The Wave of the Present

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Volume 5 No. 7 April 2001

Partnership

Also:

• Planning: A Practicum • Trends in Legal Education • Internet Filtering

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Seeking Nominations for the Year 2001 Spirit of Law Librarianship Award AALL Spectrum (ISSN: 1089–8689) is published monthly except January and August by the American Association of Law Each year the Spirit of Law The award, established by Roy Libraries, 53 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite Librarianship Award Committee Mersky (Tarlton Law Library, The 940, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Telephone: selects a law librarian to honor for University of Texas at Austin, School 312/939–4764, fax: 312/431–1097, his or her special service to the of Law) and Richard Leiter (Schmid e–mail: [email protected]. Periodicals postage community. Please nominate a Law Library, University of Nebraska paid at Chicago, IL. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AALL Spectrum, 53 W. worthy individual for the year 2001 College of Law), was created Jackson Blvd., Suite 940, Chicago, IL 60604 award to help us recognize those to give special recognition to special law librarians who, using individual law librarians who might Writers wanted—contribute to your their law library skills, have made a not otherwise be recognized by Association’s magazine! For guidelines, visit meaningful contribution to a social their peers for their important work. www.aallnet.org or contact the AALL Spectrum concern. The Committee believes The award was established in guest editor Ruth Fraley at [email protected]. that law librarians who use their lieu of accepting royalties from skills in this capacity benefit not only their book, The Spirit of Law AALL Spectrum Deadlines the recipients of their hard work Librarianship, published in 1991 by Articles are due on the following dates: but also the profession as a whole the Fred B. Rothman Company (now 2001 Issue Deadline through their example of service. a division of the Wm. S. Hein & Vol. 5, No. 8 May March 29 Co., Inc.). The award is presented No. 9 June April 26 Past recipients of the award have to the recipient at a reception at No. 10 July May 24 been: AALL’s Annual Meeting. The award Copy sent through a columnist or guest editor • Wes Daniels, for his work committee consists of Professors should be submitted to him or her well in in establishing a resource Mersky and Leiter, Richard Spinelli advance of the monthly deadline. center for legal work on (Hein Company), and the immediate behalf of the homeless past award recipient (members AALLNET: http://www.aallnet.org of the SCALL Inner City Youth • Jesse L. Matthews, for her Program). work developing the Patient Advertising Representatives Learning Resource Center An award will be given only Benson, Coffee & Associates at the Magee Rehabilitation when an outstanding individual is 1411 Peterson Avenue nominated. In its nine-year history, Park Ridge, Illinois 60068 Hospital in Philadelphia Telephone: 847/692–4695 there has only been one year • deanna harragarra waters, when an award has not been given fax: 847/692–3877 for her work with the Native e-mail: [email protected] because a worthy nominee was American Rights Fund not brought to the committee’s AALL Spectrum is a free benefit of membership libraries attention. The committee encourages in the American Association of Law Libraries. • Frank Liu, for his work with nominations from anyone with $44 of each year’s dues is for one year of U.S.-Chinese academic information about individuals AALL Spectrum. Nonmembers may subscribe exchange programs and who might fit the profile of an to AALL Spectrum for $75 per year. For award recipient. Please help us to membership and/or subscription information, in the Chinese American recognize the special people who please contact the American Association of community Law Libraries at the address above. represent a special dimension of • Mickie Voges, for her work the Spirit of Law Librarianship. with the ExTEND program The American Association of Law Libraries To make a nomination, please does not assume any responsibility for the at IIT Chicago-Kent College contact: Roy Mersky (Professor, statements advanced by the contributors to, of Law Tarlton Law Library, University nor the advertisers in, the Association’s • David Gunn, for his work publication. Editorial views do not necessarily of Texas, 727 East Dean Keeton with Recording for the represent the official position of the Street, Austin, Texas 78705; Association. All advertising copy is subject Blind and Dyslexic (Austin, 512/471-7735; fax 512/471- to editorial approval. ∞ AALL Spectrum is Texas Unit) 8398; [email protected]. printed on acid–free, recycled paper. • Marvin Anderson, for his edu) or Richard Leiter (Professor, Schmid Law Library, University of All contents copyright 2001 by the American work with the “Everybody Association of Law Libraries, except where otherwise Wins” reading program Nebraska College of Law, P.O. expressly indicated. Except as otherwise expressly at the Benjamin E. Mays Box 830902, Lincoln, Nebraska provided, the author of each item in this issue has 68583-0902; 402/472-3547; fax granted permission for copies of that item to be made Magnet School in St. Paul, for classroom use or for any other educational purpose, Minnesota 402/472-8260; [email protected]). provided that (1) copies are distributed at or below cost, (2) author and AALL Spectrum are identified, and • SCALL Inner City Youth (3) proper notice of copyright is affixed to each copy. For items in which it holds copyright, the American Program Committee for Association of Law Libraries grants permission for its work with inner-city copies to be made for classroom use or for any other youth in Los Angeles. educational purpose under the same conditions. 1 68562 AALL Spectrum.Apr 4/6/01 2:58 PM Page 2

Volume 5 Number 7 April 2001 [ FEATURES] Partnership: The Wave of the Present 4 by Constance P. Dickson Perspectives Who Are You? Or, Do Job Titles Matter? 6 by Susannah Crego Professional Development Committee Series Internet Filtering in the Workplace 10 by Ruth A. Fraley Members’ Briefing Trends and Challenges in Legal Education 15 by Mary Kay Kane Public Relations Show Your Stuff 26 by Sue Burch Planning: A Practicum for Busy Librarians 28 by Marnie Marie Warner Shop, Eat, and Shop Some More 30 by Donna Trimble Chair Wars 31 by Betsy McKenzie [ COLUMNS] Membership News 9 Committee News 12 Washington Brief 14 Chapter News 19 Placement Listings 20 Special Interest Section News 24 [ DEPARTMENTS] Announcements Spirit of Law Librarianship Award 1 Two New Committees Formed 8 Make the Connection 23 Ad Index 22 Classifieds 22 Professional Development Calendar 24 2 68562 AALL Spectrum.Apr 4/6/01 2:59 PM Page 4

NewRealities by Constance P. Dickson NewRoles

This, the third in a series of articles highlighting 2001 AALL Annual Meeting programs, focuses on six offerings under the banner of “Partnership.” These programs feature a diverse number of partnerships in which librarians have been involved. Public libraries and librarians have a long-standing and well-deserved reputation for providing community support through partnering with local businesses. As community activists, they are well known for their success in working with state and local officials to develop programs that assist patrons in areas such as welfare-to- work, family literacy, and children’s education. In the ‘90s, when public library budgets were slashed, public libraries worked with community organizations, businesses, and volunteers to obtain computers and related equipment to introduce the Internet to their patrons. Mortenson Center to help establish training through the murky transition from print to Some public libraries called upon patrons centers for librarians in Central America. electronic information. The issues to be to volunteer expertise in wiring their old discussed include determining the Libraries are not the only organizations buildings to accomplish this. organization ultimately responsible for engaged in partnering endeavors. safeguarding this information, electronic U.S. airlines are working with foreign Academic libraries have partnered with preservation, and funding. organizations to assist first-time voters and carriers to provide expanded routes for immigrants in such programs as Project their customers. McDonald’s developed a “New Roles for Law Librarians in Vote Smart. Factiva and the Special reading program for children, “Check It Applying the ADA: Services for Libraries Association have partnered to Out,” to encourage kids to read during Disabled Patrons and Staff.” develop new products for their users. summer vacations. McDonald’s first This program will describe the issues Bioline International, an electronic partnership with public libraries became that must be addressed when providing so popular that police athletic leagues services to disabled patrons and the and the Boy and Girl Scouts of America means by which employers safeguard have signed on. their businesses while adhering to the law. Librarians with expertise in providing Programs services will also present an overview of Sunday, July 15 how far we have come in servicing the disabled, and how much is left to be “New Opportunities through accomplished. Collaboration: The Minnesota Model.” In Minnesota, the Capitol Area Library Tuesday, July 17 Consortium (CALCO) has a long and successful history in obtaining grants “Who Ya Gonna Call? Librarian Liaison for funding basic library programs, in Legal Publishing.” such as cataloging and bar coding, and Librarians are always ready to share in developing a shared federal depository another horrendous story about their publishing service, began a collaborative program. CALCO members will describe latest dealings with legal and non-legal initiative with the University of Toronto their experiences and expertise in publishers (as they are with librarians!). Libraries and three other publishers to collaboration in this program. This symbiotic relationship has its ups and make scientific journals available online downs, but we all recognize that we are without cost to developing countries. “Preserving Government Electronic “joined at the hip.” The latest development Brodart and Syndetic Solutions are sharing Information. Whose Job Is It?” among publishers is the “librarian liaison,” resources and partnering to provide Representatives of the National Archives frequently a former law librarian who joins bibliographic enhancement services. and the Government Printing Office and a publisher in the hopes of making life Foundations such as Soros and Mellon librarians from depository libraries will smoother for both sides. Sponsored by the provide grants to such organizations as the discuss the struggle of depository libraries Committee on Relations with Information

Partnership: The Wave of the Present!!

Vendors (CRIV), this program features a concluding with tools to customize the dynamic follower is, when it is most panel composed of these law librarians, proposal. This is not only a description of appropriate to lead and when to follow— who will describe their goals, how they a librarian’s client development efforts and how to know when to do either— hope to facilitate communication, and how but also a primer on promoting the library will be addressed by ballroom dance librarians can maximize their influence through the marketing department. professionals, who will demonstrate correct with publishers. and incorrect leading and following. Wednesday, July 18 “Perfect Partners: Teaming up with These six programs are of interest to the Marketing Department for Effective “Two to Tango: The Following Part of everyone attending the Annual Meeting in Client Proposals.” Leading in Library Partnerships.” Minneapolis. Schedule time to develop Partnerships within library institutions are This program looks at the roles librarians your partnership skills and hone your another source of expanding services. It is play in interacting and developing outreach talents. important for librarians to reach beyond partnerships with other departments within Constance P. Dickson (cdickson the walls of their library areas to work the organization. Although librarians are @gdclaw.com), Library and Records with other departments. This program, an usually urged to get out in front of the Manager at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP, entertaining “passion play in three scenes,” parade, lead the way, and be innovative in Washington, D.C., is a member of the provides guidance on how to work with the and proactive, there is also a role for the 2001 Annual Meeting Program Committee. marketing department through the gathering follower, who can be crucial in the success of information on the prospective client, of a project. The question of what a

bernan pick up feb #67468 pg. 18

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P ERSPECTIVES: A Members’ Forum

connotes a lot—both the level (director But what about law firm staff that do vs. manager) as well as the qualifier not fit within the clearly recognizable (“business development” vs. “marketing”). administrative departments? Does a title matter? One of the hottest titles today in law firm marketing departments is “chief One example of people who do not fit marketing officer.” The CMO is the highest within traditional law firm administrative level marketing professional in the law staff are lawyer-writers. Often unknown firm. Increasingly firms will hire a CMO within their own law firms, many people and then hire marketing directors for the with law degrees and bar admissions toil various office locations. According to as brief writers, newsletter editors, ghost Linda Sedloff Orton (president, Intelligent writers, and researchers. Whether they Marketing Solutions) whose placement are working on the firm’s intranet, Web firm focuses on senior level marketing site, seminars, or client alerts, they need placements in the legal industry, the to be identified with a title. What should “Perspectives” is a new designation of CMO implies a more it be? section in AALL Spectrum. strategic role but, she adds, “what the One lawyer-writer, Jill Westmoreland (Loeb It will serve as a members’ firms do with these 300,000 people & Loeb, New York City), is an associate forum and will include remains to be seen.” articles on issues of at her firm. She produces white papers, concern to the profession. A person’s title, however, according to client alerts, manages articles and link Orton, is only one piece of the pie. “Titles pages for the firm’s Web site, and places count up to a point, however, what you do articles, in coordination with the marketing with your position is what matters most.” department, in various publications. Westmoreland does not draw as much Who Are You? Lee R. Nemchek (information resources salary as her fellow associates, but her manager, Morrison & Foerster, LLP, in Or, Do Job hours are manageable and she calls it Los Angeles), compiler of the Directory of Titles Matter? “the perfect day job.” Jill Westmoreland’s Multitasking Librarians, would agree status, however, is derived from her that the same is true by Susannah Crego firm’s commitment to the position. for librarians and As was pointed out in an article Chief Marketing Officer. Director of information in the New York Law Journal Information Services. Associate. Librarian. professionals. “Title by her boss, James Taylor, a Editor. Which would you rather be? is not as important as partner at Loeb & Loeb, Does it matter? job description,” “We’ve empowered this says Nemchek. Law firms, large and small, are populated position and we’ve The directory of with attorneys and staff. Attorneys, be they empowered Jill.” associates or partners, are recognizable. 87 information They are sometimes referred to by staff professionals includes Other lawyer-writers as “my attorney.” (Used as “my attorney such titles as “director of work in law firm marketing needs this NOW.”) Attorneys may share information services,“ departments or libraries. in the profits of the firm or they may hope “information resources Without the appellation to share those profits someday. manager,“ and “manager of “attorney” or “associate,” competitive knowledge.” These these people may have little Staff, on the other hand, are often referred titles reflect the fact that the status and power. Because to as “non-professionals” or “non-lawyers.” professionals do more than act as the they are usually the only one of their kind These “non” people may be out on a mail firm’s librarian. As multitaskers, they may in their firms, they often feel that they are run or negotiating a multimillion-dollar implement policy firmwide and supervise unique and alone. Most important, they contract with an IT supplier. more than one department. The job have no benchmarks for negotiating Staff can be differentiated by job title. description is what gives the position its salaries or benefits. They have no career A title can define a staff member within a value, both within the firm and outside ladder and no opportunities for networking law firm and outside of the firm. A title can the firm, says Nemchek. with their peers and may feel that they are unable to leave their firms because they affect everything—from whether the staff Some law firms use titles as a means of are not marketable themselves. member has business cards and can attend recognizing contributions. James D. Jordan out-of-town seminars to whether the staff (Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, PC, Dallas) The title of “attorney” or “associate” or member can command a high salary in reports that his firm shifted to corporate- “research attorney” would fix most of the job market. type titles years ago for the administrative the problems the lawyer-writer encounters. Do titles matter when the staff member is staff. Jordan’s title of chief executive officer Identifying themselves as an associate with a marketing professional? Sally Schmidt and chairman of the board is but one a firm will often result in faster (and more (president, Schmidt Marketing, Inc., of the corporate-type titles employed at positive) callbacks from publishers when Burnsville, Minnesota) says that the title the firm. they are attempting to place articles. 6 AALL Spectrum April 2001 (continued on page 23) © 2001 Susannah Crego 68562 AALL Spectrum.Apr 4/6/01 2:59 PM Page 8

In preparing its report, the • set standards and guidelines for Special Committee should the organization and delivery of review the current and information and services in an anticipated changes in legal evolving print and electronic legal publishing, the availability environment; of legal and law-related • develop standards for virtual law information through libraries; and, alternative sources, such as the World Wide Web, • create and promote models for high and the development of new quality law libraries in the courts, mechanisms for the delivery public law libraries, law firms, law of library and information schools, and other organizations. services to lawyers, law New Committees Formed students, judges, and other The appointment of this Special Committee law library clients. Members is intended to begin this work. To the should also consider issues extent that the Special Committee does Special Committee on the Future of preservation, permanence not address all of these matters in its of the legal record, and report, it should make a recommendation 2of Law Libraries in the Digital Age to the Board about what the Association authentication of legal documents. The Committee should do next to address these issues. should review the existing Members of the Special Committee AALL President Robert Oakley is literature and consult with colleagues include: appointing a Special Committee on the representing different parts of the Future of Law Libraries in the Digital Age. profession, including readers services, Margie Axtmann, University The Committee is composed of seven technical services, foreign, comparative of Minnesota members, including the chair. Committee and international law librarians. Gregory Lambert, Oklahoma members are representative of each of Supreme Court the three major types of libraries in the The Committee is asked to begin its work Nina Platt, Faegre & Benson, LLP Association, and the Committee is asked immediately, to submit an interim report Rita Reusch, University of Utah to consider the issues from each of those to the Board for the Board meeting in Michael St. Onge, LEXIS-NEXIS perspectives, including law firms and November 2001 (the report will be due to Gail Warren, Virginia State Law corporate legal departments; federal and Headquarters by about October 1), and to library state courts and other public agencies; prepare a final report by June 2002, in Sandra Gold (Chair), Lord Bissell and law schools. time for the July Board meeting. The final & Brook report may be published in Law Library Charge to the Committee Journal, AALL Spectrum, or as an entirely separate publication. New Price Index for The Special Committee on the Future of Legal Publications Law Libraries in the Digital Age is charged Background to consider the implications of electronic President Bob Oakley announced the team publishing for the future of law libraries As libraries have incorporated more and to create and publish a new Price Index and to prepare a report examining the more electronic sources into their service for Legal Publications. issues and outlining different scenarios or programs, some fundamental changes Anne Poulter will be the editor of the models to describe the law library of the have begun to occur. Some libraries are publication and, for the first year, will future. In preparing its report, the Special reducing their levels of duplication, many chair the advisory committee. The advisory Committee should think about such things are downsizing by eliminating titles that committee itself will consist of: as library content, including the relative can be easily found elsewhere, and some balance between print and electronic are shifting almost entirely to a reliance Anne Poulter, William Mitchell (Editor sources, library staffing and staff roles, on the electronic sources. What do these and Chair of the Committee for the library services, and any other issues or changes mean for the future of law first year) standards that might seem appropriate. libraries and law librarians? What will the Mae Clark, University of Florida At least one such model or scenario should law library of the future look like? What Betty Roeske, Katten Muchin Zavis be for an all-electronic or virtual law will the law librarian of the future do? Ken Svengalis, Rhode Island State library. If appropriate, the Committee might President Oakley and many other law Law Library develop a set of draft standards for the librarians believe that even if the nature Sara Galligan, Dakota Co. Law law library of the future and for the of the law library changes, the need for Library delivery of information and services in this law librarians will remain. In its current Richard Vaughan, Indiana University new environment. The Committee should strategic plan, “Leadership for the 21st Jan Novak, Cleveland Law Library consider the impact that the roles or Century: New Realities, Changing Roles,” Association missions for different types of libraries will the Association identified this issue as the Mary Lou Calvin, Warner Norcross play in their respective futures and develop very first objective. Outcome 1A of the & Judd models and/or standards that will reflect plan states that “law librarians will Janeen Heath, Munsch Hardt Kopfhorr those differences. determine the evolution of virtual and & Dinan physical law libraries.” Initiatives under it call upon the Association to: The group is planning a kickoff meeting in Chicago sometime this spring and the work will get underway soon thereafter. 8 AALL Spectrum April 2001 68562 AALL Spectrum.Apr 4/6/01 2:59 PM Page 9

Membership News by Beth Smith

New Librarians Melodie Frances is the Systems Lois Calvert (Supreme Court Librarian, Marina Bacchetti is the new Librarian at the Golden Gate University Colorado Supreme Court Library, Denver, Acquisitions/Government Documents Law Library. Melodie had been the Colorado) and Mary Louise Clifton Librarian at the Golden Gate University library’s Head of Technical Services. (Law Librarian, Brownstein Hyatt & Farber, Denver, Colorado) presented the “Books or Law Library in San Francisco, California. Maryanne Gerber is Electronic Services Bytes?” portion of the CLE of Colorado Marina received her MLIS from San Jose Librarian at the Golden Gate University program “Hanging Your Shingle.” State University. Law Library. Maryanne previously worked Roy Balleste is the new Reference/ for both WESTLAW and FindLaw. Michael Daw (Head of Reference, Golden Gate University Law Library, Electronic Services Librarian at the Nova Elizabeth Labedz is now the Head San Francisco) and Maryanne Gerber Southeastern University Law Library in Fort Librarian at the Boston office of Kirkpatrick (Electronic Services Librarian, Golden Gate Lauderdale, Florida. Roy has a JD from & Lockhart. Elizabeth had been the University Law Library) are teaching an St. Thomas University and is working on Librarian at Partridge Snow & Hahn in advanced legal “e-research” class to his MLS from the University of South Providence, Rhode Island. Florida. second- and third-year law students this Leslie LaCount was promoted from spring. Michael Yockey is the new Technical Reference Librarian to Technical Services Jessica Hogan (Electronic Resources Services Librarian at the Golden Gate Librarian of the Orange County Public Specialist, University of Denver Law University Law Library. Michael’s MLIS Law Library in Santa Ana, California. is from the University at California at Library, Denver, Colorado) participated Berkeley. Michael Saint-Onge has relocated in a question-and-answer session for a from San Francisco to Los Angeles. group of Colorado state legislators in New Places and Responsibilities Michael is still a Librarian Relations January. She was invited by the Colorado Consultant for LEXIS-NEXIS. Governor’s Office of Innovation and Tom Adamich is now Cataloger at Technology to demonstrate various new the Stetson University Law Library in Barbara Traub has been promoted from technologies that the University of Denver St. Petersburg, Florida. Tom had been Reference Librarian to Head of Reference College of Law has integrated into the President of Visiting Librarian Service, Services at the St. John’s University Law curriculum, including creating faculty Web a library project service based in New Library in Jamaica, New York. pages using FrontPage, Blackboard, and Philadelphia, Ohio, District Librarian of the The West Education Network (TWEN). Indian Valley School District, and Director Susan Tulis is Government Information of the Claymont School District Public Librarian at Southern Illinois University’s Sarah Hooke Lee (Associate Dean for Library in Ohio (all at the same time). Morris Library in Carbondale, Illinois. the Law Library, Golden Gate University Susan had been the Government School of Law, San Francisco, California) Rhea Ballard-Thrower is Director of Documents Librarian at the University has been appointed to teach Property I, the Howard University Law Library in of Virginia Law Library. a four-credit course for first-year students. Washington, D.C. Rhea had been the Associate Director at the Georgia State Professional Activities Bill Manz (Senior Research Librarian, University Law Library in Atlanta. David Bender (Librarian, William D. St. John’s University Law Library, Jamaica, New York) published The Question Scott Childs is Assistant Director for Block Memorial Law Library, Nineteenth Presented—Model Appellate Briefs (with Research and User Services at the Judicial Circuit, Waukegan, Illinois) has Maria L. Ciampi); Guide to State University of North Carolina Law Library been named Special Librarian of the Legislative and Administrative Materials; in Chapel Hill. Scott had been the Head of Year by the North Suburban Library System and “Internet Web Sites Offer Access to Reference at the Louisiana State University of Illinois. The North Suburban Library Less Expensive Case Law and Materials Law Library in Baton Rouge. System is a consortium of over six hundred public, academic, school, and special Not Offered Commercially,” published in Michael Daw is now the Head of libraries in northern Cook, Lake, McHenry, the November/December 2000 issue of Reference/International Law Librarian at and Kane Counties. The award is given in the New York State Bar Journal. the Golden Gate University Law Library recognition of exceptional contribution to Compiled and edited by Beth Smith, Assistant in San Francisco, California. Michael the NSLS and the member libraries. Director/Head of Public Services, Arizona State had been the library’s Electronic Services University Law Library, Tempe, Arizona 85287-7806 • 480/965-4871 • fax: 480/965-4283 • Librarian. [email protected]

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Internet Filtering in the Workplace

Professional Perspectives—Tools and Techniques of the Trade. The Professional Development Committee encourages members to continue to explore topics after presentations at the local, regional, and national levels. We welcome your comments and article suggestions. Please contact Susan Siebers at 312/902-5675 or [email protected].

Filtering is a divisive topic for libraries. they know nothing about technology. categories. The knee-jerk reaction: install a Public and school libraries have been These people, when confronted with any filter and assume the problem will go dealing with the issue in print materials question that may involve a computer, will away. This form of decision-making does for a long time. Attempts to ban books blindly follow any technology department not involve speaking to the employees to For remove them from library shelves are suggestion without understanding the determine if they are accessing non-work- ongoing. Print book removal usually process or recognizing the potential related sites. involves one title. When the practice loss of efficiency in other parts of the There are instances when the employee moves to the Internet, it becomes an issue organization. The technology people, on was confronted by the supervisor and involving a lot of information. The issue the other hand, do not understand all the asked about accessing non-work-related is emotional. Jobs have been lost, careers information needs in the organization, nor sites. The employee admitted that he/she ruined, and communities polarized should they. Their responsibilities to keep was accessing these sites and was directed since the appearance of the Internet and networks and hardware running are time to stop. Assurances were given that it Internet filters. Librarians have gone consuming and require special expertise. would not occur again. It did, and the from defending against moves to take Library and Information department staff incident was used as part of the filtering a book off the shelves to defending are responsible for content. These decision. The option of having the access to the broad spectrum of materials responsibilities are also time consuming employee closely supervised or limiting on the Internet. The ALA Freedom of and require special expertise. Technology access on one workstation was not Information Office is busy providing departments usually do not share with considered. Each case of perceived assistance to librarians and working to library staff the plethora of reports about abuse must be handled individually address the issue at the national level. Internet use by employees. Filtering because employee information needs AALL has joined ALA in selected proposals frequently come from the differ. The justification for filtering an circumstances on the national level. It Technology Department’s interpretation of entire organization is hard to understand is clear that filtering is an issue in law the reports. Technology proposes filtering in courts and law firms, where cases libraries. As is typical for librarians, there to help the organization handle apparent involve sexual deviance, violence, is not a complete consensus on the issue. inappropriate use of the Internet by gambling, murder, torture, and other American Libraries lists libraries that employees. offensive behavior. Clearly those working have accepted filtering as well as those Detailed reporting about the use of the directly with case information in these individual librarians fighting attempts to Net by employees is a routine matter. organizations should not be filtered. install filtering programs. Academic and Reports are based on the same elements as Concern about potential liability and/or law firm libraries are rarely involved in those in Internet filtering software. The poor publicity is being used as a tool to filtering issues at this time. Corporate, reports do not usually detail the specific avoid dealing with the real issues. Internet government, and some firm libraries are sites accessed by each employee, a filtering is a facile solution to a complex beginning to face filtering as networks breakdown of specific sites in each problem. with ports for access to the Internet category, or a list of metadata or key become more prevalent. If selected factoids are used in the words that are the basis for categorizing decision-making process, it is possible There are two steps involved in installing sites. In most organizations, an additional to see where a decision to filter could be an Internet filter. The first is the decision full time department would be required to viewed as the optimal choice. The Internet to install the filter. This decision is review all the sites accessed, make a has become a commercial venture. The problematic, especially when there is no determination about the appropriateness, following facts, based on commercial discussion within the organization prior and create and maintain categories. It is needs, have been widely distributed: to installing the filter. In these situations, not realistic or cost-efficient to set up a Nielson/NetRatings found that U.S. misunderstandings are created and department. Instead, someone buried in a Internet users spend more than twice as morale and productivity suffer. Part of the software company, whose qualifications much time online at work as they do at problem lies in the perceived or de facto are unknown, uses secret criteria to home even though they make up less that separation of libraries and technology determine which sites deal with sex, half of the cyber population. Financial departments. Top management with shopping, gambling, and so on. For some sites reach more work users, who spend inadequate communication and limited reason, all the carefully worked out nearly double the amount online as home management skills will usually approve policies about information and users. Shopping sites reached 18% more filtering as a reaction to a report or communication are put to one side when users in the workplace than at home. specific problem. This is especially true management is presented a list of MSNBC reported that one in five men and when the top managers are convinced employees accessing “inappropriate” one in eight women admitted using their

by Ruth A. Fraley

A Desktop Learning Opportunity

work computers as their primary lifeline has a policy of monitoring e-mail or software to reduce the instances of errors to access sexually explicit material online. telephone calls, the employee should due to blocked information. Work with Greenfield Online reports that 9% of not expect to be successful challenging the technology department to modify employees earning under 35K surf the the filter. block lists and add specific sites to the Net for a new job and 11% of workers access lists quickly and effectively. The Some corporations install filters in a earning 75K–100K do the same. The top arrangement works best when there is a reverse manner. The Internet is installed three word searches on the Internet as cooperative relationship between the but access is limited to “acceptable reported by www.wordtracker.com are library and the technology department. sites.” Instead of blocking, the issue is MP3, sex, and hotmail. Librarians It works when technology recognizes it identification of sites to be added. The involved in discussions on filtering does not need to spend time on content difficulties in this approach are evident. should be prepared to address these and the library relies on technology It is not likely that any human or robot factoids in relation to local information for hardware and network support. will be able to identify all the “acceptable needs. They should check business Librarians identify blocked sites and sites” from the millions of sites on the literature for the latest discussion and words that create problems for workflow Net. The changing nature of the Net and generalizations about employee use of and the technology department changes the fact that the best search engines can the Internet at the workplace. the blocked list to permit access to review only a portion of the sites mean these locations. Again, the librarians are When the policy is open to discussion that employees are probably missing concerned with information content and before implementation, it is possible to information that could help them do technology is concerned with information make a presentation to provide a balanced their jobs. tools. It can work. picture for decision makers. In one Employer liability is another factor in instance, the librarians gathered To bring about change and focus on the filtering world. Since filtering broad information about all the errors involved the need for action, librarians need to ranges of information based on unknown in filtering. They worked through an gather information and use succinct criteria is comparatively new, caselaw is organization structure that supported reports to encourage organization-wide scarce. Each day laws at all levels of informed decision-making. The librarians management discussions. Anyone can government change. Existing caselaw were successful in stopping Internet “test” the software used for filtering (at this point at the Circuit or state level) filtering because they knew the and find egregious errors. Visit identifies a filter as a proactive step. The organization and how to create an www.peacefire.org. This site has a daily rationale is that criminal liability generally effective presentation. report of sites blocked as well as detailed focuses on the employee’s intent. information about the search software Some organizations require employees Negligent policing on the part of the used in filtering programs. On the day to review monthly telephone bills and employer can give rise to civil liability in this article was written, the blocked site of provide reimbursement for any personal areas such as intellectual property the day was “The Ontario Center for calls. Long-distance lines are limited infringement (patents, copyright, Religious Tolerance.” The Peacefire site is to one or two telephones and logs are trademarks), discrimination, or sexual up to date and explains a lot of the maintained. Mail may be opened, even harassment. Any presentation against activity in the filtering world. For if marked “personal.” In government, filtering should offer alternatives that help example, hotmail blocked all messages lists of files in desks and cabinets are the company address liability issues. from members to the Peacefire site for maintained to comply with the Freedom of Policies, changes in requirements for approximately two months. E-mail sent to Information Act. A citizen or anyone who supervisors, employee education and peacefire by hotmail members was files the appropriate forms can examine training, and alterations in dismissal returned with a message that the site was the files. Government librarians will policies are potential activities to protect not accessible. Internet users should try to recognize the reduced “expectations of an employer. access sites that return a “site not privacy” because they are in public If the decision is a fait accompli and the available” message on another system not service. This expectation may have a filter exists, the second step in the process on the Network. The site may be blocked legal impact if the issue of filtering should begin. What is being filtered? due to filters. Almost every stop list goes to litigation. What criteria are being used to block contains many words necessary for legal Caselaw is scarce on the topic. Many firms access? Working closely with the research.Filters do not think; they rely on monitor employee e-mail and Internet technology department, some mechanism pattern recognition; errors are inevitable. access. Government entities must pay should be identified that will permit In Criminal and Family work, for attention to the Fourth Amendment’s employees access to the information example, the courts have been known to search and seizure provisions. O’Connor v. they need. deal with questions of rape, incest, child Ortega (480 U.S.709 [1987]) addressed pornography, deviant sexual acts, and Librarians can adjust the impact of the question of government employees’ other topics that will not pass a filter. filtering by working with the technology expectations of privacy. The expectation of department. It is technically possible and privacy is influenced by activities already (continued on page 21) relatively easy to modify the filtering in place in the organization. If a company AALL Spectrum April 2001 11 68562 AALL Spectrum.Apr 4/6/01 2:59 PM Page 12

Committee News by Patricia Wellinger

Government Relations The Committee is preparing a nomination When you visit a government Web site The Government Relations Committee for this year’s Public Access to Government in search of a bill, law, court opinion, (GRC) continues to monitor federal and Information (PAGI) Award, which regulation, executive order, attorney state issues that affect law libraries, such recognizes an individual or organization general opinion, administrative decision, as legislation to protect databases, reports, that has made a significant contribution or other legal document, how do you and proposals by the U.S. National to promoting or providing greater access judge its quality and trustworthiness? What Commission on Libraries and Information to government information. features determine its usefulness? What are the essential elements every good legal Science (NCLIS), and the Uniform Please visit the AALL Washington Affairs Web site should possess? Computer Information Transactions Act Online for more detailed information about (UCITA). GRC members serve as liaisons to current activities of the GRC. Law librarians are expert users of legal local AALL Chapters to keep them updated information. Your comments, opinions, Submitted by Bobbie Denny on the issues and get feedback on what is and suggestions on the necessary happening in the states. GRC greatly Access to Electronic Legal characteristics of legal information on appreciates all the hard work of AALL the Web are important. Please send Information members, without whom the Committee them to Cheryl Nyberg would be much less effective. What qualities and characteristics ([email protected]). distinguish a great legal Web site? The GRC recently revised the Association’s Committee is engaged in revising the Submitted by Cheryl Nyberg Government Relations Policy for the first criteria for evaluating legal Web sites (see time in more than five years and submitted Compiled and edited by Patricia Wellinger, www.aallnet.org/committee/aelic/criteria. University of Denver, Westminster Law Library, it to the Executive Board for consideration html) and would like to know what other 1900 Olive St., Denver, CO 80220 • 303/871-6479 at its next meeting. • fax: 303/871-6999 • [email protected] AALL members think about this topic.

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Washington Brief by Mary Alice Baish

February 22, 2001 the tensions between new online services consumer, civil liberties, educational, S. Res. 21 and the need to protect intellectual property library, and labor organizations that rights. He signaled as his top priorities: was unveiled on February 12, 2001, In true bipartisan spirit that will hopefully distance education; database protection during a well-attended National Press Club bode well for passage, Senator John “while at the same time providing libraries, event. The formation of this new coalition McCain (R--AZ), joined by Senators Patrick educational institutions, and other users recognizes that privacy is one of the major J. Leahy (D--VT), Joseph L. Lieberman with the clarity they need as to what social issues of the information society (D-CT), and Trent Lott (R-MS), introduced constitutes fair use”; and federal protection and the top technology issue for the 107th the Congressional Openness Resolution for intellectual property to guard against Congress. The first action of the coalition (S. Res. 21) on February 14, 2001. infringement by the states. Until now, the was to issue a “Privacy Pledge” for S. Res. 21 directs the Sergeant-at-Arms push for database legislation has been legislators to sign. The pledge would set a to make available through the Internet limited to the House. While both Senators standard for privacy proposals in Congress Congressional Research Service (CRS) mentioned database protection among by outlining the necessary future steps to publications, Senate lobbying and gift the committee’s priorities, their comments protect privacy (http://www.ll.georgetown. report filings, and Senate and Joint reflect an awareness of the library and edu/aallwash/lt02122001.html). Over committee documents. CRS reports and educational concerns with this new form twenty privacy bills have been introduced issue briefs include some of the most of protection and the need to achieve in Congress since January. To learn more valuable research by the government and, balance in any database legislation. about them, visit the bill-tracking component although they are posted online, access is of the Electronic Privacy Information limited to congressional offices. (Paper AALL Comments on Privacy Center’s Web site (http://www.epic.org/ copies are generally available through and Court Filings privacy/bill_track.html). request to a member of Congress.) AALL submitted comments to the Judiciary S. Res. 21 would make some 2,800 UCITA Update CRS publications available online in a Conference on January 26, 2001, searchable database. In addition, publicly regarding its inquiry into the privacy and The current battleground states for the available committee information—including security implications of providing broad Uniform Computer Information Transactions bills, reports, and transcripts of committee public access to electronic case files Act are now Arizona (H.B. 2041) and meetings that are open to the public— (http://www.ll.georgetown.edu/aallwash/ Texas (S.B. 709/H.B. 1785), although would also become available on the lt01262001.html). The Judiciary is it is likely to be introduced shortly in Internet. AALL fully supports this effort, justifiably concerned about how to balance Florida, Maine, Oregon, Wisconsin, and but we need your help to get many more electronic public access to these files with Washington state. In Texas, the Senate cosponsors to S. Res. 21 because a few the need to protect individuals from harm sponsor has signaled his intention not to act key members of the Senate oppose it. For that may result from broad public access to on the legislation this year but instead to more specific information, please refer to personal identifying information. Personal initiate a comprehensive study. The AFFECT the AALL Action Alert (http://www.ll. harm to individuals may occur when coalition has been very effective in both georgetown.edu/aallwash/aa022001.html) commercial entities collect and aggregate states in pointing out the flaws and lack of and contact your Senators immediately a variety of publicly available personal balance in UCITA. In Texas, our business to urge them to cosponsor this important information into personal profiles that are coalition partners were able to get the resolution. sold for profit, or when publicly available Texas Association of Business and personal information leads to criminal Chambers of Commerce to oppose the Senate Judiciary Committee activity, such as identity theft or stalking. legislation, a very helpful aid to our efforts Agenda for the 107th Congress In its call for comments, the Judicial there. The sponsor of the bill in Arizona Conference noted the complexity of is also leaning towards tabling UCITA Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin G. Hatch these issues and proposed a variety of for now, given the broad spectrum of (R-UT) and Ranking Member Patrick J. alternatives specific to civil, criminal, opposition to it. The new AFFECT Web site, Leahy (D-VT) recently announced their joint bankruptcy, and appellate case files. with all you need to know about UCITA— High Technology and Intellectual Property Broad public electronic access to including state bill tracking and direct links agenda for the 107th Congress. Among bankruptcy case files involves the greatest to your legislators—has just been unveiled his priorities, Chairman Hatch listed threat to the misuse of personal identifying (http://www.4cite.org/). Be sure to privacy protection, distance education, information. We stated in our comments bookmark it and visit it often for updates. and the need “to protect collections of that the high risk of identity theft to commit data in a way that preserves incentives for fraud or other unlawful activities from NOCALL Pre-Institute Workshop the creation of databases without unduly unfettered public access to information on Legislative Advocacy hampering the free flow of information in common to bankruptcy case files—such as anticompetitive ways.” Hatch also warned The Government Relations Committees of Social Security numbers and bank account the music industry that, in the wake of the NOCALL, SCALL, and SANDALL and the and credit card information—outweighs the Napster decision, Congress may attempt to Council of California County Law Libraries public’s right to access this highly sensitive remedy the situation by taking away some are jointly sponsoring their first California information. of the industry’s copyright privileges in the Legislative Day. This well-timed effort coincides with the possible introduction of online world. Hatch warned that the “legal The Privacy Coalition victory for the record labels may prove UCITA in California and efforts to enact Pyrrhic or shortsighted from a policy AALL has joined the Privacy Coalition, a legislation for state funding of county law perspective.” Senator Leahy also noted new broad-based nonpartisan group of libraries. AALL President Robert Oakley

AALL Spectrum April 2001 14 (continued on page 19) 68562 AALL Memb. brief 4/6/01 3:02 PM Page 15

Trends: Legal Members’ Briefing Education

his month’s Member Briefing is the third in a three-part series Trends and Challenges in T on trends in the various kinds of organizations in which we work. The idea for this series grew out of AALL’s new Legal Education Strategic Plan. The Plan directs the By Mary Kay Kane Association to conduct the kind of review found in these Briefing on a periodic basis. Each area covered in a Briefing n the rapidly changing, fast-paced to distort applicants’ choices was written by a specialist from that area. world we live in, identifying trends, exacerbate this competition. Thus, The first Briefing, published in October except in the most general way, law schools now are engaged in what I 2000, discussed some of the trends is a somewhat risky endeavor. And are effectively massive advertising in the courts, especially state courts. forecasts of what the future may campaigns—whether to alert others The second, published in March hold may be even less reliable. With in the profession to the unique 2001, was about some of the major those realities confronting me when opportunities or programs they offer developments in the practice of law. This third Briefing is about some of the issues I agreed to write this short article, so as to improve their position in in legal education. It has been written by I thought that perhaps a more fruitful the various law-school ranking the dean at the University of California at way to approach the task would be to surveys or, more directly, to appeal to Hastings, Professor Mary Kay Kane. Ms. discuss some of the major pressures the applicants themselves. Although Kane is also the current president of the and challenges that law schools are those efforts may be deemed critical Association of American Law Schools. confronting today, as well as what to the very survival of some schools Like the authors of the other Briefings, appears to be some of the responses. and to the enhanced prestige of Kane covers a wide range of topics. Her The list necessarily is not exhaustive. others, the effect in either case is topics include composition of the student body, affirmative action, finances, student In some instances, it offers exciting to direct financial resources to debt, technology, internationalization of glimpses of what the future may developing school images and the curriculum, and faculty scholarship. hold; in others, there are portents outreach—resources that otherwise Taken altogether, these Member of trouble ahead “that need our might have been available for Briefings demonstrate that there are thoughtful attention. Shortness programmatic improvements. That significant changes underway—not just of space also allows only a brief is a substantial price to pay but in law libraries, which we all know— suggestion about many matters that reflective of the market economy but in all parts of the profession. These deserve their own in-depth analysis. today. The situation needs to be changes will affect what we do in ways both large and small. I hope you have But I hope that this brief article about examined critically within each found the series interesting and helpful. our current and future students, institution to ensure that the balance curriculum, and faculty will provoke does not become skewed. more serious reflections later. Even more fundamental to the future Students of legal education and of the legal profession itself are the various Law student trends and the challenges to affirmative action in challenges they pose for legal admissions that have been made in Robert L. Oakley education begin with admissions. numerous states across the country. President 2000–2001 Although the major decline in law- The importance of this issue cannot school applications has tapered off in be overstated. It influences our ability recent years, it remains true that to ensure that the legal profession there is only very limited growth in reflects the great diversity of our the nationwide applicant pool, with society. It also substantially affects no forecasts suggesting a stronger the ways in which law schools can picture. Yet new law schools are provide access to those whose opening every year. The result is disadvantaged backgrounds might that we are in an era of increased otherwise prevent them from being competition among law schools for able to acquire the traditional what is essentially a static pool of indicators of law school success— applicants. The ubiquitous law-school high LSAT scores and high rankings and the potential they have

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American Association 16 Members’ Briefing—AALL Spectrum, April 2001 of Law Libraries

Trends and Challenges continued from page 15

undergraduate GPAs. The responses to important area requiring attention study abroad, either in U.S. law school these challenges are many. They involve over the next several years. summer or semester abroad programs attempts to develop effective means focused on international/comparative Finally, no description of trends in the of explaining the value of diversity to studies or in student-exchange student population would be complete the educational process as well as programs in foreign universities without noting the continually rethinking the ways in which law school themselves. There also have been increasing debt burden being assumed admissions decisions are made, both suggestions that the importance of by today’s law students. Those the process used in each school and the this trend in practice is such that burdens clearly have an impact on relative weight and importance given to efforts should be made throughout the graduates’ job choices—particularly the LSAT in reaching admissions curriculum to inject international or with the now incredible salary decisions. Indeed, the Law School comparative focuses into all basic law differential created by the adoption in Admissions Council has embarked courses. Such efforts necessarily will many large law firms of starting on a nationwide campaign to educate result in new forms of teaching salaries of as much as $160,000. The everyone on the correct and incorrect material and in scholarship to increasing debt burden also enhances uses of this test, including the embrace this development. the pressures to excel while in law presentation of data revealing that school in order to broaden job A second and parallel trend has been success can be achieved by those choices. This increases the competitive the adoption in numerous law schools who fall in the lower test score ranges. forces that already exist in law of specialized tracks within the JD A Joint Task Force on Diversity in schools, widens the gap between the curriculum that allow students to Admissions also has just been formed “haves” and the “have nots,” and receive focused training and some by the AALS, ABA, and LSAC to develop threatens the ability of many to form of a credential upon completion. additional means of addressing this engage in the public service or pro This development is in part a challenge. This is not an issue that is bono activities of the profession. Law reflection of some of the current easily solved or that is going to go away schools are trying to combat some trends in law practice, which has or diminish in importance. It is one that of these forces in a variety of ways— become increasingly specialized. undoubtedly will demand continued by increasing scholarship aid through It allows students to better market and serious work and reflection in the the generosity of their alumni, by themselves upon graduation as being legal education community for many trying to do a better job of counseling particularly interested and trained in years to come. about loans and debt servicing, and by certain areas. It is also clearly a result In addition to the admissions arena, developing or enhancing their own pro of the law school competition for at least two other student trends bono programs to instill in students applicants, because it provides a are worth noting. The first is the the importance of the public service means for schools to distinguish continually growing percentage element of our profession, even before themselves and market themselves of the law student population that is they begin their legal careers. Here, to applicants accordingly. Like receiving accommodations due to a too, the work is ongoing and is likely internationalization, this, too, is likely disability covered by the ADA and, in to continue for many years to come. to be a long-term shift. On the positive particular, as a result of a learning or side, it should result in even greater mental disability. As these numbers Curriculum diversity among law schools in the grow, they necessitate the creation of There are at least four curricular programs they offer. Thus, the impact increasingly sophisticated academic initiatives that promise to be of this development potentially could support programs. At some point, they significant forces in the development be great; it certainly should affect also require faculties to consider the of the legal education model of the faculty hiring, as well as library and skills that are so fundamental to the twenty-first century. The first is the information resources, as both need profession that alternatives in course internationalization of the curriculum to be developed optimally to support requirements or evaluation methods to take account of the need to whatever specialties are offered. cannot be allowed. Faculties must train lawyers to operate in a global A third curricular front to note, consider how testing or methods of economy, where cross-border although it has a much longer lineage instruction can or should be altered transactions are the norm rather than than the prior two, is in the skills- to better reach those students and the exception. Internationalization is training area. I mention it not because how to construct a sound academic seen in a variety of initiatives: offering it is a new development, but because program for them. Statistics at the additional international business clinical-skills training actually has undergraduate level suggest that transactions and international trade come into its maturity in the last this portion of our student population courses; inviting foreign law teachers decade, with clinical scholarship is sure to grow and thus these as visiting faculty, thereby increasing gaining recognition for identifying and fundamental issues and law schools comparative law courses in various wrestling with the important problems responses to them represent an areas; and providing opportunities for 68562 AALL Memb. brief 4/6/01 3:02 PM Page 17

American Association Members’ Briefing—AALL Spectrum, April 2001of Law Libraries 17

of the appropriate roles of lawyers are experimenting with those uses. Current trends that can have or and the values to be fostered in the From there, the next step is to are having a sharp impact on law profession. With concerns growing reconsider how students learn and faculty can be seen in several about the competitive pressures in whether classroom time is being used arenas. Consider the call for more law practice today and whether they most effectively or whether the accountability and assessment of will adversely affect the ability and delivery of information about the law the productivity of faculty, reflected in willingness of lawyers to engage in in a classic lecture or a Socratic the increasing development of post- pro bono work and to be reflective dialogue could be improved by using tenure review processes at several lawyers, an important area of the law various modes of information delivery. universities. A recent study noted that school curriculum that historically has Making those decisions will require us thirty-seven states have mandated the focused on those issues is the clinical to seriously reexamine the entire development of post-tenure review curriculum. Thus, the training done framework of traditional classroom law processes for their public universities, there will see increased emphasis teaching and to determine which and private boards of trustees also as one means of lessening or elements require an interactive, live are jumping on the bandwagon. The combating some of the negative environment and which can benefit notion that tenure should not be a trends in the profession. How that will from other approaches to learning. sinecure for inactivity and laziness is be accomplished remains to be seen, These are important decisions, and not one that anyone could challenge. but continuing discussion about ones that will require a significant The ways in which some of these and experimentation with the skills investment of faculty time and review processes are developing, at training portion of law school institutional resources to achieve. But least at the university level, however, curricula, including how to broaden it is clear that the students of the next suggest caution. Given the traditional the training to include things such and future generations will be used to obligations of faculty to engage in as counseling and mediation, for a different method of information teaching, scholarship, and public example, are sure bets on the short- delivery and testing by the time they service, the opportunity for post- and long-term horizon. arrive at law school. Thus, they are tenure review is allowing for some likely to demand that law schools not special structuring of faculty The final and perhaps most dramatic only prepare them to use technology arrangements that recognize that not trend in the curriculum is one that is in their practice and their research but all are created equal. For example, just in its infancy but could have the also take advantage of the existing there are long-term agreements greatest impact of all—technology technologies to provide them with the increasing teaching obligations of in the classroom. The most obvious best possible educational opportunity. some who may not be effectively effect is suggested by experiments Exactly how we do that is a question pursuing scholarship in order to at several law schools engaging in that will dominate debate for the distribute the obligations of faculty distance learning initiatives, not to foreseeable future. roles more fairly. These developments mention the attempt to provide a total have many positive possibilities Internet law school by Concord Law Faculty insofar as they allow individuals to School in California. Opportunities to Trends on the faculty side of legal focus on their primary interests and share faculty resources and courses education embrace the role and tasks talents, but they also raise the between law schools and to ultimately of faculty members but also the very possibility of stratifying the faculty expand our audiences and allow expectations of and by faculty as in ways that could pose a risk to possible course offerings even to what is involved in being a law collegial and interactive faculty internationally are exciting and likely professor today. The challenges for governance. Nonetheless, they clearly to dominate the public’s attention. law schools (and law school deans will continue, and law schools will But the use of technology to reshape in particular) are in ensuring the need to carefully assess how they can courses for the students sitting in continuation of the collegial best adapt to the changes ahead and existing classrooms suggests even intellectual interchange that is the still preserve the best in their more fundamental changes are ahead ideal of the academic profession and respective institutions. (As an aside, in the very way in which our classes in encouraging the development and it is worth noting that the calls for are taught. Instead of thinking of the commitment of faculty members to accountability and the use of “output” faculty-student interaction taking the law school as an institution. These measures to determine whether place predominantly in the classroom two challenges always have existed, law schools are carrying out their (or in limited office-hour settings), but various external forces raise a educational mission effectively pose the potential to carry on continuous serious question about what the a similar pressure on the faculty as dialogues between the students and shape and form of the law professoriat a whole as the assessment of their the professor through e-mail and “chat will be twenty-five years from now. institution’s effectiveness reflects on rooms” now exists, and several faculty

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American Association 18 Members’ Briefing—AALL Spectrum, April 2001 of Law Libraries

Trends and Challenges continued from page 17

their role in the institution and members to seek to schedule their faculty can undertake their scholarship demands their serious consideration.) classes only on limited days and in and teaching. I suggested earlier the a compact time frame so that the classroom technology possibilities, Another pressure, which hopefully remainder of the time they need not be and, to the extent that faculty embrace is not a long-term one, is purely at the school or in their offices but can some of them, this may change economic. Law faculty members remain at home using their computers. dramatically the way in which they generally are well paid. (As a dean, Given that faculty members are only teach and the kind of activities that would you expect me to say anything on campus for limited times, every absorb their time and efforts. On the else?) Further, they typically have the moment is often filled in satisfying scholarly front, technology offers both luxury of structuring their professional their teaching obligations, in meeting the ability to access both new and a efforts around topics and areas that with students outside of class, and in broader range of materials than ever are of interest to them. But with the participating in various administrative before. But this, too, requires training incredible sums now being paid to or committee assignments. This means as to what is out there and how best some of the practicing bar, there is that there is less opportunity to engage to find it. Additionally, e-publishing is concern that some of the most senior in the informal facultywide discussions likely to create entirely new forms of and distinguished faculty members and exchanges that are at the heart of legal scholarship and certainly allows now receive less than graduates in a collegial faculty who develop mutual broader distribution and increased their first year of practice. On the respect and a vision of the enterprise. exchanges as work is developed. It entry-level hiring front, as the disparity (Ironically, the burgeoning of e-mail also may require us to rethink some between beginning teachers’ salaries and listservs suggests that faculty fundamental questions about what is and those of young lawyers continues members may be engaging in more legal scholarship of the twenty-first to grow, the question is whether there “conversation” outside their own century, particularly insofar as the will be a serious decline in the number institutions than inside. Although the answer to that question may influence of stellar faculty candidates whom broadening of the universe in which decisions about faculty productivity we will be able to lure into academe, they discuss matters of shared interest and scholarly contributions in the individuals from whom we have so is a healthy one, the questionis tenure and post-tenure review world benefited in years past. Second, whether it is coming at the price of of the future. although once in academic life the internal dialogues.) Also, as faculty joys of that life may have prevented members become more isolated in Conclusion us from suffering a major exodus, their activities, new and untenured Despite the challenges of all of the a more serious concern is the number faculty risk being deprived of the preceding trends, I must conclude of faculty who may engage in outside kind of mentoring that could be by saying that I believe that legal consulting to supplement their foundational in ensuring their education enters this century in an income. Time spent consulting successful development as teachers incredibly strong position to make a necessarily is not time spent and scholars. Obviously, the preceding significant impact on the way in which on scholarship, in institutional description is painting with a broad our society responds to the economic, governance, or in the informal brush and may overstate the issue. global, and technological pressures student-faculty interactions that But the important point is that this surrounding us. Indeed, in many ways, so contribute to a healthy and vibrant shift of faculty work patterns has many of the trends I listed are simply law school community. occurred slowly and without much national challenges seen in the For the past decade, the role of faculty thought about its implications. If it microcosm of the law school. But legal members in institutional governance becomes the dominant mode, the education has the tradition and talent and in creating and participating in role of faculty members as part of to provide the reflection needed to the law school community generally the law school community and in meet the challenges and to chart our also has been shrinking for a totally the development and shaping of their role so that law school graduates can different reason—computers. The law schools and faculties will be continue to provide the leadership ability to research and write without fundamentally changed. Thus, it is necessary to tackle these issues in interruption in one’s home (and in something about which faculties the larger world. Thus, I am optimistic large metropolitan areas to avoid long should be consciously aware and about the future and hope that this commutes as well) was facilitated seek to counter, lest the path of least brief description offers some food enormously by the explosion of resistance emerge victorious. for thought to help start a broader personal computers and electronic discussion throughout legal education The final trend or challenge to access to research materials that before about how to succeed. traditional faculty roles that I want to were available only through and in our mention also is a result of technology, Mary Kay Kane is Dean of the University libraries. For understandable efficiency but this time with a focus on how of California Hastings College of the Law reasons, now it is common for faculty technology offers new tools by which and 2001 AALS President. 68562 AALL Spectrum.Apr 4/6/01 2:59 PM Page 19

Chapter News by Marilyn K. Harhai

AZALL Presents Legal On April 3, the guest for SANDALL’s second January 23, 2001 at Reed Smith LLP, Research Institute brown bag lunch will be Tom Margenau Newark. Jill Burke, librarian at Reed Smith (public affairs director, Social Security LLP, introduced her firm’s intranet online The Arizona Association of Law Libraries Administration in San Diego). Tom will library and demonstrated its intranet (AZALL) presented the annual Legal address the changes to be expected in the Web pages. The attendants showed Research Institute on February 28, March 7, program under the new Bush administration great interest in the online library and 14, and 21. Hosted by Ross-Blakley Law and field other questions. A screening of asked questions about the design of Library, Arizona State University, the Institute the video from the recent satellite event the intranet, the contents of its virtual conducted sessions on “Secondary about the Uniform Computer Information collections, security, licensing, updating, Sources,” “Courts, Cases, and Digests,” Transactions Act (UCITA) is being planned; and training issues. “State and Federal Legislation,” and “State the date is to be announced. and Federal Administrative Regulations.” LLNE Has New Leadership The Institute is intended for legal support SANDALL has instituted a long-range staff, librarians, and members of the general planning committee to be chaired by Timothea Frost has resigned as president public who have an interest in learning Joan Allen-Hart, SANDALL past president. of the Law Librarians of New England. more about legal research or who want a Members who have already committed are Vice President/President-Elect Darcy Kirk review of basic legal research materials. Nancy Carol Carter, Ruth Levor, Charles has assumed the presidency. At the LLNE Dyer, Karla Castetter, Phyllis Marion, Spring Meeting, a new vice president will HALL Herds Kittens and Valerie Railey. The committee will be be elected and assume office immediately. holding its inaugural meeting this spring. The Houston Area Law Librarians V@LL Online (HALL) held its Annual Holiday Party at Mingalone’s in Houston. Attendees enjoyed CALL Hosts Innovative The Virginia Association of Law Libraries’ cocktails, delicious hors d’oeuvres, and Publisher Visits (VALL) annual meeting, V@LL Online, will be held April 27–28 in Richmond. The each other’s company for a couple of hours Late last year, the Chicago Association theme for this year is the use and impact on a very foggy, foggy night. The January of Law Libaries’ (CALL) Committee on of technology, electronic resources, and meeting featured the husband of HALL’s Relations with Information Vendors, in the Internet. Preconference activities will own Carolyn Korkmas, Larry Korkmas. association with AALL’s own CRIV, include a book repair workshop and He presented a very informative and provided four library locations for CCH demonstrations of the new and forthcoming entertaining talk on “Dispute Resolution in management to visit. Earlier, BNA had search capabilities of Westlaw.com and the Workplace.” The HALL annual, all day conducted similar visits in Virginia. Four Lexis.com. Karen Marsh King (Camp Spring Seminar in March will feature Pat Chicago libraries of various types were Business Library, University of Virginia Wagner of Pattern Research in Denver. selected: the University of Chicago Darden School of Business), Marci Hoffman She plans to speak on “Herding Kittens: D’Angelo Law Library, the Katten Muchin (Georgetown University Law Library), Mary How to Have Influence When You Don’t Zavis Library, the Allstate Insurance Dessypris (Library of Virginia), and April Have Power or Authority” and “How to Company Law Library, and the William J. Bohannan (Virginia Beach Public Library) Manage Information Overload.” Campbell Library of the U.S. Courts. are featured speakers. Sally Wiant Often publishers have invited librarians (Washington and Lee Law Library) and SANDALL Plans Ahead to visit their headquarters and view their Gail Warren (Virginia State Law Library) San Diego Area Law Libraries’ (SANDALL) operations. However, until recently, it has will highlight the implications of UCITA kicked off its spring programs with a brown been rare for management of publishers to when this act goes into effect July 21, bag lunch on February 16, featuring Gia visit their clientele. CCH came away from 2001, in Virginia. Exhibits and Williams (special services representative for these library visits with a much clearer demonstrations by vendors and a table the Daily Journal Corporation) and her boss, idea of how its management decisions tennis tournament complete the program. Ray Chagolla (director of client services). affect library operations. The pair focused on customer support and Compiled and edited by Marilyn K. Harhai, suggestions for improving the new Daily NJLLA Librarians Learn University of Orlando School of Law, Euliano Law Library, 6441 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32807- Journal Web site. SANDALL thanks Mary about Intranets 3673 • 407/275-2100 • fax: 407/275-3654 • Garcia and the Cal Western staff for hosting New Jersey Law Librarians Association [email protected] this very informative program, which drew (NJLLA) held a brown bag luncheon on an impressive turnout!

Washington Brief continued from page 14

and Adam Cohn (counsel for Sun successful lobbying techniques. GRC Mary Alice Baish, Acting Washington Affairs Representative, Edward B. Williams Law Library, Microsystems) will be on hand to discuss member Sam Trosow will report on this 111 G Street, N.W,. Washington, D.C. 20001-1417 UCITA and its impact on consumers and auspicious event in next month’s AALL • 202/662-9200 • fax: 202/662-9202 librarians. Charlie Dyer will address issues Spectrum, and our California Chapters • e-mail: [email protected] • Internet: http://www.ll.georgetown.edu/aallwash surrounding state funding for county law will gladly share tips on how to plan a libraries, and Michael Corbett will share successful advocacy workshop in your state!

AALL Spectrum April 2001 19 68562 AALL Spectrum.Apr 4/6/01 2:59 PM Page 20

Placement Listings

The listings here are edited for space and Florida Louisiana are provided to keep readers informed Law Librarian, Rumberger, Kirk & Reference Librarian, Louisiana State of what sorts of jobs have been recently Caldwell, PA, Orlando. Provides research University Law Library, Baton Rouge. available. Many jobs listed here will have and reference services; oversees planning Requires MLS and JD. Public services been filled by the time the issue is printed. and budgeting. Requires MLS. Prefer law experience in an academic law library Full listings of all current placement ads are office experience and knowledge of online preferred. Salary range $41,000–51,000. available on the World Wide Web at systems and computer applications. Some #54149 AALLNET (http://www.aallnet.org). travel. #54160 To place an ad, call Rachel Shaevel at Massachusetts 312/939-4764, ext. 10. Georgia Reference Librarian, Harvard Law California Associate Law Librarian, Georgia School Library, Cambridge. Provides State University Law Library, Atlanta. research and reference service in Associate Librarian Coordinates all aspects of reference American Law and Commonwealth Law; Reference/Foreign, Comparative service and policy; maintains reference participates in faculty liaison program; and International Law, University of desk area and materials; provides and teaches basic and advanced California, Hastings College of the Law reference service; coordinates faculty computer-assisted legal research. Requires Library, San Francisco. Provides research liaison program; provides specialized MLS, JD, academic law library experience, support and collection development for online searching services; and teaches and database and Internet searching non-U.S. law; performs general reference first-year legal research. Requires JD, MLS, expertise. #54157 duties; and teaches legal research. and three years of academic law library Director of Library Services, Requires MLS, significant library experience. #54156 experience, and excellent legal research Nutter McClennen & Fish, LLP, Boston. skills. Salary $42,360. #54159 Reference/Instructional Technology Requires MLS, five years’ experience in an Librarian, Mercer University Law School equivalent position, personnel management District of Columbia Library, Macon. Teaches first-year legal skills, and proficiency in use of library and Reference/Faculty Services research; provides technology training; Intranet software and database products. Librarian, Georgetown University maintains and develops law library Must have successfully prepared and Edward Bennett Williams Law Library. Web pages; and participates in collection implemented a library budget and have Provides reference services; teaches development. Requires MLS, JD, excellent developed library policies and procedures. legal research workshops; writes research legal research skills, electronic resources #54158 experience, and experience with Web site guides; and provides training for LEXIS, Circulation/Public Services Librarian, maintenance tools. Minimum salary WESTLAW, and other online systems. Suffolk University Law Library, Boston. $40,000. #54162 Requires MLS and academic law library Manages daily operations of Circulation experience. JD preferred. #54150 Law Librarian I-Technical Services/ Desk and Reserve Room; oversees Digital Content Analyst, Law Firm. Reference, Paul Hastings, LLP, Atlanta. Innovative Interfaces system; maintains Evaluating research technologies, works with Responsible for serials check-in and routing collection. Requires MLS, several years’ vendors; provides user support and training; of current awareness materials; orders supervisory experience in a circulation supports documentation of electronic books and processes new books; prepares setting, and up-to-date knowledge of resources; and assists with research. invoices for payment; and shares reference appropriate technology. #54161 Requires strong computer and research skills. responsibilities. Requires MLS. #54163 Experience with HTML, DOS, Windows, and New Hampshire library experience preferred. #54153 Illinois Reference/Computer Research Research Librarian, Jenkens & Gilchrist Librarian, Franklin Pierce Law Center, Research Analyst, Law Firm. Provides PC, Chicago. Provides reference services; Concord. Provides reference services; extensive legal and non-legal research oversees cataloging; maintains collection. develops electronic research and services. Extensive knowledge of legal Requires MLS. Two years’ library instruction programs; provides interlibrary research and online database searching experience preferred. #54164 loan services; and teaches in the first-year preferred. Five years’ law library Legal Research and Writing Program. experience and/or MLS and/or JD Indiana Requires JD, computer skills, supervisory desired. #54152 Electronic Services Librarian, Indiana experience. MLS or substantial legal Cataloger, Howard University School of University Law Library, Bloomington. research experience preferred. #54155 Law Library. Catalogs new titles; maintains Provides legal reference service; develops card catalog; provides original and copy new services using electronic resources; New York cataloging in all formats; and participates provides Internet training and support; Deputy Law Librarian, New York City in recataloging and special collection maintains the WWW Virtual Library-Law; Law Department Office of the Corporation cataloging projects. Requires MLS, one teaches in first-year legal research Counsel, New York. Provides reference year cataloging experience, familiarity program. Requires MLS, JD, and services using print and electronic with legal materials, and experience substantial knowledge of WESTLAW, resources; participates in collection with manual and computerized LEXIS, legal CD-ROM products, and development and maintenance of reference cataloging systems. #54166 Internet resources. #54165 collection; and teaches legal research.

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Requires MLS and two years’ legal reference experience. JD preferred. #54151

Ohio Library Director, Dinsmore & Shohl, Cincinnati. Responsible for overall management of library, collection development, oversight of vendor relations, development of annual budget expenditures, and coordination of training and orientation. Requires MLS and eight years’ library experience, with three years’ management experience. #54148 Electronic Services/Reference Librarian, The Ohio State University, Moritz Law Library, Columbus. Provides research and reference services; coordinates electronic legal research services; manages student computer lab; provides training on new electronic resources and applications; teaches and lectures on legal research. MLS required, JD preferred. For complete description, see http://www.law.ohio-state.edu/electronicservices. htm. #54154

Internet Filtering continued from page 11 chcpt Lawyers, judges, librarians, law students, and the public will find it difficult to do research if sites that discuss matters pick up dec. 2000 #66495 involving any of these topics are blocked. The Internet is a commercial venture. Decisions about investments and where to shop are based on reports of “hits” and the demographic characteristics of users. A commercial site must do everything possible to make sure that it is the first one on the list of major search engines when common search terms are used. To make this possible, some Web sites report word use and help the developer create Meta tags. If the originator of the site is clever about the subject headings that a robot may search or the pattern in pattern recognition, he or she can avoid filters. Hits may increase, but slightly skewed Meta tags will perpetuate inaccurate reports and filters. The tools used in this decision- making process can be very misleading. A request for desirable Meta tags for a site dealing with online legal research produced a suggestion that the Web creator use the term “Lexus.” Internet filtering is a topic to monitor. It is a good example of the new complexities to be handled in the process of providing adequate information to users. It is also one of the many examples where librarians need to work within an organization and understand how and where decisions are made. Librarians in organizations that are considering Internet filtering on employee workstations should become actively involved in the discussions. They should alert management about the problems associated with filtering software and provide specific illustrations about how the filtering software will affect employee information. If Internet filtering exists, the librarians should work closely with technology to modify the software to alleviate the adverse affects of the process. Ruth A. Fraley ([email protected]), recently retired from the New York Unified Court System, is now an independent librarian.

AALL Spectrum April 2001 21 68562 AALL Spectrum.Apr 4/6/01 2:59 PM Page 22

Classified Advertising

CATALOGING FOR LAW LIBRARIES: Outsource all your cataloging and conversion needs with FASTCAT: our professional librarians provide original/copy and conversion services for ALL materials in ALL formats. Contact us at: Library Associates, 8845 W. Olympic Blvd. Suite 100, Beverly Hills, CA 90211. 310/289-1067. FAX: 310/289-9635. E-mail: info @libraryassociates.com. URL: http://www.libraryassociates.com. NEW LAW TITLES FROM EUROPE: Four times a year Martinus Nijhoff International, full-service subscription agent and book dealer specializing in Western European material, publishes an extensive list with new law publications from Europe. To request a copy, or to get more information about our International Law Approval Plan, please call us at 800/346- 3662 or 800/664-1853 or fax us at 508/698-0148 or 518/226-0286. SAVE MONEY ON CATALOGING: It’s easy to use MarciveWeb SELECT to search our database and receive customized cataloging. MARC records for $0.27/title, catalog cards $0.09, book label sets $0.08, smart barcode labels $0.05, authority records $0.11. No license fee, profiling fee, or per search fee. Other services: U.S. depository cataloging, authorities Hein processing, migration, and retro. Contact us at [email protected] or 800/531-7678. MARCIVE, Inc. POB 47508, San Antonio, pick up feb. #67468 Texas 78265. http://www.marcive.com. COPYRIGHT NEWS FOR LIBRARIANS: The Copyright & pg. 19 New Media Law Newsletter: For Librarians & Information Specialists, now in its 3rd year of publication, keeps you abreast of important copyright issues, news, and practical solutions to everyday activities. By subscribing to this print newsletter (16 pages per issue, 3 times a year), you are entitled to free EMAIL ALERTS to ensure notice of timely news, court cases, legislation and seminars. Visit http://copyrightlaws.com, email [email protected], call or fax 202/478-0478. INMAGIC SOFTWARE AND SERVICES for law libraries: OPACs, serials management, acquisitions control, and loans for desktops, local area networks, Intranets and the Web from Legal Information Management—terrific library automation software, training, data conversion and consulting since 1985. Contact Ann DiLoreto (MLS, AALL Certified Law Librarian 1984) at ann@txt- mgmt.com, 800/898-6468, 800/txt-mgmt or www.txt-mgmt.com.

Ad Index

Bernan 5 Canada Law 23 ChoicePoint 21 Data Trace 12 LEXIS Publishing inside back cover, 3, 25, 27 Limited Liability 13 Martindale Hubbell inside front cover West back cover, 7 William Hein 22

22 AALL Spectrum April 2001 68562 AALL Spectrum.Apr 4/6/01 2:59 PM Page 23

Make the Connection Last year’s First Year Free • Powerful state and program invited law library national issues directors to give a free one- advocacy year membership to Now both law library someone who has never directors AND members been a member of AALL. who pay their own dues can Nearly 200 new members, be part of the connection. including students, trustees, Introduce a library and judges joined the professional who has never Association last year been a member to the through this program. benefits of belonging to This year, we are the AALL community. introducing Make the Connection with a Make the Connection— colleague from your library, the chance for EVEN MORE Chapter, or another members to bring someone information center. new into AALL. If your AALL dues are paid by We know that you value the July 1, 2001, we will send benefits of your AALL you a Make the Connection membership: coupon, redeemable for Canada Law one year’s membership for a • Professional contacts law librarian or associate. pick up feb. #67468 and resources This coupon can be redeemed • National, regional, one time, any time, during the pg. 9 and virtual educational 2001–2002 membership programs year.

Who Are You? continued from page 6

Associates are more likely to have extensive secretarial assistance and are more likely to receive calls from headhunters. Salaries usually fall in line with that of low-level associates or high-level paralegals than with the salaries of editorial staff in publishing companies. Job satisfaction increases as the value of the lawyer- writer’s contribution to the firm is acknowledged. Do titles matter in law firms? For most, it is the job description and the job functions that determine the professional’s place within the firm. But, for some, such as the lawyer-writer, the placement of the job in the “attorney” category rather than the “staff” category can be affected by the title given to the position. A lawyer-writer associate with the same job description as a marketing writer will most likely receive greater respect within the firm than outside the firm. What does this mean for law-firm staff members? Because job descriptions are most important to staff members, they should constantly update their written job descriptions, especially when their responsibilities change. If your responsibilities are not clearly reflected in your title, consider updating the title. And for those seeking new positions, some advice from Linda Sedloff Orton (president, Intelligent Marketing Solutions): “When joining a firm, all administrative professionals should ensure that their title is in alignment with other professionals at that firm. A director in one place may be a manager or a chief officer at another place.” Susannah Crego ([email protected]), a former law firm lawyer-writer, is a legal information professional in Fairfield County, Connecticut. This article originally appeared in Legalbiz Online. AALL Spectrum April 2001 23 68562 AALL Spectrum.Apr 4/6/01 2:59 PM Page 24

Special Interest Section News by Amy Eaton, [email protected]

GD-SIS Forms Advocacy American public well for nearly two agreed that OBS will follow AALL’s Committee hundred years. For those librarians who model in terms of structure of our strategic have not already established a working plan. This means OBS will use the same Advocacy and education are the purposes relationship with a Congressional office, terminology: strategic directions, outcomes, of a new committee formed by the the Committee has drafted a model letter and initiatives. Government Documents SIS. Members of of introduction. A copy of the model letter this committee hope to assist SIS members The Committee is discussing three to four can be found on the GD-SIS home page in communicating with their U.S. Senators strategic directions for OBS. These will (http://www.aallnet.org/sis/gd/). and Representatives about the Federal then flow into the outcomes (what do we Depository Library Program (FDLP). The Submitted by the Committee want to happen?) and the initiatives (how program has been in a serious crisis since can we make it happen?). The Committee spring 2000 due to reductions to the OBS-SIS Update is focusing on what can realistically be Government Printing Office annual budget The Online Bibliographic Services (OBS) accomplished in the next three-year period by the House Appropriations Committee. SIS is blessed with another excellent slate but will push to make sure that OBS is These budget cuts have created serious of candidates for the upcoming election: challenging itself and moving ahead. difficulties for GPO in administering the Vice Chair/Chair-Elect—Susan Goldner The strategic plan will be presented at the depository program, including reduced and Mary Jane Kelsey; Secretary- OBS Business Meeting in Minneapolis in staffing levels and cutbacks in print Treasurer—Corinne Jacox and Richard Jost; July. So be sure to attend and be the first publications for depository distribution. Member-at-Large—Barbara Sanders-Harris to know where the OBS-SIS is heading! GD-SIS Advocacy Committee members and Judy Vaughan-Sterling. Thanks for the The members of the OBS Strategic are A. Hays Butler (Chair), Kelly Browne, hard work in developing this slate go to Planning Committee are: Sally Wambold Charlene Cain, Sally Holterhoff, and Jack Bissett, OBS Nominations Committee (Chair), Pat Callahan, Karin den Bleyker, Rob Richards. They hope to motivate and Chair, who was ably assisted by Pam Janet Ann Hedin, LaJean Humphries, energize SIS members to take action Deemer and Sue Roach! Sue Roach (advisory), Mila Rush, Brian by establishing relationships with the A lot is happening on the strategic Striman, Ismael Gullon, and Ellen McGrath members of the 107th Congress who planning front. The environmental scan (ex officio). Chair Sally Wambold has serve the Congressional districts in which results have been compiled and distributed done a beautiful job of keeping the depositories are located. Committee to the committee. The more recent results Committee on track, on time, and in members stress the urgency of this effort. of the regular OBS member survey will touch with each other. SIS members are being urged to help also be distributed. Discussion of OBS’s Submitted by Ellen McGrath preserve the FDLP, which has served the mission statement is ongoing. It has been

Professional Development Calendar

Workshops Desktop Learning Series May 3–4, 2001: Legal Reference Services. Presented by (AALL Spectrum) Joan Shear and John Nann, Chicago, Illinois. “Why Technical Services Is Good Preparation for Being May 17 & 18: Boot Camp for Teachers of Electronic a Library Director,” by Phyllis Marion, May 2001. Research. Presented by Maryanne Gerber and Lisa Pontius, “Working behind the Scenes to Affect Legislation: Atlanta, Georgia. A Case Study with UCITA,” by Gail Warren, July 2001. May 21, 2001: Managing Solo Libraries. Presented by Judith Siess, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. June 1, 2001: Copyright Law in Libraries. Presented by James Heller, Provo, Utah. For more information on Professional Development activities, see http://www.aallnet.org/prodev or contact Mary Jawgiel, June 16, 2001: Training the Internet Trainer. Presented by AALL education manager, at 312/939-4764, ext. 24 or Wanda McDavid, Houston, Texas. [email protected].

Listserv Discussions AALL recognizes major support from Library Systems: What Criteria to Use When Migrating: BNA, Inc. for the Professional May 2001. Development Program. State and Federal Research: Fall 2001. Valuable Internet Resources: Fall 2001.

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existed, and it evolved into a “show-and-tell” current permanent home in the Exhibit Hall session that had as many advantages for the Activities Area, and representatives from exhibitors as for the attendees. academic, state, court, law firm, and other libraries scheduled specific times to discuss According to Czar Houdek, “The first Public their PR campaigns, answer questions, and Relations Poster Session, offered at the 1993 provide samples of their creativity. Annual Meeting in Boston, was designed to provide an informal environment in which From 1996 to 1999, PR Poster Sessions attendees could casually browse through a have been held at each Annual Meeting. varied assortment of promotional materials The PR Showcase in ‘99 featured print and chat with representatives from the and electronic products. Computers Public Relations libraries and organizations about their demonstrated Web sites next to a display marketing methods. Informality was of the catalog and poster of a library stressed—no speeches, just highly visual exhibit featuring rare children’s law books. presentations and ‘short from the hip’ A database designed for sharing library S HOW Y OUR S TUFF responses to questions and comments from expertise within a library consortium the attendees. The goal was to provide stood next to the story of how library by Sue Burch individuals who had developed successful chairs came to be replaced in one The Annual Meeting provides many ways to promote their libraries with an library—complete with one of the replaced opportunities for law librarians to share opportunity to show these ideas off to folks chairs to sit in while reading the story. their wisdom, experiences, and new ideas. looking for inspiration on what to do in their Innovative, imaginative PR tools come Attending one of our July conferences own shops.” in all shapes and sizes, digital or paper- oriented. The showcase has become a also means many days of networking and This first PR Poster Session was actually put way for members to do what they do best: socializing with our colleagues while into a program slot that followed right after share information, ideas, and resources re-energizing our librarian spirits. But the another PR-oriented educational program. no matter the format. We all know the old conference has many other important The Public Relations Committee records librarian adage, “Bring food and they functions. One of the most exciting is to indicate that “fifteen law libraries and two will come.” The same adage, with a twist, provide a forum for AALL members to AALL Chapters displayed their wares and applies to the PR Poster Session. “Bring “show their stuff!” This event is truly a talked to people about their public your PR tools, and they will come.” What unique opportunity for our members relations efforts.” Despite the small you’ll receive, either as an exhibitor or an to inspire and be inspired through the numbers, there was great interest and attendee, is immeasurable. creative work of others. enthusiasm to continue the program. Janice Shull (Law Library of Louisiana) The Early Years—PR and AALL At the Seattle meeting in 1994, Czar provides some insight into how her steady Houdek proposed the “Public Relations Public relations has not always been a customer habits at the PR Poster Sessions Poster Session: The Second Coming.” top priority of our Association. The focus have paid off handsomely with fresh Attendees got to check out the PR materials on PR began in 1990, when a special ideas for promoting library services at her prepared by other libraries and speak with Committee on Public Relations was created library. At the first Public Relations Potpourri those involved in their creation. The by then President-Elect Penny Hazelton to in 1992, she picked up every library success of that program paved the way “coordinate all public relations efforts of the brochure on display. Back home in New for the 1995 Pittsburgh event. Peggy Fry Association with the support of the AALL Orleans, she took a critical look at the design (Georgetown University Law Center) and Headquarters’ staff” (85 Law Library Journal and content of each brochure and then Hazel Johnson (now with Maguire Woods 422). This two-year committee (1990–92) created targeted brochures for her library’s Battle and Boothe) organized the third determined that our Association needed different users (general public, the Friends of annual PR Poster Session with a jazz a public relations strategy and developed the Law Library, and judicial employees). She theme. Their program abstract invited an impressive and detailed plan for also designed a simplified, more readable attendees to stop by and examine implementing a PR strategy to jump-start what map, using ideas from other libraries. it hoped would evolve into a more permanent hundreds of examples of successful endeavor of the Association and its leaders. PR efforts, as well as to pick up many Recently, she has been collecting examples free samples of PR materials brought by of training and marketing tools for online Item 7 of the report made the following participating librarians. The purpose of the catalogs. When her library switched from recommendation: “Create a public PR Showcase was “to provide impetus and a card catalog to an OPAC, she pulled out relations program for presentation at the ideas for other libraries to implement her “idea file.” From her collection of other 1992 Annual Meeting.” What evolved public relations programs in their own librarians’ PR tools, she and the staff at the from that recommendation and the ensuing libraries,” Johnson explained. Law Library of Louisiana developed a 1993 PR program in Boston was the publicity campaign, adapting methods PR Poster Session. This event was the The PR Showcase— used by other libraries—which included a brainchild of AALL’s first “PR Czar,” Frank Come and Get It trivia quiz, a prize for the closest guess on Houdek. The Poster Session allowed law At the 1996 Indianapolis conference, the the number of cards in the card catalog, a librarians to display successful public PR Poster Session ceased to be an up-and- “funeral” for the card catalog, name the relations efforts found in all types of libraries. coming educational program but had now catalog mascot contest, and flyers and It enabled the law library community to become a welcome fixture at the Annual public announcements in various media. examine creative PR projects that already Meeting. The event was moved to its

As a librarian who has become well known relations efforts will keep us thriving, and the 3. Meet new colleagues from all for her exhibits, Shull feels the real strength PR Showcase provides the perfect venue to over the country—i.e., networking of her library’s public relations comes from help us find new ways to promote our opportunities—and take advantage of their topical exhibits. She has shared exhibit libraries. their PR expertise and generosity. ideas and tips with many librarians and Not everyone is a creative genius, This is a members-only event. No vendors, has learned from them as well. From her but we’re all capable of being inspired no outside speakers, just law librarians. experience in creating exhibits and sharing and motivated. This is the place for Do you have bookmarks? Pathfinders? the results at the PR Showcase in Indianapolis that to happen. Brochures? Posters? Maps of your in 1996, she has presented programs library? Photos of your exhibits? Library 4. The Activities area is the place to see and written articles. “Participating in the newsletters? Copies of pages from and be seen while in Minneapolis. Showcase affords an opportunity to step your Web site? National Library Week Come get noticed. And while you’re back and evaluate your goals and methods materials? Legal Research Guides? Plans, at it, beg, borrow, and steal those of informing the public about your library’s pictures, details for a fund-raising event? public relations ideas. services,” according to Shull. Then we want YOU, and there are five 5. It’s your chance to “show your stuff” good reasons for your participation in the The PR Showcase— to thousands of intrigued AALL members PR Showcase: Minneapolis 2001 who want to know more about your Last year at the Philadelphia meeting, the 1. Librarians share information and PR efforts. resources all the time. Why not our PR Committee coordinated the millennium For more information and to sign up promotional materials? So, in July pack year time capsule project and the “History NOW for a table at the PR Showcase, up those PR materials, share your of AALL” exhibit. The PR Showcase was call or e-mail Joan Shear (617/552-2895 marketing expertise in Minneapolis, and given a year off—but it’s coming back this or [email protected]) or Lucy Curci- demonstrate for your colleagues creative summer! Gonzalez (212/415-8576, lcurci ways to inform our customers about the [email protected]). The PR Committee invites you to show and good work we do every day. share your PR materials with your colleagues Thanks to Sally Holterhoff, Frank Houdek, 2. This event is more fun than a “moonlight in Minneapolis. If we’re to be valued as a Hazel Johnson, Joan Shear, and Janice madness” sale! Everything is free and proactive partner of our law schools, firms, Shull for their institutional memories, available on a first-come, first-served courts, and the legal community, we need quotes, and continued interest in AALL’s basis. Stop by and pick up your free creative, appealing PR efforts to promote our PR endeavors! libraries to our customers. We represent all stuff and get inspired by what you’ll kinds of libraries, organized and managed see. It’s the perfect opportunity for those Sue Burch ([email protected]) is in different ways. However, we share a on the look-out for new marketing ideas Associate Director of the University of commonality. Our libraries must be valued for their libraries. Kentucky Law Library in Lexington, to not only survive, but thrive. Effective public Kentucky.

AALL Spectrum April 2001 27 68562 AALL Spectrum.Apr 4/6/01 2:59 PM Page 28

Planning: A Practicum for Busy Librarians

Public Libraries and Planning each TCLL put up open invitation signs, and Role-Setting for Public allowing us to say that everyone was Libraries: A Manual for welcome. Most attendees had received Options and Procedures. the written invitation. The second planning process Because the chief justice for administrative prompted us to develop and management (CJAM) could not attend a mission statement and the meetings, an eight-minute videotape determine service roles was created with an introduction by the most applicable to public chief justice as well as footage of all law libraries, from which we seventeen TCLLs. A script was developed by Marnie Marie Warner developed goals and objectives to for the CJAM. The video served two achieve those service roles. purposes: the CJAM’s introduction gave eveloping a planning document TCLL is now in another round of planning, legitimacy to the process, especially easily falls to the bottom of “to do” guided by ALA’s Planning for Results because she was genuinely convincing D lists. Yet, without a plan, the future (1998). One of the key concepts of that input would make a difference in our of the library can be crafted by trends and Planning for Results is to gather input on planning, and second, people got to see other people. When you are trying to the needs of your community and/or the difference in physical space of all ignore the need for a plan, remember the library users and then develop a plan seventeen TCLLs. conversation between Alice and the Cat: in response to the needs expressed. For Participants at the town meetings included court libraries in particular, the concept “Would you tell me, please, which judges, attorneys from various sized firms, dovetails with the national Public Trust and way I ought to go from here?” sole practitioners, students, law clerks, Confidence Initiative to increase public trust librarians, and pro se. To move the “That depends a good deal on where and confidence by involving the public in discussion along, the facilitators (two you want to get to,” said the Cat. specific justice improvement activities in staff members) handed out an outline their own communities. “I don’t much care where—” of ten possible long-range visions for said Alice. So how do you go about getting your the TCLLs (for example: better designed “Then it doesn’t matter which way communities’ input and then what do libraries; 24/7 access to legal information; you go,” said the Cat. you do with it? emphasis on circulation and delivery; and legal research education). This list prodded Trial Court Law Libraries are located “—so long as I get somewhere,” people to think long range and to think throughout the state. The Planning Alice added as an explanation. about possibilities. One concern about this Committee decided to hold eight “town type of input is that people often can not “Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the meetings” from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. in the envision what is possible, if they have not Cat, “if you only walk long enough.” library or courthouse. The time was chosen seen it. The vision statements, as well as so people, especially court personnel and Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventure in seeing the video of all TCLLs, helped attorneys, could put in a workday or their Wonderland participants move beyond personal billable hours before giving time to the experiences and views. If you don’t care where you go and you law libraries. Invitations were sent to don’t care how long you walk, then leave library users who represented various The different needs expressed by the the plan at the bottom of the to-do list. constituencies. The “rule of thumb” was separate constituencies were a noticeable But if you do want to have a chance at that for every ten invitations, one person dynamic at the meetings. Attorneys felt defining the library’s future, then move the will actual participate. We sent 1,250 having the primary law in electronic format plan to the top of the list and get started. invitations and 99 people attended. only was fine. The public still wanted The invitations provided a marketing printed materials. Some judges and The Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries opportunity and a new brochure was attorneys thought the TCLLs were leaning (TCLL) are engaged in their third planning created emphasizing the TCLLs’ move into towards serving the public too much. process in twenty years. The first plan, the electronic age. On the back of the Yet others said that by serving the public, created in 1983, “Guidelines for the invitation, four questions were posed the TCLLs had a more solid foundation to Delivery of Library Services to the Trial (for example, “How do you want to use request funding from the legislature. The Court,” served as a blueprint for how the the TCLLs in five years?”). People were town meetings provided rare opportunities seventeen independent county law libraries encouraged to send responses, and some for our various constituencies to actually would evolve into a system of law libraries did. TCLLs’ Web page also included an talk to each other and begin to understand and set guidelines for library services. The invitation to respond electronically to the that the TCLL mission and staff have a second plan was guided by the American same questions (www.lawlib.state.ma.us). variety of roles—sometimes at cross Library Association’s A Planning Process for Two weeks before the town meetings, purposes.

People were very honest and provided members attended one of the six working useful information. After three town groups, whose assignment was to begin meetings, trends were already surfacing. to develop goals and objectives as a Shortcut to The trends included extended hours response to what the town meeting beyond court hours (people want access participants expressed. A Plan until 6:30 p.m. or at least one night a A few staff are currently in the process week and Saturdays); access to more of pulling together the work of the small If you are not ready to electronic databases, especially remote groups. A draft plan should be completed undertake a planning process, access; retention of books, particularly in March. yet want to create a plan treatises; publicizing the TCLLs and their for your library’s future, use services to current users; maintaining the The Trial Court Law Libraries received the AALL Strategic Plan library as quiet space to work; and a “Reinventing Justice” grant to hold a (www.aallnet.org) as the guide. improved technology. To capture people’s strategic implementors meeting on May 31. Read the strategic directions and thoughts, one staff member took notes on Participation, by invitation, will include outcomes, and frame them as a flip chart so participants knew that we representatives from the town meetings questions. Use your responses to were hearing what they said, and another and key staff in the court system, whose the questions as the catalyst for person took notes in the room. All TCLL cooperation and approval will be needed creating a plan, as shown in the staff were invited to attend as observers, to implement and achieve the goals and examples below. not participants. Sometimes it was difficult objectives of the plan. The draft plan will for staff to just listen as people made be mailed ahead of time. The agenda for Strategic Direction #1 inaccurate statements. Like the focus groups the day is to present the draft plan, ask How is this library responding the TCLLs had done a few years ago, for questions and clarifications, and resolve to the evolution of virtual and the facilitator did not correct inaccurate any unanswered questions or issues. Just physical law libraries in the next statements during the discussion. At the as the town meetings drew together few years? (Outcome 1A) end, if something was totally misunderstood, the various library users, the strategic the facilitator made a few comments to implementors hope to pull together the Is the law library staff provide accurate information. All staff myriad of folks who are needed to support recognized by the employer engaged with participants before and the future of the TCLLs. as central to the institution and after the discussion. These informal decision-making at the highest conversations frequently included useful The final step will be to send the plan to level? If yes, how do we information, which was provided to the the CJAM for approval. Once approved, maintain that position? If not, recorder. It also let us capture the thoughts the plan becomes a blueprint for the what steps need to be taken to of people who do not feel comfortable next few years. It will also be filed become recognized as central to talking in large groups. with the Massachusetts Board of Library the institution? (Outcome 1B) Commissioners as a requirement for Press releases were sent to the local receiving federal library grant funding. Strategic Direction #2 newspaper. Three papers ran lengthy Updates will be sent periodically to town Is the library staff seen as the articles. Two articles were on the service meeting participants to let them know what is trainer of choice for legal of the Trial Court Law Libraries. One happening. In the end, these are the people information research within the newspaper sent a reporter to the town the TCLLs serve and the people about whom institution? If not, what steps need meeting. His article the next day captured we speak in our mission statement: the essence of the meeting. Finally, one to be taken for staff to become editorial, “Updating Libraries for the As the public law libraries of the trainers and be recognized as Information Age,” was a gift to all libraries. Commonwealth, the Trial Court Law the legal information trainers? The editorial’s last paragraph read: Libraries provide legal information to (Outcome 2D) the Trial Court, legal community, and But we can’t expect libraries to get general public. This library network Strategic Direction #3 better unless we’re ready to help them strives to develop collections and How is the library or staff financially. It’s true that the services services to address the legal reference, involved in shaping information they provide are free. The libraries research, education, and community policy that ensures fair and themselves are not. The sooner we information needs of library patrons. equitable access to national recognize that, the longer we can The Trial Court Law Libraries are and state legal and government expect a high level of service from committed to facilitating access to information? Look at the these great institutions. their collections and services (adopted outcomes and pick one or two March 1988). Notes from the town meetings were shared areas in which to become with staff. At a Head Law Librarians’ Marnie Marie Warner (mamiew personally involved. meeting, the information was organized @external.umass.edu), the Law Library into six topics: extended hours, Coordinator for the Massachusetts Trial Strategic Direction #4 outreach/publicity, multiple formats and Court Law Libraries, can be found in the What is the library’s plan for technology, service to diverse users/pro se, Administrative Office of the Trial Courts preserving and/or accessing training and education, and library in Boston, Massachusetts. historic legal materials? design/environment. All fifty-seven staff

AALL Spectrum April 2001 29 68562 AALL Spectrum.Apr 4/6/01 2:59 PM Page 30

Shop, Eat, and Shop Some More!

by Donna Trimble

You’ve had a preview of the Twin Cities’ The last stop is City Center, which has more the urbane. It offers a “Grand” variety natural beauty and literary heritage. than one hundred stores, including Bath and of gift shops, bakeries, bookstores, art Now it’s time to get down to business and Body Works, Marshals, and Fanny Farmer’s galleries, and more than forty-six eating answer those really important questions. Candy shop. Dining options include a food establishments. Favorites include Dixie’s Where is a good place to grab a quick court, casual dining at T.G.I. Fridays and Bar and Grill (Southern), The Acropol Inn lunch or dinner with friends? Where can Italianni’s, and formal dining at the elegant (Greek), Ciatti’s (Italian), Saji-Ya (Japanese), I find that special souvenir? And perhaps Goodfellow’s Restaurant. and The Lotus and The White Lily (both most important, how do I get to the Vietnamese). The Tavern on Grand serves Dining adventures close to the Convention Mall of America? All of your food and the best walleye pike. For sweets, be sure Center include Brit’s Pub and Eating shopping desires can easily be met here to check out Bread and Chocolate, Cafe Establishment for casual dining with rooftop in the Twin Cities. Latte, or Grand Ole Creamery. lawn-bowling green and Ichiban Japanese Start your excursion in steak house. Meander Downtown St. Paul features excellent dining downtown Minneapolis with through the Loring Park choices. The historic St. Paul Hotel’s St. Paul a stroll along Nicollet Mall, a neighborhood and find Grill attracts the local politicos and pedestrian mall and the heart of the enchanting Loring dealmakers. Nearby are Pazzaluna, a the downtown shopping district. Cafe with its back alley dazzling Italian showpiece; Kincaid’s Fish, Enjoy its wide sidewalks, lovely patio, the fun Ruby’s Cafe, Chop and Steak House; and Sakura, offering fountains, planters filled with and Joe’s Garage with its great sushi and other Japanese specialties. flowers, and numerous places to sit. limitless variety of burgers You can find both the perfect Minnesota Several shopping complexes as well and lovely view from its souvenir and the best cafeteria in the Twin as individual shops and department rooftop patio. Venture Cities at the Minnesota History Center. stores line Nicollet Mall; all are across Siah Armajani’s Another historic area a little further out connected by a skyway system. pedestrian bridge to the is Stillwater, known for its antique shops, Walker Art Center and Marshall Field’s (formerly used bookstores, and scenic view of the adjoining Guthrie Dayton’s) flagship store is in the St. Croix River. In addition to individual Theater for delightful gift 700 block of the Mall. Visit its antique shops, The Midtown Antique Mall shops. Take a break in the Walker’s Market Place on the lower level displays the wares of seventy-five dealers, restaurant and its outdoor patio with for lunch and find a seat on including road signs, holiday decorations, spectacular views of the Sculpture Garden, the Mall to people-watch jewelry, folk art, and furniture. Two Loring Park, and the downtown skyline. while you eat. If you prefer to stay inside, bookstores worth visiting are Brick Alley try the Sky Room, an upscale cafeteria with An abundance of eateries affectionately Books and St. Croix Antiquarian Books. a nice view of downtown, or the more known as “Eat Street” is just south of Restaurants of all types abound in traditional Oak Room, noted for its downtown. You will find a wonderful Stillwater, with many of them right on the popovers. sampling of global cuisine: Vietnamese, water or offering picturesque views of the Mexican, Thai, Ethiopian, Greek, and river and the historic lift bridge connecting Just across from Dayton’s, the IDS Center more. The Black Forest, one of the oldest Minnesota and Wisconsin. with its Crystal Court features several and finest German restaurants in the Twin quick-stop shops, including the Au Bon No visit to the Twin Cities would be complete Cities, offers a shaded patio area for Pain restaurant, Sola Squeeze fruit without a trip to the Mall of America and its dining. Try the fish at the Seafood Palace smoothie bar, and Godiva Chocolatier. 520 stores, 60 restaurants and nightclubs, Chinese Restaurant or fresh spring rolls The IDS center is also home to apparel, 14-screen General Cinema, UnderWater at the Quang Pastry and Deli. Visit the jewelry, and gift shops. Basil’s Restaurant, World aquarium, and Knott’s Camp Snoopy, award-winning Christo’s Greek Restaurant. overlooking the Crystal Court, was a a 7-acre theme park. The Mall of America is favorite haunt of Mary Tyler Moore. The “Uptown” neighborhood has many in Bloomington, just 20 minutes south of You can even ask for her table. shopping and eating opportunities in every downtown and easily accessible by car, bus, price range. Unique shopping opportunities taxi, and some hotel shuttles. Anchor stores Gaviidae Common, next on our tour of the abound in Calhoun Square, a bustling mall, are Macy’s Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, and Mall, offers Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth and the eclectic shops nearby. Dining Sears. Stores with a regional theme as well Avenue, and an array of shops and choices vary from Chino Latino’s sprawling as the Mall of America gift shops make this boutiques. The fourth floor houses a food two-story glamour eatery to fast food Baja the perfect place to pick up souvenirs. Theme court with several options, including Grill. Stop at Minnesota’s gourmet market, restaurants in the Mall include Planet Chinese, Mexican, and Italian selections; Lunds Food Store, for a picnic lunch and Hollywood, Rainforest Cafe, and Cafe pasta salads, burgers, and sub sandwiches. enjoy your meal at Lake Calhoun. Odyssey. Nicol’s Deli, home to a fabulous lunch box collection, has both take out and sit down Minneapolis has Eat Street; St. Paul has Donna Trimble (dtrimble@bowman- dining options. D’Amico & Sons Italian Grand Avenue. Grand’s twenty-five brooke.com) is Librarian at Bowman and Café and Deli is a popular place for lunch. blocks stretch from the Mississippi River Brooke LLP in Minneapolis. Morton’s of Chicago markets itself as to downtown St. Paul, with a unique blend “The Steakhouse.” of the historic and hip, the small-town and 30 AALL Spectrum April 2001 © 2001 Donna Trimble 68562 AALL Spectrum.Apr 4/6/01 3:00 PM Page 31 Chair Wars by Betsy McKenzie

n a library not so long ago, and maybe far, far away, the forces of light I and darkness struggled in what has become known as CHAIR WARS. Actually, this is the story of good architects, a good manufacturer, and a decent sales More chairs broke in the same way. were created by that group. The learning company locked in torment with a learning Always armless. Never did a patron come librarian learned that the tests were not as librarian over the question of chair to explain how the chair broke. The good rigorous as she thought they should be. manufacturer and the good architects said, durability. When we built our new The learning librarian telephoned the “Somebody is abusing these chairs! The building, chairs for the library were second furniture tester, Carl Eckelman at design is good!” The learning librarian selected with an eye to enhancing the Purdue University. From him, she learned argued that even if patrons were tipping neo-federalist design. (That phrase is an that there is a library furniture test back in the chairs and then dropping them example of the stuff the learning librarian standard, developed by Eckelman for the back to all fours, that was not abuse but learned in this process!) Study chairs were American Library Association. The tests are regular law library purchased with and without arms, in available in Library Technology Reports patron activity. The solid cherry. The manufacturer warranted (vol. 31, no. 2, March/April, 1995, learning librarian the chairs, and the sales American Library Association). These tests argued that the company are much more rigorous. Eckelman listened chairs were sold offered them to the learning librarians’ problems. He for the particular in response thought that rather than the chairs being purpose of use in to the tipped, the breakage was coming from a law library. specifications patrons scooting the chairs sideways. He developed by The learning asked the learning librarian whether the the architects librarian kept chairs had stretchers (another thing the and approved complaining, learning librarian learned—stretchers are by the so the good the bars between chair legs). The learning university’s manufacturer librarian looked and said the chairs had building challenged her stretchers between the front and back legs planning office. to send the but none at all going from side to side. But then, bad chairs for a “There’s your problem!” exclaimed things began test by one Eckelman. He did not advise the learning to happen. The of two chair librarian to send chairs to be tested, but library moved into testers. When the hoped that she would be able to work out the new building learning librarian telephoned these a settlement with the good manufacturer. testers, she asked questions about the tests. just in time for At nearly the same time as the The first chair tester explained that there summer school to begin. Chairs began conversation with Eckelman, the learning would be a large charge to send the to be found with a front leg split from the librarian was brought another broken chair librarian the actual standards and testing top down. Always, these were the armless, by a staff member. The staff member had procedures for the BIFMA tests he wooden study chairs. The learning sat in the chair, found it not quite centered, proposed, but he was willing to describe librarian complained to the good and scooted it sideways. The staff member the tests. The learning librarian learned architects. The good architects said, “There could not swear that the chair had not that BIFMA stands for Business and are bound to be one or two chairs in a been cracked before, but he certainly Industrial Furniture Manufacturers’ batch this large with bad wood in a leg.” could say that the chair leg broke off when Association, and that the standards (continued on page 32) © 2001 Betsy McKenzie AALL Spectrum April 2001 31 68562 AALL Spectrum.Apr 4/6/01 3:00 PM Page 32

“...library furniture must stand up to more ‘abuse’ in ordinary use than any other furniture...”

he scooted the chair sideways. “Eureka!” carts and moving around the cried the learning librarian, and she library from chair to chair, e-mailed this new theory about the rather than waiting for chairs to breakage to the good architects, the good be brought to a central work chair manufacturer, and the decent sales location. The learning librarian company. looked at the academic calendar and thought the The learning librarian was just stunned to work could be done during find that the good chair manufacturer still the break between fall and spring said that the chairs were only breaking semester. The learning librarian asked the because of abuse and that the breakage associate dean if the library could be was outside the warranty. However, the Look at the chairs closed to facilitate the work. The associate good architects called a meeting of the offered with issues of strength in mind. dean was shocked that the learning 3 manufacturer, the sales company, the Remember that sideways stresses can librarian would consider such a blow to university building planning office, and the be more destructive than any other. the local bar and alumni. The learning learning librarian. At the meeting, it was Look for stretchers going both from librarian talked to the woodworking suggested that adding a stretcher between front to back and from side to side. company about shutting off parts of the the front legs of the armless chairs might The armless chairs were more prone to library where it would be working, and be a way to solve the problem. Everybody break because people did not rise how long the glue should dry before agreed to try a few chairs this way and entirely to scoot sideways, since they using the chairs. see how it looked. The learning librarian were holding on to the thought there would be another meeting to Because the local woodworking company seat of the chair to move it. discuss who would pay and did not want expected to be paid half its labor cost before Share information; keep everybody to mess up the agreement by bringing up it would begin amending the chairs, the informed. And do not hesitate to another contentious issue. Everybody else learning librarian arranged with the building 4 complain and keep complaining. (except possibly the university building planning office to pay the school’s half You have to live with the mistakes. planning office) thought the law school ahead of time. She soon discovered, to her would pay. amazement, that the various other parties to Ask colleagues for advice. Save the agreement wanted to send their portions e-mail information about furniture. The learning librarian brought up the issue 5 of the labor cost to the university and have of who would pay at the next meeting the university pay the local woodworking Ask if your school will buy “attic called to see how the sample chairs looked company so that they could claim those costs 6 stock,” which is a bit extra of anything with their new stretchers. Everybody else as charitable donations for tax purposes. for a new building, to be stored until was just stunned that the learning librarian The learning librarian also discovered that the original wears out or breaks. would go back on the agreement but she then had to become the collection That way the replacement will match. bucked up bravely. After quite a bit of agency to gather and track donations, discussion, all the parties agreed to chip in Ask lots of questions. And educate and pass the checks along to the university some on the cost. The good manufacturer 7 the other players as much and as building planning office. would produce custom-made stretchers at painlessly as possible. no charge and the local sales rep agreed The work was finished in time for spring Thank everybody, even when you’re to help pay part of the labor cost of semester. The chairs look very nice, 8 not sure they deserve it. retrofitting the chairs. The decent sales and everybody hopes that the troubles company agreed to pay part of the labor are over. If you can avoid it, don’t be the cost, and the good architects agreed to 9 collection agency! The learning librarian made a list pay part of the labor cost, if the law school of some of the things she learned: Hope that your architects, furniture would pay for half of the labor cost. The 10 manufacturers, and sales companies learning librarian spoke to her deans Be involved in the furniture selection are good to work with and will hang and discovered that the university building 1 process; don’t let the university in there for you if problems arise. planning office had a contingency fund building planning office sign off If you have any choice in the matter, to pay for such surprises. The deans on designs based only on aesthetic ask colleagues for references on spoke with that office and then authorized considerations. architects, designs, and manufacturers. the deal. 2 Make sure the architects and university Betsy McKenzie (emckenzi@ A local woodworking company that had building planning office know that acad.suffolk.edu) is Director, Suffolk been involved in chair repair and other there are library furniture standards, University Law School Library in Boston, building work gave an estimate and and that library furniture must stand Massachusetts. suggested adding better chair glides at up to more “abuse” in ordinary use the same time. The company decided to than any other furniture (except cut the labor cost by using rolling work possibly dorm furniture).

32 AALL Spectrum April 2001