterintuitive which included “a person who works in with users. Like Brandt, Ottolenghi to allow many different titles to be in a library” and “a specialist in the care or stated that the name itself matters little; use? What good are oftentimes arcane management of a library.” Exasperation it is the “subliminal baggage associated buzzwords if you must revert to librarian is commonly expressed in response to the with that name” that can influence because your user is still not sure what mistaken belief that a librarian is “anyone actions. to expect of you? For these reasons, we who works in a library,” yet the very Therefore, if the term librarian believe that a renaming process would definition buoys the misunderstanding. evokes a very limited set of expectations, benefit from continuity as well as In reality, the definition of librarian we can anticipate an equally limited guidance from AALL or possibly the hasn’t been appropriate since the set of actions; in other words, if users Special Libraries Association (SLA). beginning days of the profession. believe that a librarian is able to provide AALL President Steven P. Anderson It’s true that the title of librarian only a narrow array of services, the work provided a Members’ Briefing in the is usually reserved for those who hold, presented to the library should reflect December 2013 issue of Spectrum at minimum, a graduate degree in library this. The push to change our name exists delineating the Association’s position. and information science. Further, to produce a much different expectation. At the time of this writing, it is technological advances have added If the timeline described at the unknown whether SLA intends to innumerable layers of complexity to beginning of this article is representative address the issue. the job; however, not all users may of most firm libraries, it’s not all that In a Law Librarian Conversations understand or appreciate this, as our surprising that the term librarian podcast, Jean O’Grady stated that it has more complex roles are still relatively suggests the more procedural image, become necessary to change the word young within this established profession. which persists today, especially as some “Libraries” in “Private Law Libraries Observational selection bias may users’ interaction with us may be limited Special Interest Section” to “Librarians” be to blame, but it seems as though to pleas for missing books and other to better reflect an association made up

12 AALL Spectrum I April 2014 AALLApril2014:1 3/13/14 11:38 AM Page 13

A photo of the Cravath, Swain & Moore LLP library taken by William H. Seward around 1890

of people, not places, whose numbers Medicine in 2000. Their editorial such unrivaled expertise. Banks clarified are shrinking—if not disappearing mentioned the “critical link between that the authors desired to “build on the altogether—in law firms today. In the the huge body of information hidden success of clinical librarianship. They podcast, O’Grady stated that job title is away in the medical literature and the were paying a compliment to clinical something to be negotiated individually; information needed at the point of care.” librarians, not discrediting them.” however, we feel that the two debates What are law librarians if they’re not We are reminded of an abandoned are intertwined. Put differently, an that critical link in the legal industry? concept in law librarianship. Brock’s association of people (as opposed to Influential Harvard Law School Dean C. previously mentioned article described an places) makes perfect sense, but what C. Langdell rather famously wrote, “[t]he educational model for law librarianship if librarian isn’t an appropriate term, Library is to us what a laboratory is to that, to the best of our knowledge, either? Every participant in this the chemist or the physicist, and what was a nonstarter: a formal training discussion seemed to agree that change a museum is to the naturalist” [46th for law librarianship was proposed by is necessary, but what, exactly, should Annual Report of the President of Dean Lester Asheim of the University our new title be? Harvard College (1872)]. of Chicago School of Library Science in Below, we offer our own reactions Marcus A. Banks, who had the 1953, which involved one year of library and opinions. Although we would love opportunity to work as an informationist school, one year of law school, and a to present an easy answer, we can only for the Frederick L. Ehrman Medical third year of electives from both schools. offer additional questions in this ongoing Library, stated in “Defining the Brock stated that this concept was debate. Informationist” (Journal of the Medical “soundly criticized,” and this is the Library Association, 2006) that Davidoff only mention of such a program “We know what we are, but and Florance “proposed the concept of we’ve encountered in our research. know not what we may be.” the informationist as a way to harness Davidoff and Florance stated that all (Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 5) the benefits of the clinical librarianship informationists “must have knowledge Traveling in the circles of law librarians, model in a way that would provide about both a subject domain and the we may be isolated from unique issues financial sustainability and professional process of locating, analyzing, and faced by other types of librarians. In the prestige” and that “all who become synthesizing information,” which world of health sciences librarianship, informationists will need to master indicates that Asheim’s program could you will encounter titles such as clinical a standard curriculum.” As such, likely produce a qualified legal informationist and research informationist. they argued for accreditation. Such informationist. The term informationist cannot be found curriculum would include a “core of We present the informationist in Merriam-Webster or, to the best of basic medical concepts, principles of concept not because we necessarily favor our knowledge, any other dictionary; clinical epidemiology, biostatistics, it over any of the other newer titles for despite the struggle to define it, the critical appraisal, and information law librarians; rather, we’d like to draw debate regarding the term and its relation management.” Davidoff and Florance attention to the stated goals of the term, to medical librarian is easy to find. To reasoned that the informationist would which, as Banks explains, were to “build present these terms and the associated have “unrivaled expertise in the skills on the success of clinical librarianship,” debate exhaustively would be neither of ‘finding, extracting, and synthesizing to “ensure that the library continues to possible nor desirable within the scope information from the published be perceived as relevant in the digital of this article, but several concepts have literature.’” age,” and to “participate in the important relevance to our current discussion. Banks explained that Davidoff and activity of redefining what it means to The term informationist was first Florance’s article evoked a “torrential be a health sciences librarian.” These proposed by Frank Davidoff and response.” Quite simply, clinical same fundamental goals exist in law Valerie Florance in the Annals of Internal librarians knew they already enjoyed librarianship. Banks states, “The concept

AALL Spectrum I April 2014 13 AALLApril2014:1 3/13/14 11:38 AM Page 14

of the informationist/ISIC (information seems to be the only field that places become the Association of Special specialist in context) is among the most such importance on the alteration of its Libraries and Allied Information cogent formulations of the continuing name to reflect changes in technological Professions (ASLAIP). It produces a need for professionals with superior environment. Again, consider the rather unwieldy acronym, but it’s much information-seeking skills.” medical profession. New positions have more inclusive. While informationist is an example of emerged as a result of the demand for We must also remember that high specialization, we believe that some health care, but, for example, general inclusivity may not be the panacea we titles currently in use in the private law practitioners do not refer to themselves think it is. As Mary Grace Cannon stated library community are too nonspecific as “medical specialists” in reaction to in her December 2013 blog post, those to convey any concrete image, much less technological upheavals even though who do not feel they are librarians may an accurate one. For example, titles such such developments may significantly not want to belong to a professional as information manager, information impact the delivery of care. Perhaps it is association whose title includes the term. specialist, and reference and electronic just not well understood that librarians services professional clearly attempt to are able to deliver their services outside As You Like It describe a librarian without actually of the physical library. Ginsborg expressed a desire to “continue using the term. We feel that manager is Similarly, banking has become so to signal the ideals of librarianship.” an overused term and not at all precise. digitized that we can complete nearly We became librarians because of our Merriam-Webster defines a specialist as “a every task from our phone except the passion for information literacy, person who has special knowledge and retrieval of physical cash. There are erudition, and access to information. skill relating to a particular job, mobile banking apps for depositing We wanted to be go-to experts in the area of study, etc.” Someone with checks, transferring money from person proverbial information wilderness who special knowledge and skill relating to to person, and so on. Yet the physical provide exactly what is needed at just “information” seems just as ambiguous. bank still exists and appears to hold value the right time. Is it possible to proclaim We would think that such vague titles to its customers. The person working at these principles without being called a would not elevate the image of the the bank is still called a banker or a teller librarian? We think it’s possible, though library because we aren’t exactly sure or even a customer service representative. it may not be desirable. what to expect of an information Has anyone speculated on the demise of Fortunately, such decisions aren’t manager or specialist. the physical bank purely as the result of made entirely by a few. The PLL board is In our humble opinion, middle advances in technology? If libraries have currently soliciting comments and ground titles that show some promise become museums for books, are banks suggestions for a more encompassing title are research specialist and research analyst. galleries for cash? As Brad McNally for the special interest section, which Merriam-Webster defines analyst as stated in his November 2013 INALJ may naturally cause members to wonder “a person who studies or analyzes blog post, “A changing profession isn’t whether AALL should also remove the something.” At its most basic level, it necessarily a dying profession.” term libraries from its name. Reaching would seem that a research specialist is In addition, most firms still have out to the membership for ideas may someone who has special knowledge and a print collection to maintain. The seem like a messy process fraught with skill in research, while a research analyst previously described procedural duties disagreement, but it is the only way. is someone who studies or analyzes of a librarian may require only a small Thomas Stuart Mill famously espoused research. Arguably, today’s private law fraction of his or her day, but as long that truth emerges from the unrestricted librarian fits both of these descriptions. as a physical collection is desired, a competition of ideas, and as career- Perhaps these titles don’t encompass all need exists for “a specialist in the care minded private law librarians, we would of the duties of a librarian, but they or management of a library.” like to see the dialogue continue. I certainly bring to mind the pièce de Undoubtedly you’ve heard it said “In the nonstop tsunami of global résistance of our service palette: research. that our title needs to communicate our information, librarians provide us We also offer this counterpoise: value, but please allow us to play the with floaties and teach us to swim.” What do we lose by removing or devil’s advocate for a moment. While - Linton Weeks replacing the title librarian? The we’ve already discussed the importance of adaptations we’ve made and the changes a title and any associated connotations, Kristen M. Hallows we’ve experienced as new forms of is it reasonable or appropriate to ([email protected]), technology eclipse our earlier standards expect our title to bear the burden of Research Librarian, need to be acknowledged. Yet one of the communicating our value all by itself? Bricker & Eckler LLP. two authors of this article feels the Could this focus on a name change be Hallows performs legal change of title from to a librarian overly myopic? and nonlegal research contemporaneous term may be Last, perhaps the word librarian unnecessary. doesn’t need to be removed or replaced and, in the spirit of law We’ve considered the encapsulated but augmented. In his October 30, librarian Frederick C. Hicks, strives to ensure world of the private law librarian. 2013, On Firmer Ground guest post, that print and electronic resources are properly Our patron base only changes as new Michael Ginsborg mentioned that SLA housed and organized for service. colleagues enter the firm and others leave considered a name change in 2009 to Christine Bowersox or retire. We can change our name a the “Association for Strategic Knowledge dozen times, supplement our title with Professionals” (ASKPro), which was (cbowersox@harrisbeach. words such as information and research never adopted. We feel this title is com), Collection ad infinitum, but within the structure of nebulous and somewhat confusing, so Management Librarian, the firm, the physical location may still why don’t we borrow from the medical Harris Beach PLLC. Ms. be referred to as the library and we the profession once again? Consider the use Bowersox is responsible for librarians. The word library may conjure of the phrase “allied health professions.” maintaining the print and a different view or expectation from How about the “allied information digital library collections across firm offices and user to user, but each one that enters professions”? There are no buzzwords, providing reference support to attorneys and our space comes seeking an answer to and such a phrase can easily be appended staff. She also assists with CLE services for the a question, no matter which title is to a name that includes the word firm. fashionable at the time. Library science librarians. For example, SLA could

14 AALL Spectrum I April 2014 AALLApril2014:1 3/12/14 7:21 PM Page 15

Spine Bending The favorite novels of law librarians

By Stacy Fowler

I recently read an interesting blog post from a fellow librarian. She took 11 “Top 100” book lists and, in order to satisfy her OCD, cross-referenced the lists to find out which books could be found the most frequently.

It is an eye-opening list; you can access it at question: “What is your favorite novel?” www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/1iw3jq/ I thought it might be interesting (to me, at top_books_derived_from_11_top_100_lists. least) to see what types of librarians answered What caught my attention was that one of the the survey, so I also ended up asking for job lists she used was compiled by Brodart in title and name (name was designated as 1999, and the title was “The 100 Favorite optional, but all but one of the respondents Novels of Librarians” (available at www.the- gave their name). Simple enough, but now bookman.com/main/Best.books.html). This what? made me curious as to how a list compiled of My main hurdle was to figure out how to responses from law librarians today would get the word out that I was conducting this mirror or differ from the Brodart list. I decided survey. I began with the law-lib listserv, which to find out by conducting a quick survey. is how I eventually got about one-third of my responses, but they came in slowly—I ended up posting my question twice. When it did Short and Simple not look like I would get enough responses We all know that there are few things worse through that avenue, I got a little more than a seemingly never-ending survey. So creative. My post on the AALL Spectrum I keep it short and to the point by asking one Blog didn’t generate many responses either.

Finally, I decided to go all out, and mentioned at all. I, therefore, declare out for a few months in the United I broke out my AALL Membership my faith in law librarians justified. States when Brodart’s list was compiled.) Directory and began emailing people Leading the pack was the old As a side note, I also noticed that individually. This was the most helpful, standard, Pride and Prejudice by Jane there were quite a few authors with more though I know some people found it Austen. Right behind it, with only one than one novel mentioned. For those obtrusive and others wondered if they fewer vote, was To Kill a Mockingbird by who might be interested, here is an were being spammed. Most responses Harper Lee. As a group, it seems that alphabetical list of those authors who I received, however, were supportive, we as law librarians are not so different had three or more books mentioned giving a response and saying how from any other group, as these novels among my responses: interested they were in seeing the final are near or at the top of most of the lists • Jane Austen (Emma, Persuasion, results. I perused, including being named the Pride and Prejudice, and Sense and All in all, my unofficial survey top two on the Brodart list. Sensibility) received a decent number of responses. These two novels garnered 10 • Charles Dickens (Bleak House, Some replies intrigued me more than percent of the total votes, the same A Christmas Carol, David others. I was surprised by how many percentage as the next eight choices Copperfield, Great Expectations, people got “upset” about the question, combined. So the top 10 responses and A Tale of Two Cities) like I had offended them in some way by comprised 20 percent of the total • Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Chronicle asking them for one title. Many of them responses, nice round numbers that of a Death Foretold, Love in the said, “Wow, really? How do people have satisfy my OCD as well. Without Time of Cholera, and One Hundred a favorite (or only one favorite)?” One further ado, here is the list of the top Years of Solitude) person even told me that she had never 10 responses. Also, in case anyone is • George Orwell (1984, Animal met a librarian who had just one favorite curious, the number in parentheses Farm, Down and Out in Paris and novel, and I actually did have several following the author’s name is the London, and Keep the Aspidistra people list more than one. In those ranking of that book on Brodart’s list. Flying) situations, I always used the first one • Ayn Rand (Atlas Shrugged, The listed—I figured there was something The Top 10: Fountainhead, and We, the Living) Freudian in it. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen • Neal Stephenson (Anathem, Anyway, I did not see my question as 1 (No. 1) Cryptonomican, Quicksilver, and a difficult one, but that may be because Snow Crash) I have a favorite novel (one shared by a To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper • Kurt Vonnegut (Blue Beard, Cat’s couple of other respondents, as well). It 2 Lee (No. 2) Cradle, and Slaughterhouse Five) is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty • Edith Wharton (Age of Innocence, Smith, and since first reading it at the The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Ethan Frome, and The House of age of nine, I have read it at least 50 Fitzgerald (No. 10) Mirth) times. Every time I reread it, I feel like 3 • Virginia Woolf (Mrs. Dalloway, I’m reading it for the first time, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy (no Orlando, and To the Lighthouse) every time I reread it, I gain something 4 one would choose just one of the new. For those of you who have not read books) by J.R.R. Tolkein (No. 5) Favorites, Old and New this novel, it is a period piece, a coming- Favorites are personal things, and, if of-age story set in pre-WWI New York. One Hundred Years of Solitude by everyone liked the same thing, this world There was a movie based on the novel 5 Gabriel Garcia Marquez (No. 32) would be pretty boring, as would our that came out in the ‘50s, but I only libraries. That is why I am glad I watched it once—I have read this book Love in the Time of Cholera by conducted this survey. There were quite so many times that I “know” what the 6 Gabriel Garcia Marquez (–) a few books and authors mentioned that characters look like, and, unfortunately, I did not know about. I am particularly the casting director’s choices failed to The Count of Monte Cristo by grateful for those responses as it is always meet my extremely high expectations. 7 Alexander Dumas (No. 57) exciting to learn about authors who may soon become new favorites of mine. As The Results The Harry Potter series (again, no a result of this project, I am definitely I finally amassed a decent number of 8 one really wanted to narrow this looking forward to curling up with a few responses, and, though there were many down to any one book!) by J.K. good books. I unique responses, there were also many Rowling (–) books that came up repeatedly. As could Stacy Fowler be expected, many of our responses Middlemarch by George Eliot (–) ([email protected]), fell in line with the other lists that are 9 Technical Services out there. There were some glaring A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Librarian, St. Mary’s differences, however. For one, Vladimir 10 Irving (No. 8) University Law Library, San Nabokov’s Lolita, which made 10 of the Antonio. Please feel free to 11 lists referenced, was chosen by only As you can see, there is quite a bit of email me if you would like one of my respondents. And the author crossover, but two of the law librarians’ top 10 were far down on Brodart’s list, to receive a complete list of all titles mentioned who has been the bane of my existence by the survey respondents. since my undergrad days, one William and three did not make Brodart’s list at Faulkner (whose The Sound and the all. (In fairness to J.K. Rowling, however, Fury was on nine of those lists), wasn’t her first Harry Potter book had only been

16 AALL Spectrum I April 2014 AALLApril2014:1 3/12/14 7:22 PM Page 17

Why taking the bar exam made me a better reference librarian

By Kurt Meyer

graduated from the University of explanations I have for mastering all common subjects I am asked about— Illinois College of Law in 2003. After twelve Uniform Bar Exam (www. especially in the spring—is the bar exam. Ilaw school, I worked a variety of jobs ncbex.org/about-ncbe-exams/ube) Before I took the exam, I could not give until I decided to become a law librarian. subjects in eight weeks—despite having informed advice on which law school In 2006, I returned to the University graduated law school 10 years ago. courses to take in preparation for it, the of Illinois, earned my Master of Science Furthermore, the reintroduction strengths and weaknesses of the different degree, and started a rewarding career to subjects I had not touched in years bar review programs, or what kind of as a reference librarian the following was extremely helpful, as was learning mindset one must have to tackle the two year. Regrettably, I did not sit for the entirely new subjects to which I had months of studying. I receive even more bar exam. never been exposed in law school. I find of these questions now, especially because While at a dinner in December myself better able to generate search other faculty, knowing about my recent 2012, a colleague and I were discussing and index terms. This, in turn, makes bar exam experience, refer these inquiries whether I should take the bar exam. me more efficient and effective when to me. “Kurt, the time is going to pass providing both research support and Additionally, it is a good idea to take anyway,” he said. “You may as well have reference assistance. the bar exam in the interest of versatility. something to show for it.” That piece of Perhaps more importantly, taking the Now is a transitional time in legal advice pushed me over the edge; it was exam helped me understand and relate education, and having the additional time. The next night I called my father to the students I serve in ways I did not credential has great potential for making and told him I would be taking the exam before. I took the exam with a group of law librarians more relevant in our in July 2013, something I would not third-year law students who had been at workplaces. With an increased emphasis have said unless I intended to follow Gonzaga University School of Law since on experiential legal education, law through. I arrived in 2011, so I knew them well. librarians may need to serve dual Taking the exam alongside them helped purposes in clinics and similar settings, me to identify with an experience nearly which makes sense given our research, Benefits of the Bar every law student goes through. Even organizational, and analytical skills. Why even consider going to the trouble though I did not need to take the exam However, only a licensed attorney may so many years out of law school? During for my career, I still felt a significant supervise students and sign documents. my six years working in law schools, amount of stress as the bar review Moreover, the option to obtain practice I often noticed the credential hanging process went on, just like anyone else experience in addition to traditional on other people’s walls and wished I had would. librarian work will help law librarians taken the exam right after law school. Because of this, I bonded with my be more effective supervisors. Admittedly, a large part of my decision fellow bar exam takers, notwithstanding to take the exam was pride; however, the fact that we rarely spoke about I did not realize until after I finished it A Worthwhile Challenge anything other than complaining how Despite the struggle that I faced in the extent to which the experience would disagreeable the bar review process was. improve my performance as a reference balancing bar review with work, Now that our current class of 3Ls is sacrificing a summer, and now owing bar librarian. Half a year later, I continue to getting to a point where they have to notice the positive effects of taking the dues, the experience was worth the time plan for the exam, I can relate to them and effort in ways I had not anticipated. exam. too. Taking and passing the exam What originally motivated me was the This empathy is helpful because of desire to accomplish something great, makes me appreciate the work I do as a the ad hoc advising that reference librarian even more. During but now I realize that the experience academic reference has made me a better librarian. If you the past six years, I researched in a librarians perform at variety of areas and necessarily have have a supportive work environment, the desk. Students want a challenge, and enjoy learning, developed the ability to analyze often approach and assimilate new information I wholeheartedly recommend taking the the desk to ask bar if you have not already done so. I quickly. In hindsight, I realize for advice on this skill translated questions that Kurt Meyer well to the bar are unrelated to ([email protected]), Assistant review legal research. process. Professor of Law and Research Librarian, One of the Chastek Law Library, Gonzaga University School It is one most of the of Law, Spokane, Washington. I’d like to thank main Professor Dan Morrissey for the numerous pep talks and Patrick Charles, Director, Chastek Law Library, for giving me the flexibility I needed at work.

AALL Spectrum I April 2014 17 AALLApril2014:1 3/12/14 7:25 PM Page 18

Welcome to

TheSan co-chairs Antonio! of this year’s Local Arrangements Committee offer some tips for your stay

By Stacy Fowler and Liana Morales

oming to San Antonio for the AALL Annual Meeting and don’t know what to expect? Looking for interesting local flavor to enhance your experience? CThis interview with the co-chairs of the 2014 Local Arrangements Committee, Stacy Fowler and Mike Martinez, Jr., should help you out!

18 AALL Spectrum I April 2014 image © iStockphoto.com AALLApril2014:1 3/13/14 9:45 AM Page 19

What do you think is San Antonio’s Where is a good place to grab a newsweekly, to find out about art best kept secret? bite to eat? showings and other events around town. Stacy: It’s probably not much of a secret, Stacy: I’d recommend Acenar for some but we’re a very friendly city. We’re an great Tex Mex cuisine. I usually visit What would you recommend seeing anomaly compared with most big cities Acenar when friends come from out of after a visit to the Alamo? because we have such a small-town town to show them some local flavor. Stacy: I would recommend Hemisfair feel, and you will always feel welcome The atmosphere is modern and fun. Park as one of your stops. Within easy wherever you go. A couple of my favorite dishes include walking distance of the convention the shrimp tacos and the duck crepes. Mike: The culture of art and music center, this area was originally They serve several delicious vegetarian constructed for the World’s Fair that was is so fresh here in San Antonio. The choices as well. Southwest School of Art is located held in San Antonio in 1968. It is home downtown, and UTSA has nurtured Mike: Visit any food truck at Alamo to the iconic Tower of the Americas, many talented local artists. The culinary Street Eat Bar. There are so many Magik Theatre, Institute of Texan culture is currently booming as well. options to choose from—everything Cultures, and Instituto Cultural de Following the opening of from chili con carne to burgers to Cajun Mexico, all with access to the River a satellite campus of the Culinary food to sushi. They will have anything Walk, and every Tuesday in June and Institute of America, there has been a you might be in the mood for. One July there is a free family-friendly film noticeable increase in the amount of of my favorites is the Duk Truck. screening called Movies by Moonlight. restaurants opened by up-and-coming Mike: For history buffs, I’d consider and successful chefs. visiting the San Fernando Cathedral. Not only is it a beautiful building, but it Where would you recommend is a structure that symbolizes the city’s for a quick excursion? impressive historicity. It is the oldest Stacy: Taking a river taxi to the cathedral in the United States. One Pearl would be at the top of my list for a interesting piece of trivia in particular is quick excursion. The Pearl Brewery that the remains of the defenders of the district is located close enough to Alamo are entombed at San Fernando. downtown that anyone could easily visit. The very roots of the city are right there, On Saturdays, they have a large farmer’s and its history spans all the way back to market that features not only local the Canary Islands immigrants of the produce but an assortment of booths mid-18th century. I’d call it a must-see that serve brunch foods and when you’re in San Antonio. refreshments. You can visit the Pearl Brewery district day or night—there are What is one thing you’d like visitors boutique shops open during the day, to know about being in San Antonio restaurants in the area stay open late, and for AALL this summer? concerts and other events are located Stacy: That it is going to be hot! Bring nearby. lots of sunscreen and some summer hats. Mike: Visiting the San Antonio Missions San Antonio’s River Walk Mike: It’s about five to 10 degrees cooler National Historical Park is a great way to near the River Walk, where it’s heavily split time between nature and history. shaded by trees and closer to the water. The missions in this particular area are Is there anything downtown that would I’d recommend hydration. Just drink lots on a historical trail known as El Camino be particularly fun for families to do? of water, and be sure to take the proper Real de las Tejas. For those who don’t Stacy: Of course! San Antonio has a precautions if you are sensitive to heat. want to walk the trail, B-Cycle stations, children’s museum. It’s such a nice place which are equipped with rental bicycles, where kids can play and learn at the See You in July! are located in convenient locations along same time. There are a lot of interactive We hope we have given you a taste the trail. and fun things for them to do, including of what downtown San Antonio has to working with building blocks, a bubble offer. Of course, there are many other Where would you recommend machine, a mock-up grocery store, a reasons millions of tourists flock to our going for a couple of drinks? control tower, and an airplane. Another fair city every year, and we promise Stacy: I’d say Mi Tierra Cafe for sure. good way to spend time with family that once you start your San Antonio This place is a great spot to visit any and get away from the heat is to take adventure, you won’t be disappointed. I time day or night, as it is open 24/7, in a movie at the Alamo IMAX. and the Mariachi Bar inside can’t be beat! Stacy Fowler It’s a good place to enjoy a margarita and What downtown neighborhood ([email protected]), listen to a roaming mariachi band. would you recommend spending Technical Services some time in? Librarian, St. Mary’s Mike: The Esquire Tavern is a place I’d Mike: There is a burgeoning art scene University Law Library, recommend going to for classic cocktails in San Antonio, and there are a couple San Antonio and beer. It opened the day after of interesting venues that are relatively Prohibition ended, so the establishment close. There is a palpable art culture in Liana Morales itself is a trip back in time. Vintage the Blue Star area, and if you are looking ([email protected]), Library Assistant, wallpaper, low-lit lamps, wood-carved for an arts district a little more off the St. Mary’s University Law Library, San Antonio booths, and the longest wooden bar in beaten path, I would recommend visiting the country are what you’ll get when you the pop-up galleries off South Flores. step inside. I highly recommend visiting Another good idea is to refer to the if you’re on the River Walk and feel like San Antonio Current, the city’s free stepping away from the norm.

Called to Write The AALL/LexisNexis Call for Papers Award has been motivating law librarians for nearly 30 years

By Benjamin J. Keele and Sara Sampson

or many law librarians, conducting research is at (or very near to) the Fcore of their professional work. We often guide others in their research or even do the work for them. However, for many librarians, pursuing their own professional research projects and then preparing the results for publication is a particular challenge. Perhaps other job duties consume so much time that there is little left for a writing project. Or maybe there is little encouragement from colleagues to research further a topic that sparked curiosity. Or it could be that simply identifying and finessing a research question that is both important and manageable requires a small push to overcome any inertia. Both authors have run into these obstacles, and often a little nudge was all that was needed to get a snowball of an idea rolling down the hill and gathering momentum. Scholarship by librarians serves an important purpose to the profession and the public. Law library best practices can be shared and debated in articles. Articles on researching substantive legal issues can help lawyers and law students conduct necessary legal research. Law librarians have also traditionally written about bibliographic history, which helps future lawyers and historians. As law librarians moved into the classroom in greater numbers, we needed articles to help us decide what and how to teach. While conference presentations are a valid way to share much of this information, written articles can reach a wider audience immediately and over the long term. For example, it’s far easier to find and access a journal article than a conference presentation (especially one given at a regional conference).

Above: 2012-2013 AALL President Jean M. Wenger presents Joseph Gerken with the AALL/LexisNexis Call for Papers Award at the 2013 Annual Meeting in Seattle. 20 AALL Spectrum I April 2014 AALLApril2014:1 3/13/14 3:52 PM Page 21

Among the list of Call for Papers to pursue research and writing. Some of as well. Shrager credits the award with winners, which is available at the winning papers have become classics giving her “confidence that I could tinyurl.com/mcmusj7, are some of and have advanced scholarship and law make a meaningful contribution to the the most recognizable names in our librarians’ thoughtfulness about their profession.” She adds that the award profession and articles on issues that we work and its context.” “was a good talking point as I applied still struggle with today. This scholarship James Duggan of Tulane University, for jobs.” The recognition that she has not only helped the authors in their another Call for Papers winner and received at the Annual Meeting made her careers, it has served the profession well. current Law Library Journal editor, notes feel “welcomed to the profession” and that the competition serves as an impetus allowed her “to meet a number of veteran History for authors “who perhaps have an idea librarians who were very encouraging.” The AALL/LexisNexis Call for Papers of what they want to write about or competition was established in 1985 and have a half-finished paper that they have Will You Answer the Call? was designed to provide an incentive to been ‘kicking around’ and would like to Law librarianship has a strong current start and finish a research project and finish,” and that Law Library Journal of scholarly research and publishing. then share it in writing with the law has benefitted from this encouragement, Through thoughtful examination of librarian community. The competition “having published the great majority of interesting aspects of the fields of law has four divisions: Open (writers winning papers in the competition.” and librarianship, librarian-scholars with five or more years of professional Indeed, of are developing their research skills, experience), New Member (writers the 77 papers demonstrating expertise, and providing with less than five years of experience), that have won intellectual stimulation for the Student (writers pursuing degrees in law in the Open, profession. The AALL/LexisNexis Call or library science), and Short Form New Member, for Papers is one way AALL encourages (open to all writers, but entries are and Student librarians to indulge their curiosity and shorter than traditional scholarly divisions, 63 share the results. articles). Generally one or two papers (81.8 percent) Entries are generally due the first in each division are selected. Thanks to were published week of March each year, except entries donations from LexisNexis, winners in in Law Library in the Student division, which are due the Open, New Member, and Students Journal. Most in mid-May. One can share drafts and divisions are each awarded $650, and of the other gather feedback from colleagues, but to winners in the Short Form division are winning papers be eligible the paper must not have been awarded $300. Winners also have an were published previously submitted or accepted for opportunity to present their papers in other journals or as books. Even the publication as a finished product. during the Librarian as Authors session few papers that have not been formally If you have a paper in progress, at the AALL Annual Meeting. published are freely available online in why not push to have it finished for the The Call for Papers was first the Call for Papers Selected Works site next Call for Papers competition? If you proposed by Margaret Leary and Roger (works.bepress.com/aallcallforpapers) have an idea for a paper, write out a plan Jacobs (both academic law librarians) and —the site collects virtually all of the to have it ready by the next deadline. Don Ziegenfuss (a private law librarian) winning papers. In addition to helping Designate a time each week or day to because they were concerned that law grow this crop of scholarship, it is also write, and you’ll be ready to answer the librarians were not producing scholarly likely that the Call for Papers motivated call. I writing. “We decided to propose the librarians to write and publish papers Benjamin J. Keele Call for Papers Program to encourage law that, while valuable, did not win the librarians to do the kind of research and competition. ([email protected]), writing that only law librarians can do,” Deborah Shrager of George Mason Research and Instructional Leary said. All librarians are skilled in University is a 2010 winner of the Services Librarian, Indiana finding facts, gathering literature, and Student division. Her story shows University Robert H. unearthing obscure materials, but law how the encouragement of a single McKinney School of Law. law librarian motivated her to submit a librarians are special because they also Keele is chair of the paper she had written as an independent deeply understand how laws are created, AALL/LexisNexis Call for Papers Committee. modified, and published. The idea was study project in library school. Shrager that the Call for Papers would encourage contacted law librarian James Donovan Sara Sampson librarians at any point in their careers to compliment him on an article he had (sasampso@ to complete scholarly and professional recently published and told him about email.unc.edu), Deputy her project. His encouragement to enter writing projects. Director of the Law Library the Call for Papers, which she did not know about before then, helped ensure and Clinical Assistant Impact that the results of her independent study Professor of Law, Fred Shapiro of Yale University, one on academic law libraries’ use of Web University of North of the first Call for Papers winners, 2.0 technology would be available to the Carolina, Chapel Hill. Sampson is a member of thinks the competition fulfills its entire profession. the AALL/LexisNexis Call for Papers Committee. original objective, stating that it “has Winning a Call for Papers award undoubtedly spurred many librarians is helpful to the submitting librarian

Creative New approaches to old problems

Reference By Kerry Lohmeier and Anne Mostad-Jensen

eference service is a common reference because, like many other offices have enormous windows, so it is Q&A topic at the water cooler. librarians, the position requires wearing clear if we are available even if the door R How many hours do you have many additional hats that would have is closed. There are tables directly outside at the desk each week? What kinds of limited reference hours. Our reference of our offices where students can sit as questions do you get? How do you delivery model provided a solution that they wait in line for services during peak provide reference service? If you allowed us to maximize the number of periods. Using our offices also allows for happened to catch us at the water cooler, reference hours while providing time privacy during the interaction, especially you would probably stick around to for other responsibilities. when it’s related to a class assignment. hear about our unique approach to A second reason we chose this model Like you, we want to provide a high- providing reference services. dealt with the size and makeup of our quality and responsive service for our patron base. As a startup law school, students and faculty. Our service delivery we have approximately 110 students model provides flexibility in answering Our Reference Service across our 1L and 2L classes and true reference questions or turning the Delivery Model 12 faculty members. In addition to this, encounter into a more in-depth Many libraries use a reference desk model for providing reference services. The reference desk may be associated with the information desk, or it may be in a separate location. In addition, many libraries also provide point-of-need reference, virtual or chat reference services, and email reference. It is also common for libraries to combine service delivery models in order to provide the best service to patrons. At Concordia University School of Law, which welcomed its inaugural class in the fall of 2012, we decided to move away from a traditional reference desk. Instead, we provide reference out of our regular offices combined with email, phone, and roving reference.

Reasons We Chose to Use A view of the George R. White Law Library. To the right, a librarian is in a This Reference Service Model meeting during reference hours. The information desk is to the left. There are several reasons we decided not to staff a traditional reference desk and to instead focus mainly on providing reference services out of our we have several visiting professors and consultation without having to schedule offices: resource availability, student and adjunct professors. We also made a follow-up appointments. It also allows faculty makeup and size, physical layout commitment to supporting our part-time more hours of reference coverage so of the library, and type and quality of students. Under a traditional reference that we are available when a student’s reference services we aimed to provide. desk model, meeting the needs of the schedule permits. During our first year, the library full- and part-time students with only employed three librarians to carry out all one or two people providing reference Our Experiences library operations. We had a director, a would have been difficult. One of the biggest benefits for us, since technical services librarian, and a public Additionally, the layout of our library we have a very small professional staff, is services librarian. In our second year of is conducive to providing reference from the efficiency this model provides. We operation, we added a reference librarian. our offices. The offices are in close have been fortunate to be able to provide Initially, reference was predominantly proximity to the Information Desk. The more hours of reference service than we provided by the public services librarian. reference librarian and public services would otherwise have been able to. We It was impractical for the public librarian’s offices are next to each other, are also able to maximize all of our time services librarian to sit on a desk for so it allows students to go to one in the office so that all work progresses, location for the service. Additionally, our

no matter how many reference hours You also sometimes feel isolated and students. Offices that are accessible we are technically assigned. from the flow of traffic that comes by to students and faculty may not be We have noticed that all of our a traditional reference desk. However, similarly accessible to the general public. patrons, faculty and students alike, view this does allow you to leave the typical If the interaction is too private, librarians us as being accessible and approachable. low-value, directional-type questions to may not be as comfortable with the Even when we happen to be standing support staff. It also allows you to use reference interaction. As a private at what would constitute a traditional that time to seek out people who you institution, we only provide limited reference desk, the patron prefers to know might not normally stop by a access to members of the Idaho Bench move the interaction into our usual reference desk. and Bar, so we have not personally office environment. Another specific experienced any limitations in this area. benefit we have noticed is that students Best Practices, and Should Other Before using this model it is who are shy or embarrassed to ask for Libraries Use This Model? important to consider the type and help are more likely to stop by our office This model of reference service delivery quality of reference services you want for assistance because it is more private. would not work for all libraries. It to provide. You have to consider how This is especially true for some of our would likely work better in a small-staff many reference hours the library wants nontraditional students who are not as institution because you aren’t tying a and needs to provide versus the staff tech savvy. librarian to a service delivery model available. Is reference the primary One drawback is that at peak periods that is less efficient. However, our job duty of the librarian, or does the you are never “off,” even when there model might still work for a large-staff librarian have a lot of additional are other essential and pressing duties. institution because it would free up time responsibilities that can’t be carried out Like most reference librarians, regardless for all librarians involved in reference at a public desk? You also have to ask of the reference service model used, you provision. Many times on a reference whether you want to be able to answer are perpetually overworked, and the lack desk, there are interruptions unrelated to private, more in-depth questions and of “off” time can be problematic for the provision of reference. Additionally, help students who may not want or feel maintaining all services during peak during low reference use periods on the comfortable asking for help in a more reference periods. We have noticed that desk, performing other tasks can be public venue through your reference this has lessened now that we have two difficult because the resources are not service. librarians providing reference services readily at hand. It can be frustrating to Overall, the model we use has rather than one. know that a percentage of your reference worked fantastically well since we Another issue we addressed was desk time could be better spent in implemented it in August 2012. We the distribution and coordination of another manner. Conversely, during peak think it would work similarly well at reference services among staff. When we periods of reference, knowing that a small institution. We are willing to added an additional librarian, we learned someone is concurrently providing answer questions and provide support we had to coordinate the provision of for others interested in adopting such a reference without you having to track I reference services in a manner that that person down enables you to spend model. funneled some traffic toward the new enough time with the patron in front of Kerry Lohmeier librarian. This was important because you without having to worry that other the new librarian needed to make (klohmeier@cu- patrons are going to tire of waiting for portland.edu), Assistant connections with students and faculty assistance. Professor and Public and share in the provision of reference One major concern in considering services. whether to adopt this model is the Services Librarian, To solve the problem, we decided physical layout of your library. It works Concordia University to schedule time when each reference best if the offices of those providing School of Law, Boise, librarian is “off.” This allows us to work reference services are located near each Idaho on additional nonreference activities for other in a fairly centralized location. Anne Mostad-Jensen a few hour blocks several times a week. The model would likely not be effective Because we have large windows, we have if librarians’ offices were spread across (amostad@cu- resorted to signage and closing doors multiple floors and areas. It also would portland.edu), Assistant to indicate periods of time when we are not work well if offices are behind an Professor and Reference not providing reference. Occasionally, information desk in a private area that Librarian, Concordia patrons still seek reference assistance does not see a lot of regular foot traffic. University School of Law, Boise, Idaho from the “off” librarian, but this system This model may not work well for has mostly worked as a method of libraries providing services to the general channeling reference services to the public in addition to services for faculty appropriate person.

AALL Spectrum I April 2014 23 AALLApril2014:1 3/13/14 3:52 PM Page 24

What is the best AALL program you have attended? member to member

His dedication two years ago. All of the speakers were At the Boston meeting, Sarah Mauldin to ensuring wonderful, but particularly benefitted from coordinated a session titled “Bloom Where safekeeping of hearing Mary Rumsey talk about treaty- You’re Planted.” Rana Chudnofsky, an digital information body mechanisms at the United Nations. expert from Benson-Henry Institute for raised questions Considering how many of us regularly Mind Body Medicine at Mass General about privacy, perform international legal research in our Hospital, discussed stress and its effects ownership, and work and how few of us have institutional on our bodies. She also offered tips and Rebecca L. Bearden many other issues. support for international travel, I think suggestions for coping with stress in the Examples included AALL members would benefit from more workplace. Attendees went through a doomed websites programming on this topic. meditation and breathing exercise. The such as AOL Hometown and Yahoo! room was packed; standing room only, Geocities, both of which he had —Ryan Harrington, Head of Reference, which I feel speaks to the need for this involvement in archiving to preserve Yale Law School Lillian Goldman Library, topic. I appreciate AALL’s acknowledgment for the future. As librarians, we strive to New Haven, Connecticut that law librarians benefit not only from provide current information as well as a content directly related to our information- look into the past. Websites and blogs management skills, but also that which that were not created for archival and I often think back to the program titled positively affects our whole selves. We research purposes do not have as lucky a Never Again, Never Forget: The Role of are, in fact, not just librarians, but human fate as official publications and works of Libraries and Archives in Reconstructing beings in need of complete self care. institutions. Who is willing or able to step Memory of Argentina’s Dirty War, held up and save these items? Does anyone in Philadelphia on Monday, July 25, 2011. —Wendy Maines, Librarian Relations want them saved? The speaker was Ms. Gloria Orrego Hoyos, Manager, Thomson Reuters, Washington, D.C. the 2011 recipient of the FCIL Schaffer —Rebecca L. Bearden, Acquisitions and Grant for Foreign Law Librarians. She is Serials Assistant, University of Connecticut the legal reference librarian and a professor Year in and year School of Law Library, Hartford of law and legal research methods at out, it is the State, Biblioteca Max von Buch, Universidad de Court, & County Law San Andrés in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I Libraries Special Sarah Weddington’s had seen the film The Official Story (1985) Interest Section keynote at the 1993 when it appeared, and now Ms. Orrego Silent Auction Boston conference Hoyos was speaking almost to the film’s at the breakfast because of her script. She spoke about the preservation of Barbara L. Fritschel meeting. Where personal courage and documents that the military had tried to else can you win a practical advice: destroy, and how important they were vacation rental in “Always put your in proving child kidnappings, torture of Montana, get your name in a book by New own oxygen mask on individuals, and disappearances of students Mark E. Estes York Times best-seller Phillip Margolin, or first.” Too many of so those responsible could be brought to bid on art work crafted by law librarians our colleagues forget justice. She accompanied her talk with and their loved ones? And of course, my that simple rule—you’ve got to take care slides of newspaper clippings, photographs, favorite, Chocolate!!! I’m not just saying of yourself first to be effective. and folders of materials, all of which had this because I used to be in charge of the been organized by the librarians to assist auction. But if I have to get up for a 7 a.m. Bonus event: CONELL 1978 in Buffalo lawyers presenting human rights and proof breakfast meeting, the thrill of bidding because of the connections I made and of identity cases to the courts. helps wake me up, and the money goes the incredible number of AALL presidents for a great cause—scholarships so more (the exact number escapes me now) that Most recently, I was again reminded of people can come to the Annual Meeting. came out of that class. the program with the election and confirmation of Pope Francis and some of —Barbara L. Fritschel, Librarian, U.S. —Mark E. Estes, Law Library Director, the controversy surrounding him and his Courts Library, Milwaukee Bernard E. Witkin Alameda County Law younger years in Argentina. I’m glad I Library, Oakland, California attended this program since it provided me a fuller understanding of a political, The best program I’ve attended was historical event that still impacts people Preserving Our Digital Heritage: A The best program around the world. For further information Conversation with Jason Scott at AALL I have attended about the program, visit www.aallnet. 2012. This presentation was so candid, was Piercing the org/sections/fcil/grants-awards/FCIL- honest, thought-provoking, and even Veil of Sovereignty: Schaffer-Grant/Docs-Vault/orregohoyos. entertaining. Jason really made the The Sources of html. audience ponder how easily digital content International Human is deleted forever and what impact it has Rights Law, which —Phoebe Ruiz-Valera, Catalog Librarian, on being able to preserve today’s culture Ryan Harrington was a two-part Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, for future generations to look back on. session in Boston New York

24 AALL Spectrum I April 2014 AALLApril2014:1 3/13/14 4:02 PM Page 25

people in the Association to meet, greet, share their work product and collective The last session I and chat with the speaker. knowledge, contacts, and other information attended in Seattle virtually. After discussing examples of last year was Is It All went well for the first few minutes of relevant law office technology and tools, My Job, Or Am I Burnt his presentation with his perfect English the authors explained how law schools Out? Wendy Moore accent and many intelligent comments. can teach or integrate these technologies and Fran Norton are Then the speaker stopped his talk, lapsed so students have at least a working a dynamic duo whose into a Texas accent, and said “let’s cut the knowledge of the various systems before Edward T. Hart straight-face humor crap.” It seems he was a plant, arranged entering practice. helped the audience by Marian and without the knowledge of laugh in the face Working in a law school, it is easy to anyone else attending the meeting. The overlook the tools that attorneys use in of mid-career crisis or depression. The speaker, a radio announcer from Texas, audience participation not only added practice and to concentrate instead on proceeded to describe his experiences in the substantive law or more general legal to the laughs but also grounded us in a talking with the folks at the cocktail party, shared reality. For the first time ever, research. I now remind myself to at least going so far as to give names of those he mention to my students the types of tools I walked out the doors of an AALL talked to. Several folks were embarrassed convention, even considering the underlying law firms use so they have insightful by his comments. An especially humorous questions to ask during interviews and topic of the program, with an upbeat one was a person who volunteered to come perspective and some ideas of how to face come out ahead of the curve at their first to London, at the producer’s expense of summer position. the challenges ahead of me. My smiley face course, to work on the documentary. was not just the happiness of surviving another convention but also of realizing I don’t remember what we were served for —Valerie Aggerbeck, Research Librarian, I have colleagues who face similar dinner, but the banquet was remembered Schoenecker Law Library, University of dilemmas and do so with laughter. fondly for many years. St. Thomas School of Law, Minneapolis

—Edward T. Hart, Assistant Dean for Law —William J. Beintema, retired, Knoxville, The program that Library and Assistant Professor, UNT Dallas Tennessee sticks out for me is College of Law the session from Last year, I attended 2013 titled Igniting CONELL was the first my first AALL Annual Faculty Services program I attended at Meeting in Seattle. in Your Library. an Annual Meeting Many of the The content was programs were innovative and and probably the Cynthia Bassett program I have found wonderful, and it highly relevant to most rewarding and was difficult to pick my professional vital to my career. I a favorite to answer interests and work, but it was the am still good friends Valerie Aggerbeck this question. The program’s structure that really stood Sarah K.C. Mauldin with a number of program that taught out to me. The ignite format included two people from the 2003 me the most, though, was the very last speakers who each provided a five-minute Seattle edition of CONELL. I also use many session I attended and was titled KM, CRM, talk accompanied by a timed PowerPoint of the tips and skills I learned there on a DMS, EDD—What Does It All Mean, and presentation. After the 10 minutes of regular basis. While I know the shortened Why Should I Care? Speakers Gwyneth presentation, the moderator opened the Annual Meeting is packed with things to McAlpine and Mark Thorogood discussed session for discussions at each round do, I think CONELL should be an essential the common acronyms used by law firm table for participants to either discuss program for every first-time attendee. personnel and introduced the audience to the ideas presented or to share their own the range of law office technology used by experiences. After that, there were a few —Sarah K.C. Mauldin, Director of Library practicing attorneys, including technology moments to discuss with the larger group Services, Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP, for knowledge management (KM), client before moving on to another set of two Atlanta relationship management (CRM), document speakers, until we had heard a total management (DMS), and electronic data of six succinct but highly interesting discovery (EDD). presentations. The combo of great content As a person with 40- along with time to discuss with a smaller year-plus consecutive McAlpine and Thorogood explained that group was a winner for me. As the attendance to the law school research is very narrowly coordinator for the educational content Annual Meetings, tailored and does not reflect law firm for my chapter meeting this year, I am I must mention the reality. Being a lawyer does not entail only definitely incorporating this format. final banquet held applying substantive law to specific facts. in Seattle in 1973. It is about generating business and —Cynthia Bassett, Electronic Services Marian Gallagher and conducting day-to-day affairs to make the Librarian, University of Missouri School William J. Beintema her faculty and staff business successful. Clients expect that of Law Library, Columbia served as Local attorneys will work collaboratively and Arrangements Chair. The speaker for the efficiently. So while people in law school event was to be a producer from the BBC retrieve information mostly from Westlaw in London who was to speak on his plan to and Lexis, in law firms there are many other do a documentary on the American Legal systems with data, known as intranets. System. Prior to the banquet there was a These intranets are networked systems cocktail party for all of the “important” within law firms that allow attorneys to

AALL Spectrum I April 2014 25 AALLApril2014:1 3/13/14 3:53 PM Page 26

the reference desk By Susan Catterall she simply wants your approval and to be service to others first. If this is true, then I’m not even sure how to explain recognized as your peer. I recall that when you and the rest of your staff have to this or why it bothers me. I have I was in the fourth grade, I wanted to be maintain an environment of trust and Q:a co-worker with whom I work friends with my classmate Barbara. She sharing. In this instance, it may be closely, and I thought we were friends. We was smart, pretty, and outgoing, and I not necessary to rebuild it from the ground up. used to brainstorm and run ideas by each only liked her, but I wanted her to like me. other. However, at the risk of sounding I enjoyed hanging out with her before Take the high road by modeling the paranoid or even arrogant, I suddenly feel school and at recess. One day, the teacher behavior you expect from others. Hopefully, as though I’m in a competition that I assigned us partners, and I was thrilled to it will be this posture and confidence that wasn’t even aware existed. It’s not as if be paired with Barbara. Barbara didn’t feel others will want to emulate. Just as Barbara she is dressing like me or wearing her hair the same way and raised her hand to ask and I were expected to work things out, like I do; rather, she seems to embrace if she could be assigned to someone else you and your colleague must do the same. everything I’m interested in and wants to because, as she put it, I was always I sense your disappointment and that you do the same things that I do for our firm. hanging around her and bothering her. miss the relationship you once had or This includes wanting to deliver the same I was, of course, humiliated. Our teacher, believed you had. It isn’t too late to build programs I’ve developed and leverage the to her credit, did not make any changes a new relationship. Take the lead and set same personal relationships I’ve cultivated. and, instead, expected that we would work up a time in which you two can talk and listen I know that I should be grateful that we things out between us. Barbara should have to each other. Be willing to be both put service to our internal clients first, been flattered by my attempts at friendship vulnerable and let your teammate know but I’m feeling edged out, and recently but was instead, annoyed. why you were hurt or disappointed and something happened that made me feel what your expectations were in the past as if I had been undermined. All this is sort Your situation definitely seems less and are now. Then be ready to let her of intangible, but I’ve always trusted my “Single, White Female” and more “All express her feelings and concerns. If you instincts. Anyway, now I’m tempted to About Eve.” Your co-worker’s motivations are both honest, you will have a platform suppress any enthusiasm I have for are speculation and are outside the scope on which to rebuild your relationship or my projects and to avoid sharing my of this column. I’m not dismissing your at least know how to move forward. achievements with her or anyone else, for instincts, but the real issue is how you Rebuilding trust takes time, but the bond that matter. I feel like I have to keep all that react to the behavior of others and how will benefit you, your staff, and your clients. to myself so that I won’t end up being hurt you can restore what you thought was a I wish you both the best. good working relationship. again. I really dislike this situation. What Susan Catterall should I do? To begin with, don’t suppress the passion (scatterall@ for your interests. Those passions have charlottelaw.edu), It appears that you’ve discovered driven you to succeed at what you do. Reference Librarian, that imitation isn’t always the It may seem that hiding your enthusiasm Charlotte School of Law, A:sincerest form of flattery. Here, would be the safest route, but your North Carolina however, imitation may only be the tip attempt to “protect” yourself amounts of the iceberg. There could be underlying to erecting barriers which not only inhibit your “authentic self” but may have issues, such as envy or insecurity, which Are you in a sticky situation with a motivate a person to emulate another. repercussions for the entire staff. Any colleague? Looking for ways to discuss It’s conceivable that your co-worker is barriers may cause a disservice to yourself advancement with your supervisor? Send attempting to channel some of your and your clients. You stated that you are your questions to columnist Susan Catterall confidence, success, and popularity. Perhaps grateful that you and your colleague place at [email protected].

announcements Get a Free Year of AALL Membership with Nonmember Annual Meeting Registration

Spread the word to your colleagues who aren’t yet members of AALL: • Access to specialized information created just for law librarians, such the Association is offering nonmembers a complimentary one-year as the AALL Biennial Salary Survey and the AALL Price Index for Legal membership when they register for the 2014 AALL Annual Meeting and Publications Conference (www.aallnet.org/conference) to be held July 12-15 in San Antonio! Membership includes: • Subscriptions to the monthly magazine, AALL Spectrum, and quarterly journal, Law Library Journal, to help you keep up on the latest trends in • Career resources, such as the online AALL Career Center and continuing law librarianship education to help you learn new skills to advance your career • Discounted rates on all AALL products and services, such as publications, • The opportunity to network and connect with other law librarians from webinars, and online job postings. across the country who share similar interests and face the same challenges The early bird Annual Meeting registration deadline is June 6. Be sure to take advantage of this special offer for nonmembers. Register today at www.aallnet.org/conference.

26 AALL Spectrum I April 2014 AALLApril2014:1 3/13/14 3:53 PM Page 27

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announcements Next Month in Spectrum Here’s a taste of what you can look forward to in the May issue of Spectrum: Renew Your AALL Membership Early for a Chance to • AALL Spectrum’s 14th Annual Architecture Win a Free Annual Meeting Registration Series • How one law firm has used technology to On March 15, AALL dues invoices for 2014-2015 were mailed to all library directors automate its business intelligence functions for their institutionally paid memberships and to all other individual members. The deadline for membership renewal is May 31. • The yin and yang of legal research instruction When you renew early—by May 1—you will be entered in a drawing for a free 2014 AALL Annual Meeting and Conference registration. If you renew on time— by May 31—you’ll be entered in a drawing for a free AALL webinar of your choice in 2014-2015. Following is the 2014 membership renewal schedule: March 15: First dues invoices mailed out May: Second dues invoices mailed out June: Third dues invoices mailed out July: Expiration notices emailed to all members—individuals and those paid by institutions August 1: Expired members deleted from the AALL membership database and access to the AALLNET Members Only Section and Law Library Journal and AALL Spectrum subscriptions discontinued. For more information or to renew your membership online, view the application form on AALLNET at www.aallnet.org/Home-page-contents/Join-benefits. If you have any questions about your membership renewal, contact AALL Headquarters at [email protected] or 312/205-8022.

AALL Spectrum I April 2014 27 AALLApril2014:1 3/12/14 7:23 PM Page 28

views from you

Share Your Views with Spectrum What views of your library are meaningful to you? Whether it’s the atmosphere surrounding your reference desk, a striking scene outside your window, a unique event taking place in your library, or a moment captured on your morning commute, this is your chance to share it with AALL.

In order to be publishable, pictures must be of relatively high quality. Digital submissions are preferred and must be high resolution (300 dpi). Submit your photos to AALL Marketing and Communications Manager Ashley St. John at [email protected].

Ramsey County Law Library, which is situated on the 18th floor of the Ramsey County Courthouse in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota, overlooks the Mississippi River.

Photo taken by Reference Librarian Leslie Greenwood.

28 AALL Spectrum I April 2014 AALLCovApril2014:Layout 1 3/12/14 10:14 AM Page 3

REACH FURTHER WITH YOURYOUR PROPROFESSIONALOFESSIONAAL DEVELOPMENT DEVELOOPMENT

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American Association of Law Libraries AALL Spectrum April 2014

E-Books: Where Are We Now? The Big Three and E-Books any of us use e-book By Jacob Sayward, Head of Electronic Services, Fordham Law Library, New York devices in our personal Mlives, and our opinions of them vary. Some of us prefer the ability to easily access plentiful It is no secret that legal publications importance of updates to legal titles. content on a whim while others can be complicated, and some of those OverDrive developed functionality to remain fond of the tactile act complications have slowed both the accommodate this and can now handle of reading a traditional printed book. Many of us are personally development of e-books by legal both updating titles and providing access publishers and the adoption of e-books ambivalent, sensing both the to prior versions of the titles. potential and frustrations of e-book by law libraries. A simple survey of use. how the three most prominent legal Wolters Kluwer publishers are offering e-books reveals CCH, a Wolters Kluwer Business offers Given that our personal experiences three very different approaches. with e-books have been varied, many its own line of e-books, also in a DRM- of us have approached e-books with LexisNexis protected EPUB format requiring Adobe some caution in our professional Digital Editions for most downloading lives. Furthermore, we have seen LexisNexis Digital Library is the and reading options. CCH recommends our colleagues in public libraries publisher’s e-book lending solution for reading these EPUB files on many devices approach the developments of libraries. The platform is a modified using the independently developed e-book lending in a variety of ways, version of OverDrive, an e-book Bluefire Reader app, as Bluefire Reader most often resulting in only partial aggregator best known for its work success. Some publishers refuse has become the most popular app for with public libraries. Customer libraries to allow public library purchases reading DRM-protected EPUB files that are outfitted with a dedicated portal of their titles while others have are not being accessed via a dedicated containing all the LexisNexis e-books limitations on use. Public libraries app (like OverDrive). For iPad owners, also grapple with file format and to which they have access. Libraries CCH has recently provided its own software difficulties. Ownership may also load MARC records into their dedicated CCH eBooks app containing and licensing issues in the e-book catalogs, which will direct patrons to the some added features beyond those arena are unresolved and present e-books available on their Digital Library significant challenges for both available in independent apps. platforms. libraries and content creators. Wolters Kluwer Law & Business offers Patrons have the option of reading As most of us know, until quite a line of e-books from its Kluwer Law these e-book titles in their browsers recently, legal content in e-book or downloading them to a desktop, International imprint. These e-books format has been relatively scarce. laptop, tablet, or other mobile device. are only sold in EPUB format, and they That is no longer the case, as several are authenticated using Adobe Digital legal publishers have joined the Downloadable formats include MOBI e-book marketplace. Therefore, and EPUB. The MOBI option is intended Editions. The website for these e-books recommends the Bluefire Reader app for law librarians can benefit from a for patrons owning Kindle devices or current analysis of the available those who simply prefer to read e-books all tablets and mobile devices. Wolters information content and lending on the Kindle app (common to other Kluwer Law & Business offers its own systems. I am very grateful to the devices). This format requires an dedicated iPad app, WK eReader, which authors of these highly informative Amazon account (to facilitate syncing the should fill the same role for its content articles for their experience-based file to the appropriate device), but Kindle that the CCH eBooks app does for the insights and in-depth descriptions of e-books in today’s law libraries. owners are likely to already possess one. CCH line of titles. Unfortunately, WK The EPUB format may be downloaded to eReader receives little mention on Wolters a desktop or laptop and read offline on Kluwer websites. Adobe Digital Editions (which requires Neither of the above lines of e-books patrons to create an Adobe login if they represents a real library lending solution do not already possess one). The EPUB for e-books, and Wolters Kluwer’s format may also be downloaded to a only offering in that respect is a small tablet or other mobile device and read collection of titles made available through using the OverDrive Media Console app. MyiLibrary. MyiLibrary is an e-book An important distinction between many aggregator specializing in titles from of the LexisNexis e-book offerings and scholarly publishers, akin to Ebrary, OverDrive’s previous e-book titles is the EBL, or EBSCO’s e-book platforms. AALLMBApril2014:AALLMembbrief_Dec 3/12/14 7:12 PM Page 2

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Thomson Reuters lets patrons search across all the e-books The ProView app is available across a Thomson Reuters has focused its e-book in their ProView library simultaneously. variety of tablets and other devices. There efforts on its e-reader platform, ProView, Citations in ProView titles are is a desktop version of ProView, designed which is the publisher’s only mechanism hyperlinked to their corresponding for accessing these e-books on a traditional for accessing its e-books. As a dedicated content on WestlawNext, so accessing computer, and a browser-based version app, ProView has many of the these references is relatively seamless of ProView for patrons who have not bookmarking/annotation functions provided the patron has internet installed the ProView app. Unfortunately, common to e-book apps, and it allows connectivity. Patrons may also create none of these versions of ProView this patron-generated content to PDFs (incorporating patron annotations incorporates the type of borrowing/ automatically transfer to new editions or not) from a title in their ProView app lending functionality available in e-book when titles are updated. ProView also and then email or print these selections. aggregators’ platforms.

E-Books in Law Firm Libraries: The Practical Side By Bess Reynolds, Technical Services Manager, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, New York

Three years after I began testing e-books being written, Thomson confirmed that person at a time, just as for the print from legal publishers, my law firm, there are no library management tools to versions. We do have multiple copies of Debevoise & Plimpton, adopted the work with Proview. Although Thomson some titles, and OverDrive keeps track Lexis Digital Library. indicated that it has investigated the of those details. Here I am discussing the process used by OverDrive with the ILS means by which a law firm library might The primary factor in our decision was vendors, it has not yet created a catalog provide e-books to firm lawyers. It is the discovery. Since arriving at Debevoise connection. Therefore, in order to find an case that an individual with a credit card eight years ago, one of my main goals e-book from Thomson, the patron must can go to the websites of these vendors was to turn the online catalog into a know that Thomson is the publisher. to purchase individual e-books for single one-stop shopping center for all of the The user must then navigate to the devices. This is impractical for large firm’s subscriptions and publications. website and register his or her OnePass firms where the library manages all of In addition to every book, loose-leaf, ID to tie it to his or her Westlaw account. the purchasing. and journal, we catalog all electronic resources, including newsletters, Wolters Kluwer has also been OverDrive offers two options for reading databases, and, now, e-books. developing its own platform. A revised an e-book: (1) read in the browser using version of the WK eReader, an app for Of the three major legal publishers that the OverDrive Read program or (2) use on an iPad, has just been released. offer e-book versions of some of their download to read offline. I have tested this application and found titles, only LexisNexis chose not to it straightforward to find and download Unfortunately, these options require develop a proprietary platform. Lexis e-books. However, it is also the case many additional steps, such as partnered with OverDrive, one of the that you need to know what books are downloading apps or registering largest aggregators of e-books in the published by Wolters Kluwer and go to software, before they can be used the world, to deliver its digital library. the app to find them. A useful feature first time. OverDrive worked with our ILS vendor for lawyers is that two e-books can be to create a pathway from our library Using the OverDrive Read program is open at the same time. catalog directly to the e-books on a very smooth process as long as you the OverDrive platform. Using a –In terms of management, the library have the correct browser versions. We bibliographic record that links directly staff must manage all of the e-books on found out early on that Read does not to the Delaware Laws Governing Business behalf of the lawyers. Some of the tools work well with our version of Internet Entities or the New York Civil Practice we need include the ability to determine Explorer. When you select “Read (in Law and Rules, a lawyer can find and who has checked out a specific volume, your browser),” a window opens that download his own copy of these popular to recall specific volumes, and to set says, “Internet Explorer 9 doesn’t desk books within minutes. OverDrive parameters such as check-out periods. support the best features of OverDrive coordinates with OCLC to provide Every librarian has dealt with a patron Read,” and the alert recommends using MARC records with a URL leading who urgently needs a title checked another browser or installing a plugin, directly to the title. out to someone else, and lawyers can which is not an option in our case due be very “needy” when faced with to IT restrictions. The user then has to Thomson Reuters developed a deadlines. know to scroll down through all of the proprietary platform known as Proview warnings only to then find that you are to host its e-books. In order to read an As I mentioned, we included e-books in allowed to proceed in the Basic mode, e-book from Thomson, users must log in our most recent Lexis contract. This year which lacks much functionality. to their site and register their Westlaw we were able to purchase an e-book for OnePass password to connect their every title that we purchased in print. Our IT department reported that we account to the Proview site. As this is Each book can only be used by one would not be upgrading the browser for AALLMBApril2014:AALLMembbrief_Dec 3/12/14 7:12 PM Page 3

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at least a year. Our office computers are On the iPad, you can read using the Safari The bottom line is that this new(ish) set up to default to Internet Explorer. browser, which works quite well. Some media allows more flexibility with We have access to Firefox, but opening useful functions include the ability to our library resources than print. The another browser automatically requires print a chapter, create notes, search, etc. If convenience of traveling with your a special script to be installed. Lawyers you choose to download the e-book while treatises or desk books on an iPad are not likely to manually paste long using OverDrive Read, you can continue without adding the weight of books URLs into a Firefox window, nor would to read the e-book offline also using the or incurring the wrath of librarians they necessarily know that is an option. browser. This is slightly counterintuitive. when you are found to have removed If you choose to download from the In order to read a downloaded copy of library books from the office is probably digital library platform, you will need the worthwhile to the lawyers. Although the e-book in the EPUB format, the user app called OverDrive Media Console, we in the library may need to do a lot needs a copy of Adobe Digital Edition. which does not have the full functionality of handholding to get these e-books to In our networked environment, all of OverDrive Read. software must be installed by the IT the lawyers, one associate who had a department. In addition, every end user One other caveat: links from the Lexis successful experience said, “This is has to register a password with Adobe. e-books to cases and other external terrific, I am going to tell all of my We were able to have ADE installed, materials go to Lexis Advance, not Lexis friends.” but registration adds another step to Classic. If your firm does not subscribe, the process. your attorneys will be frustrated.

E-Book Decision-Making in an Academic Setting: Some Practical Considerations By Cynthia Myers, Head of Collection Development and Technical Services, George Mason Law Library, Arlington, Virginia

Many libraries are seeking guidance on Oxford Scholarship Online (OSO)—Law Our experience so far, based on patron how to evaluate and integrate e-books is a module that is part of a larger group comments and statistical analysis, has into their collections. The George Mason of electronic products sold by Oxford shown us that these e-book titles are Law Library has explored a couple of Publishing. One of the primary reasons being used and accepted. We know of e-book platforms, including Oxford we were interested in this product is only one case in which a patron would Scholarship Online (OSO)—Law and because of the range of topics that this not use the e-book title and requested Elgaronline, which I will discuss. collection covers. Coverage is especially the purchase of print. strong in jurisprudence and other areas Collection development decisions are a With our venture into e-books begun, collaborative effort at our institution. All that have faculty interest. In deciding we explored purchasing other similar librarians participate in the decision- whether to purchase the OSO Law e-book products. Elgaronline is a making process for both print and module, we were guided by the criteria product of the publisher Edward Elgar. electronic resources. We are guided by a listed above as well as a few more It offers several e-book collections, collection development policy that is practical considerations. Would faculty including Law, Business, Economics, updated every two years and incorporates and students actually use the product? and Social and Political Science. Again, criteria for selection of both print and Since e-books are a new concept to many we were interested in this collection electronic products. The primary selection in the law setting, how would we make because of its subject coverage. Elgar criteria we use are: relevance and our patrons aware of them? has broken each collection into a back importance to the current law school As far as usage is concerned, Oxford list, a front list, and a forward list with curriculum, scholarly treatment of subject provides a strong set of COUNTER- separate pricing for each. It has also areas and materials that will enhance classified institutions into various tiers student preparation for legal practice, compliant statistics, which was a major plus in our decision to purchase. The based on the Carnegie Classification, reputation of the author or editor in the which rates the extent of research subject matter, demand for prior editions, ability to see the level of usage as well as exactly what titles were being used activities. In this case, we have not yet availability of the items at other libraries decided whether to purchase any of the tipped the scales in favor of our in the university system, current coverage Elgaronline collections. Our concerns purchase. In addition, the availability of of the subject matter with already existing center on cost as well as the ability to free downloadable MARC records was titles in the collection, electronic obtain meaningful user statistics from another factor that convinced us that we availability of the title or subject matter, this platform. One possibility is sharing continuation costs, and space should be providing this resource to our the cost with the university library, considerations. While the policy provides patrons. We have not publicized the which may make the purchase possible. good basic guidance, e-books do present availability of our e-books beyond some special considerations. providing the cataloging records. AALLMBApril2014:AALLMembbrief_Dec 3/12/14 7:12 PM Page 4

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Two other issues that are particularly e-readers, we currently do not. But since to consider. For example, in addition problematical with regard to e-books we are open to the public, we can to traditional considerations, the are interlibrary loans and whether the foresee that we may want or need patron’s ability to successfully use the library should provide e-readers to to provide e-readers in the future. format is very critical. However, our patrons who want to use e-books. We While some of the considerations in e-book experience has been positive so have not yet addressed the interlibrary e-book purchasing are the same as those far, and we look forward to making loan situation but will no doubt have with print and other electronic database more e-books available to our students, to in the future. As far as providing purchasing, there are additional factors faculty, and staff.

New Developments in E-Book Support By Margaret K. Maes, Executive Director, Legal Information Preservation Alliance, Bloomington, Indiana, and AALL Vendor Liaison

Digitized versions of printed books The E-Book Business Model ReadersFirst have been available for 40 years, and Scorecard This initiative was announced in January commercially published electronic books The American Library Association’s 2014. It calls on publishers and e-book (e-books) have been sold to individuals Digital Content & Libraries Working vendors to observe four key principles and libraries for more than 10 years. Group is one of the key players in to enhance the library e-book reading But the launch of readily available and helping libraries understand and experience. The principles allow readers portable e-readers, such as the Amazon negotiate licensing terms for e-books. to search one comprehensive catalog to Kindle in 2007 and the Apple iPad in The group’s August 2012 report, “Ebook access all of a library’s offerings, perform 2010, revolutionized the production and Business Models for Public Libraries,” all transactions within the single source distribution of e-books for both popular described various licensing models that the library has determined will serve its and scholarly use. libraries might have with publishers. users best (website, catalog, or other), In January 2013, the Working Group seamlessly enjoy a variety of e-content, The benefits of offering e-books in published its Ebook Business Model and download e-books that are libraries have been well documented. Scorecard, which provides more detailed compatible with all reading devices. Briefly, they include ease of access, guidance on the terms that are often The ReadersFirst Guide to Library E-Book portability, searching capabilities, found in e-book licenses and contracts. Vendors includes a vendor matrix, navigation tools, added content features, The Scorecard uses a rating scale vendor assessments, and a vendor and the lack of physical space required applied to 15 different metrics. A library product evaluation form with 37 for storage. But these benefits to the user can complete the Scorecard to identify categories and a rating scale of zero and the library carry with them several the licensing terms that are essential to 100. While the goal is to improve challenges, chief among them the variety or desirable in its e-book contracts and e-book access and services for public of platforms, interfaces, e-readers, and can use the results to create a model library users, the principles, vendor formats that publishers and vendors contract for the library. For example, one assessments, and vendor product are delivering or supporting. Elements question deals with integration, asking evaluation form have applicability such as pricing models, lending terms, the library to rank, on a 5-point scale, the across many library types. The vendors interlibrary loan policies, customization publisher’s terms, in which 1 indicates covered include some of interest to features, usage statistics, and privacy no support for integration with the law libraries, e.g., EBSCO eBooks, OverDrive, and ProQuest ebrary. considerations are still evolving, and library’s catalog and 5 indicates that all The product evaluation form is no single business model fits all types e-book content is easily integrated into divided into seven parts: general of libraries. the library’s catalog. Each element in the scorecard includes an explanation terms and conditions, item metadata, As law libraries acquire more digital of the issue, allowing the library to circulation transactions, patron account content in the form of e-books, it evaluate the importance of the element information, patron notifications, is important to pay attention to (for creating a model contract) or how e-content format, and administrative developments in standards, licensing, the publisher’s terms rank on the scale. reporting and support. Libraries will be and delivery models. Here are two The Scorecard is an important new tool able to use this evaluation form to rate new and important initiatives that all that libraries can use or expand on when other vendors or products specific to librarians should be following. assessing new digital content offers. their collections. The ReadersFirst Guide is a collaborative project created by a group of people representing nearly 300 library systems and dedicated to overcoming the challenges of providing open and easy access to e-books.