Summer 2010 The Newsletter of the Legal Division of The Special Libraries Association Volume 17, Number 3
Social Media at Legal Inside
Division Programs Social Media at Legal Division by Stephanie Davidson, (@stephdavidson), Head of Public Services & Assistant Programs Professor of Library Administration, University of Illinois College of Law Library, 2010 Stephanie Davidson ...... 1 Academic Law Librarian Grant Recipient Editor’s Notes Liz Smith...... 2 As a new member of SLA and the about programs could be shared Legal Division and a first-time attendee between participants and attendees and From the Board Room Constance Ard ...... 3 of the SLA annual conference, there even with SLA members and others at were many programs that caught my home. The most interesting example Conference Review: BNA Breakfast and eye before I arrived in New Orleans. I observed during the conference was Legal Division Business Meeting Certainly all of this year’s Legal Division in the 10 AM Tuesday program slot, as Kami Bedard ...... 4 programs were of interest, though Steve I tweeted from Steve Arnold’s program Conference Review: “SPOTLIGHT Arnold’s “Emerging Technologies: Real- and simultaneously monitored tweets SESSION—Emerging Technologies: Time Search” and the panel on “Law from at least three other sessions. Real-time Search” Librarianship Off the Cuff,” were most Emily Rushing...... 6 At the same time Steve Arnold’s “Real applicable to my work and experience Conference Review: “60 Sites in 60 level (“Cases, Codes & Context,” was Time Search” program was being held Minutes” marketed to non-law librarians). in the VirtualU Spotlight Session room Virginia M . Smith ...... 8 (livecast to registered SLA members), What struck me immediately was the several related programs were being Conference Review: “Law Librarianship Off the Cuff” balance among programs sponsored by held, each with at least one attendee John DiGilio ...... 9 the Division, in terms of audience level, “live-tweeting” from the audience: composition, and presentation styles. Conference Review: “Cases, Codes And in a nice contrast to the typical • “SLA Hot Topic: Does Taxonomy and Content: An Introduction to Legal Research” programs at other conferences, where Matter in a New World of Search and Tricia Bond Thomas...... 9 the library type heavily influences the Discovery?” Presented by Suzanne presentation topic, the presentations DeBell, an SLA HQ conference-wide Conference Review: “SPOTLIGHT SESSION--Nuts and Bolts of Contract featured speakers from a range of event. Management” backgrounds. • “InfoCitizen: Creating and Finding Susan M .Yancey...... 10 Value in Online Communities” While the two Legal Division programs International Corner I attended were lively and informative, Presented by Scott Brown and sponsored Letter From Australia they also had thematic connections by the Competitive Intelligence Dennis Warren...... 11 Division. to other programs that I found International Corner interesting on another level. Viewing • “Using Social Media for Business Letter From Australia the conference through the lens of Research and Competitive Intelligence” Miz Brmbota,...... 12 social media provides an interesting Presented by Andrew Clark and The 2010 SLA Conference in New perspective on topics and issues of Ken Sickles and sponsored by the Orleans: Reflections of A Veteran interest to attendees. With the use Pharmaceutical & Health Technology Librarian of Twitter in particular, information Division. Larry Guthrie ...... 13
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1 Summer 2010 Editor’s Notes
Now that the 2010 SLA conference is over, we can catch up and Legal Division Quarterly is published 4 times a year. We reserve the right to edit for space and clarity. share information about this year’s sessions, the BNA breakfast and Please send submissions to Elizabeth L. Smith, librarianliz@ gmail .com, as an email attachment in Microsoft Word annual business meeting, Legal Division news, and much more. The for Windows, 12-point Times font. Big Easy proved to be all that we hoped for. We fell in love with the Legal Division Quarterly accepts sponsorship of mailing, printing and other services. Inquiries regarding LDQ amazing food, the lively entertainment, and the friendly people. sponsorship or advertising should be sent to Abigail Ellsworth Ross, Keller & Heckman LLP, 1001 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20001; 202/434-4148, ross@khlaw com. . Included in this issue of the LDQ is the 2011 slate of Legal Division The Special Libraries Association assumes no responsi bility for the statements and opinions advanced by the candidates. The division will deliver electronic ballots on October contributors to its publications. Editorial views do not necessarily represent the official position of the Special 13 so be sure to vote! Libraries Association. Acceptance of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product by the Special Libraries Association. I thank those of you who volunteered to review a session. Thanks also to our regular contributing authors for preparing their columns in spite of the distraction of the conference. Please send me any news, articles, photos, opinions, and suggestions for future issues of LDQ.
Liz Smith Liz Smith, Editor Inside cont . from page 1
Let the Good Times Roll! Loyita Worley...... 15
Full Disclosure: Get to Know a Legal MISSION STATEMENT Division Member! The Legal Division intends to play a leading role in SLA as it becomes the premier association of Tracy Z . Maleeff...... 17 the library world. Our profession is our central focus and our activities will promote professional development and competence. “Opinion is cheap, but news is expensive ”. The 2010 SLA JOIN THE LEGAL DIVISION LISTSERV Conference in New Orleans Send a message to sla-dleg@sla lyris. net. . In the message type: subscribe sla-law yourname. One of the David Ogden ...... 18 uses of this listserv is Division business. You will not be inundated with messages. Please subscribe.
Experiencing the Big Easy from a SLA First-time Attendee LDQ CONTRIBUTORS Grace Rosales...... 19 Anne Abate Martha Foote Constance Ard Jill Gray Archives Volunteer Receives Miroslav Brmbota Tracy Z. Maleef Suzanne Castroman Josephine Murfey Materials Susan Catterall Dennis Warren Anne Abate ...... 21 Charlene Cunniffe Barbara Folensbee-Moore Meet Your Candidates for the 2011 Legal Division Board of Directors EDITOR ...... 21 Elizabeth L. Smith
Photos courtesy of Virginia M. Smith.
2 Summer 2010 From the Board Room by Constance Ard, Answer Maven (http://www.answermaven.com), 2010 Division Chair
As I sit here writing this a thunderstorm has come • Professional Development is focusing on offering through and cooled down the 90-degree plus regional or virtual programs to our members. weather reminiscent of my time just last month in New Orleans. What a great time it was. Our We are lucky to have great leaders who are programs were popular and despite continually moving these efforts forward. In fact, a survey was asking for a larger room each year Gayle Lynn- recently sent out seeking member input to move Nelson and John DiGilio’s “60 Sites in 60 Minutes” the communications’ plans forward. And in May, was over capacity. But have no fears because next Jill Strand and her committee with the support year this popular program will be a spotlight session of the Practical Law Company, hosted the first in a ballroom with room for all. virtual webinar for our members. Over 100 of you attended! These efforts and others will enhance the Our members and presenters were great about value of your SLA and Legal Division membership. getting the word out about our programs in the Twitter stream with the #slalegal handle. Our In truth, the need for these and other iniatives that Spotlight Emerging Technologies presenter, Stephen bring strong value to our members was evident E. Arnold, brought the virtual conference attendees as we looked around and missed many of our right into the room during his Real-Time Search colleagues both at the programs and the open presentation. And by the way, if you missed this houses. Attendance was down, jobs are still being presentation either virtually or in person you can sought, and division members are required to read a recap of it on his weblog, Beyond Search provide value back to their supporting institutions (http://arnoldit.com/wordpress/). in a demonstrable manner. As your Chair, I am acutely aware of the need for our members to Our Unconference, organized by Sarah Glassmeyer, receive applicable value for their participation in was a great engaging conversation that allowed the division and the organization as a whole. the attendees to direct the topics. All in all, Linda Dunton and I were proud parents of the 2010 In fact, the organization as a whole is focused on SLA Legal Division programs. Our award winners bringing value to members despite the challenge of remained active throughout the conference and decreased revenue and the related consequences. you will hear from many of them about their SLA Treasurer Dan Trefethen did a great job of experiences in this issue of the LDQ. delivering bad news in a constructive way. You can see Mr. Trefethen, SLA CEO Janice LaChance, Our 17th annual BNA breakfast was, as always, a and SLA President Anne Caputo’s comments at the great venue for our business meeting and I can’t following URLs: thank Michael Bernier enough for all of the work he did in preparing for the event. It was during this • Dan Trefethen (http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/ meeting that I was able to share with our members governance/bodsection/ceocorner/10speeches/ in person some of the great things our officers and 061610treasurer.cfm) committee chairs are doing. I emphasized a few of the many things that are happening in the division • Janice Lachance (http://www.sla.org/content/ mainly because they are the focus of my term as SLA/governance/bodsection/ceocorner/10speec chair, including: hes/061610SLA2010.cfm)
• Ad Hoc Communications Committee is working • Anne Caputo (http://www.sla.org/content/SLA to redesign our website and enhance our governance/bodsection/ceocorner/10speeches/ communication methods. 061610Caputo.cfm).
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3 Summer 2010 Conference Review: BNA Breakfast and Legal Division Business Meeting by Kami Bedard, Manager of Library Services, Pierce Atwood LLP, 2010 Division Secretary
For the 17th year, BNA kindly sponsored the annual aligned with current technologies, including social media breakfast for the Legal Division. The Legal Division would platforms. She discussed the work of Jill Strand and the like to thank BNA once again for allowing us to combine Professional Development Committee, who have been our annual meeting with the breakfast. The food was working on programs to further the division’s ability to wonderful and the meeting provided the Division with the provide educational opportunities to members. They held chance to kick off the annual conference in New Orleans on a very successful webinar on May 20th in connection with a full stomach and with inspiration from the Legal Division the Practical Law Company. It was entitled “Corporate leaders! Practice Training: Increasing Your Library’s Effectiveness” We were joined at the breakfast and over 150 people attended. by numerous representatives from The Professional Development BNA, including Paul N. Wojcik, Committee will be planning Chairman and CEO, and Michael another event for fall 2010. Stay Bernier, Director of Library tuned for more details! Relations. Mr. Wojcik spoke briefly on initiatives at BNA, noting their Next, Ms. Ard discussed her increased focus on online products plans to improve the division’s and their work to evolve in this communications strategy, area in support of user needs and stating that in the age of social demands. He reported that 75% media we need to make sure of BNA’s revenues now come from that the Legal Division remains the sale of online products, further 2010 LD Board (from left to right): Director Tricia Thomas, relevant. She discussed plans to Past Chair Martha Foote, Secretary Kami Bedard, Chair supporting their plans to continue update our division website and Constance Ard, Chair Elect Elect Tracy Maleef, Chair strengthening their offerings in the Elect John DiGilio, and Director Gayle Lynn-Nelson possibly incorporate a blog. The online arena. He mentioned that newly created Communications many of their editors are now using social media tools such Ad Hoc Committee is working on ideas related to this. as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Finally, he gave special Any new vehicles of communication will complement the thanks to members of the SLA Legal Division, both for their content that the Division and its members communicate business and friendship. via the Legal Division Quarterly and the listserv. With advertising dollars for the Legal Legal Division Chair Constance Division Quarterly down, she Ard opened the business meeting stressed that we may want to by speaking first about the various think about advertising on the accomplishments of the division division’s website. thus far and her goals for the remainder of her term as chair. Ms. Ard also presented the Earlier this year, the Legal Division treasurer’s report as Geri voted on new governance rules. Heberlie was unable to attend Our governance rules are based the conference. The division on the SLA model and can be is financially healthy with a found on the Legal Division’s balance of $80,744.00. website at http://units.sla.org/ division/dleg/GoverningDoc/ Special thanks was given to 2010 Program Planner Linda LDGoverningDocument2009.pdf. 2010 LD Travel Grant Recipients (from left to right): Loyita Worley, Stephanie Davidson, Grace Rosales, Lev-Dunton and Sponsorship Ms. Ard discussed her two primary Larry Guthrie, and David Ogden Chair Colleen Cable-Fitzgerald goals for the Legal Division: to for their hard work this year. Our increase the division’s ability to provide educational support sponsors were also thanked for their support at this year’s to members who are unable to attend the annual conference conference. and to improve the communications strategy by remaining cont . on page 6
4 Summer 2010 Social Media at Legal Division Programs cont . from page 1
Program attendees who were on Twitter would use hashtags Whether you’re a social media adopter, observer, or just to group related posts, such as posts from one program or agnostic about the communication, the possibilities over one day. Any Twitter user could then choose to follow or a live backchannel at a conference like SLA are fascinating. focus on that group by running a live search in their Twitter Maybe we still can’t be in two places at once, but we’re client, e.g., TweetDeck on Twitter.com or by using a site getting closer. Didn’t attend the conference this year? Visit like Tweetchat.com. Attendees throughout the conference Twapperkeeper.com, search for an archive, and search for largely used the hashtags #sla2010, plus the appropriate tag sla2010 to view all the tweets. n for the sponsoring division of the program, e.g., #slalegal.
For those following the general #sla2010 hashtag, the mix of tweets during this particular timeslot was dizzying as the themes and issues expressed by the presenters and Tweeters From the Board Room overlapped and intersected. cont . from page 3
As Steve Arnold discussed new search engines for searching Facebook and Twitter (Booshaka.com) content, Scott Brown The Joint Cabinet meeting made it clear that budget in another room was talking about search aggregators cuts and new revenue stream ideas were essential that include social media content (Samepoint.com, Yauba. for the continued health of the organization. Our com, Boardreader.com, and Socialmention.com). Mr. members are bright and have a vested interest in Arnold talked about the difficulty of getting reliable real- keeping the organization viable. If you have great time search information for a variety of content types, ideas then share them and engage your leaders to suggesting Collecta.com as best, while Mr. Brown discussed move this organization forward positively. the questions most appropriately posed to social media regarding companies or individuals, noting that 45% of Traditional funding models for the association are small companies are now on Facebook and Twitter. not enough. The Legal Division is fortunate to have wonderful corporate sponsors both old and new. But The Legal Division’s “Law Librarianship Off the Cuff” panel reliance on tradition alone is inadvisable. Throughout also made some use of Twitter. Several attendees were live- the conference I sought new connections and tweeting, while the panelists followed the backchannel discussion on #slalegal and #sla2010 in order to respond discussed the best way to gain maximum value for from stage the questions posed on Twitter. During the partnering with the division. The investment of these program, the panelists also discussed the use of social partners deserves recognition and a willingness to media in the workplace, observing that while they tended ensure that their business goals are being met. A to be in favor of a wider adoption of Twitter, Facebook, party for party’s sake just isn’t a wise investment LinkedIn, and other related social media services, most of for either the host or the attendee; SLA is about their institutions were conservative and slow to adopt these creating strong networks that help our members services as a way of communicating with clients or patrons. meet their business and personal goals. This is true Jason Eiseman, speaking both from law firm and academic for our vendor sponsors as well as the rank and file law library experience, suggested that attorneys are missing member. out on an opportunity to brand themselves with the use of social media. He noted that these sites, such as LinkedIn, The conclusion for this report is that there is still a lot Twitter, and Facebook, have excellent representation in of work to be done in the coming months to move search engines; and placement in such media could serve our communications methods forward, to engage to elevate an attorney’s presence and message—a message our members in non-traditional means that meet that the attorney can control and shape over time. He also their needs and expectations, and to do our part to remarked on organizational use of social media, emphasizing keep SLA healthy. I’m excited to work with you to the importance of treating tweeting as publishing, and that drive the division forward in a positive manner. As the organization needs to have a trusted author who will always, I welcome your thoughts, comments, and post regularly with a consistent voice. suggestions. n
5 Summer 2010 Conference Review: “SPOTLIGHT SESSION— Emerging Technologies: Real-time Search” by Emily Rushing, Competitive Intelligence Specialist, Haynes & Boone, LLP
The Spotlight Session on real-time searching was is instantaneous. Real-time would be more accurately presented by Mr. Stephen E. Arnold, a specialist in described as short-latency, which is not as catchy. online search and related disciplines. He’s the author of the first three editions of the Enterprise Search Report, The Latency defines real-time search and shortening latency Google Legacy, and Google Version 2.0., and he recently drives the pursuit of near real-time search. Users are completed a study of “Managing Successful Enterprise adopting social media and social networking technologies Search.” Mr. Arnold’s talk focused on what real-time and using those tools to collaborate and participate search is, how it is used, and what services provide real- online in new ways. The currency of the information time search capabilities. available via searching has become more relevant. Now we require not only accurate results, but timely results. Mr. Arnold demonstrated numerous real-time search Users are searching for not only the best link to review, services and search techniques. Sites highlighted during but the one created the most recently. The information his talk included: horizon has shortened.
• Collecta: www.collecta.com Further summary of these points and Mr. Arnold’s research may be found on his blog at: http://arnoldit. • Crowdeye: www.crowdeye.com com/wordpress/. n • DailyRT: http://dailyrt.com • Ice Rocket: www.icerocket.com • ITPints: www.itpints.com Conference Review: BNA Breakfast and • Leapfish: www.leapfish.com Legal Division Business Meeting • Newslookup: www.newslookup.com cont . from page 4 • OneNewsPage: www.onenewspage.com • Red Tram: www.redtram.com There was one special guest, Cindy Murphy from the Canadian Association of Law Libraries, and five professional • Scoopler: www.scoopler.com grant award winners present at the meeting. All professional • Topsy: www.topsy.com grant award winners were present. Larry Guthrie won the • Twazzup: www.twazzup.com veteran librarian grant and Grace Rosales won the new member grant. Stephanie Davidson was the winner of the • Tweetmeme: www.tweetmeme.com academic grant and the two non-U.S. member grant award • Yauba: www.yauba.com winners were Loyita Worley and David Ogden, both from the U.K. They were welcomed to the annual conference In addition to highlighting these real-time search tools, and congratulated on their awards. Mr. Arnold presented three key points. First, real-time services deliver more useful and comprehensive results More special thanks were given to Treasurer Betty Edwards than the real-time search services. Second, these outfits and Director Janet Peros for their work on behalf of the come and go. Some of these services will not survive this Legal Division. Their terms ended January 1, 2010. Finally, tumultuous era of technology. Third, the outputs from Ms. Ard provided a very special thank you to Martha these services have to be subjected to post processing, i.e. Foote, Legal Division past chair, remarking that Martha the raw output is not usable and must be manipulated. is an excellent guide and mentor and has been incredible to work with. Chair-Elect John DiGilio briefly discussed Mr. Arnold’s discussion of this topic emphasized the the upcoming 2011 SLA Conference in Philadelphia. The significance of latency and delay. The term latency theme is “Future Ready.” n describes a measure of time delay, i.e. how long between Event 1 and Event 2. So, latency would describe the length of the delay between 1) the time a tweet is posted and 2) the time that tweet is found by a search engine. Real-time is a bit of a misnomer in that nothing
6 Summer 2010 7 Summer 2010 Conference Review: “60 Sites in 60 Minutes” by Virginia M . Smith, Law Librarian & Communications Coordinator, University of Louisville, Division Web Site Manager
On Tuesday, June 15, Gayle Lynn-Nelson and John DiGilio LegalTechTrainer - http://legaltechtrainer.com presented “60 Sites in 60 Minutes” to a packed room at Technology tips and resources provided by Anita Evans the Convention Center. The ever popular program was that’s geared towards legal professionals. Arranged by sponsored by Fastcase and featured an array of websites categories that include MS Office and litigation support ranging from fun stuff like DuckDuckGo to the creepy, like software. BedBugger.com. The following may be of particular interest to law librarians and legal professionals. OpenRegs.com - http://openregs.com A one-stop shop for Federal Register information that’s easy to use and features Web 2.0 technologies.
Say What?! - http://saywhat.texasbar.com A weblog of classic humor from U.S. District Judge Jerry Buchmeyer that features comical courtroom depositions and outtakes.
Simply Hired - http://www.simplyhired.com A career resource site aggregator that features a Facebook app that allows you to search for jobs with your friends’ employers and also to compare their job data with your own.
Speakers John DiGilio and Gayle Lynn-Nelson packed the house with their ever popular “60 Sites in 60 Minutes” session.
4 Free CLE - http://4freecle.blogspot.com A searchable catalog of free continuing legal education courses.
Above and Beyond KM - http://aboveandbeyondkm.com Created by Mary Abraham to report about her experiences practicing law and knowledge management at a firm in New York City.
Bow Tie Law’s Blog - http://bowtielaw.wordpress.com The packed house for “60 Sites in 60 Minutes” An entertaining and informative website dedicated to electronic discovery issues. Solo Practice University - Law Firm Competitive Intelligence Blog - http://solopracticeuniversity.com http://www.ciblawg.com A fee-based professional social networking site designed for The CI Blawg, a collaborative forum for competitive solo attorneys and law students. intelligence professionals, is currently seeking contributors. Ten Minute Mentor - http://www.tenminutementor.com Lawyerist.com - http://lawyerist.com Features ten minute instructional videos presented by A survival guide for new attorneys providing practical lawyers, based mostly in Texas, speaking on their particular information and advice. area of expertise. Sort by speaker or category. n
LegalBizDev - http://www.legalbizdev.com A business development resource for law firms. Highlights include the alternative fees survey and free guide to alternative fees.
8 Summer 2010 Conference Review: “Law Librarianship Off the Cuff” by John DiGilio, National Manager of Research Services, Reed Smith LLP, 2010 Division Chair Elect
Given the liveliness of the exchange and the audience, one librarians were represented by Kama Siegel of Schwabe, would not have known it was so early on a Tuesday morning. Williamson & Wyatt. The international view was expressed A top-notch panel of speakers addressed a host of major by Reed Smith’s Loyita Worley, Senior Manager for Europe, issues affecting law libraries with a great deal of intelligence, the Middle East, and Asia. a healthy dose of wit, and in a collegial give and take with an outspoken and appreciative audience. “Law Librarianship Topics of discussion included: social media, open source Off the Cuff” featured topics as diverse as its panelists, software and materials, outsourcing, and even the new courting consensus and not shying away from controversy. WestlawNext. Each of the panelists delivered his or her own take on each of the issues, comparing and contrasting The morning’s panel consisted of three speakers from the the perspectives across their various industries within law United States, as well as one from the United Kingdom. Georgia librarianship. The audience was then invited to join in D. Chadwick, Librarian to the New Orleans Supreme Court the discussion. Join they did too! The exchange was brisk, was a local voice and represented government law librarians. respectful, and highly entertaining at times. Yale University’s Librarian for Emerging Technologies, Jason n Eiseman, provided the academic perspective. Law firm “Law Librarianship Off the Cuff” was sponsored by Dialog LLC.
Conference Review: “Cases, Codes and Content: An Introduction to Legal Research” by Tricia Bond Thomas, Alston & Bird LLP ([email protected]), 2010 Division Director
Abigail F. Ellsworth Ross drew a large crowd for her departments issue regulations, which are created to help presentation, “Cases, Codes and Content: An Introduction implement laws. Ms. Ross noted these agencies create to Legal Research,” on Monday, June 14, 2010. Abigail regulations for having the force of law. To illustrate her began by identifying the three branches of government: point, she used the example of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. legislative, executive, and judicial. Sarbanes-Oxley is a law sponsored by Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) and Representative Michael G. Oxley (R-OH) and Focusing on the legislative branch first, she detailed the was created as a response to many of the corporate and legislative process and identified primary and secondary accounting scandals of the early 2000s, such as Enron. In sources such as THOMAS, the U.S. Senate and House of order to ensure successful implementation and compliance, Representatives’ websites, GPO Access, Statutes at Large, and the Securities and Exchange Commission created a series Open Congress. Ms. Ross further explained the difference of regulations enhancing financial disclosure to work in between Statutes at Large, which is a chronological collection conjunction with the act. Ms. Ross also described the of laws versus the United States Code, which arranges laws Federal Register, a publication that serves as a daily newsletter by topic. She noted when attorneys ask for the legislative for the various executive agencies. She stated that in order history for a particular act, the librarian should provide the to obtain regulatory histories, a Freedom of Information Act bill, any committee reports, and any debates regarding the (FOIA) request is often needed because the various executive legislation, if available. agencies regard the related materials as internal documents.
Next, the speaker shifted her focus to the executive Ms. Ross then focused on the judicial branch. She branch. She explained that the executive branch consists explained that the U.S. District Courts are the courts of of the President of the United States and various executive first instance. Then decisions from the district courts may departments and agencies such as the Department of be appealed to the U.S. Courts of Appeal. Finally, the U.S. Energy and the Treasury Department. These executive Supreme Court is regarded as the court of last resort. There
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9 Summer 2010 Conference Review: “SPOTLIGHT SESSION-- Nuts and Bolts of Contract Management” by Susan M . Yancey, Director of Firm Libraries, Vinson & Elkins LLP
The last spotlight session of the SLA convention was may be forced to change simply because of budget a basic discussion of key points to consider when constraints. Since clients demand cheaper, better, and managing contracts. Carole Ginsburg moderated a faster products, status quo is NOT an option without panel discussion with Bill Noorlander (BST Content evaluation. Make sure you evaluate the functionality Management Consultant) and Craig Wingrove (MLIS, of the web products. How easily can the content be KPMG LLP). integrated and delivered to internal clients? What is the price? Since we are all forced to do more with less, Point #1: Internal User Surveys communicate throughout the process: email, portal postings, posters in the lunchroom, etc. The key is to As it is critically important to know the business needs balance the business needs of end users with the cost. of your users, consider giving away an iPad to reward participants of your survey. What do they use the Point #4: Vendors information sources for? Don’t assume they know who you are. Set up a working group or community Do your homework before you meet. Suppliers think of practice. This is your virtual team/client base and they know their customers. Look inward and gather should include a senior person. A periodic inventory of intelligence from end users and your professional tools can be really revealing. You might find that you networks. Troll listservs. Does this vendor meet my have a larger share of a vendor’s tools than you thought. needs? Is the content accurate? What are the volumes? Read Outsell Inc’s report which discusses “good enough What level of value will I get? Make a list of 5 key things content” (this report was referenced several times during you’d like to have. What would make the vendor happy? the presentation). Consider the lowest priced content in Is this a new offer? Is it a new sector to access? Gather this economy. And survey users on an ongoing basis— fee models. Set timeframes for a conversation. Be sure not just when a contract is being reviewed or renewed. to involve the legal staff early when contract discussions begin. Be clear with your objectives. Don’t leave any Point #2: What vendors do you use? And why? gray areas. Have open and honest communication.
Build an inventory of the vendors you use, e.g. Thomson, Point #5: How to Negotiate Bloomberg, Moody’s, S&P, etc. The number of vendors and the number of services you use is much higher than Gather market intelligence from SLA, colleagues, other you think. Once you know what vendors and services firms, and outside sources. Ask yourself: How does you are using ask: Why do I have multiple vendors this deal feel compared with others? Either you’re offering goods and services that are alike? What do these comfortable with the deal or your not. The vendor is vendors have in common? There is lots of overlap with not working from a rate card. They are working to get as aggregators and in this down economy cost containment much as they can from your account. Understand how is important. Organizations need to pay less for the same important the information is to the users at your firm. services so be sure to look for suppliers that are adaptable Recognize when you are at the end of the negotiations and have an ability to deliver usage metrics. Also, make because you might have to walk away. Be clear, sure the suppliers can provide offshore research groups, articulate, firm and reasonable. Outline what you want. expanded distribution rights, the ability to post content Be courteous and you can ask for almost anything. to portals, out of the box capabilities, RSS feeds, a variety There have been remarkable reductions in the last few of platforms (don’t pay for each platform), auto backup years so understand the market. Remind suppliers what software, and the ability to move away from geographic you’re willing to spend. To speed up the process, create seat locations to role-based seats. framework agreements that are product neutral. Overall goals: a holistic look at the entire cost; a model that Point #3: Change Management works for you and the vendor; invoices that are due after you receive the benefit of the service (Don’t pay up Ask yourself: Why are we making this change? Is it front!); flexible usage guidelines; a focus on data content cost? Is it content? Has there been a change in business rather than access; safeguard provisions; terms regarding requirements? Evaluate options on a regular basis. You change, e.g. mergers; the right to renegotiate; services
10 Summer 2010 you need, e.g. helpdesk; and guaranteed service levels (ask audience. It was co-sponsored by the Business & Finance for compensation if the service level falls). Remember Division and the Legal Division and sponsored by Wolters that the vendor is your partner so make sure you are able Kluwer Law and Business and Nina Platt Consulting. n to work with the vendor once the contact is completed.
The presentation concluded with a series of Q&A from the InternationalCorner Conference Review: “Cases, Codes and Content: An Introduction to Legal Research” Letter From Australia cont . from page 9 by Dennis Warren, Law Librarian, La Trobe University, Melbourne are also other specialized courts such of the U.S. Tax Court The Library Holy Grail—a single search platform? and the Court of Federal Claims. Ms. Ross noted that the Federated search options have been around for a while U.S. operates under a common law system. One opinion now, but it seems law libraries are just about to be subjected can affect another and precedents can be set. To explain to a new wave of publicity for new products offering a this system, she provided the example of the U.S. District single search box. In the last week I have received two Court in the Southern District of Louisiana (We were in New missives singing the praises of new products that sound Orleans, after all!) with an issue before their court. In the too good to be true. One advertises a “new enterprise common law system, the Southern District of Louisiana will search solution” which operates as a “unified single search look to their U.S. Court of Appeals (5th Circuit) and the U.S. gateway” and replaces the “time consuming task of logging Supreme Court to see how those courts may have addressed into countless systems, electronic databases and online the same subject. subscriptions…with a single, easy to use search interface.” To add emphasis, the last six words are underlined! Words The speaker concluded the session by answering questions like “intuitive” and “easy to use” are generously sprinkled and by quizzing the audience about some of the topics she through the accompanying glossy brochure, and there is covered in her presentation. A couple of the questions a reference to maximising the use of online subscriptions asked along with the answers included: by enabling searches across multiple databases from a single search portal. I’m sure that somewhere in the glossy Q: Who determines which cases are published? brochures there will be mention of a Google-like search A: If the judge thinks the subject matter is important, interface. relevant, and/or interesting, his or her opinion is likely to be published. However, seventy-five percent of opinions are But haven’t we heard all this before? At the risk of adding unpublished. another cliché to the mix: if it seems too good to be true it probably is. Q: Why doesn’t the U.S. Supreme Court grant certiorari for all cases coming to its court? Unfortunately there’s a bit of a catch to these systems. You have to buy the system first before you can really see A: The Supreme Court will not grant certiorari for a case if if it does what is promised. A large amount of time goes they believe the lower courts have answered the question at into configuring all the various resources so that they can hand adequately. be searched simultaneously and organisations become preoccupied with getting the plumbing right. Invariably Ms. Ross rewarded her attentive participants who answered some databases can’t be configured properly and often the her final quiz correctly with copies of the Legal Research subtle searching nuances are lost. By the time the system is Survival Manual and Legal Research in a Nutshell. The configured, it is too late—money has changed hands and presentation was a fantastic introduction to legal research you’re stuck with the product that you purchased. You’ve and the operations of our three branches of government. invested a huge amount of energy trying to make it work Furthermore, as a practicing law librarian for more than and you may have oversold the promise of the new system 15 years, I found Ms. Ross’s presentation to be a wonderful to the financial decision makers in your organisation, refresher course to enhance my knowledge and skills. n based on the glossy brochures.
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11 Summer 2010 Letter From Australia cont . from page 11
These systems seldom gives users a Google-like experience. are now witnessing a second wave of enthusiasm for super While there may be a single search box, the results that search tools. The search for the Holy Grail goes on and the come back seldom satisfy the user in the way that Google library user community is caught up—whether they want or Google Scholar does. They just can’t seem to replicate to be or not—in the next wave of experimentation. the relevance algorithm in the way Google does. Success as a scholar or a lawyer in some small way requires What to do next? Blame the user is one option—they’re not an investment in learning the nuances of the relevant searching properly, they need to be trained, we need help research tools. What are the relevant tools? How do I screens or more documentation. Another argument is to construct a search so I get the best results? Does it work convince yourself you bought the best system at the time like Google? If I type a phrase will it search for that phrase? and to try and make the best of the situation you’re in. Librarians talk about fostering information literacy—that Perhaps you will more clearly define what the new system means being able to locate and make sense of information can do—use this system for a quick and dirty search, but using a diverse range of sources. It is a skill and it can be use the native interface for more sophisticated searches— developed. Information literacy is a skill worth developing and bury the marketing and promotional claims that you because it will enable you to progress in the area of made initially. Perhaps you’ll try to put pressure on the your work or study. As we say in the material we have vendor that sold you the system to solve the problems so prepared for students on why they can’t JUST Google: that everyone benefits. “You need to be more than just one Google page ahead of your clients.” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp- After many years of development, many academic libraries ZGFd5o5A&feature=player_embedded) are silently turning off their first federated search engine. It failed to do what was intended because getting a front-end There seems to be a tension between dumbing down the that could effectively search all the silos of information just tools and training up the users and it’s a tension that couldn’t be made to work. But rather than giving up, we doesn’t seem easy to resolve. n
InternationalCorner Why am I telling you this? Because over the last 5 years, our Know-How team has been filming presentations, seminars and training sessions, and adding them to our Corporate Memory Library via the intranet. We have a Letter From Australia very solid library of videos so that lawyers can watch these by Miz Brmbota, Know-How Manager, Minter Ellison Lawyers videos from their desktops (or from home) and can gain one CPD point per hour watched. Continuing Professional Development If the lawyers can’t make it to a presentation in person, In Australia March is the time for Continuing Professional they can watch one from the comfort of their own office Development (CPD). Lawyers have until March 31 to or home—and they can watch it in parts. Our Corporate ensure they have gathered 10 CPD points for the previous Memory team splice all the videos into parts and link 12 months. It is a compulsory yearly requirement for them and label them accordingly. Lawyers can watch part of a if they are to keep their practising certificates. One CPD presentation and when they have time, hours or days later, point equates to 1 hour of attendance at a professional later they can finish watching it. We receive numerous presentation, seminar, training session etc. They need to hits on our Corporate Memory Library in March as lawyers ensure they satisfy the requirements under four categories: are eager to rack up their 10 points. • Ethics and Professional Responsibility This has proven popular with external clients who need • Professional Skills to build up their CPD points as well. They can watch our • Practice Management and Business Skills in-house videos or presentations of external presenters • Substantive Law we have filmed. Our lawyers often work with many in-house counsel who are not well resourced in their own Occasionally the lawyers’ hectic schedules prevent them firms so our videos have become popular with them too. from attending the required ten sessions throughout the The Know-How Corporate Memory Library has come a year. Consequently, we see a surge in March with lawyers long way in 5 years. This team runs with no fanfare and attending sessions to attain their 10 points before the end minimal fuss, but the value we add to the firm is great. n of month cut-off.
12 Summer 2010 The 2010 SLA Conference in New Orleans: Reflections of A Veteran Librarian by Larry Guthrie, Inter-library Loan Librarian, Covington & Burling LLP, 2010 Veteran Librarian Grant Recipient
In my previous installment on law librarians in New separate and distinct culture,” which is now threatened by Orleans (Law Library Lights, Spt./Oct. 1991, p. 3) about the the Gulf oil spill. AALL Conference two years before the founding of the SLA Legal Division; I quoted Walker Percy who said: “The Labor Law for 1.1 Billion People: Canon Law and peculiar virtue of New Orleans, like St. Theresa, may be Catholic Labor Principles that of the Little Way, a talent for everyday life rather than the heroic deed.” (Percy, Signposts In a Strange Land, p. 20). As Chair of the Labor Issues Section, I moderated the program “Labor Law for 1.1 Billion People: Canon Law Since then and the history-changing events of September and Catholic Labor Principles” presented by Fr. Sinclair 11, Hurricane Katrina, and the current oil spill crisis in the Oubre, a Canon Lawyer and Moderator of the Catholic Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans has retained that talent for Labor Network. His speech can be found at: http:// everyday living in a heroic way. I returned to the Gumbo www.catholiclabor.org/gen-art/CanonLaw_CatholicLabor_ Shop for their signature Seafood Gumbo and French Principles_6014010.pdf. In his Apostleship of the Sea, he baguette and butter; and spoke to hotel staff who said a ministers to the Gulf shrimp fisherman. year ago they decided to make all their food themselves including salsa, jambalaya, and bread. Another fitting He noted that there are 1,752 canons or rules in the presence is the statue of Sir Winston Churchill near Catholic Church and at the center is a person’s value rather the Mississippi River, which bespeaks New Orleanians’ than his or her position in an organization. From this resilience. It hasn’t been easy, however, because as one stems the official support of the Church for labor unions man said his rent has doubled and he hasn’t been able and the right to organize. He referred to the 1776 Wealth to find a job anywhere close to his previous income level of Nations and Adam Smith’s reference to the master- since Katrina. servant relationship.
The SLA conference was another important milestone, Regarding canon law, Fr. Oubre described the rights and both individually and collectively, showing the solidarity duties noting that everyone has something to give for the of SLA for New Orleans. President Obama also visited the common good. He explained that through solidarity we nearby Louisiana coast during the conference. are all responsible for everyone else and that all workers are bonded to each other. Through the concept of a just Keynote speakers and New Orleans residents Mary Matalin wage, everyone is entitled to live a modest life, including and James Carville addressed the conference on the healthcare for the family and the retired. There is a natural subject of “Politics in the Information Age.” Matalin right to join unions and they are indispensable in every said information is useful based on time, relevance, and profession. The concept of subsidiarity states that matters clarity. She has found aggregators most useful, such as the ought to be handled at the simplest level or at the least “hotline” in the 1980s and 1990s, which served as an early centralized component of authority, such as the individual fact sheet on political news. She exclaimed: “If money is before the family and the parish. These concepts have been the mother’s milk of politics, polls are its crack cocaine.” supported by papal encyclicals for many years, including She recommended the website RealClearPolitics.com as the Pope Benedict XVI’s Caritas in Veritate (Charity In Truth), modern hotline. What is the most read story? What is the who was later described by Fr. Thomas Reese, S.J. at most forwarded story? Georgetown as “sounding like a union organizer.”
James Carville, who is teaching at Tulane, said that Specifically Fr. Oubre said there are 3,000 Vatican and students are exposed to much more information than 20 Association of Vatican Lay Employees recognized by the years ago, but are they more knowledgeable? He noted the Vatican, especially since Pope John Paul II because of his difference between information and knowledge. He said own experience as a worker in his younger years. Canon “people use information like a drunk uses a lamppost— law recognizes the dignity of work, which is established for support.” He also noted that opinions are cheap but not by the work being done but by the person doing the information is expensive and that you are only as good as work; and in the event of a dismissal there should be a the information you have. He described New Orleans as “a continued concern for the person dismissed.
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13 Summer 2010 The 2010 SLA Conference in New Orleans: Reflections of A Veteran Librarian cont . from page 13
Fr. Oubre explained that there should not be a conflict events happen. In some cases, especially with financial between canon law and civil law. For example, Canon events, real-time reporting can be very expensive. He 1290 states that contracts are observed as civil law in noted that 500 million people have Facebook accounts and their own state. Additionally, Canon 230, the Right to you can search the accounts using Facebook-Search.com Remuneration, explains that a lay person has the right to and Search.twitter.com. decent remuneration and social security and Canon 1215 is the Right to Association. Fr. Oubre also pointed out the Other types of real-time examples include Exegy, a company 1979 case, NLRB vs Catholic Bishops, which resulted in the that tracks shipping worldwide within 15 minutes, and the exclusion of workers from the NLRB. Jackbe Company, which offers the Jackbe Dashboard to customize webpage displays. More examples are Crowdeye. Lastly, Fr. Oubre noted that the 1.1 billion Catholic Church com, Leapfish.com, Newslookup.com, Redtram.com, members should be familiar with the Canons that protect and Yauba.com. He said several of these services were workers’ rights. classified five years ago. Mr. Arnold also mentioned Fetch technologies as powerful systems, which have become free Law Librarianship Off the Cuff within the last 3 months. Lastly, Steve Arnold announced the completion of his new book: Disinformation. Another program, “Law Librarianship Off the Cuff,” prompted a discussion of social media. Yale Librarian International Virtual Libraries Jason Eiseman said students don’t use social media with librarians. And it was suggested by Lexis that the same The Google Books settlement was discussed at the social media policies be followed throughout a firm. Also International Virtual Libraries program. The settlement discussed was the Open Law project, which makes laws is now moving beyond individual author contracts and accessible via websites like Law.com, and the fact that more in the direction of requiring Congress to work out courts are making more than enough money through the details. Attendees discussed the opt-out option of Pacer. the Google contract, which makes it extremely difficult for publishers to enter titles they publish individually on Free websites mentioned were Justia.com, Oyez.org, Law. forms. There is also a movement towards a World Digital gov, and Law.cornell.edu. Open Source was mentioned as Library. Resources for can be found at Yvo.Volman@ a good resource for making laws available to the people at ec.europa.eu and www.europeana.eu. less cost. More at the SLA Conference Outsourcing was also discussed. One example cited was the outsourcing firm Integreon. Integreon has begun to With a panoramic view of the Crescent City, the Canadian run the libraries of several firms in England, as well as reception blended Southern hospitality in their own the IT and human resources’ departments by outsourcing distinct style. And while visiting with the Lexis folks, we them to India and Pakistan. One such firm is Cameron recalled the wonderful contribution that Cindy Spohr made McKenna, although it’s not yet “done and dusted” due to to the 2000 SLA Philadelphia conference by facilitating employment laws. Also in Toronto there is talk of shutting Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s speech to the Legal Division, who down individual law firm libraries in favor of a shared by the way attended Harvard with Legal Division’s Past library, such as the Law Society Library. Chair Charlene Cunniffe. RFK, Jr. spoke about the role of information in environmental protection. Emerging Technologies: Real-time Search What’s more is that Martha Foote had just returned from Another great program this year was Steve Arnold’s attending the Canadian Association of Law Librarians “Emerging Technologies: Real-time Search,” who is a Conference (CALL) in Windsor, Ontario. It brought back colleague of 2010 Legal Division Chair Constance Ard. His memories of attending the 1999 CALL conference in Banff qualifications are remarkable, including being a technology at the invitation of Suzan Hebditch, who encouraged the advisor to the White House. From his Beyond Search blog official liaison between CALL and the SLA Legal Division. (http://arnoldit.com/wordpress/), Mr. Arnold notes that During the 1999 CALL conference, I was honored to be very few web events are actually in real-time. Even email welcomed by law librarian leaders from CALL, AALL, is often delayed. He said that real-time does not mean as BIALL, OSALL and ALLG as we forged lasting alliances.
Summer 2010 14 This year’s INFO-EXPO hall was also great: a streamlined, Hedstrom has facilitated many division business lunches vibrant array of state-of-the art technologies and expert and events. Former Covington & Burling attorney and exhibitors mixed with entertainment, jazz, receptions, Fastcase founder, Phil Rosenthal, was also present. Fastcase and lunches promoting attendee networking. I am still has grown alongside the Legal Division over the past convinced that employers who send their librarians to the eleven years. Fastcase is also the recipient of this year’s annual conference get much more in return by keeping staff AALL New Product of the Year Award. The board meeting current through expert exhibitors, numerous continuing and Leadership Tea were a tribute to Constance Ard’s education courses, networking connections on whom to Kentucky hospitality and was greatly appreciated. At the draw for inter-library loans or even research favors during board meeting, Director John DiGilio had just arrived from the year. There are also rejuvenating receptions and festive Chicago where the city was celebrating the Blackhawks’ events, which staff look forward to all year. first Stanley Cup victory in 49 years (although he says he’s more of a Philadelphia Flyers’ fan). Karen Krupka, who was In addition to myself as the Veteran Librarian Travel Grant missed at the conference, was celebrating the Blackhawks’ Award winner, another travel grant recipient was Grace victory too. We also missed past SLA President Kitty Scott. Rosales, J.D., a newer law librarian from Howrey in Los Angeles. Her enlightening insights on the renewed draw to As SLA was wrapping up the conference on Thursday, the law librarianship in our ever-evolving field were instructive Marines came marching in delivering the Super Bowl rings to me and others. The International Travel Grant awardee to the New Orleans Saints at the Roosevelt Hotel—a point was David Ogden from the Ministry of Justice in the U.K. of great pride in the city. His presence prompted the renewal of an acquaintance from the 2002 British and Irish Association of Law And as I returned to D.C., the ALA Conference was arriving Librarians’ (BIALL) Liverpool conference, which I was with their newly-elected President, Molly Raphael, to who pleased to attend as past chair of the Legal Division in our I am grateful for appointing as a Delegate to the last White first reciprocal conference. Mr. Ogden also attended the House Conference on Libraries in 1991. As former Director 2004 SLA Nashville Conference and is a big fan of country of the D.C. Public Library, Molly promises to be a great music and the blues, which he enjoyed in New Orleans. We ALA President. discussed this during the beautifully presented Leadership Tea. Martha Foote, our past chair, generously explained So we bid adieu to the French Quarter once again with a the distinction between Afternoon Tea and High Tea. remarkable sense of spiritual renewal, perhaps explained best by author Louise McKinney in New Orleans: A Cultural Other conference events were the BNA Breakfast and Legal History. She remarks that “Tennessee Williams found the Division Business Meeting—a 14 year tradition in the French Quarter spiritually renewing in the mix of the Legal Division. Along with Linda Lev-Dunton, I greeted earthy and the ethereal,” which was also echoed by Blanche guests at one open house and was happy to see long- DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire: “Those cathedral bells… time friends, such as Lori Hedstrom from Westlaw. Ms. they’re the only clean thing in the Quarter.” n
Let the Good Times Roll! by Loyita Worley, Senior Manager if EMEA Library Operations, Reed Smith LLP, 2010 Non-U.S. Based Librarian Grant Recipient
New Orleans was my first ever SLA conference and my very people and made my first contact with a Legal Division first meeting with Legal Division colleagues even though member, Betty Edwards, who I later discovered is an SLA many emails had been exchanged. I heard positive things Fellow. I quickly realised that it was better to have ribbons from U.K. SLA members about the conference and was attached to your name badge so I was thrilled when I encouraged to take the opportunity. I was very pleased to discovered that I qualified for several in my own right attend! by being a speaker and a member of two divisions. My bubble, however, was pricked when I discovered from a My first session was the First-Timers Reception, which fellow delegate that you can actually buy the ribbons—and allowed me to meet others like myself to whom the amusing ones at that! conference was a new adventure. I began chatting with
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15 Summer 2010 Let the Good Times Roll! cont . from page 15
I was subsequently invited to the Leadership Tea where I met And of course there were the social events. Jazz was an many more Legal Division members. Following a delicious underlying theme as you might expect in New Orleans tea in the library at the Windsor Court Hotel, we moved to and I made sure that I had a Hurricane (rum, passion fruit the formal opening session at the convention center. The juice, and lime) with colleagues at Pat O’Briens in the conference was truly under way. The Opening General French quarter. I was very privileged to be able to attend a Session featuring James Carville and Mary Matalin was reception at the Louisiana Supreme Court where I was able most interesting. They gave the audience an enlightening to visit the courts and the library. I thought that the Legal and entertaining look at some important political issues Division open houses were an excellent idea. The open and related these to the provision of information. They houses offered an easy way to meet people in the same field reiterated that the irony of the information age is that the and were a friendly place to go to if you were unfamiliar increased accessibility of information is not necessarily with other delegates. helpful. There are more outlets and fewer stories. As we all know information can be good or bad either in quality or in For many years I have been a keen advocate in the the way in which it is used. James Carville made the point cooperation in international aspects of legal information that “Opinion is cheap, but news is expensive.” I found and the sharing of information—particularly among the this point very relevant in the Google information era. common law jurisdictions. The firm I work for has always had an international presence, but following a The BNA breakfast was a good and much appreciated start merger with Reed Smith in January 2007 I got to learn to Monday morning, which was followed by the session, more about the U.S. perspective too. Therefore, the SLA “Information Services in Transition: A Global Debate,” conference provided me with a wonderful opportunity where panellists discussed trends developing around the to attend sessions and meet with people from a variety of world. Ironically, one of the speakers was an academic backgrounds and jurisdictions as well as learn more about librarian from a university in England. It was interesting my particular areas of interest. to hear how someone outside of the legal profession is approaching the dissemination of information. In fact, In many cases—within law firms at least—our role these days many of the challenges are the same in that today’s libraries is to act as facilitators in regard to legal information since are no longer as focused on physical space and there is an most information is now delivered directly to the desktop. increasing need to engage library users and deliver relevant Our research and management skills are now pulled in information and training in other ways. different directions as we grapple with new challenges in providing in-depth business research, economic recessions, My main purpose in attending the conference was to technological developments, and the ever changing nature contribute to the Legal Division’s “Law Librarianship of law firms and how they deliver services to clients. An Off the cuff” session, which consisted of four panellists organisation like SLA lends itself to supporting new skills representing very different areas of legal information and to encouraging knowledge sharing between members. discussing issues of particular interest to them. I thought that the format worked well and I learned much about In spite of the size of the conference, which was much the topical issues facing U.S. law librarians. I hope that larger than any we have in England, I found it surprisingly I was able to contribute equally from my international easy to find my way around and felt at home right away. perspective. It became apparent that one of the most Everyone I met was very approachable so I made many new controversial issues in U.S. legal information at present is friends. As a result, I have a better understanding about the introduction of Westlaw Next. Where Westlaw U.S. how SLA and the Legal Division work, which I am sure will leads, Westlaw U.K. tends to follow so I had the somewhat prove useful to me in the future. In return, I hope that I will n strange sensation of gazing into the future. be able to reciprocate from an international perspective.
I dipped in and out of the INFO-EXPO hall, taking the opportunity to speak with the U.S. vendors of the services we currently use in order to explore new resources and technologies that are not available in Britain. Needless to say, I did look at Westlaw Next to find out what all the interest was about!
16 Summer 2010 Full Disclosure: Get to Know a Legal Division Member! by Tracy Z . Maleeff, Duane Morris LLP, Division Chair Elect-Elect
The Legal Division had so much fun at the annual do a lot of hard work and let someone else take the credit conference in New Orleans, that we’re not quite ready to for it, and still be proud of your accomplishment. leave the Bayou State! This installment of “Full Disclosure” profiles one of NOLA’s own. So, grab a bowl of shrimp and Q: What was your first job and your first library- grits and linger a little longer in Louisiana. related job?
Name: Michael R. Smith My first job was at the Burger Chef on Dixie Hwy. Title: Deputy Circuit Librarian in Dayton, Ohio, and my first library job was in the Employer: Fifth Circuit Library Circulation Dept. of the Wright State University Library, Location: New Orleans, LA Dayton, OH. Burgers or books, it’s all public service.
Who dat librarian? Michael R. Q: What do you think is the biggest misconception Smith has worked in libraries for 35 about New Orleans? years—22 of those with the Federal The biggest misconception about New Orleans is that it Courts. He is a long-time member is ethnically segregated. There is more genuine daily of both SLA and AALL. He enjoys interaction and camaraderie amongst the various ethnic his personal zoo of cats and dogs, groups here than I can imagine in any other American and watching the Super Bowl XLIV city. Most of the locals embrace the diversity like they do Champion New Orleans Saints. He with all the different ingredients in making gumbo. It’s even has time to be a comedy what makes New Orleans unique. writer for the satirical publication called, “The New Orleans Levee: We Don’t Hold Anything Q: What’s one law library/librarian-related blog, Back.” Check out his work at www.nolevee.com. website, or Twitter account that you just can’t go one day without checking? Q: In one sentence, what does your job entail? http://underneaththeirrobes.blogs.com –‘nuff said. I deal with people, problems, numbers, budgets, books, websites, issues, facts, myths, plans, changes to plans, Q: Here is the last, but perhaps most important time, lack of time, and research. question. Who is your favorite librarian—living or dead, real or fictional? Q: What’s your biggest work or career challenge? I think Charles Patterson, a former professor at LSU’s Like many librarians, it is often fatiguing to keep convincing School of Library and Information Science who is now non-librarians about the value of libraries and librarians. deceased, was my favorite librarian of all time. He taught We’re usually the first target of the cost cutters. Cutting reference with passion and humor and I keep using his librarians to save money is like cutting off your leg to lose tricks of the trade in my daily reference work. One of his weight. You may save money, but you’ll be limping along tips: “Never assume the researcher knows what they’re in front of everyone else, and you’ll probably finish the really asking for.” has helped me thousands of times. race in last place. Full Disclosure and the Legal Division Quarterly thank Q: What is your educational background? Michael R. Smith for his participation. B.A. Liberal Arts, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, and Would you like to be featured in the next installment of Full an MLS from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA Disclosure? Or, would you like to nominate someone? Please Q: In your opinion, what one quality makes contact Tracy Z. Maleeff at [email protected]. n someone a law librarian?
A positive public service attitude, and an ego that doesn’t require tons of Purina Ego Chow. You have to be willing to
17 Summer 2010 “Opinion is cheap, but news is expensive ”. The 2010 SLA Conference in New Orleans by David Ogden, Senior Librarian, Ministry of Justice, London, UK, 2010 Non-U.S. Based Librarian Grant Recipient
I was recently awarded a bursary to attend the Special Later on Sunday we attended the SLA Opening General Libraries Association (SLA) conference in New Orleans. It Session. In this joint presentation, James Carville and Mary was held from June 13-16 , 2010 at the Ernest N. Morial Matalin, gave audiences an enlightening and entertaining Convention Center. look at today's most important view of Washington politics. “Opinion is cheap, but news is expensive” was Together with Loyita Worley of Reed Smith, I was awarded one of his themes. Mr. Carville was very anti-BP and upset the SLA Legal Division non-U.S. law librarian travel grant. about the Gulf oil spill as were many people I met. And Ms. You had to say in 500 words why you wanted to attend the Matalan informed us that as a student she loved using the conference. Dewey Decimal System.
Forty-nine SLA librarians, including myself, did voluntary On to SLA Salutes! Awards and Leadership Reception. work sessions at the Louisiana Historical Center Library I thought this event at Mardi Gras World was free to (part of the Louisiana State Museum). Hurricane Katrina conference attendees, as at British conferences, but on was the worst natural disaster to hit the United States arrival I discovered people had paid $75 for their tickets. causing an estimated $81.2 billion I was told: No problem. Go on worth of damage in August 2005. through! We managed and assisted in a spine labelling project for a heavily used On Monday, I attended the Legal reference collection. Books had been Division business breakfast. Loyita recovered from several libraries that Worley and I were presented to the had been flooded and never reopened audience as recipients of the 2010 following the 2005 hurricane. My non-U.S. Based Librarian Grant. highly technical role was to climb Later we went to Generations Hall up and down a step ladder locating for the International Reception, the required books! Many of the including the presentation of books featured John James Audubon the 2010 SLA Europe IP Award. (1785-1851)—a French-American I enjoyed meeting three Arabic ornithologist. He painted, catalogued, speakers—having learned the and described the birds of North language to some extent while America in a form far superior to working in Egypt during the 1980s. what had gone before. Lots of sights One was an American working including a park are named after him in Abu Dhabi. The other Arabic in New Orleans. speaker, a Kuwaiti, said that the Iraqis stole or destroyed Kuwait’s Following my volunteer stint, I ate books in the invasion. Fortunately my way through the Old Quarter and David Ogden volunteers in a spine labelling most were replaced by the United the French Market, stopping for an project at the Louisiana Historical Center Library. Nations. enormous Creole tomato salad at the Tomato Festival. A three day Cajun Zydeco Festival was On Tuesday, I attended “Law Librarianship off the Cuff.” in full swing too so I was fortunate to see the wonderful The panel discussion featured leaders from a variety Buckwheat Zydeco perform. of backgrounds in legal librarianship, including Loyita Worley. The panelists addressed hot topics including On Sunday, I attended Mass at the St Louis Cathedral, before outsourcing law library services in U.K. law firms. This an inspiring gospel brunch at the House of Blues. We were session was the highlight of the conference for me, giving invited to afternoon tea with SLA’s Legal Division at the me several practical ideas for the current recession. Windsor Court Hotel. Larry Guthrie from Washington D.C. was very welcoming—I became previously acquainted with Next came “60 Sites in 60 Minutes.” From the best to the him at the 2004 Nashville SLA conference. He was speaking bizarre to the most informative and the most entertaining, later in the week at a talk on Catholic labor law, which I our panelists spent just a little more than a minute attended—“Catholic Labor Law for 1.1 Billion People!” explaining each site. The time was fortunately extended
18 Summer 2010 to 90 minutes so there was more time to devote to each saw the Rebirth Brass Band at the trendy Maple Leaf in the site. Several sites related to death were featured, such Garden District. At the Ogden Museum of Southern Art as Cemeteries.com, much to the audience’s amusement. I saw country blues performer Jimmy Duck Holmes. He is “Don’t be satisfied with the death certificate, find the proprietor of the Blue Front, one of the oldest juke joints bones!” said the speaker. in Bentonia, Mississippi. At Preservation Hall I saw Tommy Sancton’s New Orleans Jazz Band, far superior to any jazz Then on Wednesday, Pamela Arceneaux, Curator at the performance I’ve ever seen. Historic New Orleans Collection, gave a wonderful talk on the former New Orleans red light district: Storyville. This I spent a fascinating morning at the New Orleans School of entertaining insight looked at the real history of prostitution Cooking. We were taught how to make gumbo, jambalaya, in New Orleans, including references to correctional girls, and crawfish etouffee. A religious choir from Georgia also casket girls, quadroon balls, red light areas prior to Storyville, attended with a bizarre picture of New York complete with prominent personalities, the Blue Books, jazz, and the the Twin Towers on their “Mission and Music” t-shirts. demise of Storyville in 1917. Pamela bowed several times during the long spell of applause. My favourite southern food is catfish so I climbed over a levee along the Riverbend and chatted with a poor family Later that day came the Closing General Session. In a fishing for huge catfish in the Mississippi. These whiskered lecture based on his book, The Shallows: What the Internet monsters of the deep put up a terrible fight before being is Doing to Our Brains, Nicholas Carr described how the pulled out of the muddy waters. Later in the trip I enjoyed Internet is eroding our ability to read deeply and absorb a catfish po’boy—like a baguette—and seeing catfish at the knowledge—the skills we develop from reading books. It riverfront Aquarium. will be interesting to see how the iPad impacts our reading activity. I’m keen on attending SLA events in London. Our Summer Soiree will have taken place by the time you read this with At both conference events and non-conference events, I a business breakfast at Olympia this December. If you’re saw some wonderful live blues and jazz music. Brass bands based in London, come and join us! n are huge in New Orleans. During my first night here, I
Experiencing the Big Easy from a SLA First- time Attendee by Grace Rosales, Reference Librarian, Knowledge Services, 2010 New Member Librarian Grant Recipient
My first trip to New Orleans was during the 1994 Jazz Fest. the “original recycling program,” pointed out the beautiful The town was filled with wonderful, lively jazz music and French Quarter homes, as well as areas devastated by fantastic cuisine. Needless to say, I was excited that my Katrina. He told us about the celebrities now living in New first SLA Conference experience brought me back to NOLA. Orleans, the craziness of Mardi Gras, the filming in NOLA, To prepare for the conference I read, “Tips for Making the which is helping revive its economy, and his disdain for Most of a SLA Conference,” as well as downloading the BP. Overall, I thought the bus tour was a great idea for recent New York Times article, which featured New Orleans convention attendees to see the lay of the land as well as restaurants. meet other information professionals in other divisions. I actually sat next to a Canadian news librarian who is I arrived early to participate in the New Orleans City Bus visiting NOLA for the first time and decided to make the Tour, wherein hundreds of attendees participated. Our trip a mini-vacation. Everyone left the bus more excited tour guide, New Orleans native Harry—whose strong facial about New Orleans than before they started the tour. features reminded me of a superhero cartoon character— told the crowd that he’s been in several movies and has One of the great things about being in a town like New worked alongside Brad Pitt. We were also told that our Orleans is the wonderful cuisine available everywhere. tour bus driver moonlights as a chef at a New Orleans One cannot go to NOLA without trying some of its restaurant. This dynamic duo kept us entertained as they fantastic restaurants. As most conference goers know, took us all over the city. They narrated its history, showed there is either a division or vendor event at every breakfast, us the elaborate cemetery tombstones, which he termed lunch or dinner. Thus, being the foodie that I am, I wanted
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19 Summer 2010 Experiencing the Big Easy from a SLA First-time Attendee cont . from page 19 to be sure I at least got to eat some good New Orleans Not only did I thoroughly enjoy the programs, but they cuisine. On one free night, I went to NOLA, an Emeril opened my eyes to other issues. One was the Diversity restaurant. Even though I dined alone at the bar, it was Leadership Development breakfast, which featured Art not long before I was having a spirited conversation about Munin’s presentation on White Privilege and how it librarianship with another conference attendee—this evolved and is perpetuated today. Seeing all the diverse time from the transportation division who gave me some information professionals listen to this powerful lecture great career advice. That is what’s so great about the SLA really left an impression. The other was John DiGilio and conference experience. There are so many information Gayle Lynn Nelson’s practical and fun presentation, “60 professionals ready to share their experience with you. Sites in 60 Minutes,” which was back by popular demand. It was standing room only with people even standing I thought it was smart planning to have all the continuing outside the door. I also liked how the conference was able education events scheduled prior to the opening of the to incorporate non-library type events like the Degas tour exhibit hall and before any division presentations. I so that attendees can take a break from the programs and was impressed with the good selection of continuing the chaotic exhibit hall. education courses from “Empowering Lawyers with the Latest Research Tools” to CI certificate programs. Though Finally, the conference planners di d a good job of I wanted to take advantage of some of these offerings, I felt holding events outside of the convention center so that that the price for students ($199-$495) was too expensive attendees can see other famous places in NOLA. It was to warrant skipping the SLA Leadership Institute which impressive to attend an event at the Louisiana Supreme was held from 7:30-12 p.m. on Sunday. Court for the West Coast Chapters Reception, a vendor event at Pat O’Brien’s on Bourbon Street, and High Tea at Looking at the conference schedule, I was impressed with Windsor Court courtesy of the Legal Division. All these the programs offered and the hardest part about each day events enabled attendees to network, meet other division was choosing the programs with competing time slots. members, and make new friends. Because I am president of a new student chapter, UNT/ CSUN, I felt it was important to attend the SLA Leadership There are so many ways I have benefitted from attending Institute to listen to current and future leaders discuss this conference. As a student and full-time law firm the current state and future of SLA. I learned about the librarian, it was invaluable to personally speak with past SLA Alignment Project and the Alignment Toolkit to help and future leaders who can serve as role models while I members communicate their value to their organization. continue to work hard in finishing my MLIS degree. I In addition, I listened to candidates address issues that have also acquired new tools to assist me in my current concern the members. Even though I was the only position as well as network with hundreds of vendors and student sitting at a table of chapter presidents and other information professionals not just from different past officers and was in awe of their accomplishments, disciplines, but also from other parts of the world. they reassured me that I have something important to contribute to the conversations as I am part of SLA’s Overall, l left the conference with a new sense of renewal future. I was also impressed with the formation of the in my job and more enthusiastic than ever to be in First Five Years Council which will address the needs of this profession. I look forward to sharing my positive new information professionals such as me. After the conference experience not just with other colleagues, 4-1/2 hour program, I left impressed with what the SLA’s but also with other student members who really wanted leadership hopes to accomplish. to attend but were not financially able to do so. I will let them know that the SLA Conference is an experience The opening ceremony, which featured the husband-and- that they will never forget and one that they should wife political commentators, James Carville and Mary aspire to attend in the future. More importantly, I made Matalin, set the tone of the conference on a high note. connections that will help guide me as I venture further Aside from talking about the disaster in their beloved city, into this profession. I am so grateful for the SLA Legal they spoke about the importance of quality news sources Division because without their financial assistance I and the blurring lines between opinion and news. My would not have been able to experience this wonderful favorite quote came from Mr. Carville who equated the conference. It solidified my decision to join SLA as a closing of libraries with extinguishing candles: "Every student member and to start a SLA student chapter. Now time a library closes, we blow out a candle against the I look forward to becoming more involved with the dark." What a great choice for keynote speakers. association as I progress further in my career. n
20 Summer 2010 Archives Volunteer Receives Materials by Anne Abate, Ph.D., Library Discount Network
Thank you to all of the former officers that mailed identifying some photographs and other miscellaneous materials to the archives! These items have been material. processed and added, thanks to a volunteer in the Cincinnati area. Alita Vogel is a Cincinnati area librarian If you have anything that you think should be maintained who volunteered to help the Legal Division by processing in the Legal Division Archives, please email Anne Abate the 2009 materials into the files. Alita is also working on with the details at [email protected]. n
Meet Your Candidates for the 2011 Legal Division Board of Directors
Kami L. Bedard one year position as Secretary of the Legal Division. This Manager of Library Services work has provided me with the chance to get much more of a bird’s eye view of how the association works and I Pierce Atwood, LLP am thrilled at this stage to be a member of the Board Portland, ME and very much look forward to the possibility of getting even more involved as the Chair Elect-Elect of the Legal I am very excited to be Division. running for the position of Chair Elect-Elect of I am currently the Manger of Library Services for Pierce the SLA Legal Division. Atwood, LLP, with offices in Portland, Maine, Augusta, I would like to get more ME, Boston, MA, Providence, RI, Portsmouth, NH and involved with the SLA Washington, DC. I manage two full-time Library staff Legal Division for a members and oversee research services provided to over host of reasons. First 130 attorneys. I am also responsible for issues relating to of all, this experience copyright management, Intranet content development, would be invaluable and assist the Marketing department with business to me personally in development initiatives. In addition, I belong to the helping me to further firm’s Wellness Team which spearheads events related to my professional career bettering the health of our employees. I started at Pierce and objectives. Also, Atwood as a Library Assistant and it was back at this and just as importantly, time, in 1997, that I was in Library school and was urged this opportunity would by one of my professors to apply for a student stipend allow me to share my insights and knowledge with the award from the SLA Business & Finance Division. To SLA Legal Division with the purpose of helping further my surprise and delight, I won the award and was able its mission. Throughout my many years as a Librarian to attend my first SLA conference in the lovely city of for a law firm in northern New England, I have actively Seattle. Back then, SLA as an association and as a resource contributed to SLA, both as part of the Boston Chapter seemed much more daunting to me. Today, however, and the Legal Division. I have also been a regular voice with a wealth of experience working in a private law firm on law librarian listservs, asking important questions library under my belt, I am in a much different place, about topics of interest to many of us in this field, and I am eager to increase my level of participation in an such as moving to a single vendor platform, intranets, association that has been a key part of my professional and budgeting, just to name a few. As an active learning for 13 years. member of the SLA Boston Chapter, I became involved as that chapter’s Maine liaison 6 years ago and have been I am also a member of AALL and LLNE, as well as a hosting annual events since that time. I have handled local informal group of law librarians who get together the many organizational aspects of planning these events monthly to discuss common issues over lunch. I grew and met a number of other library professional through up in northern Vermont, but have spent most of my the hosting of these sessions. More recently, I took on a n professional years in Portland, Maine. cont . on page 22
21 Summer 2010 Meet Your Candidates for the 2011 Legal Division Board of Directors cont . from page 21
Beth Maser branch in Denver and manages LAC Group staff at ABC Senior Director, Professional Services News, Carlyle Group, United States Agency for International LAC Group Development, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Rockville, MD Administration and several others. Beth spends much of her time networking within the legal community as her other Like many industries and responsibilities include business development and strategic professions, law librarians and planning initiatives. information professionals are becoming casualties of the In her free time, Beth is the current Business Manager for current economic situation. It is the SLA Solo Division and has successfully fundraised for the critical that we work together as division while working closely with the Division Chair. She a team to ensure our survival in also volunteers as an alumni mentor for MLIS students at this profession. Each of us can The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Beth has also served effect change as individuals, but as the Vice President of Membership for two years on her together we are a powerful force daughter’s middle school PTA Board of Directors. to be reckoned with in the legal industry. Information access, electronic sources, even how we Prior to joining LAC Group in 2009, Beth launched the work has changed. These days there are choices we can either Business Critical Research practice geared towards law firms work onsite or telecommute. We can be a direct employee and corporations at The History Factory. As the Chief of our organization, or we may be employed by another firm Knowledge Officer at Litigation Research Associates, Beth built and placed on assignment somewhere else. No matter how we a successful national legal research consulting practice. Beth are working the crux of library and information services still likes to say she was Erin Brockovitch before everyone knew needs qualified and experienced professionals to serve our who Erin was. patrons. It is because I feel so strongly about our profession Beth earned her MLIS from the University of Wisconsin- and its future success that I am running for SLA Legal Division Milwaukee and has a M.A. in History and Public Policy from Secretary. George Washington University and a B.A. in History from n Beth currently serves as LAC Group’s Senior Director of Washington University in St. Louis. Professional Services. She works closely with our legal staffing
Dagfinn Senturia For the past ten years, I have been living in the New York Reference Librarian City area, but I recently moved to Denver, Colorado and Holland & Hart LLP plan to become active in the Rocky Mountain Chapter of our Denver, CO organization.
I am interested in serving as In addition to my SLA membership, I am currently a member Secretary to the Legal Division of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) and the of SLA because I would like to Colorado Association of Law Libraries (CoALL). This year give back to the organization that I volunteered in various capacities for the AALL annual helped me launch a fulfilling and conference, which was held in Denver. Also this past year enriching library career. I began I participated in Lexis’ 3-day series of training workshops, in the field largely due to the Teaching Research in Private Law Libraries in Dallas, TX. encouragement of a SLA member who provided me helpful advice I am currently a reference librarian at Holland & Hart LLP in when I was choosing a specialty Denver, CO. Prior to joining this firm, I worked for seven years in library school, and who at Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP in New York City, continued to serve as a mentor leaving as senior reference librarian. I received my MLIS in to me in my early days. As Secretary I hope to disseminate Library and Information Science from Rutgers University, and information from various meetings timely and accurately, my B.A. in German from the Ohio State University. contribute to the decision-making process, and to remain open I am excited to be offered this opportunity to serve in the to hearing and forwarding the interests of other members of position of Secretary for the Legal Division of SLA. n the Legal Division.
22 Summer 2010 Sara Batts professional post since qualification in 2006. Obtaining an Senior Research Librarian MSc in Information Science facilitated a career change from Reed Smith LLP a conference organiser at a major UK health association. My London, UK first full-time post was with the UK firm Addleshaw Goddard. At Reed Smith I am responsible for co-ordinating training for I joined SLA via the European Chapter’s Early Career new fee earners and trainee solicitors in London as well as Conference Award in 2009, which introduced me to the providing current awareness updates and the all-important association at first hand in Washington, DC. This immediate research services. experience demonstrated that the SLA is an enormously beneficial organisation – and one that provides opportunities I have been an active member of the London legal information to give back to it, too. community since a few months after graduation in 2006. I joined the City Legal Information Group committee and have The most important thing I for the last two years served as its membership secretary. This can offer the Legal Division is in addition to the regular work of CLIG of co-ordinating is a further international events for London colleagues. I have also worked with the perspective. Working for a US British & Irish Association of Law Librarians, recently as vice- firm, but based in London, I chair of a sub-committee. In this role I oversaw the annual see both sides of the coin when salary survey, moving from print to online for the current it comes to understanding and version, and supported BIALL’s conference activities. In 2009 sharing information between I joined the board of SLA Europe as blog editor, implementing different legal and regulatory a change from the production of a print newsletter. I am still systems. I can recognise the a member of the Chapter’s Digital Communications team but challenges and experiences have handed on the blog editorship in favour of the more we all share, in whichever challenging role of president-elect. jurisdiction we operate. As a member of the SLA Europe board, I have contact with a wide In addition, I am preparing for my first two conference range of information professionals helping to foster European presentations in autumn 2010; as well as working on my part- communication and knowledge sharing. Secondly, I has a time research degree. proven track record of professional association volunteer My first degree is a BSc (Hons) Psychology from the University service; juggling working commitments with out-of-hours of Nottingham (1995) and my MSc Information Science, meetings and events. Serving as Director for the Legal awarded at distinction level, was from City University, Division would be an immense privilege as well as a personal London. n career stretch.
I am currently Senior Research Librarian in the London office of Reed Smith LLP. Joining in 2008, this is my second
Karen Krupka more important but becoming less accessible to many. I Information Professional believe our current task should be to find ways to reach our Willow Springs, IL members in new ways such as webinars and other online tools. Such tools will enhance our visibility and make us I have always placed a relevant in today’s professional environment. As a long-time high value on association SLA and Legal Division member, I still believe in the value membership. It provides of conferences, but expansion of educational and other benefits not normally available professional opportunities can only help us in an effort to through employers, such reach our entire membership. as outstanding professional development opportunities Positions held: McGuireWoods LLP, Technical Services and connections to members Librarian, 2007-2009. Responsible for all aspects of technical in other fields to whom we services including but not limited to: cataloging, maintenance would not otherwise have of integrated library system database, serials management, access. In the current difficult working with Library Assistant to ensure receipt and processing economic times, this is even of library materials and submitting claims where appropriate,
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23 Summer 2010 Meet Your Candidates for the 2011 Legal Division Board of Directors cont . from page 23
Karen Krupka Information Professional Willow Springs, IL budget management, and accounts payable. Wildman, Chicago Association of Law Libraries, 1985-present Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP, Reference Librarian, 1984-2006. Responsible for reference and research services in multiple Awards and Grants: Special Libraries Association, Illinois subject areas including legal, news, public records, medical/ Chapter Distinguished Achievement Award, December 2007; healthcare, and government documents, using appropriate Special Libraries Association Legal Division 2007 Veteran sources including print, web-based and commercial databases. Member Conference Grant Winner; Special Libraries Association Legal Division Leadership Award for service as Education: Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Treasurer and Division Manual Chair, 2001-2002. Forest, IL, Master of Arts in Library Science, August 1984; Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest, IL, Publications: “For the New Law Firm Librarian: A Conversation Bachelor of Arts in Home Economics, May 1976 Between Two Veterans”, LLRX.com, April 12, 2010 (http:// www.llrx.com/features/lawfirmlibrarytrenches.htm). Also Professional Memberships and Activities: Association of published as “From the Law Firm Library Trenches: A Independent Information Professionals, Member, 2009-present Conversation Between Two Veterans”, Legal Division Quarterly, Special Libraries Association, 1983-present, including Illinois vol. 17, no. 1-2 (Winter/Spring 2009-10) Chapter, 1984-present. Committees including Budget, Chapter Manual, Hospitality, Great Lakes Regional Conference “A Conference Attendee’s Primer”, co-authored with Lori Organizing Committee, Democratic National Convention Hedstrom and Charlene Cunniffe, Legal Division Quarterly, vol. Information Services booth, 1996. Offices held: Chapter 8, no. 4; revised and republished, vol. 9, no. 4, revised and Treasurer, 2005-2007. Legal Division, 1993 – present (founding posted to Illinois Chapter website at http://www.slaillinois. member). Committees: Centennial Publication Production, org/node/109 March, 2006. 2009; 2004 Annual Conference Program Chair, 2003-2004; Chapter Manual Committee Chair, 2000-2001; Columnist, Columnist, Legal Division Quarterly, 1999-2001, “Member Legal Division Quarterly, 1999-2001. Offices held: Division News” n Treasurer, 2001-2003.
Liz Smith Legal Division by initiating innovative program ideas and to Law Librarian explore new fundraising opportunities for the Division. My Stites & Harbison, PLLC experience in SLA and the Legal Division has been invaluable Lexington, KY to me and I would like to continue volunteering my time and efforts to their mission and goals. As Director of the Legal Division, I would strive to Liz Smith is a law librarian at Stites & Harbison, PLLC in make my term as Director Lexington, KY. Liz became involved in SLA by serving as successful by concentrating my student chapter president at the University of Kentucky where efforts on the strategic focus she received her M.L.I.S in 2005. Liz has been an SLA and as outlined in the Division’s Legal Division member since 2004. She is also a member of Strategic Plan. I believe that the Kentucky Chapter. membership development and the leveraging of technology As an active member of SLA, Liz has been editor of the Legal can be improved through newer Division Quarterly since 2007. She is currently serving as avenues of communication, e.g. co-chair of the Communications Ad-hoc Committee and @SLALegal, when combined Director At Large for the Kentucky Chapter. Liz also served with a redesigned division as a member of the Legal Division’s Nominating Committee n website and a more interactive newsletter. If elected, I in 2007. would work to advance the continuity and strength of the
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SLA Legal Division 2010 Executive Board CHAIR DIRECTOR SECRETARY PAST CHAIR Constance Ard Tricia Thomas Kami Bedard Martha Foote 4405 Fallen Apple Lane Library Manager Manager of Library Services General Manager, Louisville, KY 40218 Alston + Bird LLP Pierce Atwood LibraryCo Phone 502-777-2890 1201 W. Peachtree St. 1 Monument Square Osgoode Hall Portland, ME 04101-4033 [email protected] Atlanta, GA 30309-3424 130 Queen Street West Phone: 207-791-1142 Phone: 404-881-7117 Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2N6 CHAIR ELECT [email protected] Fax: 404-253-8227 Toll-free: 1-866-340-7578 John DiGilio www.alston.com Phone: 416-947-3952 Manager, US Research Services TREASURER Geri Heberlie Fax: 416-869-0331 Reed Smith LLP DIRECTOR Electronic Services Librarian [email protected] 10 South Wacker Dr. Gayle Lynn-Nelson Greensfelder, Hemker 40th Floor Information Professional Chicago, IL 60606-7507 & Gale, PC LexisNexis Phone: 312-207-3902 10 South Broadway For meeting minutes, usually 125 Park Avenue Fax: 312-207-6400 Suite 2000 found in the Advisory Board/ 30th Floor [email protected] St. Louis, MO 63102 Committee Chair information, New York, NY 10017 Phone: 314-335-6803 please see the Legal Division Phone: 212-309-8177 CHAIR ELECT-ELECT [email protected] web site at Tracy Maleef Fax: 212-403-2030 http://units.sla.org/division/dleg/ Information Resource Analyst gayle.lynn-nelson@ Officers.htm Duane Morris LLP lexis-nexis.com 30 South 17th Street Philadelphia, PA 19103-4196 Phone: 215.979.1726 Fax: 215.979.1020 [email protected]
Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Cincinnati, OH Permit No. 6523 Elizabeth L . Smith Stites & Harbison 250 W. Main St. Lexington, KY 40507