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Volume 16 No.AALL 4 ■ February 2012 SpectrumAALL: Maximizing the Power of the Law Library Community Since 1906

In This Issue 11 A law libraryʼs experiences using SMART Technologies 13 The value of a law firm libraryʼs manager and staff 15 How libraries can assist faculty throughout the publication process

From the Desk to the Bench

A judge uses skills she 08 learned as a law librarian

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Vol. 16, No. 4 February 2012 from the editor By Mark Estes AALL Spectrum Bookends Editorial Staff t’s a small world after all!” Years who have both an in-depth knowledge of Marketing and Communications Manager the organization and broader contacts than Ashley St. John [email protected] ago, a trip to Disneyland with our two-year-old daughter involved one person might reasonably be expected Editorial Director “I multiple trips on the It’s a Small World to enjoy. This committee’s networked Mark E. Estes [email protected] ride. For years after that, I broke out in a resources are intended to facilitate its ability Copy Editor Robert B. Barnett Jr. cold sweat at the thought of taking that to provide lists of potential candidates for Graphic Designer Kathy Wozbut ride again. Fast-forward three decades to a committee appointments” so that “where return trip to Disneyland and another ride possible, the committee membership will 2011–2012 Law Library Journal through It’s a Small World, but this time reflect a balance of geography, library type, and AALL Spectrum Committee years of experience and other demographic Chair Merle J. Slyhoff with our two granddaughters, aged one and Vice Chair Linda C. Corbelli three and a half, one on each side of me in factors. Obviously, in a small committee, the boat. I would have gone again. representation of all factors is not possible. Members Moreover, because committees perform tasks Mark P. Bernstein Darla Jackson In the time between those two rides, Wendy Biddle Marguerite I. Most many things happened: I helped raise our which transcend geographical boundaries Sean H. Crane Mark E. Estes (Ex-Officio) daughter, moved four times, changed and library types, rigid adherence to Judy K. Davis Janet Sinder (Ex-Officio) employers twice, and changed job balance, while preferred, is not required.” Deborah S. Dennison Deborah L. Rusin (Board Liaison) Timothy Gallina responsibilities untold times. The Association’s print communication More broadly, the world changed, tool, AALL Newsletter, which used to be 2011–2012 AALL Executive Board becoming more complex and changing ever published four times per year with no ads or President Darcy Kirk more rapidly. Law firm libraries expanded photos, morphed into a glossy print magazine Vice President/President-Elect Jean M. Wenger and shrank in physical size and physical issued nine times per year and is available in Secretary Deborah L. Rusin Treasurer Susan J. Lewis volume count but not in the range of print and electronic formats. It is now also Immediate Past President Joyce Manna Janto services provided. The Library of Congress archived and searchable on the members-only Executive Director Kate Hagan completed the KF schedule, and some section of AALLNET (thanks to a partnership with William S. Hein & Co.). Members public libraries dropped Kathleen Brown Diane Rodriguez classification schemes in favor Discussions about topics of Lucy Curci-Gonzalez Ronald E. Wheeler Jr. of bookstore-like displays. interest to the members took place Gregory R. Lambert Donna S. Williams The number of legal at the business meeting constrained AALL Spectrum (ISSN: 1089–8689) is published monthly except specialties grew, as did the by Roberts Rules of Order. In 1992, January and August with combined September/October by the format of legal information, from a comment made by Camille American Association of Law Libraries, 105 W. Adams Street, Suite Broussard, I suggested to then 3300, Chicago, IL 60603. Telephone: 312/939-4764, fax: 312/431- while the number of legal 1097, email: [email protected]. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, publishers shrank. AALL President Carolyn Ahern Illinois and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address Much about AALL and the board that we hold an changes to AALL Spectrum, 105 W. Adams Street, Suite 3300, changed too. “open forum” after the business Chicago, IL 60603. The year before my first meeting where members could raise Writers wanted — contribute to your Association’s magazine. interminable ride, Jack Ellenberger was the questions and concerns without stating For guidelines, visit www.aallnet.org/main-menu/publications/ second law firm librarian president of them in the form of a motion but which spectrum/policy-spectrum.html or contact Editorial Director Mark E. would become part of the official record of Estes at [email protected]. AALL (and the second Covington & Burling law librarian to serve as president). the Annual Meeting. The early years had AALL Spectrum Submissions Since Ellenberger’s term, three law firm extensive comments at the open forum, Article ideas for the following issues must be approved by the but more recently the quantity dwindled editorial director by the following dates: librarians have been elected AALL 2012 Issue Approval Deadline president. AALL also held the first to fewer than a half-dozen. Now, almost Vol. 16 No. 9 July March 10 contested election for vice president/ 10 years after the first open forum at the Vol. 17 No. 1 Sept./Oct. June 14 Annual Meeting, there is an electronic open No. 2 November July 12 president-elect because of a petition candidacy. After the election, the forum for members to raise concerns about AALLNET: www.aallnet.org membership amended the bylaws to require the Association and law librarianship. two nominees for each position on the My two It’s a Small World rides Advertising Representative Executive Board. Later, the Nominations bookended half my life and a time of Innovative Media Solutions upheaval, of increased complexity in the 320 W. Chestnut Street Committee and process became more P.O. Box 399 open, excluding from membership on the challenges law librarians face, with the Oneida, IL 61467 Nominations Committee current members changes and complexities increasing ever Telephone: 309/483-6467 of the Executive Board, excluding members faster. Generally, we as a profession and an Fax: 309/483-2371 E-mail: [email protected] on the committee from nomination for one Association have coped exceptionally well, year, and charged with “present[ing] a slate demonstrating our abilities to find solutions AALL Spectrum is a free benefit of member ship in the American that, if elected, would maintain a balance to new challenges while improving the Association of Law Libraries. Of each year’s dues, $42 is for one year customer service experience. We can of AALL Spectrum. Nonmembers may subscribe to AALL Spectrum for on the Executive Board of members by $75 per year. For membership and/or subscription information, please library type, geography, sex, and minority continue that success through discussions contact the American Association of Law Libraries at the address representation to the extent possible.” on the new open forum, continuing above. From two business meetings during education, professional Association activities, the Annual Meeting, a constitution laughter, and play to nourish our creativity AALL Publications Disclaimer so we can carry and share the childlike joy This publication is provided for informational and educational and bylaws, and snail mail voting, the purposes only. The American Association of Law Libraries does Association moved to one business meeting I rediscovered with my granddaughters. not assume, and expressly disclaims, any responsibility for the at the Annual Meeting, streamlined bylaws, statements advanced by the contributors to, and the advertisers in, the Association’s publication. Editorial views do not necessarily and electronic voting. represent the official position of the Association or of its officers, The committee appointment process, directors, staff, or representatives. All advertising copy is subject to which had seemed closed and limited to editorial approval. The Association does not endorse or make any those known by the incoming president— [email protected] guarantee with respect to any products or services mentioned or aallspectrum.wordpress.com advertised in the publication. often meaning that the committee membership remained the same for years— All content copyright 2011 by the American Association of Law changed to establish a nonrenewable term Libraries, except where otherwise expressly indicated. Except as otherwise expressly provided, the author of each item in this issue has on the committee and a requirement that Correction: In the December 2011 issue’s granted permission for copies of that item to be made for classroom each committee include someone who use or for any other educational purpose, provided that (1) copies had not served on a committee (except “Washington Brief,” page 4, the chart is are distributed at or below cost, (2) author and AALL Spectrum are identified, and (3) proper notice of copyright is affixed to each copy. when the committee required specialized titled “Enacted Bills.” However, none of For items in which it holds copyright, the American Association of expertise, like the Copyright Committee). the bills listed have been enacted into law. Law Libraries grants permission for copies to be made for classroom Now the president has an Appointments Spectrum regrets this error made during the use or for any other educational purpose under the same conditions. Committee to “provide the Vice President/President-Elect and others as editing process. necessary with a network of members AALL Spectrum ■ February 2012 1 AALLFeb2012:1 1/12/12 11:02 AM Page 2

contents

DEPARTMENTS

@spectrum 03

COLUMNS Next Month in Spectrum 20

Memorials 23 From the Editor 01 Member to Member 27 From the President 04 Views from You 28 From the Secretary 06

Washington Brief 07

The Reference Desk 24

The Sustainable Law Librarian 26 ANNOUNCEMENTS

AALL Grants Committee Announces 21 Grants for Boston Annual Meeting

Anderson, Eaton, and Thorpe 21 Elected to Executive Board AALL Nominations Committee 25 Seeks Candidates for Office

The Call for Papers Has Begun 25

CENTER INSERT

The CRIV Sheet

On the cover: Marsha C. Thomas, judge for the City of Taylorsville Municipal Justice Court in Utah. Photo by Paul Fraughton of The Salt Lake 11 Tribune.

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FEATURES

08 From the Desk to the Bench 28 Skills I use as a judge that I learned as a law librarian By Marsha C. Thomas

11 Teaching SMARTly A law library’s experiences using SMART Technologies By Cindy Guyer

13 The Business of the Law Firm Library The value of a law firm library’s manager and staff By Mark Gediman

15 Assisting Faculty with Publishing How libraries can assist faculty throughout the publication process AD INDEX By Michelle Cosby 05 BNA inside front cover LexisNexis 16 Information and Knowledge, an Inquiry The distinction between information and knowledge inside back cover Oxford and how it helps define our roles 25 Margaret Leary By Christopher McNeely back cover West

18 The Law Library as Place What is the law firm equivalent of gaming night in the library?

By Megan Wiseman 20 Read more Spectrum articles online

22 AALL Member Profile: Paul McKenna Lecturer at Dalhousie University’s School of Information Management

@spectrum

AALL’s members have been tweeting about Spectrum, and we’ve been listening. Here’s what you’ve been buzzing about. @joshualaporte: Reading new issue of AALL Spectrum. Enjoying the Yirka Question piece and the UMich getting law students into the library piece @librarylulu: Read of my love of Kindle, @thecowpasture & Seyðisfjörður in the Sept/Oct @aallnet Spectrum http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Publications/spectrum/Vol-16/No-1/m2m.pdf

AALL Spectrum ■ February 2012 3 AALLFeb2012:1 1/11/12 12:31 PM Page 4

from the president by Darcy Kirk What is the Value of Associations, or Is It Safe to Row Alone?

ou are probably tired of my are taken to a screen with information Support. Finally, AALL provides us rowing analogies by now. I might about AALL and why you should join. with the support we need to accomplish Y agree with you, but just a few days The first paragraph has what I would call what is necessary in order to be ago, an older man went rowing alone the AALL value proposition. It states successful as law librarians. That support just south of where I live, and his empty that AALL is “the only professional includes the advocacy work done by boat was found a few hours later. They association dedicated solely to legal our Government Relations Office in still have not found his body. information professionals. AALL Washington, D.C., where AALL Okay—this is an extreme example, offers programs and services to help promotes the information policy issues but rowing alone is not safe (especially you succeed in your career.” That first that are important to our profession. MaMa this time of year) and neither is rowing paragraph is followed by others with Once we become members, we use alone as a professional. It may be because the headings Community, Knowledge, the tabs across the top of AALLNET: lablab I am an association president, but I am Leadership, and Support. Each is Member Resources, Education and more aware than ever before of all the followed by a brief explanation of the Events, Careers, Member Communities, emem associations that exist. Indeed, the heading and how it will help the Advocacy, Publications, and Leadership issuissu American Society of Association potential member. and Governance. The first tab, Member Executives (ASAE) says there were Community. This word has Resources, lists many value-laden insiinsi 90,908 trade and professional immediate power. Didn’t we benefits of membership, especially for associations in 2009. If there first join AALL to enter a newer members. Those include CALI prapra are that many associations, community of others like us? lessons, links to chapters, information just think of the numbers of And haven’t we all benefited about the partnership with Drexel members nationally. We are for many years (some of us for University’s library program, and grants. in excellent company. We all more years than we are willing to All of these will pay back many times understand the value of being an admit) from a lifetime of substantial the dollar value of membership dues. association member. professional relationships? These are The other tabs provide access to ASAE is the father—or should I say not just professional relationships additional member benefits, including mother?—of associations. Several of but, in many cases, life-long friendships. Law Library Journal and Spectrum, job AALL’s headquarters staff are members of Indeed, it is often difficult for me to placement information, educational ASAE. The ASAE website is a font of remember how a relationship began opportunities, and leadership plans. information regarding association value because it feels more like a friendship Ultimately, however, I firmly believe and benefit to members. It begins by with a professional gloss rather than the association membership value is directly defining the term “value proposition” other way around. And, with the advent related to an individual member’s level as an offer (by an association) to an entity of AALL’s new website, there are now of involvement. Personally, my (an association member) where the many opportunities to collaborate relationships, education, career, and member perceives that he or she receives, professionally, communicate socially, or understanding of information policy in relationship to alternatives, more than just “lurk” on multiple community sites. have all been greatly enhanced by my he or she gives up. The value proposition AALL also partners with other related active involvement in AALL. I could is generally a clear and succinct statement associations, allowing members access to simply have sat back and accepted the by the association that outlines its unique an even broader network of education, numerous benefits I just discussed, but value-creating features. Thus, it is a information, and relationships. my personal benefit would have been marketing statement for the association Knowledge. We also joined AALL greatly diminished. Indeed, associations that sells its members on membership. to improve, enhance, and advance our have survived for centuries. If they had It is also the sum of all the benefits knowledge of the skills needed to be a not provided value, they would not have members receive. law librarian. Whether those are teaching survived. In the end, the real reason for Until recently, association legal research, researching business law, their survival is the personal connection. membership was taken for granted. or managing a law library, we have been The personal involvement is what Individuals entered a profession, paid offered the educational programming to sustains associations and helps them ToTo s their dues, and signed up for their improve those skills. Indeed, education thrive. That is the value that matters professional or trade association. Those is one of the pillars of our strategic plan, and lasts. FREFRE associations were established to advance and it will probably never leave our So, in closing, the next time you the particular profession or trade, and mission statement. As librarians, we are are thinking about rowing alone, 800800 individual members did not question already educators, so it is natural that remember there is truly safety and value the value of association membership. we would demand ongoing professional in numbers—especially as an association wwww Today, however, simple advancement development, as well as opportunities to member and particularly as a member of a profession by an association is share what we know with others. of AALL. See you down river. ■ not enough to entice people to join. Leadership. This is another pillar of Darcy Kirk (darcy.kirk@law. Members are looking for more tangible our strategic plan. As new law librarians, uconn.edu) is associate dean for library benefits for their membership dollars. we join AALL to become leaders in our and technology and professor of law at the workplace as well as our profession. But They want to know exactly what they are University of Connecticut School of Law receiving in return for their dues spent. what may not be as obvious to some of Library in Hartford. So, what is the AALL value us is that through leadership in AALL, proposition? What sells us on AALL we develop the skills to be leaders in membership? If you go to AALLNET other areas—including our workplace and click on “Join or Renew Today!” you and community.

4 AALL Spectrum ■ February 2012

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from the secretary by Deborah Rusin

lthough it was dark by the time Association may wish to lead and provide • The Annual Meeting report and I arrived, I still welcomed the services to its members in the near future. recommendations by Velvet A quiet reprieve of the McDonald’s Chainsaw Consulting Corporation Campus, the site of the fall Board Meeting Executive Board meeting held November President Kirk presided over the Consent Items 3-5. In addition to the formal board Executive Board meeting, welcoming Consent items are considered agreed to meeting, other activities included a Vice President Jean Wenger; Past by the board simply by their submission meeting of the Finance and Budget President Joyce Manna Janto; Secretary and presence on the agenda. The action Committee and the Futures Summit. Deborah Rusin; Treasurer Susan Lewis; items submitted to the board include: and board members Kathleen Brown, • Vice President Wenger’s 2012- Futures Summit Lucy Curci-Gonzalez, Greg Lambert, 2013 Executive Board meeting This year’s fall Executive Board meeting Diane Rodriguez, Ronald Wheeler, and schedule witnessed the first Futures Summit, Donna Williams. Also in attendance • Recommendations of the Public an initiative by President Darcy were Council of Chapter Relations Committee: new Kirk and the Futures Summit Presidents Chair Patricia categories and extended time Planning Special Committee. Barbone and Special Interest period for the Day in the Life During the course of the Section (SIS) Council Chair Photo Contest Futures Summit, approximately Kathy Carlson. Headquarters • Recommendations from the 30 AALL members, as well as staff members in attendance Diversity Committee to streamline the Executive Board, began included Kate Hagan, executive and revise the Minority Leadership discussing changes in the director; Paula Davidson, director Development Award application profession, leadership and mentoring, of finance and administration; • Recommendations from the and communication. Andy Hines, Emily Feltren, interim director of the Continuing Professional lecturer and executive-in-residence at Government Relations Office; Pam Education Committee to revise its the University of Houston’s Graduate Reisinger, director of meetings; Kim charge to remove the phrase “and Program in Future Studies and academic Rundle, executive assistant to the Speakers Directory” from the sixth futurist, was the keynote speaker at the executive director; and Celeste Smith, bullet point in the Continuing Futures Summit. Maureen Sullivan, director of education. Vendor Liaison Professional Education Committee an organization development consultant Margie Maes also attended the meeting, charge whose practice focuses on delivery as did guests David Lutz of Velvet • Recommendation of the of consulting and training services Chainsaw Consulting; Michael Membership Development to libraries and other information Ginsborg, AALL member; Julie Pabarja, Committee to approve revised organizations, served as the facilitator AALL member; Holly Riccio, AALL language of the committee charge for the breakout session discussion and member; and Timothy Tlusty and One consent item failed: dialogue. Dan Kowitz, IEG consultants. recommendation of the Membership Questions for discussion included Development Committee to revise but were not limited to: Action Items language of the committee charge. • What do academic librarians, Action items are agenda items for which private law librarians, and a vote of the board is required. The Information Item state/court/county law librarians following action items were among Information items are for informational need to remain essential to their those approved and adopted by the purposes to the membership only. organizations? board during the meeting: One consent item was submitted to • How could the Association better • The minutes of the Executive the Executive Board: that it approve a organize to support academic, Board meeting for July 2011 revision of the fiscal year 2011-2012 private, and state/court/county • The minutes of the October 17, budget to authorize a reduction of the law librarians? 2011, Executive Board conference Annual Meeting registration fee by • How can law librarians play a call $25 to $520 for members and $770 for proactive role in the modern • Formation of the Caucus on nonmembers. evolution of legal education/ Consumer Advocacy with the law firm/court and county following statement of purpose: Reports government operations? The AALL Consumer Advocacy Kirk discussed her appointment of a • What would encourage you to Caucus will recommend to the Special Board Committee on Caucus become more of a leader in the AALL Executive Board that it Formation to develop a policy and Association, and what can the petition appropriate government guidelines for AALL caucus formation and Association do to support your bodies for specific remedies governance. The committee will be chaired leadership? for anti-competitive and unfair by Vice President Wenger. Kirk also • What strategies should the business practices by legal discussed the appointment of two task Association adopt to communicate information sellers. forces based upon recommendations from more effectively with members? • Formation of the Environmental the Vendor Colloquium Working Group • How should the Association Libraries Caucus on Shared Principles: the AALL Guide to communicate with those outside • Recommendations of the Strategic Fair Practices for Legal Publishers Revisions of the Association? Directions Committee: to Task Force, to be chaired by Kay Todd, Overall, the Futures Summit was implement strategic direction and the Library Procurement Processes well-received by all and provided the action items approved by the Improvements Task Force, to be co- discussion and framework for how the board for 2011-2012 chaired by Katherine Lowry and Tracy (continued on page 12)

6 AALL Spectrum ■ February 2012 AALLFeb2012:1 1/11/12 12:31 PM Page 7

washington brief by Emily Feltren Looking Ahead to 2012

ASHINGTON, D.C., to create a more effective and efficient December 9, 2011—The new government-wide records-management Enacting UELMA year brings many opportunities framework. AALL is pleased with this On November 30, 2011, AALL W President Darcy Kirk sent a letter to for AALL to promote its public policy step forward on records management priorities at the federal and state levels. and will continue to work with the White John Sebert, executive director of the During the next 12 months, the House and NARA to ensure agencies Uniform Law Commission, expressing Government Relations Office follow through on the memo’s AALL’s support for UELMA. The act, (GRO) will work with the requirements. which comes after many years of Obama Administration and We will also continue to advocacy by the Association on the need Congress to support better work with NARA to ensure for digital authentication, preservation, records-management practices that the Electronic Records and permanent public access, provides and improve the Freedom Archives (ERA) meets its states with an outcomes-based approach of Information Act (FOIA); mission to preserve and provide to authentication and preservation of coordinate with the Uniform Law public access to the permanently electronic legal material. AALL’s letter Commission and AALL members to valuable electronic records of the federal will be included in the legislative packets enact the Uniform Electronic Legal government. AALL has expressed that state legislators will receive. It is also Material Act (UELMA) in the states; concerns about letters from NARA’s posted in AALL’s Advocacy Toolkit (see and collaborate with the Administrative inspector general that reveal that the sidebar for more information). Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC) and ERA lacks full-text searching capabilities. AALL will continue to coordinate the Government Printing Office (GPO) NARA officials have stated they will with the Uniform Law Commission to to expand access to and use of the Public work with their new contractor, IBM, ensure UELMA is enacted at the state Access to Court Electronic Records to address full-text searchability. level. The GRO is working closely with (PACER) system. The GRO relies on our In addition, the National Plan commits our members in the states that have members to help educate lawmakers and the United States to improving FOIA by included UELMA in their 2012 advocate for our issues; see the sidebar for professionalizing FOIA officers and better legislative plans, as well as other states more information about how to track our using technology to make the FOIA process that have indicated interest in the act, progress and join the Advocacy Team. more efficient. The Department of Justice’s including California, Colorado, Office of Information Policy has stated Connecticut, Kentucky, Louisiana, Promoting Openness and that it will work with agencies through its Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Tennessee, Transparency technology working group to share ideas and Wisconsin. In September 2011, the White House and come up with effective solutions. released its National Action Plan, AALL will continue to advocate for passage (continued on page 12) fulfilling one of the requirements of the Faster FOIA Act (S. 1466 and of the Open Government Partnership, H.R. 1564), which would create the a new global initiative that supports Commission on Freedom of Information transparent and accountable institutions Act Processing Delays to identify ways to GRO Resources around the world. The National Plan improve FOIA’s administration. builds on the Open Government The National Plan also addresses the Government Relations on AALLNET: Initiative established by President need for agency collaboration to make www.aallnet.org/main-menu/ Obama’s January 2009 Memorandum on public by the December 31, 2013, Advocacy/aallwash Transparency and Open Government. deadline more than 400 million pages Importantly, the administration of classified records. President Obama’s Our monthly newsletter, the commits in the National Plan to 2009 Executive Order on Classified Washington E-Bulletin: improving federal-records management. National Security Information (E.O. www.aallnet.org/main-menu/ A recent Records Management Self- 13526) established the National Advocacy/aallwash/Washington- Assessment organized by the National Declassification Center at NARA to E-Bulletin Archives and Records Administration handle this backlog and promote the (NARA) revealed there is an urgent need public release of historically valuable Advocacy Toolkit: for better records-management practices: permanent records. AALL strongly www.aallnet.org/main-menu/ 95 percent of agencies self-reported that supported the creation of the National Advocacy/aallwash/Advocacy- they are at moderate to high risk of Declassification Center when it was Toolkit compromising the integrity, authenticity, originally proposed in the 1997 and reliability of their records. In Moynihan Commission report on Advocacy Discussion List: November 2011, President Obama government secrecy, and in November www.aallnet.org/Documents/ released a Memorandum on Managing 2008 AALL endorsed recommendations Government-Relations/aalladvoc to the Obama-Biden Transition Team in Government Records that requires each subscribe.html agency to submit to the archivist of support of its creation. We are honored the United States a report that describes that the director of the center, Sheryl the agency’s plans for improving or Jasielum Shenberger, will speak during a Washington Blawg: maintaining its records-management program sponsored by the Government aallwash.wordpress.com program. The memo also requires the Relations Committee at the 2012 director of the Office of Management AALL Annual Meeting in Boston, and Budget and the archivist to develop “The National Declassification Center— a new Records Management Directive Will It Meet Our Expectations?” (A2).

AALL Spectrum ■ February 2012 7 AALLFeb2012:1 1/11/12 12:32 PM Page 8

Photos by Paul Fraughton of The Salt Lake Tribune. From the Desk to the Bench Skills I use as a judge that I learned as a law librarian

By Marsha C. Thomas

he first seven years of my legal not told her husband about the criminal The Research Skills career were spent in an academic charge and instead told him she was I think the most valuable skill I learned Tlaw library in Salt Lake City going to a doctor’s appointment. Instead, as a law librarian is the ability to research where I worked the public reference she spent more than 30 days in jail. any type of question and not be afraid desk and taught legal research to law On the flip side, one thing I thought of legal research. It is the ability to take students. Many of the skills I use now as would be easy that has turned out to be a complicated scenario and narrow it a judge I learned then as a law librarian. hard is performing out-of-court wedding down into one or two essential questions When I became a judge, what ceremonies. The reasons I think they are surprised me the most was that the to research. It is having the knowledge so hard is that they are very scripted, and about the available research tools for things I thought would be easy were the expectation for a perfect performance hard and the things I thought would any particular question and being is high. My husband has come home to comfortable with having to find out more be hard were easy. me watching candle ceremonies on the For example, I always thought it information before giving an answer. internet so I could figure out how to As a new law librarian, I would would be very hard to send someone to perform one without the fear of burning jail but quickly learned that by the time almost have an out-of-body experience someone. someone ends up being sentenced to due to nervousness when someone jail time, they usually know it’s coming. Wedding ceremonies performed in approached the reference desk and One time early on when I did not court usually involve only a few people, started in with a complicated fact send a defendant to jail and instead and it is easy to exceed expectations. situation. I eventually figured out that placed him on probation, the defendant After one in-court ceremony with a bride if I categorized the question and broke gave a sigh of relief, the defense attorney and groom dressed as if they had just it down into different issues, it became a gasp of surprise, and the prosecutor finished a mountain hike, the bride said easier to direct the person to the proper a grunt of indignation. Everyone except to me, “That was so beautiful; can I get a sources. On the bench, I listen as me knew the defendant was supposed copy of the ceremony?” Beaming, I said, attorneys give me complicated factual to go to jail. “of course,” at which time she replied, and legal arguments and issues to resolve. On another occasion, it was my turn “I want to use it for my real wedding.” While they are doing so, my mind to be surprised. Because people usually Besides giving jail time and is doing the same thing it did at the have an idea they may be going to jail, performing weddings, much of the rest reference desk: categorizing everything it surprised me when I had a defendant of judging feels like an extension of into different issues while trying to who acted shocked about being sent to the skills I learned during my years as determine what information I have, what jail. Later, I found out the defendant had a reference librarian at a law library. I still need, and the best way to get it.

8 AALL Spectrum ■ February 2012 © 2012 Marsha C. Thomas AALLFeb2012:1 1/11/12 12:32 PM Page 9

An experienced librarian can usually into a microphone to someone dressed in giving help at any level about any type of spend a few minutes on any topic and all black sitting on a raised platform. question. I remember helping an know whether the question can be This is why I do not take it individual dressed casually in jeans and a answered quickly or whether it will take person ally when defendants occasionally t-shirt only to find out later that there additional time. As a judge, I do the say, “Yes, sir.” was a building on campus named after same thing while thanking my lucky Then, because I know it is hard him. I also developed the ability to be stars for the years I spent as a law to listen when nervous, after I have comfortable interacting with all types of librarian. I can quickly figure out sentenced someone, I may pause and say, emotions, whether it was anger, whether a question in court is something “So the most important thing for you to entitlement, sadness, or confusion. I can answer or something that will remember is … .” It is the same thing On the bench, this ability to interact require additional briefing by attorneys. I used to say to anxious law students equally with all types of people, no matter I remember the first time a jury in while teaching legal research. who they are or where they are emotionally a criminal case sent word with the To be able to connect personally or intellectually, has been an extremely bailiff that they were unable to reach a with anyone who approaches the bench valuable skill for me. Defendants may be unanimous decision. What is the next or reference desk at whatever level they angry, cry, or adamantly declare that the step in this type of situation? I had never are at and explain complex things in court has no power over them, and I am experienced this before, and it was late understandable language is such an comfortable communicating with all of with no one available to ask. So what did important skill; I make an effort to use it them. This makes the rest of the court I do? What I had done for years in the even when I feel like I have already said staff comfortable and results in a better law library: I sat down, researched it, and the same thing 100 times that day. courtroom. had just found some good language for As a reference librarian, I gave the the instruction I was supposed to give same introduction to researching in the Developing Patience when the bailiff came back and said the library over and over again. Now, it is During my years as a judge, I have jurors had asked for a few more minutes the waiver of rights I have to go through learned that patience is not so much because they thought they were going with each defendant. In both instances, about controlling my temper as it is to be able to reach a decision. Score. though I knew then and know now every about trying not to laugh at the strange word by heart, it is all new to the person things that happen. Explaining Complex Legal hearing it, and I know each interaction As a law librarian, there were many Concepts Simply can still bring surprises. opportunities to develop patience and Another skill I learned spending all those One time I was reviewing a request the ability to remain calm in strange hours at the reference desk and teaching for a public defender with the defendant situations. For example, there was the law students is the ability to explain and I asked, “How much money is in time we had to trap a wild cat that complex legal terms and processes clearly, your savings account?” It feels like I have somehow found his way into the library. without legal jargon. asked this question 100 million times, He was jumping from the top of one As a librarian at the reference desk, and the answer is usually, “$25, just student desk to another, trying to latch I quickly learned that if I used legal enough to keep it open.” In this case, onto the ceiling titles. It was during jargon without explaining what the the defendant answered, “$100,000.” a Saturday shift, so it was the student words meant, the public didn’t have I looked up to see if he was joking, and assistant and I who had to try to trap a chance at understanding what I was he was not. I verified that he had really him. After the cat bit both of us, we saying. The law students were also said $100,000, finished the questioning, thought we had him cornered in the coping with a big learning curve. and calmly denied the appointment. compact shelving, but he still managed I had to try to make complex ideas I can still be surprised. to escape again before he finally made understandable while still making a his way outside. personal connection even though I was Learning Not to Judge People During another Saturday shift repeating the same information time The reference desk also teaches us that we had a report of a person who was and time again. a patron’s appearance does not correlate frightening the other patrons on the It is the same in court. If I use a to either the difficulty of that person’s second floor. When I went up to legal term, I usually repeat its meaning in question or his or her comprehension of investigate, the man was sitting very still plain language. For example, “The next the information. in a trance, reading a book while moving step is a pre-trial conference, which is a I remember how the first weeks it around in a figure eight on the desk. meeting with the prosecutor to see if of summer always brought the new He was doing this all very slowly, taking you can reach a resolution of the case.” associates and students into the library. I about 10 minutes per page. But what I often see defendants who are used to think the firms saved their hardest could I do? Call security and say, nervous, and it reminds me how scary research questions for this group. They “Hey … there’s a patron here who it can be to come into a courthouse came in looking terrific and knowledgeable, is frightening the others … yes, he’s with armed bailiffs and attorneys and yet they often were in dire need of help. reading a book … but he is reading it clerks talking in what must seem like a In a public law library, I quickly very, very slowly … ”? So instead of different language. Then, finally, when it learned not to judge the various types calling security, we allowed the patron is their turn to approach the podium and of patrons by their appearance or choice his space, and after a few hours, he left speak to the judge, they have to speak of topics, and I learned to be open to on his own.

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At the library, there were patrons Managing the Multi-task an attorney to help. “Do I really have who would try to use the restrooms as On a busy reference day, there are to read all this? Can’t you just tell kitchens and others who would try to multiple patrons working in different me what I should do?” These are the evade security and stay overnight in the parts of a law library on different same questions I now get on the bench. conference rooms. Little did I know all projects. There may be a law student Some patrons will always be sad, these experiences would be great training working on a paper in one corner of the mad, indignant, or shocked when I won’t to be a judge. library while someone is trying to figure tell them exactly what they should do, Once, I was arraigning a defendant out how to modify a divorce decree in and that is something that comes with on video at a remote connection. another. A good reference librarian the territory of being a judge or law For some reason, the connection had knows where those patrons are and librarian. Just stand firm, and continue feedback, and whenever I spoke, I could checks in to see how work is progressing to say yes to legal information and no to hear myself in the feedback sounding and to give additional direction if legal advice. exactly like a talking chipmunk. “Hi, needed. This is the skill of being able to It Takes a Village this is Judge Thomas, can you give me juggle multiple tasks and questions at your name?” sounds pretty funny in a I cannot do it all on my own. At the law library, I quickly learned that it takes a team to make everything work. I would not have found anything as a reference To be able to connect personally with anyone who approaches the librarian if it was not catalogued properly bench or reference desk at whatever level they are at and explain complex or the filing was not up to date. Luckily, things in understandable language is such an important skill. I had great colleagues who gave me the support I needed to succeed. It is the same in the courtroom. once and know where the people I was once filling in at a court where chipmunk voice, and, “Can you tell me attached to those multiple tasks and I had to send someone to jail, and I said your birthdate?” sounds even funnier. questions are located. the magic words, “I remand you to the I tried to hold it in but finally burst out It is the same in the courtroom. On custody of the Salt Lake County sheriff.” laughing. When I tried to explain to a busy day, I may have several attorneys I remanded her once, I remanded her the defendant that every time I spoke trying to settle cases in the conference twice, and then finally the clerk leaned it sounded like a chipmunk, he was not rooms, defendants waiting for their turn over and said, “Since you are substituting amused. at the podium, and witnesses waiting to on a day when we don’t usually have I have never used the gavel, though see whether they need to testify, with court, we don’t have a bailiff.” there have been times when I should three or four defendants from the jail I could remand someone into have. Instead, I quickly learned my waiting in the holding cells to see me. Just custody all day, but it will never work unless I have a bailiff. I could talk natural instinct for stopping attorneys or as I learned as a law librarian to check in intellectual lingo all day from the bench, defendants from arguing with each other with the different groups and keep them but it will not be recorded correctly if was to give a time out signal—or at least all on task, I now do the same as a judge. I thought it was a time out signal until the judicial assistants do not do their job. my husband told me it was really a Understanding Legal I once had a bailiff ready his weapon and technical foul signal. Either way, it Information Versus Legal stand between me and a potential threat. worked for me until one night in small I know I cannot do it all on my own. claims court. The defendant and Advice My strength and safety depend upon plaintiff’s wife were arguing, and I gave On the reference desk, I learned to say others. the time out/technical foul signal—and yes to legal information but no to legal I have wanted to write this article it did not work. I had a perfectly good advice. “Yes, I can direct you to sources, since I became a judge. Why? Because gavel on the bench, but did I use it? but, no, I can’t tell you what you should I want law librarians to know how No. Instead, I did some type of flamenco do or how that information may apply valuable their skills are. After 20 years dance clap off to the side and above my to your particular situation.” It is the and a varied legal career, I know that the head. It didn’t work either but did result same on the bench. Usually the question skills learned in a law library are some in a lot of teasing by court staff. comes to me now as, “What do you of the most valuable, some that can’t be Although there are many times think I should do, judge?” learned in any other setting. Enjoy them. I want to laugh or make a comment Both law librarians and judges have Develop them. Value them. ■ about what is happening around me, a responsibility to be neutral, not to act Marsha C. Thomas (mthomas@ as an attorney for someone. As a law after the whole chipmunk incident, taylorsvilleut.gov) is a judge for the City I generally try not to laugh in court librarian, I became comfortable with guiding people to appropriate resources, of Taylorsville Municipal Justice Court because it can be so easily misinterpreted. in Utah and co-author of Utah Legal These are the things that keep the jobs but I also would state that what they Research. Judge Thomas spent the first of judges and law librarians interesting. ultimately did with those resources was their choice. seven years of her legal career as a reference Sometimes it was sad; law is librarian at the S.J. Quinney Law Library complicated, and often the answer is in Salt Lake City. not easy and people cannot afford to hire

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Teaching SMARTly A law library’s experiences using SMART Technologies

By Cindy Guyer

urple ink or orange? Two screens or projected on a large screen. The podium First, the SMART products make one? Highlight or circle? Blinking is a hybrid of a tablet and standard teaching more multidimensional and Pgraphic or spotlight? No, these computer monitor. able to support different learning styles. aren’t the usual decisions to be made In addition to the standard touch Using the SMART tools to annotate, when teaching legal research. But they functions, many more features are manipulate, and animate content has are if you’re teaching “smartly.” accessible when using the SMART enlivened our lectures and demonstrations, In 2010, the law library of the Notebook learning software. Users reinforcing understanding for both visual University of Southern California Gould can create instructional content pages and auditory learners. Students’ ability School of Law installed a SMART Board (similar to Microsoft PowerPoint slides), to interact with the board and podium in one of its legal research teaching manipulate graphics, animate and clone appeals to kinesthetic and tactile learners. classrooms. A year later, a SMART objects, record actions on a page, play This interaction with technology holds Podium was installed in its second games, and use special math tools. This the attention of our students better classroom. In these classrooms, eight software is free, so users can create their because the students become more librarians team-teach 1L and LLM own notebook files from any computer engaged learners—and of course, students as part of the law school’s Legal without having to be connected to a teaching is more enjoyable! Research, Writing, and Advocacy course. SMART product. Second, visual multitasking is During the academic year, 1L students SMART products are compatible possible when employing both the attend 13 legal research classes, and LLM with various multimedia content, projector screen and SMART Board students attend eight classes. In other including web pages, videos, and separately or using the SMART words, we do a substantial amount of communication applications, such as split screen feature of the board and teaching. Web-X or Skype. Users can also display podium. Substantive content and an and manipulate different file types, illustrative web page can be displayed What’s SMART? such as Microsoft Word documents, simultaneously, such as teaching stare SMART Technologies produced the first PowerPoint presentations, PDF files, decisis and citator purposes with an interactive whiteboard in 1991. There and images. online Lexis Shepard’s report. Different are several models of SMART Boards, search platforms, Westlaw and plus SMART Podiums and Tables and Our SMART Law Library WestlawNext for example, can be SMART Response interactive response Our SMART classrooms were generously displayed side by side to compare and systems. A SMART Board is an made possible by The George A.V. interactive whiteboard that combines the Dunning Foundation. Our SMART many functions of a computer with the Board 600 Series cost $5,000, and the ease of a touchscreen device. Users write SMART Podium 500 Series cost $3,000. on these boards with digital pens from The SMART Board was installed in the Pen Tray or their fingers and can our first classroom. Although cleanly remove marks with the eraser, it can function as both a palm of the hand, or a couple of mouse standard whiteboard and a clicks. The Pen Tray automatically senses traditional projector screen, which colored pen is picked up and we opted to maintain a digitally inks the board accordingly. separate projector screen, The Digital Ink Layer, like an electronic which is about 25 percent transparency sheet, is where notes appear larger than the SMART and are later captured and saved. An Board. Space was an issue in onscreen toolbar can be customized to our smaller second classroom, include various writing instruments which is why a SMART and display tools: for example, different Podium was chosen. colored pens and highlighters, a screen shade or split screen, keyboard, right- Using SMARTly clicker, magnifier, shape recognition pen, There are eight librarians and “magic pen” that can be used to who use our SMART fade, magnify, or spotlight anything on classrooms, each of us the board. taking a different approach A SMART Podium interactive pen to implementing the display has features similar to a SMART technology into instruction. Board but instead uses a high-definition Despite these differences, display with Digital Vision Touch we all agree that legal technology, incorporating cameras in the research instruction and bezel to detect touch and movement. student learning has vastly Users interact with the display using improved for various a tethered pen, and the content is then reasons. © 2012 Cindy Guyer • image courtesy of smarttech.com

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contrast features. Users can also or talking points during office hours. Practice SMARTly concurrently examine the varying For the instructor, the notes can now be As when learning any new technology, results of natural language versus reused or revised for subsequent classes. training and practice will help users terms and connectors search statements. The recording of notes in motion can be incorporate SMART products seamlessly Researching hypotheticals becomes more used later for reflecting on instruction into instruction. In addition to dynamic and efficient, which occurs and making future improvements. the standard user guides, SMART when instructors circle, highlight, or Finally, our SMART classrooms help Technologies offers live training otherwise annotate a hypothetical’s key employ universal design aspects in our events, free customer support, on-site facts and legal issues. While displaying teaching. SMART products receive great instruction, webinars (self-paced and the hypothetical for continued reference, acclaim for supporting universal design, live), content-development seminars, and the other screen can be used to draft such as helping students with physical hosted online communities for sharing sample search statements, execute online and cognitive disabilities and other ideas and collaborating with other searches, or review search results. special needs groups. One group of SMART product users. Furthermore, there Third, the SMART products’ students who we’ve found challenging are third-party resources, such as YouTube capturing features enhance content to instruct is our LLM foreign and videos showing how SMART Boards work delivery and curriculum development. international students because of the in various settings. Tips, sample lesson This was quite evident when a professor language barrier. With these students, we plans, templates for activities, SMART- moved her Evolutionary Game Theory need to repeat and restate instructions friendly multimedia content, and other seminar class to the library. The class multiple times and must often retrace SMART product uses and ideas can be involves substantial mathematics and our research steps. However, with the found for free on the web. When it comes statistics. Being able to move back and SMART tools, we are better able to to this user-driven technology, imagination forth among her captured notes using direct them and keep all students is the only limit. ■ SMART Notebook pages is much easier together in the research process. For Cindy Guyer ([email protected]) than having to physically erase a marker instance, we can use a bright pink color is law librarian at the USC Gould School board, and it also maintains access to to highlight the next hyperlink we want of Law Library. Special thanks to Acting her notes if a question about a prior them to click on or use the spotlight tool Library Director Pauline Aranas and concept arises. Furthermore, the notes to explain the hierarchy of Westlaw’s Assistant Director for Instructional can be saved and then emailed to Key Topics and Numbers. Having more students, serving as invaluable study aids communication options makes teaching Technology Alex Marasovich for supporting increasingly effective. the acquisition and use of SMART Technologies.

from the secretary continued from page 6

Thompson-Prylucki. Kirk also noted the Government Relations Office, SIS The minutes of the Executive Board that she represented the Association at Council chair, Chapter Council chair, meetings are available on AALLNET. the WestPac meeting in Portland, and vendor liaison discussing their If you have questions about any of these Oregon, in October and traveled to various activities during the past year. board actions, feel free to contact me or Kuala Lumpur in December to represent In addition to the various reports any Executive Board member. ■ the Association at the International presented, the Executive Board heard a Deborah Rusin (deborah.rusin@ Association of Law Libraries Annual presentation by Timothy Tlusty and Dan kattenlaw.com) is director of library and Conference. Kowitz of IEG on how the Association research services at Katten Muchin Reports were also received from might be able to increase its pool of Rosenman LLP in Chicago. the vice president, treasurer, secretary, sponsorship partners. executive director, interim director of

washington brief continued from page 7

depository libraries, public law libraries, 1099-pacereducation or contact me Expanding Participation in ■ the PACER: Access and and public libraries. directly. Education Program Participating libraries are required Emily Feltren, interim director, to conduct PACER training classes for AALL Government Relations Office, AALL will continue its partnership with the public. Libraries receive a waiver on the AOUSC and GPO to promote the 25 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Suite the first $50 of PACER user fees each 500, Washington, D.C. 20001 • 202/942- PACER: Access and Education Program. quarter. To find out more information 4233 • fax: 202/737-0480 • email: The Law Library of Congress and or to volunteer your library for the the Law Library for San Bernardino program, visit www.fdlp.gov/help/ [email protected] • www.aallnet.org/ County were the first to participate in tutorials/347-paceraccessprogram/ main-menu/Advocacy/aallwash. the program, which is now open to

12 AALL Spectrum ■ February 2012 AALLFeb2012:1 1/11/12 12:32 PM Page 13

TheBusine$$ ofthe LawFirmLibrary The value of a law firm library’s manager and staff

By Mark Gediman

he law firm library is like a • Because cost recovery policies Several factors should be taken into business within a business. should be crafted with the relevant account when making the decision about TAs in most businesses, costs ABA model rules and formal what format to purchase for treatises: are expected to be offset by revenue. opinions in mind, what is the • Consider your cost recovery policy Marketing is important to expand percentage of online expenses • Consider how and where these your client base while at the same time (or costs) the firm would like its resources will need to be accessed. cement your brand firmly in their budget goal to be? What is the For example, some courts limit the psyche. There are contracts to be firm currently recovering? use of electronics (laptops, cell negotiated, time to be billed, payroll to • Are the various types of research phones, tablets) in the courtroom. be approved, and employee mentoring treated differently? In other words, Some locations (courts, client sites) to be done. Servicing the demands of are searches the same as case have poor cell phone reception, the library’s client base also includes retrievals? Treatises the same as making it difficult for the crafting policies and processes that searches? Public records recovered attorneys to access the firm’s maximize the firm’s return on its at a different rate than searches? electronic resources. And certain investment in resources and personnel. • Does each practice group treat print materials are actually more A comprehensive library allows the firm recovery differently? efficient for the attorneys to use to practice law, and a good library staff A successful cost recovery program than their electronic versions (see can magnify that value exponentially. (i.e., near 100 percent) can mean the my article in Legal Assistant Today, It is the job of the library manager to library will basically have a revenue “Books vs. Bytes: Which works maximize this value. stream covering a significant portion best in today’s law firm library,” In this article, we are going to look of its budget. Volume 22, Issue 5). at a few ways the library manager and For those interested in a more • Compare the cost of the item staff make the library an integral part detailed discussion of this subject, online with the cost of print. of the firm and a profitable one, as well. I recommend taking a look at the For online, include the contract The library’s functions can simply following articles and blog posts: cost and potential for recovery; be separated into two parts: attorney • Cable&Clark’s “SLA Program: for print, include the cost to support and administrative management. Cost Recovery vs. Cost house, purchase, and maintain it, One of the most important examples Prevention” on the Law and multiply by the number of of the former is the library’s involvement Firm Bottom_Line blog locations. in recovering a portion of the costs (lawfirmbottomline.wordpress. You may be surprised by the answer associated with access to online research com/tag/cost-recovery/) you get. On a strictly cost basis, my services, otherwise known as Cost • LaJean Humphries’ “Cost experience has shown that replacing Recovery (yes, with capital letters). Recovery for Online Research” certain online resources with print can (www.llrx.com/features/ result in savings between 80 and 90 Cost Recovery Policy costrecovery.htm) percent (no, this is not a typo). Could Crafting a good cost recovery policy is • Greg Lambert’s “Legal Research this be the reason why some vendors are a problem that challenges every firm. Cost Recovery - The Movie” phasing out the print? To paraphrase Bugs The goal of any cost recovery policy is on 3 Geeks and a Law Blog Bunny: “Mmmm … yeah … could be.” to offset the cost of the online research (www.geeklawblog.com/2010/07/ services as much as possible, keeping in legal-research-cost-recovery- Other Back Office Functions mind that ethics prohibit the firm from movie.html) When looking at library operations, exceeding 100 percent of these costs. • “A Perfect Match: Cost recovery sometimes the most important are This prohibition usually results in firms and the librarian,” which I overlooked for various reasons. However, setting the goal at somewhat less than authored for the March 2010 some of the most significant savings are 100 percent, with the majority of firms issue of Spectrum (www.aallnet. realized in these commonplace functions: falling between 41 and 80 percent, org/main-menu/Publications/ • Reconciling invoices with received according to ALM’s 2011 Law Librarian spectrum/Archives/Vol-14/pub_ products prior to payment using Survey. Because the responsibility for sp1003/pub-sp1003-perfect.pdf) the library management system. crafting and enforcing this policy usually Paying invoices without falls to the library manager, he or she Print Versus Online Treatises performing this vital step can result should take into consideration several Library budgets are on the decline. in the firm paying for items never factors that other firm departments AALL reported in the 2011 Salary received or, worse, never ordered. wouldn’t be familiar with: Survey that respondents reported an • Checking in material as it arrives • How do the attorneys in the average decrease of 13.3 percent in to confirm that you don’t miss an firm work? private firm library budgets from 2010- update or volume; that the firm’s • What percentage of online research is 2011. There seems to a constant tension practice resources are current; billed to clients? Are the responsible/ with allocating money between print and that the firm’s attorneys are billing attorneys more or less likely and online resources. kept up to date regarding new to write off online expenses? developments in their practice.

© 2012 Mark Gediman • image © iStockphoto.com/Mark Stay AALL Spectrum ■ February 2012 13 AALLFeb2012:1 1/11/12 12:32 PM Page 14

• Keeping the print materials up of frustration is when you have to are adding value just by being in the to date. Not doing so means the work your way through the phone room where questions are asked that they attorneys are relying on potentially book trying to find someone to can help with. outdated material—not the best assist you. Sending an email to situation from a risk-management someone who is out can be even Training point of view. worse because the requestor thinks Training is an area where the library • Negotiating the best contracts he or she is being ignored. “One can be highly visible and leverage its for the firm. Librarians’ unique call does it all” is usually pretty expertise. A training session reinforces knowledge of the various online popular. IT uses it for its help desk in the attendees’ minds the librarian’s services, their partnerships with for a reason. subject matter expertise. One of the best existing vendors, and the unique • Let them know what you can do ways to offer this service is through the requirements of each firm give for them. Let’s face it—your firm famous elevator conversation. If I happen them the ability to get the best has no way of knowing what to meet practice group leaders in the deal tailored to the needs of the specialized skills or knowledge you hallway, elevator, break room, or coffee firm. For example, your firm may have. I once was sitting in a nook, I ask them whether there is might appreciate having regular practice group meeting when the anything they would like me to train office hours, or your firm’s cash practice group leader asked for their groups on, or I offer to speak at flow may require a unique some specialized knowledge on their meetings. I’ve found practice group payment schedule. regulation of electric utilities. leaders appreciate someone who is willing • Setting up and maintaining the I then mentioned my past to assist their groups and usually know library management system. The experience as a competitive exactly what they would like their groups person responsible for the library intelligence analyst for a Fortune to receive training for. Some possible management system performs one 500 utility holding company. The topics include legislative terminology, of the most important functions group was pleasantly surprised to using an esoteric resource, and the proper in the library. If this isn’t done find the knowledge they needed use of Google in legal research. properly, it would be difficult, if in the library. Thereafter, I received The library can also take advantage not impossible, for the library to a steady stream of work from this of the firm’s vendor relationships to complete the first four bullets on group. If they don’t know you can bring additional training into the firm. this list. This is also the repository do something, they often won’t ask This can be a great way to supplement of the catalog, as well as electronic you to do it. the library’s limited resources while resources. • Participate in practice group reminding the attendees that this The importance of this list needs meetings and retreats. Occurrences was brought to them courtesy of the to be communicated often to firm like the event described above library. It doesn’t hurt that the vendor’s management. You can provide examples have taught me that being present tchotchkes and raffles together with of incorrect invoices caught along with at these events helps me better the paid meal usually result in higher the amount saved, no matter how small; understand and, in some cases, attendance for these events than for keep your firm management appraised anticipate attorneys’ needs. These events put on by the firm. of the status of contract negotiations; events always generate work for the periodically roll out cool new ways to attending librarian. In fact, there Raising Visibility use the catalog; and make sure the have been occasions when the All of the items I have discussed are a library lets people know when their library representative has been form of library marketing. Being visible favorite treatises have been updated. asked to present on a specific topic and looking for opportunities to assist or give some high-level training. attorneys can help every member of the Reference Services • Send out practice- or subject- library staff raise the visibility of the This is the first item we’ll discuss that specific news clips daily. Leverage department in a helpful, collaborative addresses the client support side of the information you get from way. This helpful attitude exemplifies library operations. Reference services attending the meetings to provide the type of work ethic that is at the core is one of the most taken-for-granted targeted current awareness of the law firm library. aspects of library operations. The products. In some cases, an Everything that has been discussed prevalent thinking is: “They know what internally produced product can be has one thing in common: the library I do; they’ll let me know when they need more valuable to a group than the exists to ensure that firm attorneys and me to do it.” A more accurate statement canned vendor-produced reports paralegals have what they need to excel would be, “Out of sight, out of mind.” because it isn’t necessary for them in their fields. It may sound trite, but The fact is that most firms don’t to wade through several items they the firm’s success and the library’s know what a librarian does from day don’t need or want to see to find success are one and the same. The to day. It is up to the librarian to what they’re looking for. These can library manager’s function is to see that communicate to the firm exactly what be pretty easy to put together the business within a business—the his or her unique skills and abilities are. using Google Alerts or purchased library—thrives. ■ products like Lexis Publisher, Here are a few suggestions to address Mark Gediman (Mark.Gediman Westlaw Watch, and BNA this imbalance between reality and @bbklaw.com) is director of information perception: Convergence. services at Best Best & Krieger LLP in • The first is simplest: create a single It can be relatively easy to keep call number and email box for the people aware of the library’s knowledge Riverside, California. library. One of the greatest sources and abilities. The librarians in these cases

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Assisting Faculty with Publishing How libraries can assist faculty throughout the publication process

By Michelle Cosby

aw school librarians are Focusing on subject area is a common difficult citations need to be corrected. accustomed to assisting faculty method, but professors may also want Librarians can assist with helping revise Lwith their publications by to submit to the Top 100 journals or these difficult citations. Similarly, sources requesting interlibrary loans, performing their alma mater. used in the article may need to be a complex search in a database, or updated. Many changes in literature or tracking down a book from storage, but Submission Services the law can happen after a faculty there are other services libraries can offer Once a professor’s article is complete, member submits an article for to assist faculty throughout the entire it is time to send the article to the publication. Finding the most up-to-date publication process. journals in hopes of being selected for publication. At NCCU, we primarily Editing the Completed Article do this through ExpressO, an online Prior to Submission submission delivery service for legal One service we started offering at North scholars. Faculty members are Carolina Central University (NCCU) encouraged to create ExpressO accounts School of Law Library is citation because ExpressO allows them to easily checking. The service is offered by a submit their articles to multiple law trained library research assistant and is journals. Faculty members can also reviewed by a reference librarian. The receive offers from publications through library research assistant reviews the ExpressO. document, checks for citation errors, I created a guide to assist faculty and verifies sources as necessary. Schools members with using ExpressO, which with a large faculty may want to consider requires three documents in addition hiring a paraprofessional to perform to the finished article: a cover letter, an this task. Citation checking is time- abstract, and a resume. In addition to version of a document helps the faculty consuming, but it is greatly appreciated instructions for uploading their works, member create the most authoritative by the faculty. this guide contains a few tips for the article possible. Helping a faculty Similarly, the librarians at NCCU other necessary documents, such as member set up an alert can easily ensure meet with faculty-hired research suggestions for abstract lengths and a that he or she always has the most recent assistants and offer one-on-one citation link to sample cover letters. resources to use in the final stages of the training in addition to workshops Although several other submission article. offered each semester. Most libraries services are available, two are worth Although offering assistance after the offer research assistant training, but noting here because they offer benefits article has been accepted for publication meeting with the assistant individually to in addition to journal submissions. is useful, librarians have to know when explain the process of verifying sources The Chase College of Law offers a free to tell professors that they need to finish and checking citations can make the service that allows professors to submit the final edits. Law review editors process easier for the assistant and allow law reviews electronically by allowing will send back notes on what needs the librarian to assist with other tasks. them to bcc the law reviews of their clarification in an article for final choice. After selecting the correct email publication. We can find sources and Submission Process format, a professor can go through the help with citations, but it is up to each Librarians can also assist faculty by list and select which journals to submit professor to make sure that his or her providing information about the the article to. Another added benefit viewpoint is clearly expressed in the submission process. Providing faculty is that you can check Chase’s site for article. We as librarians are not in the members with general information on information about upcoming symposia, place to know an author’s intent, no article submission guidelines can be which provide additional publication matter how closely we have worked particularly useful, especially for newer and speaking opportunities. with the project. faculty members. One resource I point Additionally, Washington and Lee faculty members to is Information for University School of Law offers a service Research Guides Submitting Articles to Law Reviews & called Law Journals: Submissions and Creating a research guide to give to a Journals by Allen K. Rostron and Nancy Rankings. In addition to allowing users faculty member or his or her assistant Levit, which is available on SSRN at to submit articles through LexOpus, can be useful, especially if the faculty papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract users can also get journal ranking member or assistant completes the _id=1019029. This document details the information and additional useful publication process without librarian submission process and requirements for information about each journal. assistance. Our Faculty Guide to more than 200 law reviews. Additionally, Publishing pulls together a lot of it details any special formatting Review of Accepted Article commonly known information and requirements a law review may have. There are also opportunities for organizes it all in one place. The guide Sometimes professors need assistance librarians to be involved in the also highlights websites that faculty with selecting journals to submit their publication process after an article has members may not be aware of. We have publications to. This is an opportunity been accepted. Law reviews will often references to where all of our citation for librarians to collaborate with send an article back to the author for manuals and dictionaries are located, professors and help them decide. final edits and corrections. Sometimes, links to information about the law (continued on page 21) © 2012 Michelle Cosby • image © iStockphoto.com/ericsphotography AALL Spectrum ■ February 2012 15 AALLFeb2012:1 1/11/12 12:32 PM Page 16

INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE an Inquiry knowledge The distinction between information and knowledge and how it helps define our roles

By Christopher McNeely

onsider a few phrases familiar to The idea of information divorced from law librarians: “School of Library meaning is central to information theory, Cand Information Science”; which takes for granted that information “information professionals”; or “Our can be measured like any other physical mission is to provide our patrons with quantity. special epoch in human history and the information they need to fulfill their Now let’s return to our thought therefore demands the wholesale professional and research goals.” experiment: Does this definition of restructuring of our attitude to These are pretty standard information sound like the knowledge and its dissemination. phrases within our kind of thing law librarians Aside from the chronological snobbery graduate schools, provide daily? When a of such an assertion, there is the places of employment, law student asks an suspicion of ahistorical hyperbole. and statements academic law librarian We are told that information literacy of professional for good resources is vitally important because of the vast purpose. Now go on Sarbanes-Oxley or expansion of information, some of which back and read them when a lawyer asks a may be biased, untimely, or even false. again, but this time, firm librarian to find Citizens in democratic societies need substitute the word decisions relevant to be armed with the appropriate “knowledge” for to an intellectual means with which to navigate such an “information.” information property case he is informational maelstrom. There are at Go ahead. I’ll wait. trying in court, is least two problems with this line of Did anything meaning irrelevant thought, one of which is simply a matter change? Does this small to the law for historical inquiry, the other stemming substitution make any librarian? from a misapprehension of current difference to the meaning of the Hardly. Context is technologies, especially of the social phrases? SLKS is certainly a less sibilant essential. Our patrons seek something networking variety. What did people do or sonorous acronym than SLIS, but is other than information as previously with an abundance of information in the there a serious point to be made in this defined. I would argue that what they are past? How are people using information modest thought experiment? I would looking for is knowledge, which is much tools now? argue that there is a very important point harder to quantify but far more valuable. In her book Too Much to Know: to be considered in this age of persistent The concept of “information Managing Scholarly Information Before budget woes and transient technological literacy” has been quite popular in the Modern Age, Ann Blair persuasively shifts, a time when more and more law library school pedagogy for some time argues that “information overload” librarians are being asked to justify now, assuming people needed heretofore- is hardly a new concept and that the their worth in quantitative rather than unknown skills to navigate the ambient challenges of how to store, sort, and qualitative terms. For the purposes of noise and informational bramble bush select knowledge have long been with this inquiry, let’s allow “information” that is the internet. But aren’t the skills us. Adrian Johns presents a fascinating to stand for quantitative value and needed to discriminate between online picture of the rise of printing in early “knowledge” to stand for qualitative resources the same as those once used in modern England in The Nature of the value. the stacks? Critical thinking, the ability Book: Print and Knowledge in the Making to weigh competing claims on our that illustrates just how difficult the Quantitative Versus allegiance, and attentiveness are all skills concept of trusting the printed Qualitative Value that predate the internet and yet still word could be once presses proliferated. James Gleick devotes much of his latest seem absolutely essential to any law A burgeoning corpus of books about book,The Information: A History, student, lawyer, or judge who still book and print culture since the 16th A Theory, A Flood, to the founder depends on libraries and a librarian to century complicate, to say the least, of Information Theory, Claude find the knowledge they seek. One of the assertion that the task of the Shannon. Shannon, in his 1948 Oxford English Dictionary’s definitions contemporary researcher is drastically paper “A Mathematical Theory of of knowledge is “familiarity gained by different from that of his or her Communication,” famously stated that experience.” Isn’t that what makes a ancestors. That is not to say there aren’t communication was simply sending a librarian a librarian and not a search technological differences, but perhaps the message in the midst of noise so it could engine? And wouldn’t we want to impact of technology on information or be recovered, noting that whether or inculcate the same familiarity in our knowledge is not so much quantitative not that message was meaningful was patrons? but qualitative? “irrelevant to the engineering problem.” Information literacy is founded Librarians are increasingly asked to upon an assertion that ours is a uniquely adopt social networking applications in

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an effort to keep abreast of the swift Google by top American university between information and knowledge technological changes that have affected libraries. and even went so far as to question librarianship and the people who use Facebook is the ubiquitous social whether our increasing dependence libraries. And though there is certainly networking site of the moment, worthy on technology might hinder the nothing wrong with “going where the even of an Oscar-winning screenplay; pursuit of that elusive and currently people are” and disseminating knowledge but one need not be a latter-day Luddite unfashionable entity—wisdom. If we in all available ways, it’s worth asking to harbor reservations about many of its return to our initial thought experiment, whether or not social media is the answer professional practices. In 2010 the site we might find Postman’s trichotomy to the problem many librarians face mysteriously disabled the accounts of of information, knowledge, and today: how to engage with patrons and two Iranian human rights activists, wisdom useful. When a law professor provide the best possible access to Mina Ahadi and Maryam Namazie, who asks a librarian for sources for the knowledge. A 2010 Pew Internet & had been using Facebook to campaign constitutional law class she is teaching, American Life Project survey showed against the planned stoning of Sakineh it’s knowledge, not contextless that from 2006-2009, blog use among Mohammadi Ashtiani, an Iranian information, that she seeks in the hope 12- to 17-year-olds fell by half, and only woman who had been accused of that she can impart some measure of 8 percent of this group used Twitter. The adultery. And though the accounts legal wisdom to a new generation of oldest student in that survey is probably were eventually reinstated after protests, potential lawyers, clerks, politicians, in college now, and university libraries no explanation for the suspension or and policymakers. If a judge asks a court are still debating whether or not to start who requested it was ever given. Such librarian for a legislative history relevant their own blogs or Twitter feeds. The real censorship is more common than one to a case on which he is about to rule, issue may be whether anyone will bother might think, though sometimes on a it is knowledge that he is after, with the to read them in the near future. more banal scale. I personally know desire that he will make a wise and fair Neil Postman delivered a lecture in someone who was censored by Facebook ruling that has a highly personal effect 1998 entitled “Five Things We Need to twice in one evening for mentioning on someone’s life. Know About Technological Change,” that the president of the United States As more and more legal research is in which he discussed the impact of smoked cigarettes. Facebook’s privacy being done online, it is important to technology on society. Postman argued policy has been described by Danah face this truth: a computer will always be that technological innovation is “not Boyd as a “trainwreck,” and not a month able to find information more efficiently additive, it’s ecological,” meaning that goes by without a media report about and in larger doses than any law technology is not neutral and doesn’t Facebook’s questionable privacy policies. librarian. What sets the law librarian just add to society but changes it. This Facebook, whose global membership apart from the computer is the ability is not the place to debate the merits approaches 1 billion, has brought many to locate knowledge, a skill that may or of Postman’s media critiques, which people together (even if it’s only may not lead a patron to wisdom but followed the seminal and controversial a virtual reunion), but librarians, will certainly be a lifelong legal tool. work of Marshall McLuhan, but it is a who traditionally have taken an active Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., during a relevant issue to all librarians who have and principled interest in the First 2011 visit to the Nathan and Henry B. seen dramatic changes to their profession Amendment rights of their patrons, Cleaves Law Library in Portland, Maine, since the advent of the internet. might want to think twice before commented upon our contemporary The issue is also timely. There is a opening a library Facebook page. tendency to conflate information and growing body of social scientific and knowledge and made some comments psychological research that is studying What Sets the Librarian Apart about the importance of law libraries: the effect of technology on learning, our I raise these issues merely for the sake “I hope that the generations that follow brains, and our ability to pay attention of inquiry: To what question is will get a chance to experience and interact with others. Recent books social media the answer? Is the learning in the enriching have raised important questions that environment of a real use of social networking What deserve contemplation: Nicholas Carr having a beneficial outcome library and not just has famously asked what the internet is sets the law a virtual one— to our goal of providing librarian apart from the doing to our brains; Evgeny Morozov access to knowledge or are a library where computer is the ability to and Malcolm Gladwell have questioned we merely adding to you feel connected the supposed efficacy of social networks information overload? locate knowledge, a skill that to knowledge in a to enact lasting political change; virtual Law librarians have may or may not lead a very tangible way reality pioneer Jaron Lanier admonished already seen much of patron to wisdom but will and also connected us to remember that we are not the their jobs “outsourced” certainly be a lifelong to those working gadgets we hold in our hands; and MIT internally to powerful legal tool. alongside you in a professor Sherry Turkle has published legal databases that allow similar pursuit for startling findings about the influence students, lawyers, and judges to knowledge.” of technology on human relationships. do much of their research in the A proper distinction Issues related to internet privacy, often comfort of their office or on the go. between information and knowledge involving popular social networking sites One of Jaron Lanier’s key admonitions may help us define ourselves in a like Facebook, are constantly finding to technology users in You Are Not a way that properly acknowledges the their way into the courts. And in March Gadget: A Manifesto is not to forget the important role we serve in academia, 2011, a federal judge in New York ruled humanity that separates the person from law firms, and the courts of this country. that the Google Books settlement could the machine, to resist becoming a mere But we’re going to have to work on those not stand, striking a blow to Google’s algorithm of consumer preferences and acronyms. ■ vision of information as revenue stream search habits to be aggregated, and to Christopher McNeely (chris_ rather than public good. The Google remember the uniquely human creativity [email protected]) is the library Books litigation is especially relevant to that adds context to mere data. technician for the federal Seventh Circuit librarians because so many of the books Neil Postman, in his 1998 lecture, Court of Appeals Library in Indianapolis. scanned for the project were loaned to wondered aloud about the difference

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The Law Library as Place What is the law firm equivalent of gaming night in the library?

By Megan Wiseman n the past decade, public and academic librarians are becoming “old hat” at the third place concept. The whole profession, in fact, has seen and heard “libraries as place” Ibandied about on blogs, harped on at conferences, and expounded upon in professional publications … unless you just so happen to work in a corporate setting.

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How many times have you seen an How often do you hear a law firm tout Adams: “don’t panic.” While you have article in your local newspaper touting how new it is? Most often, age is an the politics of different opinions and the latest major renovation at your indicator of solidarity and dependability, agendas to deal with, you have a very public library? While the multifaceted and books are a symbol of this same ideal. select patron base, and you probably battle over e-books rages on in the Many firms have gotten rid of centralized have a good handle on who feels what background and the “everything is libraries entirely, moving pared-down about your library. From the senior available online” mentality pervades collections into hallway shelving and managing partner to the newly minted mainstream thought, libraries are doing partner offices. One can argue that this associate right out of school, you have everything in their power to remind brings the books to the specific practice a spectrum of patrons who view the patrons of why they have always loved areas that use them. I’d argue that it also hard copy collection as anything from a the library—often leading to new makes them more visible. Books are lifeline to “the way they’ve always done multipurpose rooms with modular historical currency, proof that a firm’s their work and always will” to expensive, furniture, teen game nights, and coffee been around a while. And think about it: pretty wallpaper that makes the firm shops. when a book has a cracked spine or look nice. You’re probably imagining And it’s working: libraries are signature falling out, we call it charming. who fits into each category right now. enjoying an incredible resurgence in A corrupted digital file, on the other Good, keep that in mind. use. The Wisconsin Library Association hand, we just call frustrating. recently tweeted, “Wisconsin public library visits per week average 676,000— more than the entire season attendance at Packer home games of about 566,000!” Another reason such projects have garnered the attention they have is obvious: community pride and Books are historical currency, proof that a firm’s been involvement. And though a private law around a while. And think about it: when a book has a firm may indeed have a good deal of cracked spine or signature falling out, we call it charming. pride in its library, alerting the town crier about it would be unheard of. I’m not saying law firms don’t showcase their libraries; the fact that they do is what brought this entire topic to my attention. As part of my special libraries course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I toured several corporate libraries and was surprised at the prominence of their respective library spaces. One library was actually located on the first floor of the office building— a good six floors lower than the rest of the firm—merely to make sure that everyone who walked by saw the library through the impressive floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides. Perhaps I should put it another way: go to Google. Do an image search for But progress will out. How many of First off, remember that you’re a “law office.” When I performed this us don’t often turn to Google first when librarian. Yes, the title may have search, of the 22 pictures on the first receiving a research request? Don’t hide changed (you might have “information” page of results, seven contained books— from it—you know it is a useful tool! somewhere in there now, for instance), more than gavels and scales of justice. A quick glance down at my last two but at the end of the day, deep down, Books also make a decent showing months of reference requests show that I you’re still a librarian. So … don’t forget in image searches for “legal” and “law used hard copy library books a whopping the library! Merely maintaining the firm.” And don’t get me started on five times. My office? It’s on a different collection is no longer good enough (and television ads for legal services. But what floor from the main library space. The is an easy way to lose what space you’ve don’t we see much of? Computers. And fact that we still have a large, (mostly) got). The two heavy heavies of the legal even for a society that loves its progress centralized hard copy collection at my database world have tidied up their and is obsessed by tech, this is not firm is a testament to the preferences of interface, making it slick and inviting. surprising. Why? Books still mean our attorneys and the limits to what is What can you do to give your space that something, and, at the risk of being available digitally at this time. It remains, added polish? What is the law firm proven wrong by the march of time, however, that the main portion of our equivalent of “gaming night in the I’ll claim that they will continue to firm’s resources lives in cyberspace. library”? mean something for a good long time. So, we’ll address a status quo antebellum situation first. Let’s say you’ve Get Creative The Value of Books still got some library space full of those Just because you’re not a major academic Now, “meaning something” and being the long rows of matching reporters or institution that has bright-eyed graduate “main tool for research” are entirely the like—books that mean something students ready and waiting to do a separate concepts. The legal profession is different to every one of your patrons. research paper on library use and patron tradition-bound, which is not surprising And you will have to please every single needs doesn’t mean you can’t take a look for a profession built around the concept one while not rocking the boat. In around and see what needs to stay, what of precedent. Books are legacy items. the words of a wise man, Mr. Douglas needs to go, and what needs to change.

© 2012 Megan Wiseman • left image © iStockphoto.com/Teun van den Dries AALL Spectrum ■ February 2012 19 AALLFeb2012:1 1/11/12 12:32 PM Page 20

I’m not talking about mere weeding. library space to take charge of!” Well, a thinking about it like that is a sure way What are the strong points of the library website can be fun. The proper care and to lose your way down a path of cute space and how can you capitalize on feeding of cyberspace can be just as little information center logos and that? Is it the best wi-fi hotspot on the time-consuming as maintaining a bulletins that few people read. This is floor? Is it quieter than some of the physical collection. It can also be as not a campaign; it is how to make your other areas of the firm, far from phones rewarding as watching an associate patrons’ work lives better. Think of the and hallway chatter? My library’s greatest spread out a project in a library carrel trust that they place in you every day and selling point is it has two really big merely because he or she likes the view redirect that energy into the anticipatory tables for a researcher to spread out and from the whatever-th floor. brilliance that makes librarians so good leave his or her work. (That, and it’s Every new computer at our firm is at what they do. Who knows—with a great for internal firm gatherings.) automatically set up to have the library’s little luck, your foot traffic could change Brainstorm. You don’t need to think webpage as the default homepage on the enough that you’ll need to beef up your Steve Jobs big, but channeling his installed browser, and I can’t tell you wi-fi and start shushing people. We creativity might be a good method for the number of times I’ve had patrons should be so lucky! ■ anything nowadays. For your patrons approach with a head-scratcher question, Megan Wiseman (mkw@wbb- who aren’t still deeply in love with your saying, “well, I started on the library law.com) is a law librarian at Weiss books, how are they getting things done page because it’s where everything Berzowski Brady LLP in Milwaukee. nowadays? Perhaps you can take down a is … .” There’s a reason public libraries half-empty shelf and put up a SMART have been up in arms over retaining Board, something for viewing many optimal systems of e-book lending even documents at once, taking notes, and while still trying to pull patrons into the whisking them off to tablets and smart physical space: people love the one-stop phones (see page 11). Or maybe think shop, and they’re starting with their Next Month in outside the work zone; perhaps you have phones/tablets/e-readers. Carve out a Spectrum a lot of commuters who’d enjoy a good little haven in cyberspace/your firm’s piece of fiction or a fluff piece to read intranet that does for patrons what the during lunch. physical space always has—empowers, Of course, change in firms typically enlightens, and enhances the practice Here’s a taste of what you can look forward doesn’t happen that fast or that often. of law; demonstrates authority and to in the March issue of Spectrum: And sometimes clinging to the current solidarity; and, yes, comforts. way of life is a good method of survival • Evaluating the current value of e-books once change does begin to occur. For Your Patrons for academic law libraries Proposals for overhauling library space Here’s the clarifying thing to keep in • Organizational techniques for law librarians can easily turn into an examination of mind. Let’s say you have identified some • The Harvard Law School Library Student why there is still a need for such a space “whiz bang” details about your library Outreach Team when “everything’s online anyways.” space that make it not only integral • Law librarians’ role in project management How can you keep a discussion on to the office workflow but also the and/or knowledge management updating the library space from turning happiness of life in your firm. Maybe into a proposal for restructuring? in the process you’ve noted some • Innovative ways to use LibGuides There are no magic words or specific opportunities for improvement and now • The job shadow/exchange program methodology to keep this from have new elements to tout. So talk it up. between The John Marshall Law School happening. Sometimes the firm’s Bring in muffins, offer a tutorial or tour Library and Loyola University Chicago atmosphere is simply pushing hands and of things that may have changed, and School of Law Library feet toward a library without space. This just make yourself visible. This is not may, in fact, have already happened to marketing. Okay, yes, it technically you, and you’re thinking, “but I have no is marketing your library space, but

FEC Data: A Map for Following the Money By L. Elliott Hibbler tinyurl.com/82e476r Analyzing data collected by the Federal Election Commission (FEC), researchers can infer the policy preferences of candidates and mysterious political organizations. This article lays out the broad framework of federal campaign finance regulation and then examines tools provided by the FEC and third parties to study campaign finance data.

Market to Market: A Commentary By Linda Will tinyurl.com/72tcw5d Owning a brand is more than owning a clothing line or fancy talk. Rather, it is being known for something. As librarians, we need to address what we are known for and whether that image truly sells the talents we bring to the firm. Do we market to the market, our library users? How do we validate ourselves to the next generation and present firm administration?

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announcements AALL Grants Committee Announces Grants for Boston Annual Meeting AALL grants are available to cover to those who are active in AALL or in Annual Meeting/workshop grants” the cost of registration for the Annual one of its chapter organizations. and “Lending a Hand: Suggestions for Meeting, to be held in Boston July 21- writing better letters of recommendation 24, 2012, or workshops associated To apply for a grant, go to AALLNET, link for AALL Annual Meeting/workshop with the Annual Meeting. to “Grants” in the drop-down menu grants.” These articles provide helpful under “Member Resources,” and then suggestions regarding what to include Grants are available for experienced link to “AALL Annual Meeting Grants.” in your documents. AALL members, as well as for students As part of the application process, each and new members. Eligible experienced grant applicant must submit two letters The application deadline is April 1, librarians include those who have been of recommendation and a personal 2012. If you are thinking of applying for members of AALL or an AALL chapter statement. These documents are vital a grant, give yourself a head start and for five or more years. New members because they give the Grants Committee review the application requirements are defined as active members with less insight into the unique qualifications, now. Please contact Michele Finerty than five years of AALL or AALL chapter experiences, and aspirations of each at [email protected] with any membership. Students must hold a applicant. The application page has links questions. Good luck, and we hope to membership in AALL or an AALL chapter to two AALL Spectrum articles: “Putting see you at the AALL Annual Meeting to qualify for a grant. For experienced Your Best Foot Forward: Writing in Boston. and new applicants, preference is given effective personal statements for AALL

announcements Anderson, Eaton, and Thorpe Elected to Executive Board The votes are in. 2012-2013. He of Minnesota Three members will assume the Law Library in were elected presidency at Minneapolis, were to the AALL the conclusion elected to three- Executive Board in of the 2013 year terms as this year’s Annual Meeting members of the Association in Seattle. Executive Board elections. for 2012-2015. Steven P. Anderson Amy J. Eaton Amy J. Eaton, Suzanne Thorpe Steven P. Anderson, director Seattle library manager for Perkins AALL Headquarters received 1,517 at Maryland State Law Library Coie LLP, and Suzanne Thorpe, ballots (32.77 percent of total dues- in Annapolis, was elected vice associate director for faculty, research, paying members) by the election president/president-elect for and instructional services for University deadline of December 2, 2011.

assisting faculty continued from page 15

review submission process, and A Good Outcome Michelle Cosby ([email protected]) references to using ExpressO. There are No matter how involved a library is with is the faculty services librarian at North also several great websites available that faculty publications, there are many Carolina Central University School of Law explain the publication process and offer ways to assist faculty with the process. Library. She manages the faculty services tips for submitting. I recommend Whether librarians choose to be involved program and provides training for the George W. Hopper Law Library’s by training student workers to perform library research assistant program. website, www.uwyo.edu/LAWLIB/ these tasks, hiring paraprofessionals, or facultyservices/faculty.html, and doing the tasks themselves, helping Columbia Law School’s website, with the publication process is greatly www.law.columbia.edu/careers/law_ appreciated by faculty. ■ teaching/Publishing.

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PaulAALL Member McKenna Profile:

Lecturer at Dalhousie University’s School of Information Management

here’s a fine Robert Frost poem, concerned ourselves with the new collection development budget, as well as The Road Not Taken, which nicely intricacies of AACR2. However, the exceedingly capable colleagues, allowed Tcaptures much of my own career moment I stepped into my first law me to quickly become involved in trajectory. Frost speaks about choosing a librarianship class, the scales fell from all areas of law library management, certain path…“and that has made all the my eyes and I saw the light. Balfour administration, and planning. With difference.” After following one road that Halévy was our lecturer for this course. Halévy at the helm of the law library, led me into law librarianship, I diverged He was the law librarian and professor we were provided the most generous into other disciplinary pursuits and at Osgoode Hall Law School, York and enlightened encouragement and doubted that I’d ever get back to this University, Toronto. Balfour’s personal support. Everyone was given leave profession. Well, things have evolved charisma, prodigious knowledge of (both figurative and literal) to take part in interesting ways that could not have Canadian legal bibliography, and in the conferences and events of key been predicted. forthright approach to learning the professional associations, which included complexities of law librarianship were a the Toronto Association of Law Libraries, Early Educational Exploration template for good professional practice. Canadian Association of Law Libraries, I began undergraduate studies at Victoria Indeed, attempting to ensure that you and, most importantly, American College, University of Toronto, believing were fully prepared for his rigorous Association of Law Libraries. My first that my future would be engaged with English literature. Eventually, I found that English literature could not provide Working in this major law library with a formidable and comprehensive a solid foundation for a career. This collection development budget, as well as exceedingly capable realization was driven further afield by colleagues, allowed me to quickly become involved in all areas of a growing interest in political science. law library management, administration, and planning. The University of Toronto had a formidable political science department at this time (the 1970s) with highly classes was akin to the character James AALL conference in Detroit was an regarded scholars like Walter Berns, T. Hart in the film “The Paper Chase” eye-opener given the impressive range Allan Bloom, C.B. Macpherson, and who drives himself to distraction in of people, programs, and panels on others with international reputations. order to satisfy Professor Kingsfield. display. Being able to serve on some Accordingly, I entirely redirected my During my MLIS days, I also AALL committees (the Joseph L. studies toward political science with an worked part-time at the University of Andrews Bibliographic Award, for one) emphasis on ancient and modern theory. Toronto’s Centre of Criminology Library. allowed me to truly understand the This led to graduate studies at the This institution exemplified the spirit nature of professional commitment University of Western Ontario where of interdisciplinarity. It also brought me necessary for effective law librarianship. I was able to synthesize several interests into close proximity with an interesting Being introduced to such remarkable in a thesis on the social and political array of legal research materials, as the individuals as the late Morris Cohen, thought of Jonathan Swift. Upon centre was built to support a growing who exemplified what is best in graduation, it was not feasible to and evolving program involving conscientious law librarianship, allowed consider teaching because the prospects sociologists, political scientists, criminal me to formulate models of good practice. were blindingly competitive. This led to law faculty, psychologists, historians, and But a somewhat restless spirit some conversations about completing others all working toward studies that prompted me to seize an opportunity an MLIS at the University of Toronto’s would meet at the nexus of criminology: to start a law library for the Ontario Faculty of Library and Information the study of crime and criminals. Provincial Police (OPP) Academy. Science (as it then was). This position allowed me to work on a Restless Spirit or fascinating range of in-service training Seeing the Light Three-Legged Stool manuals for police officers within the Schools of library and information Following graduation as a librarian, OPP (equivalent to American state science or management have clearly I was fortunate to be offered a position police departments), ensuring that their evolved over the decades, and it amounts as a law librarian at Osgoode Hall Law learning tools continuously reflected to a platitude to say that technology has School. Unfortunately, this job was in the most current state of the law. I was driven the most fundamental changes the cataloguing department, which was also able to learn more about the whole in this area of study and practice. In the not at all an area of personal strength. training cycle from needs analysis to 1980s, we worked with punched cards Yet working in this major law library formative evaluation and eventually to learn about library automation and with a formidable and comprehensive assumed management functions within

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the OPP Academy. Following a brief been my pleasure to teach courses law; legal research; and instruction, stint as the chief law librarian for relating to information literacy and among others. the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney government information resources, The law library profession has General, I gradually migrated to more which nicely tap into my earlier always been immensely challenged by strategic policy roles within the Ontario academic interests. But the icing on this its symbiotic relationship with the legal Ministry of the Solicitor General and particular cake has been the wonderful profession. Law librarians have often discovered that my working life could opportunity to teach a graduate course transcended this challenge through the be greatly enhanced by deploying my on Legal Literature and Librarianship at dual-degree approach, which typically interdisciplinary skills as a private SIM. This role allows me to deconstruct works to the librarian’s advantage. consultant. The notion of a three-legged my earlier academic and special law Canadian law libraries are increasingly stool came to mind whereby I could library experience and recast it in the being led (and staffed) by such doubly combine writing, teaching, and context of the new modes and orders credentialed individuals. However, in consulting in some interesting ways that hold sway in (post)modern law order to further enhance their public and that would be heavily grounded in the library settings. organizational perception, law librarians knowledge, skills, and abilities I had I often feel like Rip Van Winkle, have adopted titles like knowledge developed as a law librarian. And while having missed the intensity of so manager and information consultant, my pre-eminent focus would now be on much “revolutionary” change and and there’s a growing incorporation policing, law enforcement, and public transformation in the actual practice of project-management skills and safety, it was this foundational of law librarianship. I also retain an responsibilities within the law librarian’s understanding of legal literature and allegiance to learning research skills that position description. research methods that would stand are firmly based upon the print-based As a former law librarian practitioner me in good stead. tools that have been transformed who has returned to facilitate learning into computer-assisted legal research among new and emerging students in Ariadne’s Thread or formats. But the ability to view these the field, I could not have made this Rip Van Winkle? developments from an architectonic transition without the kind of reverse In Greek legend, Theseus is able to find vantage point allows me to bring certain Ariadne’s thread—represented by the a route out of the Minotaur’s cave with perspective to the exciting challenges resources, reports, and research offered the help of fleece thread given to him that await those students who may wish by AALL—leading me back into the by Ariadne. During the past few years, to pursue a career in law librarianship. complex realm of contemporary law I have followed a somewhat labyrinthine Being engaged in an intellectual manner librarianship. As a Canadian, it’s my path that has brought me once again with these students has allowed me to favorite bit of cross-border shopping. ■ to serious engagement with law reflect back upon several decades of Paul McKenna ([email protected]) librarianship. As a result of relocating law library evolution while also is president of Public Safety Innovation Inc. to the Atlantic province of Nova Scotia, integrating some of the most compelling and a lecturer at Dalhousie University’s I have become involved with the developments that face the profession School of Information Management in today, including RDA; digitization; province’s Department of Justice and the Halifax, Nova Scotia. School of Information Management free access; collection development for (SIM) at Dalhousie University. It has comparative, foreign, and international memorials

AALL Spectrum has been advised of the deaths of Martha Bowman, Paul Fu, Frank Lukes, Alan MacDougall, and Carol C. West. Ms. Bowman was a Life Member of AALL. Mr. Fu served as director of the Supreme Court of Ohio Law Library from 1971 until he passed away December 27. Before joining the Supreme Court, Fu served as library director at the Ohio Northern University College of Law and the Detroit College of Law. Fu also was a co-founder of AALL’s State, Court, and County Law Libraries Special Interest Section. Mr. Lukes was law librarian at Baker & McKenzie in Chicago from 1958-1988. He served as president of the Chicago Association of Law Libraries in 1965-1966 and chaired various AALL committees. He received the Marian Gould Gallagher Distinguished Service Award in 1988 and was a 2010 inductee into the AALL Hall of Fame. Lukes passed away December 5, 2011. Mr. MacDougall served as manager of library services for Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP’s Palo Alto and San Francisco offices until 2004. He was a member of AALL and served as Northern California Association of Law Libraries’ treasurer and membership chair. MacDougall passed away November 30. Ms. West was a law professor at Mississippi College School of Law since 1975. She served as director of the Legislative Reference Bureau and counsel to legislative committees in the Mississippi legislature from 1970-1975. Before that, she was a catalog librarian at the University of Mississippi School of Law from 1967-1970, and she was head of public services at University of Virginia School of Law from 1966-1967. She died December 5, 2011, at the age of 67. AALL Spectrum carries brief announcements of members’ deaths in the “Memorials” column. Traditional memorials should be submitted to Janet Sinder, Law Library Journal, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Thurgood Marshall Law Library, 501 W. Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-1768; [email protected].

AALL Spectrum ■ February 2012 23 AALLFeb2012:1 1/11/12 12:44 PM Page 24

the reference desk By Susan Catterall

“Those who interview candidates “If the candidate is not selected for an I’m part of a search team that is for positions within their company have an interview, or if they are interviewed but not reviewing resumes for a librarian obligation to their employer to seek out the successful candidate, I think it would Q:position. One of the candidates and hire the best qualified candidate for also be inappropriate to contact the who applied seems to have the very job I the position. Sometimes that means candidate to learn more about his or have dreamed of. Would it be unethical to subordinating our own personal her current job. It’s just one of those invite the candidate in for an interview so wishes and desires. For example, things that, though you’d like to I can learn more about that job? if I were interviewing someone figure out a way to do it, simply who was to be a peer, it would isn’t appropriate to do. (Then be unethical for me to hire the again, I get miffed at people who I’m not sure whether it would second- or third-most qualified continue to drive in lanes that are be unethical, but it may be very candidate because the most ending in hopes of finding a slot A:unfair—both to your present qualified candidate(s) might provide well up the line of cars so they can slip employer and the candidate. To begin stiffer competition for me in potential in ahead of the rest of us who obediently with, your employer has charged you promotional opportunities at a later date. stay in the continuing lane.) with assisting in the selection of the best possible candidate for the position—not “Bottom line, I think you need to treat this with finding your perfect job. As long as “It is also patently unfair to the candidate. He or she has high hopes for this position situation as though the person is any other you’re working in your current position, you candidate, make no effort to learn more shouldn’t be short-changing your employer. and will prepare, worry, rehearse answers to potential questions, and get hopes up. about the candidate’s current position, and certainly not use your influence to change the outcome of the decision because of this Even if the applicant is one of the top choices, is it fair to the applicant to factor.” use the time during his or her interview to investigate your perfect job? Thanks to Quillen for his very sound advice. To the person who asked this question, I would also caution you to ponder why If this candidate isn’t one of the top choices For the candidate to learn—or even this candidate is willing to leave what you for the position, you shouldn’t consider suspect—that he or she was invited to consider to be a dream job. He or she may interviewing him or her. Even if the interview so you could learn about his or have logical reasons, but it may be possible applicant is one of the top choices, is it her current job would be a gross disservice you are seeing greener grass on the other fair to the applicant to use the time during to that person. I know I would be very side of the fence. Ask yourself why this his or her interview to investigate your unhappy if that happened to me. job appeals to you. Is it the geographic perfect job? Welcome to the intersection of location? Is it the title or responsibilities? business ethics and serendipity. Librarians Would it be possible to attempt to create understand the latter concept and rely upon “From a purely dogmatic point of view, you may wish to recuse yourself from those responsibilities within your current it to help uncover answers. You might have position? ■ run across this job posted on a professional selection of the top candidates if you job list, online discussion list, Facebook, or cannot in good conscience make an another social media site—but you didn’t. unbiased recommendation. This might Susan Catterall (scatterall@charlottelaw. As librarians, we hold ourselves out as present an awkward situation; it would be edu) is reference librarian at the Charlotte ethical role models. Can you perform the tough to tell your boss you need to recuse School of Law in North Carolina. task you’ve been charged with and at the yourself because you would like to have a same time pursue your dream job?

I thought we could benefit from the advice For the candidate to learn—or even suspect—that he or she was of a human resources expert and consulted invited to interview so you could learn about his or her current job Dan Quillen, division manager of human would be a gross disservice to that person. resources with the city of Aurora, Colorado. Quillen has nearly 20 years of human resources experience, including 10 years as candidate’s former job if they are hired by the director of human resources at one of your employer. Since you are one of several the largest employment law litigation firms individuals evaluating resumes, perhaps you in Colorado. Following is Quillen’s advice. merely go along with the recommendation Are you in a sticky situation with a of the other reviewers regarding this colleague? Looking for ways to discuss “Thanks for the opportunity to weigh in on candidate. Even that scenario is less than advancement with your supervisor? this question, Susan. To the individual who desirable—your employer would be robbed Send your questions to columnist asked this question, my initial reaction is of your insights about the candidate. But it Susan Catterall at scatterall@ that it would be unethical at worst and may be the best alternative. charlottelaw.edu. inappropriate at best for you to invite the applicant to interview just to learn about his or her current job.

24 AALL Spectrum ■ February 2012 AALLFeb2012:1 1/11/12 1:15 PM Page 25

                                                !" • #   $%% &     %   &         •              '(') • # *           • +,& % & -.+ -.+     /      &. announcements

AALL Nominations Committee Seeks Candidates for Office

The AALL Nominations Committee chooses the candidates for Board represent a balance of library types, geographic the Executive Board elections. In the summer of 2012, the locations, genders, and minorities. seven-member committee will present a slate of suitable candidates for the 2012 elections to the AALL Executive For the 2012 elections, ballots will be distributed electronically Board. They will choose two candidates to vie for the position to all voting members of the Association in November 2012. The of vice president/president-elect, two candidates for treasurer, ballots will be tabulated at AALL Headquarters on December 1, and four candidates to contend for two open seats on the 2012, and election results announced immediately. For more Executive Board. In accordance with its charge, the committee information about the nominations process or to propose must choose candidates who reflect the diversity of AALL’s possible nominees for the 2012 elections, contact Chair James membership, thus ensuring that the members of the Executive E. Duggan at [email protected]. Nominations must be submitted before March 1.

announcements The Call for Papers Has Begun Have you been thinking of writing Student Division: for students in AALL Annual Meeting in Boston. an article of interest to law librarians? library, information management, or Winning papers in the Open, New The AALL/LexisNexis Call for Papers law school. Participants in this division Member, and Student Divisions are also Committee has just the incentive to get need not be members of AALL. To considered for publication in Law Library you started. The committee is soliciting submit in this category, you must have Journal. articles in four categories: been enrolled in law school or in a For more information, a list of previous Open Division: for active and retired library school, information management winners, an application, and instructions AALL members and law librarians school, or an equivalent program either on how to submit your article, please with five or more years of professional in the fall 2011 or spring 2012 visit www.aallnet.org/main-menu/ experience. semester. Member-Resources/AALLawards/ New Member Division: for recent Submissions in the Open, New award-call-for-papers.html. Winning graduates and AALL members who Member, and Short Form Divisions papers from earlier competitions can have been in the profession for less must be submitted by March 1, be accessed at works.bepress.com/ than five years. 2012. Articles in the Student aallcallforpapers. Division must be submitted by If you have any questions, contact a Short Form Division: for all AALL May 15, 2012. members; articles in this category will member of the AALL/LexisNexis Call be shorter than a traditional scholarly The winners in the Open, New Member, for Papers Committee: Chair Jennifer article and will be appropriate for and Student Divisions will receive $650, Lentz ([email protected]), Vice publication in AALL Spectrum, a bar and the Short Form Division winner Chair Mark Podvia ([email protected]), journal, or a chapter or special interest will receive $300, generously donated Benjamin Keele ([email protected]), section newsletter. by LexisNexis, plus all winners will have James Kelly ([email protected]), the opportunity to present their winning or Shawn Nevers ([email protected]. papers at a program during the 2012 edu).

AALL Spectrum ■ February 2012 25 AALLFeb2012:1 1/11/12 12:48 PM Page 26

the sustainable law librarian by David Selden Green Library Projects Underway

recently asked fellow law librarians more than 20 years!) LEDs use 90 determining your library’s energy use so to describe green or sustainability percent less electricity than incandescent you can create a baseline of energy use, Iprojects that have been implemented bulbs. Each bulb replaced saves the waste, etc., in order to track and measure in their libraries across the United States. library about $20 per year in electricity improvements. In a nutshell, my advice I would like to share short descriptions costs. Annual electricity savings for is to try to join or start a sustainability of a few projects, as well as discuss some 300 bulbs would be about $6,000, and committee within your larger of the barriers we face that prevent carbon dioxide greenhouse gases would organization so you can work with your more vigorous action. I think it be reduced by about 28.5 tons. community—managers, facilities is important to remind For more ideas for pursuing personnel, and other stakeholders. ourselves that any action sustainability in your libraries, It might not be easy being green, taken represents progress True Green @ Work: 100 ways you but by taking a leadership role you can and can result in significant can make the environment your reap big rewards. In addition, if initial environmental protection and business, by Kim Mckay, Jenny funding is available (you will likely be budget savings. One thing Bonnin, and Tim Wallace, and able to recover all costs through energy I noticed in my discussions with The Business Guide to Sustainability: savings), hire or seek RFPs from a other librarians was the pride they Practical Strategies and Tools for sustainability consultant or obtain free felt in taking action and making a little Organizations, by Darcy Hitchcock and or low-cost advice from your city extra effort for sustainability. It just feels Marsha Willard, are good sources. For or utilities to guide your library or good! Our display of compassion and academics, check out stars.aashe.org. organization throughout the process. the feeling of interconnectedness with all (See my previous Spectrum columns for living things is our biggest reward. Isn’t Barriers to Sustainability Action more practical advice.) it? As Kermit the Frog likes to say: “It’s not Additionally, a new AALL caucus easy being green.” has been developed relating to Sustainability in Action Sometimes efforts to implement sustainability—the Environmental Following are a few examples of sustainability actions are challenging. Libraries Caucus. This caucus will sustainability in action in libraries It may be easy to do a lot of small provide a forum to share ideas on around the country. but impactful things, such as printing sustainability. Nicole Belbin at Western New on both sides of paper; replacing England University in Springfield, incandescent light bulbs with CFLs; Greenhouse Gas Emissions Massachusetts, reports that her library using power management functions on Continue to Rise has a book recycling program. To be able your PC; and maybe even programming Recently, reports have provided a to recycle books, student workers are your heating, cooling, and lighting clearer picture of worldwide progress trained on how to remove hard book systems to save on mitigating covers from books. energy when the climate change. Cheryl L. Niemeier at Bose library space I think it is important to remind Although the McKinney & Evans LLP in Washington, is not occupied. ourselves that any action taken European D.C., says her law firm recently was However, things represents progress and can result Community, the able to overcome some barriers to can get complicated in significant environmental Kyoto Protocol, green projects by working with building if, for example, protection and budget savings. and voluntary management services. you want to start a efforts worldwide Maria Sosnowski at Clark County zero-waste program have had a Law Library in Vancouver, Washington, or a carbon offset beneficial impact reports that her library’s organization purchasing program on our current and future climates, policy does not allow employees to turn for travel, replace your lighting systems, greenhouse gases have continued to off their PCs at night because of IT add insulation to your building, or try rise since 1990 and are lingering in maintenance issues. However, they to reduce your library’s carbon footprint our atmosphere. still save energy by turning off all 20 percent by 2020. You might Most scientists recommend at monitors. In addition, they have reduced experience problems because your library least an 80 percent reduction of 1990 consumption of paper and packaging is a small portion of a larger building greenhouse gas levels worldwide by materials by consciously cutting down on at the law school or law firm and/or 2050 to avoid a possible tipping point their printing and reuse of most shipping you must rely on the support of your and the most catastrophic changes to materials. organization’s management and facilities our environments. Although news Linda Fariss, acting director at teams to achieve your goals. about our climate future may sound the Maurer School of Law at Indiana Help is often available if you know depressing, taking the first steps toward University in Bloomington, reports where to look. You may find that your sustainability can help both your budget that the school recently replaced 300 university already has a sustainability and soul. ■ incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs coordinator or your landlord or property David Selden ([email protected]) is in 300 study carrels. The maintenance manager may be willing to work with law librarian at the National Indian Law you on energy-efficiency projects. crew was grateful to not have to keep Library/Native American Rights Fund in changing the light bulbs. (LEDs last In addition, you may have trouble Boulder, Colorado.

26 AALL Spectrum ■ February 2012 AALLFeb2012:1 1/11/12 12:44 PM Page 27

What is one task or activity at member to member work you wish you could drop?

Managing invoices/statements! EMAIL. I have a love/hate relationship with I would welcome being No more boring work. email. It is essential for my job, but I’m able to completely drop terrible at managing it. I currently have handling errata sheets. —Anna Cole, head librarian at Miles 2,000 emails in my inbox. Thank goodness These are those & Stockbridge P.C. in Baltimore the university infamous sticky, patchy increased my types of paper of storage space. The varying sizes and I would really love to not have to remove emails are in my lengths, which typically Maxine Wright sticky labels from books. If only library inbox because I arrive after an item patrons would realize that if the labels don’t want to has been published. aren’t removed promptly, they DO CAUSE forget about them. Granted, we all understand glitches with DAMAGE! If I move them to printing and new info being received two folders, it’s like seconds after an item hits the presses. —Eric M. Kaufman, head of research Reba Best putting them into Therefore, errata sheets are a necessary services & cataloging at Stroock & the black hole. part of the publishing world. However, Stroock & Lavan LLP in New York Have I become when you manage a large collection, an email hoarder? There is one thing for handling errata can be a soporific task. sure: if someone has deleted an important Not to mention, you can’t help but wonder I wish I could stop watching and reading email, there’s a pretty good chance that if this info will somehow correct itself with all the industry news updates. While I know I saved it. the next reprint. it is important to stay up to date, it is very time-consuming to find the nuggets of —Reba Best, associate director at —Maxine Wright, head of collection good information University of Tennessee Joel A. Katz management in the Technical Services in the mountain of Law Library in Knoxville Division at Columbia University’s updates. Arthur W. Diamond Law Library in New York —Phyllis Password Thornton, management. director of The one task I wish I could drop is trying to research at —Alice Pidgeon, track the multiple ways clients want time McCarthy head of technical entries described. Some clients want block Tétrault LLP in Phyllis Thornton services at Pace billing, some want Calgary University summary, some School of Law want detail, some Library in White Alice Pidgeon want one set of task Coordinating subscriptions for print Plains, New York codes, some want periodicals. It’s a tedious though necessary a different set of job to keep on top of, and, if an expiration task codes. Unlike date is missed, it creates problems not Shelving! We are a very small staff attorneys, I work coming in and restarting. Our office has here and do not always have enough on tens or even fortunately given me some assistance with student workers hundreds of client/ Mary Dryden it, and we also don’t maintain as many to help, so matters each month. subscriptions as in the past and have been unfortunately Trying to keep track adding more electronic subscriptions, which I sometimes have of the individual client preferences is a are easier to handle, eliminating missed to do my own monumental and tedious undertaking. I do print copy deliveries, etc. shelving. I can think so wish our system would alert me of the of at least 50 things billing rules for a client when I enter the —John Malone, law librarian at the right off the top client/matter number. United States Attorney’s Office in of my head that Elaine Manning Brooklyn, New York I would rather do —Mary Dryden, librarian at Paul than shelving. Hastings LLP, Los Angeles

—Elaine Manning, cataloging assistant at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Library

AALL Spectrum ■ February 2012 27 AALLFeb2012:1 1/11/12 12:44 PM Page 28

Share Your Views views with Spectrum Many law libraries have interesting or dramatic views of cityscapes, mountain ranges, or beautiful vistas. Others boast amazing interiors, sparkling facades, or artful landscaping. What views of your library are meaningful to you? Whether it’s the atmosphere surrounding your reference desk or a moment captured on your morning commute, this is your chance to share it with AALL. In order to be publishable, pictures must be of relatively high quality. Although we can work with a print, digital submissions are better. Digital submissions must be high-resolution (300 dpi). Depending on the number of submissions received, we will publish one or two photos in each issue of Spectrum and post them on AALLNET. Photos will be published on a first-come, first-served basis. Publication of a submitted photo is not guaranteed. To submit a photo, or if you have questions, contact AALL Marketing and Communications Manager Ashley St. John at [email protected].

View of the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law Library at the University of Louisville. Photo by Virginia Mattingly, background image © iStockphoto.com cybrarian. from you

View of downtown Newark, New Jersey, beyond the windows of Rutgers School of Law Library. Photo taken by Wei Fang, digital services librarian; submitted by Dennis Kim-Prieto, reference librarian.

28 AALL Spectrum ■ February 2012 AALLCovFeb:Layout 1 1/10/12 12:42 PM Page 2

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© 2011 Thomson Reuters L-370106/10-11 Thomson Reuters and the Kinesis logo are trademarks of Thomson Reuters. AALLCRIVFeb2012:AALLCRIV_May 1/10/126:43PMPage1 Carol Suhre Jacob Sayward Michael Bernier [email protected] University ofArizonaCollegeLawLibrary Shaun Esposito,Chair Education Subcommittee Debora Person Brandi Ledferd [email protected] University ofArizonaCollegeLawLibrary Shaun Esposito,Chair CRIV Page andTools Subcommittee [email protected] Dakota CountyLawLibrary Liz Reppe,AssistantEditor [email protected] Fordham UniversityLawSchoolLibrary Todd Melnick,AssistantEditor [email protected] Hamilton CountyLawLibrary Mary Jenkins,Editor Sheet CRIV The [email protected] North CarolinaCentralUniversity Michelle Cosby, CRIVViceChair [email protected] University ofArizonaCollegeLawLibrary Shaun Esposito,CRIVChair School ofLawLibrary Request forAssistance Revisions inanEraofChange Honesty istheBestPolicy: CollectionDevelopmentPolicy Better World Books Vendor AutoshipmentPolicies and theLibrarian From theChair Editor’s Corner Contents Subcommittee New Product Award Carol Suhre Brandi Ledferd [email protected] University ofArizonaCollege Shaun Esposito,Chair Advocacy Subcommittee Member Advocacy/vendorrelations www.aallnet.org/main-menu/ CRIV Website Jacob Sayward Shaun Esposito Michelle Cosby, Moderator, 2012 AALL AnnualMeeting Vendor Roundtable, Liz Reppe [email protected] George MasonUniversityLawLibrary Cynthia Myers,Chair Law Library 8 6 5 3 2 2

The Newsletter of the Committee CRIV on Relations with Information Vendors Sheet AALL Volume 34, No. 2 February 2012 AALLCRIVFeb2012:AALLCRIV_May 1/10/12 6:43 PM Page 2

Mary Jenkins Hamilton County Law Library Editor’s Corner While it happens that this issue of The CRIV Sheet is organization, put into place cost-savings measures, the last I will edit because I have accepted a position or studied an issue related to vendor-library relations, outside of law librarianship, I am pleased to pass please share it with the readership of The CRIV Sheet. the red pen to Assistant Editors Liz Reppe and The CRIV Sheet’s editorial policy is online at Todd Melnick. They will continue to solicit articles www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Advocacy/vendor related to vendor relations, collection management, relations/CRIV-Sheet/policy-criv.html. Please let the publishing practices, acquisitions, and the like. If you assistant editors know if you have any comments have settled a dispute, advocated on behalf of your about this issue, past issues, or future issues.

Shaun Esposito University of Arizona College of Law Library From the Chair As I write this February 2012 chair’s column to meet Demonstrating ROI; How to Use the Fair Business the issue’s deadline shortly before Thanksgiving 2011, Practices Guide When Communicating with I realize that to call The CRIV Sheet a “newsletter” Publishers; Creating and Maintaining Consortia; and is misleading in today’s technological world. Most Antitrust Considerations and the Association. I am readers will already know something about the items pleased to report that the antitrust program proposal of information I am going to discuss in this column. was accepted. The program will be session G4, Nevertheless, The CRIV Sheet does serve as a confirmed for Monday, July 23, 2012, from 2:45- reminder to the readers and also as a more permanent 4 p.m. in Boston. Program specifics are still being record of CRIV activities than that provided by blogs worked out, but the program’s two stated learning and online discussion lists. With that in mind, I am objectives are: (1) participants will understand the happy to share (and memorialize) several interesting history of the antitrust discussion within AALL, and activities with you. (2) participants will be able to identify the challenges posed by current law on association activity while I start this column with a report of some major also identifying strategies for effective collective membership changes on CRIV. Mary Jenkins, our responses to unfair licensing and publishing practices. long-time CRIV Sheet editor and committee vice Mary Jenkins drafted and submitted our only chair, is leaving the law library world to accept accepted proposal. With Mary’s departure from a position at an academic (non-law) library. I want CRIV and AALL, I have undertaken coordinating to thank Mary for her important service and and moderating duties for this program. contributions to CRIV. Although Mary’s unique talent will be impossible to replace directly, I am happy to This past fall, CRIV also made inquiries with report that an experienced former member of CRIV, publishers about issues of concern to membership. uniquely talented in her own right, has returned to Discussions with Law Journal Press addressed undertake the role of vice chair. Michelle Cosby, our concerns about invoicing and customer service new vice chair, is faculty services librarian at North responsiveness. Questions and concerns about Carolina Central University School of Law Library. conversion from looseleaf format to annual softbound Michelle was a CRIV committee member from editions were conveyed to West/TR. Library Relations July 2008 until she completed her service on the Senior Manager Anne Ellis responded to initial committee this past July at the Annual Meeting in and follow-up questions about this process. These Philadelphia. Michelle’s enthusiasm and experience two examples demonstrate the type of activity CRIV will be a great asset to the committee. I will be happy, undertakes on behalf of membership on an ongoing comfortable, and relieved to hand over the CRIV basis. torch to her in July. This spring, in addition to continued work on the Much CRIV activity this past fall surrounded our aforementioned activities, CRIV New Product Award submission of five program proposals to the Annual Subcommittee members Liz Reppe, Cynthia Myers, Meeting Program Committee for this summer’s and Jamie Keller will evaluate products under meeting in Boston. The program proposal titles reveal consideration for the award. As the AALL working the wide range of issues of interest to CRIV: Librarian group charged with redrafting the Guide to Fair as Vendor; Metrics and Collection Development— Business Practices makes drafts available, CRIV will

2 The CRIV Sheet Vol. 34 No. 2 February 2012 AALLCRIVFeb2012:AALLCRIV_May 1/10/12 6:43 PM Page 3

review them to provide feedback and suggestions. advocacy or regarding vendor-related complaints and CRIV will also continue to work with the vendor communication. Information regarding requests for liaison to outline areas of responsibility for each. CRIV’s assistance in complaint resolution is available As always, please contact me with any concerns or at www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Advocacy/vendor suggestions related to AALL member education and relations/request-assistance.

Deb Person University of Wyoming College of Law Vendor Autoshipment Policies and the Librarian In the summer of 2010, our library received two We received the 2011-1 supplement of Corporate Tax subscription titles from Thomson Reuters/RIA Tax and Digest and returned it on October 25, 2010, with a letter Accounting that we had no record of ordering. From citing our previous cancellation and stating that we that time until November 2011, our library struggled would not return future updates. On January 6, 2011, to conclude satisfactorily the autoshipment and we returned the 2011-1 supplement to Estate and Gift billing of these titles. Most of our efforts were Tax Digest with a similar letter. We received the 2011-2 documented, providing an interesting study of library supplement to Estate and Gift Tax Digest on July 28, and vendor practices regarding autoship policies. 2011. We sent another email documenting our efforts to Although this is, admittedly, a one-case study, the cancel this title on August 16, 2011. Our efforts to cancel frustrations we experienced will likely generate some included telephone calls, but we did not document the changes to our library’s receiving practices. We are dates of the calls or record what was discussed. sharing these experiences and what we learned from In August 2011, we got a very helpful response from them in the hope that it will help other libraries with a customer service representative at RIA who assured similar challenges. us that our subscription to Corporate Tax Digest was The two titles concerned were Corporate Tax Digest cancelled as of November 2010, indicating as proof and Estate and Gift Tax Digest. Our library received of our cancellation that the most recent update had the shipments in June 2010. To the best of our shipped but was not sent to us. She verified also that the recollection, they came with information that company had received the Estate and Gift Tax Digest identified them as part of an autoship program update we returned in January, but that no cancellation instituted by the vendor, but they did not include was recorded. We learned at this point that sometimes any information about why they were shipped, when returns are received, the boxes are scanned for any association with a title to which we already their contents but not opened. In this instance, our subscribed, or any indication how to return them. accompanying letter may have been missed. After investigation, we found we had no open Although I could not yet officially document the orders for them. We directed them to our collection cancellation of Estate and Gift Tax Digest, I was development process and determined that we did not notified in a telephone conversation with an RIA want to add the titles to our collection. On June 10, representative early in November 2011 that the title 2010, we emailed the company, stating that we did not has been cancelled and our account was no longer want the titles. We requested that they send no further on hold awaiting payment for the issues we received. supplements, and, per AALL’s Guide to Fair Business In this conversation I requested clarification of RIA’s Practices for Legal Publishers, we did not return the autoship procedures. We were correct in believing that materials or pay the invoices. As noted in the guide: we did not order these titles and that they were not associated with any of our open subscriptions. RIA “Publishers should obtain the customer’s consent shipped these titles to us on a review basis. Libraries prior to making a shipment or initiating a wishing to keep the titles and initiate a subscription transaction, unless such shipment is part of with renewal notices would pay the invoice. Those a standing order or subscription to which the who did not wish to keep them could request a return customer has previously consented.” (3.1), and mailing label and ship the items back within 30 days. “Unsolicited merchandise may be disposed of without permission, without an attempt to return, The problem, therefore, arose in part from some of and without payment, pursuant to federal statute our decisions. When items are received in our library, (39 USC 3009).” (3.1(d)). Guide to Fair Business they are unpacked and loaded onto a cart for Practices for Legal Publishers (2d ed. 2007). librarian review. We record order information and www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Advocacy/ examine the items for location placement and faculty recommendedguidelines/fair-practice-guide.html review notifications. Titles for which we cannot

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identify an order have to be investigated for their agreements and the guidelines put strictures on source. While these supplements were accompanied vendor autoship notices to prevent these accidental by a letter indicating they were autoshipped, vendors occurrences. And certainly libraries need to be alert autoship for a number of reasons. We may have and careful when receiving and processing materials established a standing order for a particular title. and invoices. However, in working with the volume Vendors may have a new product that is associated of materials and paperwork that arrive in a library with a title for which we have a current subscription. in one day, prenotification letters can get buried, A title can come as part of our approval program. tossed, or misdirected, and any notices packaged with An unidentified title could come as part of a negative materials may not get forwarded to those making option rule, such as those the Florida Attorney collection decisions. It’s difficult to ensure best General’s Office negotiated with Thomson Reuters practices on the library side. And as I believe our and MatthewBender/LexisNexis. scenario proves, it is equally difficult on the vendor In our efforts to resolve this problem, I looked at end, as they are also struggling with misdirected these two agreements. I searched through my notes communications, multiple customer service from a session I attended at AALL in Washington, representatives, and imperfect practices. D.C., during which I first heard of the case. In the In this instance, my decision to spend no further staff Agreement of Compliance between the Florida time returning the materials, though I believed it was Attorney General’s Office and Thom[p]son Publishing in line with the guidelines, probably impacted the Group, Inc., 2008, Section 24 of the agreement lengthy ordeal and exacerbated the general confusion discusses the Prenotification Negative Option Rule over these mailings. Emails failed us; telephone calls that gives the vendor the right to mail promotional got us halfway; returns along with cancellation material, stating the item will be sent automatically letters were overlooked by the vendor; and, as our unless the library responds that it does not wish frustration rose, we grew more determined to refuse to receive the title. (See www.ftc.gov/os/comments/ to return items we did not order and that, from our negoprulereopen/543809-00102.pdf, which includes perspective, we had cancelled several times. AALL’s comments on the FTC’s Negative Option Rule and documentation of the agreement between the So how can we avoid this hassle for future Florida’s Attorney General’s Office and Thomson interactions? Educating everyone will be a first step. Reuters, as well as a similar agreement with Matthew From our receiving staff to our librarians, we will Bender/LexisNexis.) Although our issue was with RIA need to be more vigilant about forwarding mail to the and not Thomson Reuters directly, I expected that, in correct people and ensuring packaging materials move light of the costs associated with the resolution in the forward with the pieces through the receiving stage. agreement, these practices had been adopted by most We will request return labels for autoshipped items the legal vendors. At this stage I was still considering the first time we receive them. If the cancellation is not likelihood that someone in the library had received registered at that point, it’s likely we will not ship back a prenotification letter. The turnaround time for a additional supplements, in line with the guidelines and response, 10 days, is fairly short for a busy library. federal law. And we will continue to document our Any one of us could have received the letter, glanced efforts and request written verification of cancellations. at it, and tossed it away, considering it daily I’d also suggest that vendors engaging in this practice advertising instead of forwarding it through the clarify the notice they ship along with the titles. I was appropriate collection development process. In the unable to get a copy of the letter that was originally end, it turned out that none of this was integral to sent, but it required a significant amount of staff time our problem, but it was a reminder to read more just to track down the purpose of the shipment, not to carefully and act more quickly. mention arrange for a return and then work through the lengthy cancellation process. In the prenotification rule, it appears that library consent is implied when the notification is not We are clearly not the first library to struggle with returned. This was different from my interpretation the issues that arise from vendor autoshipment. We of AALL’s Guide to Fair Business Practices for are grateful for the direction we received from the Legal Publishers guideline for customer consent. Guide to Fair Business Practices for Legal Publishers I concluded that autoshipment is fairly lucrative and the compliance agreement worked out by for the vendor. From one perspective, getting the Florida’s Attorney General’s Office. We are also materials into the library to excite interest is good thankful for our RIA customer service representative marketing. Viewing it more cynically, it may lead to who was responsive to our questions and handled our accidental processing of materials and payment of frustrations well. We now look forward to continued invoices for autoshipped items along with the piles good interactions with greater understanding of the of other materials that arrive each day. Both the process at both ends.

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Lorna Tang D’Angelo Law Library, University of Chicago Better World Books

Better World Books (www.betterworldbooks.com) was good physical condition. As we generate the UPS started in 2002 by three college graduates from the shipping labels in house, we automatically notify University of Notre Dame who recognized the true UPS to pick up the boxes in one or two days. Better value of a used book. They started by selling donated World Books pays for the shipping cost; it is most textbooks online and giving a portion of the sales cost-effective for them if we send a minimum of six to the Robinson Community Center in South Bend, boxes in each shipment. The library receives a check Indiana. The venture was so successful that they quarterly that we use to supplement our book budget. ended up forming a social enterprise with a mission to promote literacy. They soon expanded their book Before starting this program with Better World Books, collection program on campus to working with a library has to complete a sign-up form and choose libraries and their discards and donations. a nonprofit literacy partner. There are a few types of materials Better World Books does not accept, such In 2005, the University of Chicago D’Angelo Law Library began a comprehensive review of its print as magazines or journals, book club editions, mass- collection in anticipation of a law school building market paperbacks, etc. The company also has an renovation project and the construction of a high- optional “Pre-screen Feature” for customers to check density storage facility on campus for the University by ISBN which titles it does NOT want, often because of Chicago Libraries. During the review process, it already has many copies of the title. Better World we weeded many duplicate monographs. We posted Books now has an Antiquarian, Rare, and Collectable selected titles on the “needsandoffers” online Department to handle books predating ISBNs or of discussion list for law librarians. Although close to special value. 70 percent of the monographs posted were shipped Working with Better World Books has been effortless to other academic law libraries, there were still many on our part. After our selector rejects a gift book books ready for the recycle bins. The university or decides to withdraw a duplicate monograph, we library holds book sales only once or twice a year, and we had no place to store these books for the place the processed book on the Better World Books next book sale. shelves. If interested, we can check our library’s sales summary online to see the price for which our books On a tour of the high-density storage facility at were sold. Some books were sold for as much as Valparaiso University, we visited its acquisitions $80 or even $250 and others for just $1 or $2. I have department, where carts full of new and used books been told that the old casebooks are welcomed by for Better World Books caught my attention. The their foreign and domestic customers. The books are staff explained to me that these unwanted gifts and sold through Amazon, Alibris, Better World Books, library discards would soon be shipped to Better and more than 20 other online used book sales World Books to be sold online. Based on their websites. Since 2005 we have had several different recommendation, I immediately investigated to see customer service representatives, but all of them have if Better World Books could be an option for the D’Angelo Law Library. been friendly and helpful. Since then, Better World Books has sold many of our In general, we are happy that our “discards” discards and unwanted gifts online. In our cataloging and “unwanted gifts” have another chance to be department, we have designated seven shelves to hold discovered and obtained by readers around the globe. books to be sent to Better World Books. When these The literacy program of our choice and this library shelves are full, we will request boxes and packing financially benefit from the sale. Finally, Better World supplies from Better World Books. We only send books Books recycles the books that absolutely cannot be that meet their acceptance criteria and also are in reused.

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Courtney Selby Deane Law Library, Hofstra University Law School Honesty is the Best Policy: Collection Development Policy Revisions in an Era of Change Editor’s note: This article is reprinted with permission from Technical Services Law Librarian (Vol. 36, No. 4, June 2011).

As I prepared to write this column, my last as the Beyond changes in the organizational mission, contributing author for collection development structure, and resources we have at our disposal, we for TSLL, I revisited both the journey I have taken also find ourselves in a time of rapid change in the over the last two years and the writing I have way that information is gathered, stored, and shared. completed as a result of it. Thinking about each While we are each keenly aware of the changes collection development project, I reviewed my own taking place around us, there are few guideposts observations, methods, and guiding principles. for translating some of those changes into concrete In both the lessons I have learned and the ways in guidelines for a new era of collection development. which I have tried to convey those lessons, I have For example, some law school faculty have begun to taken one vital element of my work for granted. take part in new publishing initiatives designed to I have not highlighted the vitally important task re-envision the way in which law school casebooks of collection development policy revision. are written, sold, and accessed. E-casebook projects like CALI’s eLangdell (see www.cali.org/elangdell) have One of the most important functions of the regular begun to reach a wider audience, and as such they review of a collection development policy is the require new ways of thinking. Existing models of opportunity to revisit the fundamentals of collection collecting faculty publications primarily focus on the development. Regardless of whether we are public, physical information containers that hold faculty private, or academic entities, the basic considerations writing. Most academic libraries have clear directions in creating and maintaining a collection development for how faculty-authored print monographs or article policy remain the same. We start with the library reprints should be handled. But how should we treat mission. Whom do we serve, and why? Knowing a chapter in an e-casebook? The chapter could be the focus and purpose of our service is important, printed if there are no copyright restrictions, but is but translating that knowledge into timely and that the best option? The answer lies in review of the relevant policies that inform our decisions is existing collection development policy, with an eye absolutely critical to excellence in service-oriented toward the mission and purpose of the library and librarianship. And there is an even greater value attention both to the changes at hand and those that in asking these questions as our organizations are likely to follow. experience rapid and pervasive change. When the answers to these questions change, our policies Another change that impacts public, private, and should take those changes into account. What we do academic libraries alike is the slow but steady move and how we do it should be derived from whom we toward the authentication of online sources for serve and why. When one changes, it is incumbent primary legal materials. The AALL Government on us to reconsider the other. Relations Committee has been committed to the cause of increasing free public access to authenticated Policy revisions also provide an opportunity to primary authorities in digital format for a number review legacy practices in our organizations. “Why of years, and it remains one of the stated goals in are we doing this?” can be a powerful question in the most current iteration of the committee’s action times of change. Reviewing the rationale behind plan (www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Leadership- our policies and practices gives us an opportunity Governance/committee/actionplancmtes/2009-10/ to transition away from decisions and methods govrelations.pdf). that don’t meet our needs toward other practices that are more responsive to our most important As those striving for freely available authenticated constituencies, our users. Moreover, in times of government information find success, those of us increased constraints on space and resources, our charged with the collection and dissemination of greatest assets will be our creativity and flexibility that information should reevaluate what we will in finding new ways to achieve our objectives. What collect and how it is provided to our users. Once a better way to reevaluate the way we develop our publication is both official and authenticated online, collections than to revisit the guidelines we have how much of our limited resources should we spend to created for that work? maintain a duplicative print set of the material in our

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collections? What if our most limited resource is as those that direct new acquisitions. space rather than funding? And what if the resource in question is still not official when accessed online? What I present here is not so much a call to arms or The answers will vary from library to library, but the action as it is a call to reflection. We make our best questions are critically important to ask. decisions when we have given time and consideration to our guiding principles, then let those principles help A further fundamental element of our work guided to steer our course. As I move into a new chapter of by the collection development policy is weeding, my professional career, this is one of the essential or deaccessioning of materials. Some of the sagest lessons I will carry with me. The policies I help craft advice I have been given to date with respect to must mirror and complement the people my library this endeavor is to constantly strive to remove serves, including both the reason and ways in which materials from the library with the same level of we serve them. At the same time, they must be thoughtfulness and care that I give to the addition of new materials. In fact, weeding some collections realistic and forward-looking, taking into account requires an even more acute attitude of reflection and the resources at our disposal and the changes in our consideration than the addition of new items based future. To continue the good work in which we are on the fragile, fleeting, or unique nature of the already engaged, we must look honestly at each of collections. The policies that guide these decisions these things. Ultimately, this honesty will guide us in must be as carefully crafted and regularly reviewed crafting the best policies.

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Request for Assistance: Committee on Relations with Information Vendors

Note: Prior to filing a request for assistance, individuals are expected to have made a reasonable attempt to resolve the issue at hand. To avoid duplication of effort, please provide a complete account of your efforts to communicate with the vendor. Copies of notes from conversations with the vendor are helpful.

Date: ______

Name: ______

Library: ______

Address: ______

______

Telephone: ______

Fax: ______

Email: ______

Vendor: ______

Nature of problem: ______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

Please send this form and supporting documentation to: Shaun Esposito Head of Public Services University of Arizona College of Law Library 1201 E. Speedway Avenue Box 210176 Tucson, AZ 85721-0176 520/626-5551 Fax: 520/621-3138 [email protected]

You may also complete this form online at: www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Advocacy/vendorrelations/request-assistance

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