Brown V. Board of Education Celebrates50thanniversary

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Volume 8 No. 6 April 2004 Spectrum AALL AALL: Maximizing the Power of the Law Library Community Since 1906

Bro wn v. Board o Celebr f Education ates 50th Anniversary

In This Issue

Learn How to Organize the Visual Information in Your Library

Explore Boston on Foot

Members' Briefing: International Networks

Law Librarians Reflect on the Landmark Decision's Legacy and its Effect on Education www.aallnet.org 85282 AALL Spectrum.apr 3/26/04 11:55 AM Page 1

Volume 8 No. 6 April 2004 AALL Spectrum letter from the editor We’re Still Learning 50 Years Later by Paul D. Healey, [email protected]

By now most people are aware that the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education is being celebrated across the country. The Brown decision in May of 1954 marked a turning point in American history and demonstrated the ability of law to shape and guide the moral conscience of a nation. As law librarians, we have all been affected in many ways by Brown. This issue of Spectrum attempts to explore some of those effects. It seemed to us that the best way to explore the importance and effects of Brown was to let our members write about it—what it was and is, what it meant, and how it affected them. To do this we turned to AALL’s Diversity Committee. Judy Floyd Evans, chair of the committee, and committee member Calmer Chattoo worked with us to find authors and develop the articles that appear here. We owe Judy and Calmer our deepest thanks and appreciation. Lauren Collins has written a fascinating article on the legacy of Brown and its effects on law schools. She takes us back to the initial efforts by African-Americans to gain admission to law schools long before the Brown decision and then follows the progress of integration after Brown in both law school admissions and teaching. Her article points out one of the subtleties that is often lost in the celebration of a single event like the Brown decision: that before and after Brown itself there was a long string of cases and struggles that first set the stage for and then worked out the effects of the decision itself. Not only is Lauren’s article an excellent read, but also she has supplied a list of additional reading if your interest is piqued. To make some of this history—and struggle—come to life, Vivica Pierre and Madeline Hebert interviewed John Pierre. Pierre worked on the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board desegregation suit settlement for seven years and provides a unique perspective on trying to bring about the intended effects of the Brown decision. In the interview, Pierre describes his experiences growing up in Louisiana and attending black-only schools even after the Brown decision. Getting Louisiana to follow the dictates of Brown was an incredibly involved and difficult process and continues into the present day. Pierre brings this history to light and with it emphasizes the human and social effects of such massive and resisted change. Sometimes personal reflections are the most powerful communicators of the meaning of an event. This is certainly true for the Brown decision. We provide some of those reflections here as four AALL members discuss what Brown meant for them. Their comments are insightful, poignant, and sometimes surprising. April Schwartz brought these reflections together in an article that appears here. While I always enjoy reading the articles written for Spectrum by our members, and almost always learn something new from them, I found this month’s articles on the Brown decision to be particularly thought-provoking and memorable. I hope that you will agree. As always, we have lots of other things to offer this month. For those who are On the cover: thinking ahead to the Annual Meeting, John Pedini has written an amusing and George E.C. Hayes, left, Thurgood Marshall, informative article on the sights of Boston—all within walking distance of the center, and James M. Nabrit join hands as convention center. I have never been to Boston, and as a dedicated walker, I was excited they pose outside the U.S. Supreme Court in and gratified to read how many interesting sights will be nearby. John always adds a Washington, D.C., May 17, 1954. The three touch of humor to his writing, and I know you’ll enjoy the article. I also hope that lawyers led the fight for abolition of segregation you’ll plan to be in Boston for the Annual Meeting and take advantage of his advice. in public schools before the Supreme Court, The May issue of AALL Spectrum will be our ever popular annual architectural which ruled on that date that public school issue. We are once again blessed with an interesting segregation was unconstitutional. array of projects to showcase along with a set of articles Photo credit: AP Photo that highlights the ins and outs of building, remodeling, or moving a law library. Look for it next month.

AALL Spectrum Magazine April 2004 1 85282 AALL Spectrum.apr 3/26/04 11:57 AM Page 2

table of contents the details Editorial Staff Director of Publications and Managing Editor features Julia O’Donnell [email protected]

Editorial Director Professional Development Series: Controlling the Confetti Paul D. Healey [email protected] Learn How to Organize the Visual Information in Your Library ...... 4 Copy Editor Robert B. Barnett Jr. by Amy Hale-Janeke Graphic Designer Kathy Wozbut Public Relations: The Simple Elegance of 2003–2004 Law Library Journal and AALL Spectrum Editorial Board and Advisory Committee Shameless Self-Promotion Chair Camille Broussard Stanford Law Librarian Congratulates Law School Members Sarah Andeen Sue Burch and Elevates Library through Daily E-Newsletter ...... 6 Daniel R. Campbell by Erika V. Wayne Naomi J. Goodman Elizabeth A. Greenfield Brown’s Legacy Then and Now Bonnie L. Koneski-White Race and Law School Admissions Debates Kathleen S. Martin Lisa A. Mecklenberg Jackson Continue after Nearly 70 Years...... 8 Patricia Parker by Lauren Collins Paul D. Healey (ex officio) Frank G. Houdek (ex officio) Beyond Brown Sandra Marz (ex officio) Louisiana Lawyer Discusses the East Baton 2003–2004 Executive Board Rouge Desegregation Suit and its Relation to President Janis L. Johnston Brown v. Board of Education...... 12 Vice President/ by Vivica Pierre and Madeline Hebert President-Elect Victoria K. Trotta Secretary Catherine Lemann Perspectives: Reflections on Brown v. Board of Education Treasurer Anne C. Matthewman Immediate Past President Carol Avery Nicholson Four Law Librarians Share Their Experiences Executive Director Susan E. Fox Growing up during the Brown Era ...... 16 Members Kathy Carlson compiled by April Schwartz James E. Duggan Ann T. Fessenden Boston on Foot Nina Platt Explore Boston’s Historic and Cultural Alvin M. Podboy Jr. Treasures with Simply Your Own Two Feet...... 18 Merle J. Slyhoff by John Pedini AALL Spectrum (ISSN: 1089–8689) is published monthly except January and August by the American Association of Law Libraries, 53 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 940, Chicago, IL 60604. Telephone: 312/939-4764, fax: 312/431-1097, e-mail: columns [email protected]. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, Illinois. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AALL Spectrum, 53 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 940, Chicago, IL 60604. Letter from the Editor...... 1 Writers wanted — contribute to your Association’s magazine. Chapter News ...... 22 For guidelines, visit www.aallnet.org or contact Editorial Committee News ...... 24 Director Paul D. Healey at [email protected]. AALL Spectrum Deadlines SIS News ...... 26 Articles are due on the following dates: Membership News...... 28 2003–2004 Issue Deadline Vol. 8, No. 9 July April 22 Vol. 9, No. 1 Sept./Oct. July 22 center insert No. 2 November August 19 Copy sent through a columnist or guest editor should be submitted to him or her well in advance of the monthly deadline. Members’ Briefing International Networks AALLNET: www.aallnet.org by Jules Winterton Advertising Representatives Benson, Coffee & Associates 1411 Peterson Ave., Park Ridge, IL 60068 Telephone: 847/692-4695 • Fax: 847/692-3877 E-mail: [email protected] announcements AALL Spectrum is a free benefit of membership in the American Association of Law Libraries. Of each year’s dues, $42 is for one year of AALL Spectrum. Nonmembers may subscribe to AALL Seeking Nominations for the 2004 Spirit of Spectrum for $75 per year. For membership and/or subscription Law Librarianship Award...... 7 information, please contact the American Association of Law Libraries at the address above. Committee Awards AALL/Aspen Publishers Research Grants ...... 11 The American Association of Law Libraries does not assume any responsibility for the statements advanced by the contributors to, New Members Appointed to Nominations Committee ...... 20 nor the advertisers in, the Association’s publication. Editorial views do not necessarily represent the official position of the AALL 2004 Membership Renewal Schedule ...... 24 Association. All advertising copy is subject to editorial approval. ∞ AALL Spectrum is printed on acid-free, recycled paper.

All contents copyright 2004 by the American Association of departments Law Libraries, except where otherwise expressly indicated. Except as otherwise expressly provided, the author of each item in this issue has granted permission for copies of that item to Professional Development Calendar ...... 11 be made for classroom use or for any other educational purpose, provided that (1) copies are distributed at or below cost, (2) Update on Strait Fundraising ...... 24 author and AALL Spectrum are identified, and (3) proper notice of copyright is affixed to each copy. For items in which it holds Memorials ...... 24 copyright, the American Association of Law Libraries grants permission for copies to be made for classroom use or for any Ad Index...... 25 other educational purpose under the same conditions.

2 AALL Spectrum Magazine April 2004 85282 AALL Spectrum.apr 3/26/04 11:58 AM Page 4 professional development series

and counter space. We finally faced up to our confetti problem and came up with some solutions that worked for us and may work for you, too. Conserve Space First, we knew that we needed to attract patron attention without cluttering our limited desk and wall space. We started by looking at various office supply product catalogs to see what kind of paper organization solutions they offered. The first item we noticed was a nine-item acrylic brochure holder (see Figure 1). We decided to purchase two holders and see if they improved the visibility and organization of our brochures. We placed the first brochure rack at the circulation front desk and filled it with Figure 1 Figure brochures about library hours, extended Brochure holders improve visibility and organization of services, and our classes. We positioned the brochures, as well as save precious onfetti is great for celebrations, but second rack at the reference desk and filled desk and wall space from getting not for a law library. Many times it with brochures on various legal topics cluttered. C there are so many flyers and signs that we order from the state bar. on the walls or counters that it looks like a We noticed an immediate improvement. ticker tape parade has just come through. Brochures were picked up and examined by How can you control this confetti while more patrons than when they had simply getting patrons to pay more attention to been piled on the desk. In fact, we are glad what you are disseminating? Though the that we needed to refill the brochure racks answer is simple—organization and ease of regularly. access to information—the implementation is often a bit more complex. Organize Information Controlling We all know that most law libraries have Encouraged by our success, we decided to information contained in brochures and tackle the larger problem of organizing our flyers that either does not get seen or is not flyers. We decided that a nice cloth-covered the Confetti readily available for use by patrons. For bulletin board would be attractive and example, a flyer stuck on a wall may pique functional, so we turned once again someone’s interest in to our office supply Learn How to Organize the subject, but if there catalogs. the Visual Information is no flyer available AALL Professional Development We found a for him or her to take, Program Competencies of Law couple of cloth- in Your Library he or she will probably Librarianship covered bulletin either forget the 1 Core Competencies boards that come information or take with large hooks to by Amy Hale-Janeke Specialized Competencies the flyer, depriving the 2 Library Management hang on the cubicle The Career Development Task Force, next person of the 3 Reference, Research, and Client dividers that make up which coordinates the Desktop Learning information. Brochures Services our circulation area. are useful too, but 4 Information Technology We purchased two Opportunity Series, encourages members to explore 5 Collection Care and Management professional development offerings and only if they catch the 6 Teaching boards and devoted opportunities at the local, regional, and national attention of viewers one to legal job long enough to interest This article addresses the AALL Specialized information and levels. We welcome your comments and article Competencies on Library Management. The suggestions. Please contact Phyllis Marion at them in taking the complete AALL statement of Competencies upcoming seminars. 619/525-1429 or [email protected]. information. of Law Librarianship is online at www.aall The second bulletin San Diego County net.org/prodev/competencies.asp. board is reserved for Public Law Library had information about a variety of brochures, current classes, legal program flyers, signs, and research guides that clinics, and seminars that we offer. we wanted people to see, but we were running We placed the boards in high-traffic out of space to post them. We also needed a areas of the library, resulting in not only way to organize our visual information that a neater display, but also a centralized would allow patrons easy access and save wall information location. However, we found

a desktop learning opportunity

The magazine display idea We do have a couple of signs that are worked so well that we decided semi-permanent, such as our classroom to purchase a second one to put signs (see Figure 4). Previously we had an in our reading room for our average of three to five questions a day computer research guides. We about the location of the classroom from do not have a bulletin board patrons taking classes. Our classroom is in display mounted in the reading a relatively hidden part on our third floor, and we knew that we needed a series of signs—not just one—to help people figure out where to go. We made up some signs with arrows on bright yellow paper and laminated them. After it was in place for a few weeks, we were no longer receiving as many questions Figure 2 Figure because patrons were able to find the that our boards were too classroom on their own using the signs. successful—the flyers kept A side benefit of purchasing the disappearing. We kept extras lamination tool was that we started using at the reference desk, but it to laminate some of our sample forms. people would not ask for Many times we would hand out sample copies. Instead, they would proofs of service only to have them take down the flyers, disappear because patrons didn’t want to photocopy them, and either 3 Figure go to the trouble of making a photocopy. Providing flyers in numbered bins that correspond to displayed flyers makes it Now we have laminated our samples, and return the flyers to the wrong easier for patrons to find specific flyers and cuts down on the number of flyers place or simply walk off with that disappears from displays. they always come back to the desk. them. We were glad to see that We continue to look for ways to the information was in demand, improve the organization of our but we were spending a lot of time room because of space considerations, but information, not only to serve our patrons, replacing flyers. we did place the second magazine rack next but also to provide a pleasant and less to the computer workstations. We use stressful working environment. I hope our Make Flyers Available tabletop acrylic holders to display the flyers, experience gives you an idea of how to Our solution was to go back and consult and the letter at the top the office supply catalog. We found a of the flyer corresponds picture of a magazine display rack and to the letter of the bin decided it would be a good solution to the in the reading room. flyer organization problem. We purchased the rack and used hooks to hang it over the Give Clear cubicle divider next to the class and clinic Directions information bulletin board. Our final project was to We labeled the bins with numbers one tackle our directional through nine (see Figure 2). Then we used a signs. We often have marker and wrote a number on the top of classes and programs in the flyer that corresponded with the bin in different parts of our which the flyer was located (Figure 3). This library and wanted a seemed like a great solution, and we nice way to direct promptly placed a stack of flyers in each bin. people to the correct Unfortunately, once the stack of place without installing photocopied flyers was placed in the bin, a permanent sign. they had a tendency to slump over. We Our solution was to wanted them to be more visible, so we got purchase a laminator 1 8 /2” by 11” pieces of cardboard and stapled and some colored paper. a flyer onto each piece. Then we placed that We typed up

piece in the front of the bin so that each various routing signs, 4 Figure flyer was clearly visible. We placed extras copied them onto the Well-displayed directional signs help patrons to find certain locations and saves staff behind the cardboard mounts so patrons colored paper, and from answering repetitive questions about where to find a particular room. could simply reach behind to take a flyer. laminated them. This This system has been in place for about not only looks more professional, but it also control the confetti of flyers and a year and has worked wonderfully. It has makes the signs last longer. When we have a information around your law libraries. allowed us to be more organized and class in a certain part of the library, the signs Amy Hale-Janeke ([email protected]) is allowed patrons to have easy access to go up. When the program is over, the signs reference librarian/media coordinator at the myriad flyers. come down until they are needed again. San Diego County Public Law Library.

AALL recognizes major support from BNA, Inc. for the Professional Development Program. AALL Spectrum Magazine April 2004 5 85282 AALL Spectrum.apr 3/26/04 11:58 AM Page 6 public relations

or the holidays last year, we gave my morning, “a real bonus for living in grandparents a digital picture frame. Pacific time,” Lomio said. And he takes full F The ever-changing frame cycles advantage of the early news feeds getting through a series of 20 photos daily that we’ve the daily Stanford Law e-mail out before uploaded onto a Web site. Every morning at 6 a.m. Pacific time. 9 a.m., the digital slide show begins. “When our faculty visits back East, And every morning at 9 a.m., my as they often do, they’ll get to read the grandparents anxiously await the next Stanford headlines by 9 a.m. East Coast set of images. Many of the images are time,” Lomio said. “It’s like they never left scans of old photos, some are new, home.” And in the six years that Lomio has but all of them focus on the family. been doing this, there has not been a single And they love it. day when a Stanford law person wasn’t My mother chuckled a bit at the quoted or noted in the news. gift and thought that we were giving Now, that’s service! But it is so much my grandparents the “gift of us”— more. This news service keeps everyone in how thoughtful of us, the shameless the law school community informed, and self-promoters. But my grandfather it also keeps the law library at the center of said it was the greatest gift we’ve ever it all. sent his way (although the digital picture frame is no match for a The Hip Bone’s connected to the striped tie). He feels that the frame Leg Bone … Paul Lomio, assistant director for information services at keeps him connected, literally. The Stanford Law School Web page Stanford’s Law Library, wakes up in the wee hours of the Just as my grandparents are now hooked displays news of the school on an ever- morning to assemble a daily news e-mail about Stanford changing basis. Many of the wonderful folks in the news that is sent to the whole Stanford Law on our daily digital dose, the folks at Stanford School community. Law School have a new electronic news habit. stories featured on the home page have been Paul Lomio, assistant director for information generated from Lomio’s daily mail. The law services at Stanford’s Law Library, wakes up school Web site will also regularly advertise before any law student has ever hit the snooze an upcoming event or faculty television button for the first time that morning. He appearance. Lomio then uses these leads assembles a daily news e-mail that is sent to as tips for items to include in the e-mail the whole Stanford The Simple Law School community and then posts a printout of Elegance of the e-mail on a library bulletin Shameless board. Lomio’s e-mail is a summary of Self-Promotion Stanford folks in the news. From quotes to comments, from Stanford Law Librarian PBS interviews to Congratulates Law School guest blogging, he has taken people- and Elevates Library watching to the electronic level. And through Daily E-Newsletter the good people at Stanford can’t get Stanford law students gather at the news bulletin board, reading the latest e-newsletter printouts by Erika V. Wayne enough of it. from law librarian Paul Lomio. The Secret Weapon update. Any press coverage that Lomio How does Lomio, a self-described selects for inclusion in the e-mail might information junkie, do it? He relies heavily find its way back onto the law school home on automated news searches that run on page. And, so on, and so on … Westlaw and Lexis. He sets up generic queries It doesn’t end there. The law school for individual names or the terms “Stanford publications team uses the daily news e-mail Law School” and receives daily updates on to determine who and what should be the searches. profiled in the coming issues of alumni The automated searches dump into magazines or online newsletters. Many Lomio’s inbox in the wee hours of the faculty members relish the spotlight and

announcements Seeking Nominations for the 2004 Spirit of Law Librarianship Award

Each year the Spirit of Law Librarianship • Marvin Anderson, for his work The award was established in lieu of Award Committee honors one law with the “Everybody Wins” reading accepting royalties from their book, librarian for his or her service to the program at the Benjamin E. published in 1991 by the Fred B. community. Please help us recognize Mays Magnet School in St. Paul, Rothman Company (now a division of law librarians who, using their law Minnesota the Wm. S. Hein and Co. Inc.), The library skills, have made a meaningful Spirit of Law Librarianship. The second • SCALL Inner City Youth contribution to a social concern by edition will be published in the spring Program Committee, for its work nominating a worthy individual. of 2004 by Alert Publications Inc. The offering inner-city youth the chance Law librarians who use their skills award is presented to the recipient at a to learn new skills and meet new in this capacity benefit not only the reception during the AALL Annual challenges by training, mentoring, recipients of their hard work, but also Meeting. and hiring them to intern in law the profession as a whole through their An award will be given only when libraries and law firms example of service. an outstanding individual is Past recipients of the award are: • Catherine nominated. In its 11-year history, Lemann, for her there has only been one year • Wes Daniels, for establishing a work with when an award has not been resource center for legal work on AIDSLaw of given because a worthy behalf of the homeless Louisiana nominee was not brought to the committee’s attention. • Jesse L. Matthews, for developing • Frosty Owen, for the Patient Learning Resource The committee encourages his work with nominations from anyone with Center at the Magee Rehabilitation public school libraries Hospital in Philadelphia information regarding individuals • Joan Howland, for her work who might fit the profile of an award • Deanna Harragarra Waters, for with Native American law recipient. Please help us to her work with the Native American students and for her work with recognize the people who Rights Fund libraries ALA and AALL in support represent a special dimension of the Spirit of • Frank Liu, for his work with of creating opportunities Law Librarianship. U.S.-Chinese academic exchange for minorities in libraries. To make a nomination, programs and in the Chinese The award, established by Roy please contact: Professor Roy Mersky, American community Mersky, Tarlton Law Library at the Tarlton Law Library, University of Texas, University of Texas at Austin School of • Mickie Voges, for her work with 727 E. Dean Keeton Street, Austin, TX Law, and Richard Leiter, Schmid Law the ExTEND program at IIT 78705; 512/471-7735; fax: 512/471- Library at the University of Nebraska, Chicago-Kent College of Law 8398; [email protected]; or was created in order to give special Professor Richard Leiter, Schmid Law • David Gunn, for his work with recognition to individual law librarians Library, University of Nebraska College Recording for the Blind and who might not otherwise be recognized of Law, Lincoln, NE 68583-0902; Dyslexic, Austin, Texas, Unit by their peers for their important work. 402/472-5737; fax: 402/472-8260.

attention that it brings. Who knew that Everyone’s in on It the daily e-mail news. And you can always an information fiend could become a Faculty members aren’t the only ones find students standing at the news bulletin starmaker? smitten with the daily news. Staff members board, reading the latest e-mail printouts. Some faculty will supply Lomio with a are cub reporters for Lomio—they are This beats the water cooler, hands down. scoop on an upcoming interview. Others always on the lookout for an article by a I don’t think I mentioned it before, but will send him a pre-press copy of an Stanford grad or a news feature that slipped my grandfather recently invited some of his editorial. A few will even pass along the through the cracks. (Pssst, Birgit Calhoun, friends from the supermarket to stop by latest race times for their athletic colleagues. a library staffer, is the reason why Lomio his house and look at his fancy-schmancy Often these same faculty members will pop unearths news gems in German.) picture frame. I think I’ve just done the by the library to chat about today’s news. Students, too, know that the precious same thing. Shameless self-promotion: give You might overhear, “Professor X was 15 minutes of fame might come early thanks it a try. quoted in three newspapers today,” “That to Lomio’s news service. Many students will Erika V. Wayne (evwayne@leland. time was for a full marathon, not a half,” send in their articles that are featured in stanford.edu) is reference and Internet services or “How did Paul find that mention of student newspapers or online zines; student librarian and lecturer in law at Stanford Stanford in a German newspaper?” features great and small will find a place in Law School.

AALL Spectrum Magazine April 2004 7 85282 AALL Spectrum.apr 3/26/04 11:58 AM Page 8

solely on the basis of his race. The court found that no other law school of equal measure existed in Maryland for blacks to attend and determined that it could not mandate the creation of a new school. Thus, the court found that Murray’s admission into the University of Maryland law school was properly mandated. In 1935, Lloyd Gaines, an African- American, was refused admission to the School of Law at the State University of Missouri. When Gaines applied for admission, Missouri, which did not have a law school that admitted African- Americans, had a policy of providing tuition and fees for attendance at out-of- state schools to qualified African-American applicants. The Supreme Court found that this practice violated the Plessy v. Ferguson (163 U.S. 537 (1896)) standard of “separate but equal.” Gaines was entitled to Photo credit: AP Photo credit: Photo attend law school in Missouri; forcing him This December 1938 photo shows Lloyd Gaines, to leave the state to pursue a law degree a young African-American, ext month marks the 50th violated his rights under the Equal who applied to the anniversary of the landmark University of Missouri's Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. law school and was denied desegregation case, Brown v. Board Incidentally, Gaines never enrolled in the admission. He carried his N of Education. Although this case represents law school at Missouri; after the favorable case to the Supreme Court, and in its decision the a major victory in the battle for civil rights, decision, he disappeared and was never High Court ruled that the struggle against racism in education heard from again. Gaines was to be admitted began some 20 years prior to Brown. As a result of the decision in Missouri ex into the MU institution. During the 1930s and 1940s, at least rel. Gaines v. Canada (305 U.S. 337(1938)), seven African-American law school the Lincoln University School of Law was candidates aggressively challenged the created. Lincoln admitted 34 black students unequal treatment of minority applicants in per year for four years until it closed due state courts, some eventually reaching the to lack of students during World War II. U.S. Supreme Court. Early successes in Before the advent of war, schools like these cases lead to the more sweeping Brown Lincoln graduated thousands of minority decision, which then contributed to further students. Brown’s Legacy law school admission policy reform. Many of the schools created to provide Discussion about the role of race in higher separate facilities were not nearly as education admission policies persists today, successful as Lincoln. Ten years after Gaines, Then and Now with cases challenging affirmative action Ada Lois Sipuel, also represented by and racial quotas continuing the nearly Thurgood Marshall, was granted a seat at 70-year debate. the Langston University School of Law, a Race and Law School new Oklahoma school created under the Admissions Debates Law School Pre-Brown Gaines standard solely for Sipuel. However, Long before Brown, a number of minorities in Sipuel v. Oklahoma State Regents (322 Continue after Nearly sought court intervention to challenge law U.S. 631 (1948)), the equality requirement school admission practices. In what became of the “separate but equal” standard was 70 Years Justice Thurgood Marshall’s first major civil found lacking. In 1949, after remand by rights victory, the NAACP Legal Defense the Supreme Court and further litigation, by Lauren Collins Fund tested a strategy to open the doors Sipuel became the first African-American of mainstream law schools to African- woman to attend and graduate from a white Americans in a state court case brought majority law school in the South. against the University of Maryland Law Two years after the Sipuel decision, School. In Murray v. Maryland (169 Md. the Supreme Court determined that the 478, 182 A. 590 (1936)), the Maryland treatment received by Sipuel should be the Court of Appeals upheld a writ of law of the land. In Sweatt v. Painter (339 mandamus issued by a lower court U.S. 629 (1950)), a Texas case, it was found compelling the University of Maryland that the provision of equal educational to admit Donald Murray, a qualified law opportunities was not likely to result from school applicant who was denied admission attendance at law schools created solely in

response to admission denials to minority outside the state at the state’s expense or he Brown, referred to as Brown II (349 U.S. applicants in mainstream schools. could attend a law school created solely for 295 (1955)), to prevent Hawkins’ The law school created in Texas as a his attendance at Florida A&M University, enrollment at the University of Florida. consequence of the Sweatt controversy, a predominantly black college. The Florida Supreme Court circumvented the Texas Southern University Thurgood Hawkins’ claim eventually reached the the U.S. Supreme Court’s clear implication Marshall School of Law, had an inadequate U.S. Supreme Court, where a decision in that Hawkins should be admitted under faculty, insufficient library volumes, and the case was put on hold to allow for the the Brown standard by arguing that no other students. (Today, however, it is a more pressing decision in Brown, which implementation under Brown II could not reputable school with a 35 percent increase the court anticipated would provide some be successful until there had been a change in applications, according to its latest in the racial climate in Florida. annual report.) Thus, the Supreme Court I don’t think it In 1956 the U.S. Supreme Court found admission into the newly developed expressly directed that Hawkins, as a school did not adequately protect Sweatt’s was [merely] qualified applicant, was entitled to be constitutional rights. fortuitous that the law admitted to the University of Florida. The At the same time the Sweatt and Sipuel school at UNC was ready court, relying on the decisions in Sweatt and controversies were brewing, similar lawsuits Sipuel, wrote: were filed in North Carolina (Fisher v. “for me in 1972. As this case involves the Hurst, 333 U.S. 147 (1948)), Tennessee These were admission of a Negro to (Gary v. University of Tennessee, 97 F. Supp. a graduate professional 463 (D. Tenn. 1951)), and Florida people who had school, there is no reason (Hawkins v. Board of Control of Florida et al., read, studied, for delay. He is entitled 350 U.S. 413 (1956)). Nowhere is the effect and understood to prompt admission of Brown on law school admissions cases under the rules and more evident than in the Florida case. Brown. regulations applicable —Charles to other qualified Virgil Hawkins’ Story Daye, the first candidates (Florida ex rel. In 1949, Virgil Hawkins and four others African-American tenure- Hawkins v. Board of submitted applications to attend the track professor at the Control of Florida University of Florida’s law school but were University of North et al., 350 U.S. 413). denied. Though his co-applicants either Carolina ” In response, the chose to seek legal education outside the university changed the state or not at all, Hawkins decided to admissions standards at the fight, using the precedent set by Gaines. In law school so that Hawkins, blatant disregard of the Gaines decision, the direction in the Hawkins case. One week on his original application, was no longer Florida courts denied Hawkins admission after the Brown decision, the court directed qualified for admission. Hawkins ended his into the University of Florida in State ex rel. that the Florida courts review Hawkins in battle upon the agreement that other Hawkins v. Board of Control of Florida et al. light of the Brown decision. minorities with the newly determined (47 So. 2d 608, 1950 Fla). The court said The Florida courts, however, used the qualifications would be granted admission Hawkins could either attend law school opinion in the implementation phase of into the law school. The University of

Further Reading For additional historical information and School Underscores Lack of Black and Rabby, Glenda Alice, The Pain and discussion of the cases examined in this Hispanic Students, Black Issues in Higher the Promise: The Struggle for Civil Rights article, consult the following titles. Education, v. 10 (June 3, 1993) p. 10-15. in Tallahassee, Florida, University of Agnihotri, Bishma, Kumar, Negro Kidder, William C., Law and Georgia Press (1999). Legal Education and “Black” Law Schools, Education: Affirmative Action Under Smith, J. Clay, Jr., Emancipation: The 17 Loy. L. Rev. 245 (1970-1971). Attack: The Struggle for Access from Sweatt Making of the Black Lawyer 1844-1944, Daye, Charles Edward, African to Grutter: A History of African American, University of Pennsylvania Press American and Other Minority Students Latino, and American Indian Law School (Philadelphia) (1993). and Alumni, in Sesquicentennial History of Admissions, 1950-2000, 19 Harv. Welch, Susan and John Gruhl, Does the University of North Carolina School of BlackLetter J. 1 (2003). Bakke Matter? Affirmative Action in Law, 73 N.C. Law Review 675 (1995). Paulson, Darryl and Paul Hawkes, Minority Enrollments in Medical and Law Dubin, Lawrence, Virgil Hawkins: A Desegregating the University of Florida Schools, 59 Ohio St. L. J. 697 (1998). One-Man Civil Rights Movement, 51 Fla. Law School: Virgil Hawkins v. The Florida Williams, Juan, Thurgood Marshall: L. Rev. 913 (1999). Board of Control, 12 Fla. St. U. L. Rev. 59 American Revolutionary, Random House Hawkins, B. Denise, Cross-Examining (1984). Publishing (1998). Law Schools: Battle Over New Florida Law

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Florida College of Law graduated its first desegregation lawsuits in recent years. Washington and Texas, had issued African-American student, George Allen, in Affirmative action in higher education was diametrically opposed opinions on the 1962. addressed in a 1977 case, University of issue raised in Grutter. California Regents v. Bakke (438 U.S. 265 In Hopwood v. Texas (78 F.3d 932 The Practical Effects of Brown (1978)), brought by a rejected white (CA5 1996)), the Fifth Circuit Court of It took many years for southern African- applicant to the medical school at the Appeals determined that diversity was not Americans to feel the full effect of Brown. University of California at Davis. Bakke a compelling governmental interest. The In 1972, Charles Edward Daye became the argued that the school’s practice of setting Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Smith first African-American tenure-track aside 16 of 100 slots for minority students v. University of Washington Law School professor at the University of North was unconstitutional. In six opinions, the (233 F.3d 1188 (CA9 2000)), however, Carolina (UNC). Daye recalls that the U.S. Supreme Court clearly decided that determined that it was. impact of the Brown decision, made when racial quotas, such as that used at Davis, Second, university admissions officers he was just 10 years old, was not had repeatedly, since Bakke, complained immediately apparent. In that the standards set out in that case were fact, 12 years later, he Professor too ambiguous to apply. Legal scholars graduated from what was continue to question whether the court still an “all-black county Taunya Banks provided any guidance on the issue of school,” he said, in now teaches at university admissions at all in Bakke. Durham, North Carolina. In Grutter, Justice Sandra Day The Brown II the University O’Connor determined that exposure mandate, that integration of Maryland to a diverse student body benefited not happen with “all deliberate where the only minority law students, but all law speed,” seemed to students. O’Conner recognized education, creep along in Durham, law school under the decision in Brown, as the leading Daye and his admissions “cornerstone of good citizenship.” And contemporaries to wonder cases began. as the “training ground for a large number whether their lives had of our Nation’s leaders,” law schools must been impacted by Brown Banks recalls embrace diversity if they are to reflect at all. Nevertheless, Daye the excitement society, she wrote. later realized that he is indeed a expressed by her aunt The Michigan law school admissions direct beneficiary of Brown. In fact, policy was created after the Bakke decision Daye was inspired to become a when she accepted a to help enroll a “critical mass of lawyer during a speech about the position in 1989. underrepresented minority students,” implementation of Brown given by according to Grutter testimony. By North Carolina attorney and civil considering the whole applicant as an rights leader Floyd McKissick. individual—not to the exclusion of his Daye also credits Brown for his were unconstitutional. But the court not or her race—the Michigan plan sought acceptance at UNC, though almost 20 so clearly determined that race could to make allowances for factors that years after the decision. “I don’t think it be a factor considered in graduate school minority students continue to face, such as was [merely] fortuitous that the law school admissions. The decision left little attendance at inferior high schools and at UNC was ready for me in 1972,” Daye direction for the creation of diversity- other deficient educational opportunities. said. “These were people who had read, promoting policies that would not violate The law school, which had long been studied, and understood Brown,” and in the Constitution. a proponent of legal education for that climate of awareness, Daye made a Though the percentage of minority minorities, enrolling up to 10 times professional home that he still enjoys today. applicants who were admitted to law the national average of students from Like Daye, Professor Mildred W. schools across the nation began to increase underrepresented minority groups, Robinson of the University of Virginia after the Bakke decision, peaking in the was permitted to continue its plan to School of Law never experienced a mid-1980s, those numbers leveled off successfully provide minority students with desegregated education as a child growing between 1992 and 2000. In 2000 a highly distinguished legal education. up in South Carolina. However, she is underrepresented minorities made up When it passed legislation to permit keenly aware of Brown’s centrality in her less than 2 percent of law school the establishment of two new law schools life. “Simply put, Brown set in motion the admissions, according to statistics in 2002, Florida demonstrated that it was events that have permitted me to enjoy compiled by William C. Kidder in the no longer the same state that had fought personal and professional experiences and Harvard BlackLetter Journal. to deny Virgil Hawkins a legal education. opportunities that would otherwise have In 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court Despite resistance from the Florida Bar certainly been unavailable because of determined that the University of and an initial rejection by the State Board segregation,” she said. Michigan School of Law could continue of Regents, Florida International to consider race as a factor in its individual University opened the doors of its law The Legacy of Brown in Law evaluation of law school applicants. The school in 2003. Also, Florida A&M School Education case, Grutter v. Bollinger, was likely granted University, the law school created for As descendents of Brown, affirmative action certiorari for two reasons. First, federal Virgil Hawkins, was reopened more than and racial quota cases have replaced appellate courts sitting in two states, 50 years after it abruptly closed in favor of

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creating a new Florida State University law Professor Taunya Banks now teaches day of the case’s effects. My educational and school. at the University of Maryland where the professional careers have been and continue Though both Florida schools admit law school admissions cases began. Banks to be full of possibilities that would never applicants regardless of race, it was well recalls the excitement expressed by her have presented themselves without the understood that providing legal education to aunt when she accepted a position in battles won by Donald Murray, Lloyd African-Americans and Latin Americans, 1989. “‘I remember when we couldn’t go Gaines, Ada Lois Sipuel, Virgil Hawkins, both underrepresented groups in the Florida there, and now you teach there,’” Banks the primary and secondary school litigants Bar, is the primary goal. Between 1981 and quoted her aunt. The comment from Brown, and all those who followed 1991, only 4 percent of the graduates of emphasized for Banks the immense the paths paved by those brave people. Florida’s public law schools were Hispanic amount of progress that was made during Lauren Collins (lcollins@law. and 4 percent were African-American, her parents’ and her own lifetimes. miami.edu) is faculty services reference according to the Florida Senate Committee Though not a product of the Brown librarian at the University of Miami School on Education. generation, I too am reminded every of Law in Florida.

announcements Committee Awards AALL/Aspen Publishers Research Grants

The AALL Research Committee has up to Browne’s well-received “Maximize budgets. The grants may be used for awarded two AALL/Aspen Publishers Career Success by Evaluating ‘Emotional expenses such as research assistants, Research Grants worth $3,650, one to Intelligence’” program at the AALL photocopying, data entry, and research- a project that highlights the emotional Annual Meeting in Seattle in July 2003. related travel. intelligence of law librarians and another Kelly Kunsch, reference librarian at The AALL/Aspen Publishers that examines Washington State the Seattle University Law Library, will Research Grant Program was made constitutional history. use his $650 grant to conduct research on possible with a generous $50,000 Kelly Browne, head of reference at constitutional history at the Washington contribution in 1996 from Aspen the University of Connecticut Law State Archives in Pullman. His initial Publishers, a New York-based legal Library, received a $3,000 grant for her research has indicated that there may be publisher. The company views its project, “The Emotional Intelligence of certain documents related to Washington contribution as an investment in research Law Librarians.” Studies have shown that State’s legal history that merit further that will provide a prospective look at the emotional intelligence is not only the research and explication. Kunsch will role of librarians, researchers, and legal most important factor in being successful also investigate a related unpublished information providers and will yield in life, but also that certain patterns of manuscript and notes for a book by results to which publishers can respond. the 13 qualities that make up your “EQ” Arthur Beardsley, law librarian at the Aspen’s goal is to sponsor research that contribute to success in specific career University of Washington (prior to will have a practical impact on the law areas. Browne will survey a sample of law Marian Gallagher) and AALL President, library profession and inspire products librarians in order to gauge their EQ. 1939-1940. and changes in the marketplace. The data will then be analyzed and used The AALL/Aspen Publishers Research The AALL Research Committee, as successful position profiles for various Grant Program is intended to promote AALL, and its corporate partner Aspen law librarian positions in different types research and remove obstacles to project Publishers congratulate this year’s grant of law libraries. This project is a follow- completion caused by tight operating recipients.

professional development calendar PDC Desktop Learning Opportunity Series (AALL Spectrum) • “Blogs for the Law Library” by Roy Balleste, May 2004 AALL recognizes major support from BNA, Inc. for the Professional Development Program. For more information about Professional Development Program activities, please visit www.aallnet.org/prodev.

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I saw a lot of different policies implemented that were clearly intended to, in effect, follow the letter of Brown, but not the spirit of Brown—and in some cases not even the letter of Brown. When I was in school, in the mid-1970s, there was no official prom at the high school. Rather than having whites and blacks associating at the prom, you had school officials in Loreauville deciding that there would be no school- sanctioned prom. Blacks put together their own private prom, and whites put together their own private proms. That practice continued until the mid-1980s. Those are some of the social issues that Brown could never address because that relates to attitudes of people.

Photo credit: AP Photo credit: Photo VP: How is the East Baton Rouge Parish school desegregation case connected U.S. Deputy Marshals escort six- year-old Ruby Bridges from William e caught up with John Pierre on with Brown v. Board of Education? Frantz Elementary School in New a Sunday morning over a cup JP: The Supreme Court finally handed Orleans in November 1960. The of hot chocolate and beignets at down its decision in the Brown cases on first grader was the only black child W enrolled in the school, where parents the Coffee Call, a popular coffee shop in May 17, 1954. In Brown I, the Supreme of white students boycotted the Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Pierre, associate Court held that racial segregation of public court-ordered integration law and took their children out of school. professor and associate vice-chancellor at schools violates the Equal Protection Clause Southern University Law Center, worked on of the Fourteenth Amendment. In Brown II, the East Baton Rouge Parish Louisiana the court considered the manner in which desegregation suit settlement for seven years. relief was to be accorded, ordering schools The case, settled in August 2003, was filed to desegregate “with all deliberate speed” in 1956 in response to the United States and called upon the district courts to Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of supervise the implementation of its decree. Education (1954) decision. These district courts were instructed to take Pierre has earned both a master’s degree measures necessary for and consistent with in tax accounting from Texas Tech and a JD both the law of Brown and the spirit of from the Southern Methodist University Brown. School of Law. After receiving his law Meanwhile, the Louisiana state Beyond Brown degree, Pierre served in the U.S. Army as legislature responded immediately to the judge staff advocate attorney. Brown decision by passing a raft of bills and Louisiana Lawyer Madeline Hebert: Professor Pierre, resolutions to condemn and obstruct the during the 1960s and 1970s, you were a ruling. With only three dissenting votes Discusses the East Baton student in the Louisiana public schools. in the house and one in the senate, the Tell us about your experience. legislature labeled Brown “an unwarranted Rouge Desegregation John Pierre: I was born on March 10, and unprecedented abuse of power” and 1959—three years and 10 days after [the branded racial integration “intolerable, Suit and its Relation East Baton Rouge desegregation suit] impractical, and in the ultimate sense to Brown v. Board was filed. I grew up in a small farming unenforceable.” community called Loreauville in Iberia Three bills designed to circumvent of Education Parish in the heart of sugar cane country. Brown became law after minimal debate. And we went to a small, segregated school One restricted state support to all but by Vivica Pierre and Madeline Hebert when I was a child, from first through segregated public schools; another fourth grade. empowered local school boards to assign Vivica Pierre: Do you remember what pupils to schools on an individual basis; the it felt like attending black-only schools? third mandated segregated schools under the JP: Yes. I was obviously very aware of “inherent police power of the state” as a Brown, because I was living it in Iberia means of preserving “public health, morals, Parish. As I matriculated through high better education, peace and good order,” school and through college, I was living according to the 1954 Acts of the Legislature through the promise of Brown and was of the State of Louisiana. personally aware of the issues and the The East Baton Rouge (EBR) Parish problems associated with efforts by school integration case was filed in 1956 in Southerners to forestall the implementation response to the Supreme Court’s ruling in the of Brown. Brown cases, only the third school integration

case to be filed by the NAACP. The NAACP In 1970, the school board established After Parker stepped down, the case was had already filed two other public school a biracial committee to formulate a plan assigned to U.S. District Judge James Brady, integration suits in Louisiana—one against addressing the problems of student and a recent addition to the federal bench. New Orleans and the other against St. faculty desegregation. The committee Although Brady had only been involved Helena Parish school boards. proposed a neighborhood zoning with the case for a short time, he indicated In 1960, the United States Federal desegregation plan that was unanimously a desire to work with the parties to devise District Court for the Eastern District of approved by the board and subsequently a solution to the desegregation problems Louisiana issued an order prohibiting the adopted by the district court. The plan in the parish. In an effort to ensure EBR School Board from continuing to provided for desegregation of faculty, staff, operate a racially segregated school system. transportation, extracurricular activities, Upon order of the court, the school board student body composition, and school submitted a freedom-of-choice plan that facilities. was adopted by the court in 1963. Also in the 1970 plan, student By the time desegregation finally assignment was based primarily on the became a widespread reality in Louisiana in neighborhood school concept supplemented 1969-1970, racial attitudes had become so by a majority-to-minority transfer polarized that the ideals of integration were provision. This plan for desegregation was smothered in chaos, conflict, and mutual later struck down as ineffective, and in hostilities. In response to Brown, many 1981 another plan devised by the court was white parents continued to resist implemented in an attempt to dismantle integration by moving from city to suburb the dual educational system root and branch where the population, and the public as required by the U.S. Constitution. schools, remained overwhelmingly white. During the next decade, dozens of And in the rural parishes, especially those orders were approved by the court to with large black populations, many white modify aspects of the 1981 plan, but the

parents took their children out of the public basic principles of the plan remained AP Photo credit: Photo schools altogether, placing them in hastily unchanged throughout the 1980s. In 1990, Judge John Minor Wisdom is shown in his office in New created private schools. the school system began experiencing Orleans, January 1977. Nominated to the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in 1957, Wisdom became one of the serious overcrowding problems, and the most influential justices in school desegregation and school board commenced looking for a integration in Louisiana. He presided over the East Baton solution to the problems of overcrowding Rouge case until 1978. without distorting its primary objective of desegregation. In 1996, the board proposed a new progression of the case, Brady set up plan designed to raise and equalize the informal meetings with the school board, level of quality of the East Baton Rouge the original 1956 plaintiffs, the local public school system, reduce the number NAACP, the U.S. Justice Department, as of racially identifiable schools, stabilize well as representatives from the Citizen’s and increase the number of students in Task Force on Education Improvements. the system, increase the number of students Brady made clear that his interpretation enrolled in desegregated schools, and of the law required the school board to increase interracial exposure among assess, document, and measure its unitary students. status. On August 2, 1996, the district court MH: This suit, seeking to desegregate approved this Consent Decree after both the EBR Parish school system, was originally the board and the plaintiffs agreed to the filed on February 29, 1956, on behalf of 37 John Pierre provisions of the new plan. Although North Baton Rouge black students. Trace relatively brief, the new plan contained the path of school integration between 1956 Also and importantly, the 1964 Civil eight major provisions, including provisions and 1964 when the freedom-of-choice plan Rights Act empowered the Justice addressing community-sensitive attendance was implemented in the EBR Parish school Department to initiate desegregation suits, zones, faculty enhancement of racially system. and it authorized the Department of identifiable black schools, and facility JP: To analyze the path of school Health, Education and Welfare to withhold enhancements at racially identifiable schools. integration between 1956 and 1964 is federal funds from school districts that On July 25, 2000, Judge John Parker, to arrive at an inescapable conclusion. failed to submit desegregation plans. United States district judge for the Middle Unrelenting white opposition meant that Between 1964 and 1969 there was very District of Louisiana, resigned from the schools were integrated under the worst little movement in implementing Brown EBR desegregation case. Parker, who possible circumstances. Delay is the single in Louisiana. By 1967 only 6 percent of had presided over the case for 22 years, word that best describes the pre-1964 Louisiana’s black children attended school expressed his dissatisfaction with the case’s period. Before 1964, the burden of alongside whites. The movement of white progress and the school board’s lack of initiating integration had fallen upon black children to predominantly black schools effort to comply with the 1996 Consent parents. It entailed a lengthy path through was statistically insignificant. Decree. the federal courts.

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There were a lot of social issues that The reason [student assignments] In 1975, West actually declared that had to be dealt with. Once the federal became important is because typically, the EBR Parish school system was a courts ruled that Brown meant that as in most other southern states, whites unitary school system. When a school states and local school districts had an might have received three or four times system is declared unitary, or has been affirmative duty to eliminate the vestiges of more funding for education and resources declared to have achieved unitary status, it segregation root and branch through a at their schools than black schools did. means that there has been a resolution of number of different policies—student The whole point about separate but equal the case such that the school system has assignments and so on—then it became is that because of the political reality in met all of its constitutional obligations to clear that freedom-of-choice plans were which blacks live in America—especially eliminate the vestiges of past discrimination not going to be effective as remedies to in the southern and border states— root and branch under Brown. effectuate the decision in Brown. blacks did not have the political rights, VP: How did the Fifth Circuit Court the voting rights, or the resources to of Appeals, in particular Judge Wisdom, determine where dollars went, and get the ball rolling again? therefore, were always short changed. JP: Well, before his appointment to Further Exploration MH: Why did the freedom-of-choice the federal bench, John Minor Wisdom plan fail? had been actively involved in civil rights. “Ask the Advocate,” September JP: Because it did not provide a remedy Nominated to the Court of Appeals 16, 2002, The Baton Rouge tailored to fit the scope of the violation. for the Fifth Circuit in 1957, Wisdom Advocate, Page 2-B; S, Story Lead: Segregationists, even some African- became one of the most influential justices How many school systems in Americans, who had by this time become in the area of school desegregation and Louisiana still have open school- impatient with how the implementation of integration in Louisiana. desegregation cases? Brown had begun to unfold in terms of lost Wisdom decided to end what he Bankston, Carl. L. A Troubled jobs by black principals and black teachers, regarded to be an intolerable deadlock. Dream: the Promise and Failure of increasingly found themselves tangled in Without scrapping freedom-of-choice School Desegregation in Louisiana. civil rights conflict. Ten years after Brown, altogether, he formulated an opinion Nashville, TN: Vanderbilt integration was not a reality. Many leaders that compelled the lower courts to apply University Press, 2002. began turning their attention to resource uniform standards that had already been Caldas, Stephen J. The End equalization. laid down by the Fifth Circuit Court of of Desegregation? New York, NY: MH: It took 47 years to settle this Appeals. For example, in U.S. v. Jefferson Nova Sciences Publishers, 2003. lawsuit. What went on between 1956 and County Board of Education, handed down Jet, “47-Year-Old Baton Rouge 1964? at the end of 1966, Wisdom declared that School Desegregation Case Finally JP: Well, it’s the typical strategy of school boards had an “affirmative duty” Closes” (September 8, 2003, p. delay. If you look at all of the cases that to bring about integration and that 37). were filed in Louisiana, as well as in other integration meant a “unitary school system Lussier, Charles. “Desegregation southern states during that period, the in which there are no Negro schools and success continuing puzzle in La.” school systems and states took a delay no white schools—just schools.” Inside Report column, The tactic as part of their strategic plan. They So, the presence of a handful of Advocate, Baton Rouge, La. p. 9B. were going to delay the implementation blacks in formerly all-white schools would (Thursday, January 15, 2004). of Brown for as long as they could, and no longer be tolerated. District judges National Public Radio, therefore, at least to the best of their would be expected to accord great weight Morning Edition. (August 15, abilities, never see Brown implemented. to the Civil Rights Act and to HEW’s 2003) “Analysis: Settlement of the MH: The first major court order was [Department of Health Education and nation’s longest-running school handed down in 1969, ordering the Welfare] guidelines relating to the desegregation lawsuit.” Renee closing of some schools in EBR, implementation of Brown. Wisdom Montagne, host. integration of some schools—mainly in emphasized that freedom-of-choice plans National Public Radio, the mid-city and outlying areas of Baton could still be used, but it was no longer Morning Edition. (December 9, Rouge proper—and the integration of the the only remedial alternative to be 2003) “Before Desegregation: faculty and staff of all schools. And in scrutinized by the district courts. Other The Education Migration.” 1970, there was the first instance of the alternatives suggested by Wisdom Debbie Elliott, reporting. court-ordered busing plan. included the pairing of schools and The Washington Times. JP: Well, actually federal District geographic attendance zones. (August 12, 2003) “50-year Court Judge E. Gordon West was the In determining whether a school segregation lawsuit to settle.” judge for many years of the case. West was system has achieved unitary status, the http://www.washingtontimes. born in Massachusetts. President Kennedy court analyzed six factors it previously com/functions/print.php?StoryID had appointed West to the federal bench, set out in Green v. County School Board =20030811. and West was a blatant segregationist of New Kent County, Virginia: student Watson, Jessica E., Note. who considered Brown one of the truly assignments, faculty assignments, staff “Quest for Unitary Status: The regrettable decisions of all time and did assignments, transportation, extra- East Baton Rouge Parish School his utmost to delay its implementation. curricular activities, and facilities. Desegregation Case,” 62 La. L. West’s order of July 18 virtually invited Wisdom overturned several rulings Rev. 953 (2002). the board to restrict integration to the by West, declaring that there were many absolute minimum. problems with West’s order and with his

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findings. After that time period, at the resolution to this particular case. The implement the remedy of Brown depends end of 1978 to 1979, Judge Parker was possibility that you could have a student on the political courage of local school appointed to preside over the case. assignment plan that made sense, or that districts and communities to be able to MH: About 1979, Judge Parker ordered was least intrusive, became more difficult understand the value in having integrated something called “pairing and clustering?” just because of the physical location of the facilities and equal resources. Brown went JP: Parker actually issued the first major schools. beyond integration in public education, liability ruling against the EBR Parish VP: And do you perceive that though encompassing a larger moral and social school district. This remedy has caused a lot business people were ready to move beyond issue. Brown was about changing the social of social upheaval for the people of Baton Brown and the EBR Parish integration suit, and political fabric of this nation. Rouge. What he tried to do, from a student local folks were still caught up in their ways assignment point of view, was take students of thinking? After word from one school that was predominately JP: Yes. You have to understand that Our interview concluded with Pierre and black and have those students go to another Baton Rouge, like many other southern the authors agreeing on four things: (1) school that was predominately white. cities, was a city deeply entrenched in the contemporary times require contemporary MH: Did parents object to Parker’s idea that African-Americans could not have solutions, (2) in the 21st century, the only plan? equal access to opportunities. The political “race” that matters is the race to be and to JP: Yes. I think that, again, as a general system, the legal system, made it so. And, stay competitive, (3) a never-ending supply rule, parents were opposed to their children therefore, you could not begin to have of information has initiated a need for being transported beyond their people who grew up in that mindset and competent and efficient producers who can neighborhood. One of the reasons it took expect them to change overnight. earn income, grow jobs, and therefore, grow so long for Baton Rouge to resolve this case VP: Has 47 years been overnight? communities, and (4) beignets are indeed is that while Judge West was hostile to this JP: Well, in many places there are good for the spirit, if not for the body. case, school boards were building schools school desegregation cases that have lasted Vivica Pierre ([email protected]) is head further and further away from the center longer than that. The Brown case itself did of access services at the South Louisiana of the city and were building them strictly not come to an end, officially, until about Community College in Lafayette. Madeline around neighborhoods to accommodate 1999. The court retained jurisdiction over Hebert ([email protected]) is senior reference white flight—to encourage white flight. Brown for some 40 years after it was filed. librarian at Louisiana State University Paul That whole process, if anything else, These kinds of cases, as was explained to M. Hebert Law Center Library in Baton set back the community from finding a me, are political cases. And so the ability to Rouge.

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perspectives a members’ forum

Knowing that barriers to the avenues of knowledge were forever being raised against them made everyone work twice as hard to accomplish educational assignments and tasks Northerners like me took for granted. I was told of close relationships between teachers and families where a student’s failure to live up to the family’s educational standards were reported by the teachers to the parents. Students studied hard not only to improve their personal lots in life but also to effectuate positive changes in their communities. It is said adversity brings out the best in people, and I came to realize that this would explain my more mature, more studious classmates who attended segregated schools. It was an eye-opener, to say the least, and it developed in me a far greater respect for my college classmates from the South.

Photo credit: AP Photo credit: Photo In no way do I condone segregated Two of six black children who joined classes in schools, nor is it my intention to dismiss the the formerly all white Ft. Myer, Virginia o commemorate the 50th importance of Brown v. Board of Education. elementary school listen to opening I am certain that far more benefits have announcements by Mrs. Louise M. Snee, third anniversary of Brown v. Board of grade teacher, at the school opening September Education, the landmark U.S. derived from it than would have had the 7, 1954. There were 380 pupils in the federally T Supreme Court opinion ending racial court ruled otherwise. My point is to convey operated school on the military post, and six were black. segregation in education, four of our a personal snapshot of my experience when colleagues graciously shared their I first went south and encountered a way of recollections of the period and the part community schooling and concern that is Brown played in their lives. no longer a common practice since Brown outlawed segregated schools. Triumph over Adversity Reflections on Marvin R. Anderson The End of an Era Retired Minnesota State Law Library Director Yvonne Chandler In 1958, I set foot in Georgia to attend Associate Professor, University of North Texas Brown vs. Board Morehouse College in Atlanta. It was the School of Library and Information Sciences first time I had been in the South, and it was I am a child of desegregation. Growing up of Education the first time that I encountered students in Birmingham, Alabama, I was keenly who had attended all-black schools. What aware of the history of discrimination, I learned from those students radically segregation, racism, and civil rights Four Law Librarians Share changed my perceptions about segregated unrest that is the legacy of my hometown. schools and made me realize the intangible However, my education began after the Their Experiences Growing benefits from attending an all-black public Brown ruling and the monumental passage school that would be lost because of the of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. up during the Brown Era Brown decision. I attended desegregated schools Up North, I had been led to believe that throughout my educational career. When compiled by April Schwartz there was nothing good about segregated I entered high school, I was bused to a schools. Media images depicted black formerly segregated high school as students sitting in overcrowded classrooms in Birmingham finally moved from a tradition dilapidated buildings reading from hand-me- of “separate but equal” schools. My down books. That part—that elected officials generation benefited from the pain and used public funds to improve all-white sacrifice, as well as the successes and schools to the detriment of black schools— triumphs, of the civil rights movement. the media got right. This action was I have been blessed throughout my justifiably condemned by the Brown decision. matriculation from elementary school to What the media failed to convey, graduate school with the privilege of however, was the resilience and creativity attending any school of my choice. with which the administrators, teachers, and Selecting a historically black college for students confronted the invidiousness of my undergraduate degree was my choice, segregation and how they overcame these although attending the University of obstacles to achieve remarkable educational Alabama or any other school in the nation gains despite the brutal physical conditions. was also available to me.

While I value my doctorate from the walked the same path that I was pursuing Education. While I embraced the joys of University of Michigan, as a librarian I as a student at the University of Chicago. learning, I also watched as many cities am most proud of the master’s degree that As I completed my degree, I thought, if Dr. fought the implementation of Brown in I hold from Atlanta University. Founded Gleason could do this in the 1930s without their schools. At that point I hoped that in 1865 by the American Missionary the financial support and mentoring that the dogs, water hoses, and beatings I saw Association with later assistance from the I had, certainly I could make it in the on television would not rear their ugly Freedman’s Bureau, Atlanta University, now 1990s. In addition, my major professor and heads in our community as they had Clark Atlanta University (the university advisor through my doctoral degree was not in places like Little Rock, Charlotte- consolidated with Clark College in 1988), only a full professor of color, but also a Mecklenburg, and Boston. is the nation’s oldest graduate institution graduate of the Atlanta University program. In an effort to avoid the busing serving a predominantly African-American As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of dilemma of other areas of the country, the student body. For librarianship, this Brown, we also sadly anticipate the closing Austin school system permitted minority institution holds a rich history. of the Clark Atlanta University library students to choose where they wanted to By the late 1870s, Atlanta University school in 2005. This institution and its attend school. We had the opportunity to was supplying trained black librarians to graduates are living success stories go to any school within the district. When the public schools of the South. The School demonstrating the history and tradition of I made my decision about high school, of Library Service was officially established education prior to the Brown decision, as I chose to attend all-black Anderson High in 1941 in response to the need for black well as the importance and contribution of School for a number of reasons. librarians to develop collections at schools, integration and diversity to our country. At My mother and father—along with colleges, and universities throughout the the time of this venerable program’s closing, most of my aunts, uncles, and cousins— South, the nation, and ultimately the had attended Anderson; it was a family world. The first dean, Eliza Atkins Gleason, tradition to wear the school colors of black was the first African-American to earn a and gold. I received a chance to develop doctoral degree in library science. It is said adversity leadership skills and the opportunity to The school received its initial brings out the best participate in many school activities. In accreditation from the American Library fact, my first introduction to librarianship Association in 1942, remaining accredited in people, and I came to was when I was selected to serve as band for more than 60 years. The existence of realize that this would librarian my senior year. It was the Brown this program—one of only two graduate explain my more mature, decision that gave me a choice. programs based at historically black colleges “ Because of Brown I was able to attend or universities in the country— more studious the University of Texas at has made a major contribution to the classmates Austin without suffering many diversity of America’s library profession. who attended of the toils and tribulations of More than 2,000 students, most of them Herman Sweatt. Sweatt tried to black librarians, have graduated from segregated integrate the UT law school the graduate program at Clark Atlanta schools. several years before Brown was University and taken leadership roles in decided (see “Brown’s Legacy the library world. —Marvin Then and Now” on page 8). R. Anderson By the time I entered the school in Still operating under the Plessy 1978, I was able to profit from the many doctrine of “separate but years of segregated education and few equal,” Sweatt was allowed to scholarship opportunities for students it is a wonderful attend law school in isolation of color and received federal funding to opportunity to applaud” without the benefit of complete my graduate education. The the contribution of this interaction with other law curriculum stressed the knowledge and school to the library students. Needless to say, this skills necessary to become a competent profession through its was not an ideal learning library professional, but also a study of the existence and graduates. environment. However, thanks to Brown, history and tradition of black librarianship. I was able to fully participate in and enjoy This program of study connected every The Freedom to Choose my collegiate experience at UT. student to the segregated past as well as Ruth J. Hill The scope of Brown was to level the the diverse future that we live and work in Head of Reference Services, Loyola Law playing field and offer equal opportunity. as library professionals. School, Los Angeles I think that the full effect of the Brown In the introductory class, my professor In September 1954, I began my public decision is yet to be realized. Our country assigned us to research and write the school education in the segregated school is still struggling with issues concerning biography of a famous black librarian. system of Austin, Texas. I was excited about college admission standards, workplace To my subsequent surprise and pleasure, the prospect of going to school every day. diversity, and Americans with disabilities. my assigned librarian was a library educator What I didn’t know was that my “separate The full impact of Brown on our society who would become my colleague and but equal” elementary school had been can only be realized if its goals and ideals mentor 20 years later. declared unconstitutional in May of 1954. continue to be an anchor for ever- As a doctoral student attending the As a first-grader, I had no knowledge of expanding diversity in our day-to-day lives. University of Michigan, I met and was the landmark legal decision made by the inspired by Dr. Eliza Atkins Gleason, who U.S. Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of (continued on page 25)

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Pack Good Walking Shoes Boston is an eminently walkable city. In fact, you can span the main part of it during a leisurely stroll. This is perhaps the best way to see the sights up close and in a relaxed fashion. If you were to consider the city a hub, like Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. did, imagine the center of the hub being the convention center. (There actually is a plaque embedded in the pavement in a downtown location depicting the true center, but for convenience purposes we’ll assume the convention center as the starting point). Get familiar with the points of the compass, and follow along. You’ll only need a few hours in any direction to discover a world of intrigue and interest.

Credits: FayFoto/Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau/BostonUSA.com Bureau/BostonUSA.com Visitors & Boston Convention FayFoto/Greater Credits: Go West Walk over the Harvard Bridge (on Massachusetts Avenue) A few blocks to the west on Commonwealth to get a sweeping view of Boston’s skyline, as well as an he 97th AALL Annual Meeting and up-close gander at the only bridge measured in smoots. Avenue is the area known as Kenmore Conference, “Boston to Mumbai— Square, home to nightclubs, restaurants, T The World of Legal Information,” thousands of Boston University students will be held on July 10-14 in the John B. (when classes are in session), and a baseball Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention club called the Red Sox. Left off Center, located in Boston’s historic Back Bay Commonwealth and down Brookline neighborhood. While the convention offers Avenue a bit sits a world of legal venerable Fenway Park, information, Boston the location of the Curse, in the summer offers the Impossible Dream, a world of adventure. Duffy’s Cliff, Pesky’s Boston on Foot Boston is, after Pole, and the Green all, considered the Monster, to name a few. “Hub of the Planning to come Explore Boston’s Universe,” and early? The Sox have a radiating in all home stand July 6–11, Historic and Cultural directions are links playing Oakland and Treasures with Simply to historic and Texas. If you order picturesque sights tickets ahead or show up Your Own Two Feet both near and far. alone or in pairs, you’ll For those convention probably get in. You can by John Pedini attendees who want experience the oldest some brief and Major League ballpark— casual diversions, we visit a place where guys have assembled the like Cy, Yaz, Teddy following suggestions Ballgame, and Pudge for your enjoyment, played and check out the beginning with places Green Monster, a 37- within walking foot-tall left field wall

distance. In next Bureau/BostonUSA.com Visitors & Boston Convention FayFoto/Greater Creidts: (now crowned with month’s Spectrum, The famous and popular Faneuil Hall Marketplace seats). If you can’t get we will feature longer (now called Quincy Market), with its busy warrens into a game, tours are excursions by train or car. of charming food stalls, restaurants, and boutique shops, offers live performances of all kinds every day available 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you want a more around noon. and come highly organized experience, you recommended. may want to investigate the “Tours and Excursions” section of the Go South convention program. But for those of you What’s that you say, baseball’s not your style? who love to explore on your own, read on. Head due south of the convention center Where available, Web sites to the attractions and you will walk right into the Mother mentioned are listed on page 20. Church, the world headquarters of the First

Church of Christ, Scientist. Outside the district—eight blocks of international up-close gander at the only bridge measured main buildings is a giant reflecting pool fashion, fine dining, art galleries, obscure in smoots. and fountains. Inside is the world-famous artifacts, antiques, and jewelry, as well as On the other side of the Charles is Mapparium, a three-story stained glass Avenue Victor Hugo, a landmark bookstore the campus of the Massachusetts Institute globe that has the map of the world as it specializing in rare and used books. Besides of Technology and the geographical was in 1935. Visitors can walk through the shopping and dining experience, you beginning of the “People’s Republic” of the globe and marvel at its amazing visual can enjoy the architecture of the brownstone Cambridge. If you’re feeling adventurous, and acoustical properties (sounds are rowhouses and classic late-19th century a 15-minute walk north on Massachusetts exaggerated in the glass sphere—a whisper buildings. Avenue will bring you through the heart can be heard from several yards away). Stepping a few blocks north, you’ll of that city and into Harvard Square Head west along Huntington Avenue reach the grande dame of Boston walkways, with an ever-changing array of shops and (past Symphony Hall and the Huntington the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. From restaurants, as well as the storied campus Theater), and you come upon the two the imperious likeness of Leif Eriksson of Harvard University. inspiring cultural gems of the area, the (complete with runic inscriptions) gazing Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella west at the Charlesgate end, to a galloping Go East Stewart Gardner Museum, the latter with George Washington at the entrance to the To get outside and begin a proper walking its enchanting courtyard. Behind the Public Gardens, the mall is dotted with tour eastward, start at the main entrance to Gardner is Simmons College where many statues of prominent figures in Boston’s the convention center on Boylston Street. a law librarian got his or her degree. Across history. Leif Eriksson?—it’s a long story. This broad, busy street can take you all from Simmons is a modest expanse of The mall is a fine way to traverse the way into Chinatown and the Theater water, grass, and woods called the Fens. the breadth of one of Boston’s most District. Along the way there are many attractions, fine and funky restaurants, all types of shopping, and the hustle and bustle of people going about their business. The first encounter of note along Boylston Street is the Boston Public Library, with its modern entrance to the General Library (Johnson building) and the adjoining Research Library (the classic renaissance revivalist McKim building). Library management encourages first-time visitors to enter the General Library and familiarize themselves with the floor plan and the collection. Then one can travel by way of an interior courtyard to the older building and marvel at its beauty and many exhibit rooms. Swan Boats and Cobblestones Due east of Copley Square, along Boylston Street, is the beginning of the Boston Public Garden, with its trademark swan boats drifting lazily along an idyllic pond Creidts: FayFoto/Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau/BostonUSA.com Bureau/BostonUSA.com Visitors & Boston Convention FayFoto/Greater Creidts: ringed by giant weeping willows and Due east of Copley Square, along Boylston Street, is the beginning of the Boston Public Garden, with its trademark swan boats ornamental flower beds. Not too grand drifting lazily along an idyllic pond ringed by giant weeping willows and ornamental flower beds. or elaborate, the Public Garden allows sweeping views and intimate peeks, whether On a warm summer day, one could enjoy distinguished residential sections, view you see the skyline from behind the mighty lingering in this tranquil part of town. exquisite architecture, and even get a chance trees or find squirrels and ducks who For more excitement, walk back to to experience Boston’s only attempt at urban have trained humans to feed them. Symphony Hall, continue south down planning—alphabetically named streets in a Next to the Public Garden is the Boston Massachusetts Avenue, and you’ll find predetermined grid pattern! Common, a more utilitarian stretch of yourself in the beginning of Boston’s South If you want to get a good river view, green that since 1634 has served as a public End, a vibrant neighborhood featuring the walk another three blocks north to the cattle-grazing area; a location for public largest collection of bowfront rowhouses in Charles River, whose grassy banks include executions, parades, militia drills, and the United States, as well as many intimate bike and jogging paths, playgrounds, anti-war demonstrations; and even hosted a galleries, nightclubs, and modern eateries. and the world-famous Hatch Shell, the visit from Pope John Paul II. The Common scene of the Fourth of July Boston Pops includes a frog pond that doubles as an ice Go North extravaganza. Go the other way and rink in winter, a large playground, and a Taking a northerly tack from the you can walk over the Harvard Bridge Visitor’s Information Center. This is a place convention center brings you immediately (Massachusetts Avenue) and get a sweeping to discover more historic attractions and into the Newbury Street shopping view of Boston’s skyline, as well as an find out where the Freedom Trail begins.

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Just north of the Common begins the with its busy warrens of charming food venerable neighborhood of Beacon Hill, stalls, restaurants, and boutique shops, Explore Online a landmark once nearly three times its offers live performances of all kinds every Visit these Web sites to learn original size until much of the land was day around 12 p.m. More as a landscape more about the attractions listed excavated for landfill. Still, it is the site of than a destination, the brand-new, cable- in “Boston on Foot.” many splendid and majestic homes as well stayed Leonard P. Zakim/Bunker Hill as quaint and cozy little apartments. Some Bridge spans the entrance to the Charles The City of Boston of the side streets, the most famous being River to the north, sporting its Bunker Hill www.aviewoncities.com/boston Acorn Street, are still in cobblestone form, Monument-style obelisks in an inverted www.boston.gov lit by authentic gas lamps. “Y” configuration. At dusk it shimmers a www.boston.about.com Besides the usual antique stores and deep red from the rays of the setting sun, The Boston Historical Society chic restaurants there are colonial and and at night it glows a ghostly blue. and Museum post-colonial attractions like the Harrison www.bostonhistory.org Gray Otis House (sampling life in the The Other Green Monster early 19th century), the African American Veteran Boston visitors will find one thing Boston Red Sox Meeting House, the Boston Athenaeum, totally remarkable when they reach the end www.redsox.com and the Massachusetts State House, of Faneuil Hall Marketplace and head to the which sits atop the most prominent point waterfront. Whether you veer left and hit Church of Christ, Scientist of the hill. From its gold-leaf dome to its the North End, with its many Italian www.themotherchuch.org sweeping elevated columns, it boasts an eateries and European air, or veer right to The Leif Eriksson Memorial impressive edifice. Atop its imperious the harbor and the aquarium, one thing will www.boston-online.com/ perch, it looks down the famous hill to most likely shock you simply by not being bizhistory.html the waterfront, where much of our pre- there. The Central Artery, that hideous hulk revolutionary history took place. The site of elevated highway tunneled under as part The “Smoot” as a Unit of the Boston Massacre, the Old South of the “Big Dig,” is slowly being removed of Measurement Meeting House, Old North Church, Paul from the landscape (most likely as a gesture www.mit.edu/museum/fun/ Revere’s House, King’s Chapel Church, as towards that other convention in July). smoots.html well as some very early Boston graveyards You should come to Boston, if only to see The Big Dig are all within a radius of several blocks. something that isn’t there. www.bigdig.com In the distance are the old and the John Pedini ([email protected]) is new. The famous and popular Faneuil Hall director of media services at the Social Law Marketplace (now called Quincy Market), Library in Boston.

announcements New Members Appointed to Nominations Committee

They may not be throwing their hats in St. Louis; Susan Siebers of Katten candidates that reflect the diversity of the ring, but they do shape the election Muchin Zavis Rosenman, Chicago; AALL’s membership, thus ensuring process. The AALL Executive Board and Maryruth Storer of the Orange that the members of the Executive appointed three members in November County Public Law Library, Santa Ana, Board represent a balance of library 2003 to serve on the 2004–2005 AALL California. The continuing members types, geographic locations, genders, Nominations Committee, the body that and Board Liaison Victoria Trotta of and minorities. chooses the candidates for Executive Arizona State University, Tempe, will For the 2005 elections, ballots Board elections. serve until December 31. will be distributed electronically to all Ann Jeter of Jackson Walker LLP, In the fall of 2004, the eight- voting members of the Association in Dallas; Michael Miller of the Maryland member committee will present a slate November 2005. The ballots will be State Law Library, Annapolis; and of suitable candidates for the 2005 tabulated electronically at AALL Madison Mosley Jr. of Stetson elections to the Executive Board. They headquarters and election results University College of Law, St. will choose two candidates to vie for the announced in December 2005. For more Petersburg, Florida, commenced their position of vice president/president- information about the nomination two-year terms on January 1. They join elect, two candidates to run for process or to propose possible nominees continuing members Chair Christine treasurer, and four candidates to for the 2005 elections, please contact Graesser of Brown Rudnick Freed and contend for two open seats on the Christine Graesser, chair of the 2004- Gesmer, Hartford, Connecticut; Philip Executive Board. In accordance with its 2005 Nominations Committee, at Berwick of Washington University, charge, the committee must choose cgraesser@brbilaw.

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chapter news by Naomi Goodman

SANDALL Entertains Law Librarians MALL Recruits, Educates all-day workshops, which comprised the Attending ALA Midwinter MALL Continues Successful Recruitment basic cataloging workshop that covered The San Diego Area Law Libraries Program description, access, subject, and call number (SANDALL) held a reception for chapter About 15 library school students, recent analysis. Members of the MALL Technical members and law librarians attending the graduates, and public librarians attended Services SIS who worked on this project ALA Midwinter Meeting in San Diego on the Minnesota Association of Law Libraries included Peggy Hall, Janice Leichter, Paddy January 11. The reception, hosted by the (MALL)’s Open House on January 20 at Satzer, and Theresa Wolner. California Western School of Law Library, the law firm of Faegre and Benson LLP. This Information about each session is posted brought together law librarians from around followed a successful Government Library on the MALL Web site at www.aallnet.org/ the country, including AALL President Janis Open House for 30 students held at the chapter/mall/. Johnston, Executive Director Susan Fox, Minnesota State Law Library on November Associate Washington Affairs Representative 28, 2003. Both events were planned by the GPLLA Learns and Teaches Mary Alice Baish, and Susan Goldner of MALL Placement/Recruitment Committee. Research Skills UALR/Pulaski County Law Library in Little This open house provided an GPLLA Learns about Business Research Rock, Arkansas, who is currently serving opportunity for those interested in law The Greater Philadelphia Law Library as chair of the AALL Council of Chapter librarianship to network with private law Association (GPLLA) hosted a luncheon Presidents. librarians from a variety of firms, including program about business research on January To welcome attendees to the reception, librarian-consultants. A full evening of lively 22, with guest speaker Dr. Kathy Shelfer of the Public Relations Committee developed discussion was followed by tours of the Drexel University’s College of Information a flyer containing information about Faegre library and demonstrations of Science and Technology. About 22 GPLLA SANDALL, including its beginnings and FaegreNet, the firm’s library portal created by members listened as Shelfer shared her current purpose. The reception provided a Director of Library Services Nina Platt and knowledge on this topic, based on her vast relaxed time for law librarians from around her staff, who hosted the evening. Attendees experience in both the public and private the country to socialize with SANDALL were enthusiastic about meeting potential sectors. She focused on the areas of members and was a good public relations mentors and employers and learning about competitive information, knowledge opportunity for the chapter. the challenges of law librarianship in the management, and information retrieval. private setting. GPLLA Offers Pennsylvania Legal MALL Provides Research Class Cataloging A new class in GPLLA’s Basic Legal Education for Research Course this year dealt specifically Library Staff with Pennsylvania legal research. The course, A cooperative effort which has been presented successfully for between MALL more than 20 years, was organized for 2004 and the Minnesota by Al Dong of the Biddle Law Library at Opportunities for the University of Pennsylvania. The first of Technical Services seven weekly sessions was presented on Excellence February 26. (MOTSE) produced In addition to Pennsylvania legal the MALL/MOTSE research, topics included case law, statutes, Cataloging administrative regulations, secondary Workshop, at the materials, and electronic legal research. University of St. Two new instructors joining the “faculty” Thomas Law were Stephanie Pierson of Westlaw® and A. School on January Hays Butler of Rutgers University-Camden. 30, February 6, LexisNexis™ and Westlaw sponsored and February 20. individual classes in electronic legal research Twenty-six and contributed generously to the course students—mainly held at the Jenkins Law Library in Center support staff from City Philadelphia. law firms, law school libraries, Naomi Goodman, Valparaiso University and government Law Library, Wesemann Hall, Valparaiso, IN agencies—registered 46383 • 219/465-7878 • fax: 219/465-7917 to attend the three • [email protected].

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committee news by Therese A. Clarke

Mentoring Committee Looks with an afternoon tour of Boston. The of CONELL provides a venue for chapters Forward to CONELL Mentoring Committee will host a reception to meet AALL’s newest members. The Mentoring Committee encourages all for CONELL attendees, as well as mentors The Mentoring Committee continues to newer librarians to attend the Conference of and mentees participating in the Mentor accept applications for the Mentor Project Newer Law Librarians (CONELL). This year Project, on Sunday, July 11. During the and encourages you to become a mentor or the Mentoring Committee will introduce Annual Meeting, the CONELL experience mentee. For more information about the Dutch Treat Dinners on Friday, July 9. The will continue with a scavenger hunt Mentoring Committee and its activities, dinners will allow small groups of CONELL organized by the Mentoring Committee. visit our Web site at www.aallnet.org/ attendees and Mentoring Committee The Mentoring Committee urges committee/mentoring/. members to get to know one another during chapters that give grants for AALL Submitted by Connie Lenz. dinner. attendance to include the cost of attending Therese A. Clarke, Northern Illinois On Saturday, July 10, the CONELL CONELL in their grants to newer members. University College of Law, David C. Shapiro program will introduce our newest members CONELL is dedicated to highlighting Memorial Law Library, DeKalb, IL 60115 • to AALL and its resources, provide many volunteer opportunities at both the national 815/753-9497 • fax: 815/753-9499 • opportunities for networking, and conclude and chapter levels. The Marketplace session [email protected].

update 100,000 AALL Campaign Raises Funds for Strait Minority 90,000 Scholarship Endowment 80,000 AALL seeks contributions to raise The income generated from the $100,000 by 2005 for the AALL and endowment will provide a permanent 70,000 West George A. Strait Minority funding source, allowing AALL to award Scholarship Endowment. two to four Strait Scholarships per year. 60,000 After West contributed $150,000 in A portion of the income earned each year 2001 to endow the George A. Strait will be returned to the endowment’s 50,000 Minority Scholarship, the company principal to assure its long-term viability. challenged AALL to raise an additional 40,000 $100,000 for the endowment. AALL immediately accepted the challenge and 30,000 set a deadline of 2005 to reach its goal. $85,593 March 2004 20,000

To contribute to the endowment, visit www.aallnet. org/services/strait-br.asp.

memorials announcements AALL 2004 Membership Renewal Schedule Karen T. Orlando worked for Spilman Thomas and Battle in April 7: Membership flyers are August 15: Expiration notices are Charleston, West Virginia, for 22 mailed to AALL members informing e-mailed to all members—individuals years as firm librarian. She died on them of AALL member benefits and and those paid by institutions. February 5 after a battle with lung encouraging them to renew. September 1: Expired members are cancer. Karen was a member of April 15: Dues invoices are mailed deleted from the AALL membership AALL and the Southeastern Chapter to all library directors for their database and access to the AALLNET of the American Association of Law institutionally paid memberships and Members Only Section; Law Library Libraries (SEALL). to all other individual members. Journal and AALL Spectrum July 1: Second dues invoices are subscriptions are discontinued. mailed.

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Reflections - continued from page 17

Indelible Memories gymnasium, and new books. In 1966 I In 1970 I completed the eighth grade John Allen attended Woodrow Wilson Middle School. and entered Lincoln High School, which was Computer Services Manager, University of The school was 80 to 90 percent white. starting to look more like the schools I had Minnesota Law School We had so much that the black schools just left. I had white friends and neighbors I remember very well how the Brown v. never had, and we were taught a lot more who now attended Lincoln. The area that Board of Education decision shaped my life. than the basics. In 1967, busing of students my family lived in was mostly white, and My parents settled in Port Arthur, Texas, was to be the law for all schools, but when the state started busing students to the because of the high number of jobs in the unfortunately, that is when a number of nearest school, it meant that the whites that oil industry. We lived in a part of town bad things started to happen to people in did not move far enough away had to attend where only blacks lived; later I realized it my community. the mostly black schools. was considered the ghetto. The homes were After busing began, the black kids that The black students were starting to pick called shotgun homes—you could see attended Woodrow Wilson were afraid fights with the white students. The school straight through them if the front and back because there were always fights at school was 98 percent black, and I felt sorry for my doors were open at the same time. and attacks on black kids. We would walk white friends. The schools were all-black. There were home in groups, never alone or in pairs. A positive aspect of school integration only five, and three of them were grade Groups of white young adults would find was that we now had more materials to schools. All were on the west side of town very small groups of black kids, chase them work with and better equipment—better except one, Franklin Middle School, which everything. But we were monitored. We were was on the other side of the railroad tracks thought to be potential problem students, so from where I lived. A few years later we I think that the we felt we could not say anything. We could moved to the east side of town. not tell the teachers what we really felt about When I started kindergarten, I went full effect of the things happening to us or around us. We to a school called Lamar Elementary. The Brown decision is yet to had to be careful of every word we said. conditions were all right, but crowded. be realized. Our country The Brown v. Board of Education It was around 1960, right before the schools decision was both good and bad for my were integrated. During that time I was “is still struggling with brothers and sisters and me. We had new taught a lot about race and the hatred issues concerning college opportunities, but our feelings of safety and of some people for others. I never freedom to speak our minds in school were learned why they hated people like admission damaged during that time. me, just that they did. I had to learn standards, to act a certain way when around workplace After word white people, like always say “yes, Thank you to these writers for sharing their sir” or “no, sir,” or “yes, ma’am” or diversity, and insights into the period of desegregation “no, ma’am.” Americans of the United States educational system. I attended this school for about with Clearly, Brown v. Board of Education four years. It did not have a very could not, in and of itself, end racism. good building; it was old and not disabilities. And as noted in these pieces, there were large enough for all students to —Ruth losses as well as gains made in the process. attend classes in the main building. Hill Nevertheless, it is clear that the country has There were a number of small changed immensely for the better due to the single-room buildings around the profound impact of Brown. main building to accommodate the April Schwartz ([email protected]) number of kids attending. There is the associate director for information were not enough books to go around, and technology services at the University of the ones we did have had been handed ” Minnesota Law Library and a member of down to us from classes years ahead of us or down, and beat them. A lot of kids would the AALL Diversity Committee. from other schools that did not want to use plead to have parents walk them to school them any longer. or drop them off. Integration started around 1965 in I had a couple of white teachers that Port Arthur. Grades one though six were liked to browbeat us in class, trying to ad index integrated in 1965, and grades seven humiliate us in front of our peers. But I Advanced Productivity Software . . . . 15 through 12 were integrated about 1967. also had a lot of teachers who were very I started attending De Queen Elementary nice. I never gave them any trouble in BNA...... inside front cover School when it desegregated its student school, I respected my teachers, and most of Court Express ...... 27 body. We were integrated, but very few them respected me. At home, my sisters and Global Securities blacks attended the school. It was far from brother and I would sit at the dining room my home, but my parents sent me there table to do our homework, and we would Information, Inc...... 23 because they wanted me to have a good talk about what happened at school. My LexisNexis™ . . . . . 3, inside back cover education. They felt that the black schools older sister attended an all-black school, and Purdue University ...... 22 did not have the same resources as the white she told us about it. I looked forward to Softlink ...... 28 schools that were now integrated. going to another black school. I knew that I spent only one year at De Queen. if I lived through middle school, I was going West...... 21, insert, back cover We had an auditorium for assembly, a to Lincoln, like my sister.

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special interest section news by Don Arndt

CS-SIS Funds Members to Annual FCIL-SIS Programs Announced campaign, held annually in conjunction Meeting for Boston Meeting with National Library Week in April, gives The Computing Services Special Interest The Foreign, Comparative, and law librarians the opportunity to share Section (CS-SIS) awards grants for CS-SIS International Law Special Interest Section materials and ideas for legal research members to attend the 2004 AALL meeting (FCIL-SIS) has embraced with great instruction. in Boston. The deadline to apply is April enthusiasm the international theme of the Again this year, the Teach-In Committee 15. For more information and for a grant 2004 AALL Annual Meeting, with its has created a set of materials application, visit the CS-SIS Web site at focus on reaching beyond our to use in designing and www.aallnet.org/sis/cssis/csgrtmod2.htm or borders. We are pleased to advertising programs contact Susan Boland at [email protected] announce that the Annual and events for our or 815-753-9492. Meeting Program institutions. A Submitted by Susan Boland. Committee selected new record has one workshop, five been set every SCCLL-SIS Promotes Membership programs, and one year for the and Mentoring Through AALL co-sponsored program number of For each new member you recruit to join from the FCIL-SIS’s materials AALL from February 15-April 15, your slate of proposals. distributed. name will be entered into a drawing for free The full-day More AALL dues for one year. (Note: The new workshop, “Shopping than 20,000 member cannot be employed by the same in the Global colorful employer as the recruiting AALL member.) Marketplace: notepads, Three names will be drawn, and winners will Information Sources for designed be announced no later than May 15. The International Trade,” with Teach-in State, Court, and County Law Library Special scheduled for Friday, July 9, Committee Interest Section (SCCLL-SIS) has expanded will feature outstanding speakers assistance and this program by creating three $50 prizes for and an informative agenda. The produced by Lexis, were recruiting members to join SCCLL-SIS. accepted FCIL-SIS programs are: distributed in 2003. More that The SCCLL-SIS Membership and • Treaty-making—Really 700 resource kits, consisting of pathfinders, Mentoring Committee is also working • Envision New Possibilities for research guides, lesson plans, and research in conjunction with AALL to match Research Training and Collections exercises submitted by the law library mentors and mentees with the same online for Foreign-Trained Lawyers and community, were distributed by Thomson application form. All applications come International LLM Students last year. We expect record-breaking through one source, so we can make sure • Globalization Moved My Cheese: numbers again this year. that we are serving all mentors/mentees Or, How Do I Find Foreign Law? Many thanks to Gail Partin and the and are able to make better matches. • The European Union at a RIPS Teach-in Committee for all of their The AALL Mentoring Committee Crossroads: Freedoms in a efforts and to all of the librarians who will maintain a master mentor/mentee Federated Europe submitted materials for the resource kit application for AALL and SCCLL-SIS • Hijab, Jihad, Riba and Hudud: this year. members. The AALL Mentoring Committee Islamic Law in the 21st Century. Submitted by Melissa Serfass. will forward applications to the chair of the The Asian American Law Librarians SCCLL mentoring committee as appropriate. Caucus, with FCIL-SIS co-sponsorship, CS-SIS Pledges $1,000 to Strait The SCCLL mentoring committee will is presenting the program, “A Current Scholarship match the mentees and mentors and then Appraisal of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean As of February when this pledge was made, provide that information to the AALL Legal Research.” Many thanks to the nearly $75,000 had been raised towards Mentoring Committee for dissemination. members who worked very hard on the George A. Strait Minority Scholarship Both the AALL Mentoring Committee and developing all submitted programs and Endowment’s fundraising goal of $100,000. SCCLL-SIS mentoring committee will workshops. The quality and creativity of The Computing Services Special Interest advertise the mentoring program using the these programs were exceptional. The FCIL- Section (CS-SIS) Executive Board voted master mentor/mentee applications available SIS Education Committee co-chairs, Mirela unanimously to pledge $1,000 in order at www.aallnet.org/committee/mentoring/ Roznovschi and Dennis Sears, did a great to help ensure that our profession reflects mentee_form.html and www.aallnet.org/ job in reviewing and finalizing draft the diversity of our society. committee/mentoring/mentor_form.html. proposals. Continue to check future issues “Our Karaoke outings show we are a SCCLL-SIS is proud to join forces with of this column for more FCIL-SIS news section that knows how to have fun,” said AALL to increase membership in both the and events planned for Boston. CS-SIS member Ken Hirsh. “Our pledge Association and the SIS and to enhance the Submitted by Jean Wenger. shows we are committed to our profession mentorship program. and AALL.” For more information, please contact RIPS-SIS Sponsors National Submitted by Don Arndt. Cossette T. Sun, chair, Membership and Legal Research Teach-In Mentoring Committee, 125 Twelfth Street, For the 12th consecutive year, the Research Don Arndt, University of Toledo, Law Oakland, CA 94607-4912. Instruction and Patron Services Special Center, Mail Stop 508, Toledo, OH 43606- Interest Section (RIPS-SIS) sponsored the 3390 • 419/530-2945 • fax: 419/530-5121 Submitted by Karen Westwood. National Legal Research Teach-In. This • donald.arndt@ utoledo.edu.

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membership news by Sarah Mauldin

New Librarians Miami, Florida. He came from Squire Practising Law Institute Law Library 2003 Keiko Okuhara is the new bibliographic Sanders and Dempsey LLP in Cleveland, seminar on “Marketing Your Expertise.” services/systems librarian at the University of where he was director of practice He also served as keynote speaker on Hawaii Law Library in Honolulu. She earned information support. “Library Resources for Law Firm Marketing her MLS from North Carolina Central Spencer L. Simons is the new director Departments” at the Legal Marketing University and served as Japanese catalog of the O’Quinn Law Library at the Association Mid-Atlantic Chapter Meeting librarian at the University of Pittsburgh’s University of Houston Law Center. He had in Washington, D.C. East Asian Library for the last six years. previously been director of public services Dittakavi Rao, associate director at the Caroline Osborne has joined the staff at the Chicago-Kent College of Law Center for Legal Information/Allegheny of the University of Richmond Law School Library and the Stuart Graduate School of County Law Library, has had three books Library as a reference/research services Business Library at the Illinois Institute of published by the Pennsylvania Legal librarian. Osborne recently received her MLS Technology in Chicago. Resources Institute: 101 Legal Research from the University of North Carolina at Melanie Solon is public services Websites Every Attorney Should Know About; Chapel Hill. She had previously received her librarian at the University of Hawaii Law Internet Companion for Attorneys: A List of law degree from the University of Richmond Library in Honolulu. She has served in an Legal Websites; and Internet Legal Research: School of Law. Prior to becoming a librarian, array of professional positions in several An Introductory Guide for Attorneys, Osborne practiced law in the field of law libraries during the last 23 years. Paralegals and Legal Researchers. Rao also commercial finance with Cadwalader maintains www.pennsylvanialegalresearch. Wickersham and Taft in Charlotte, North Professional Activities com, a comprehensive indexed site for Carolina, and in New York. Eric Kaufman, head of research services at Pennsylvania legal research. Stroock Stroock and Lavan LLP was recently Sarah Mauldin, Lionel Sawyer and New Places and Responsibilities awarded his firm’s Pro Bono Service Award, Collins, 300 S. Fourth St., Suite 1700, Las Karl Gruben is the new director at the St. the first time it has been awarded to a non- Vegas, NV 89101 • 702/383-8988 • fax: Thomas University School of Law Library in attorney. Kaufman also spoke recently at the 702/383-8845 • [email protected].

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International Members’ Briefing Networks

The Way of Ignorance International Networks Can by Jules Winterton be Your Greatest Asset oday you can make a virtual jaunt We shall not cease from exploration philosophical underpinnings of our around the world in 80 seconds And the end of all our exploration profession, a good solution to a particular T rather than days. Having contacts Will be to arrive where we started problem back home, a new way of in the far corners of the globe makes And know the place for the first time expressing one’s aspirations, or perhaps each one of us that much more effective a simple new procedure. Beyond the in delivering needed legal information -T S Eliot; from “Little Gidding V” specifics, one returns from a conference ASAP, which is how these requests usually In 1991 I traveled overseas to attend a and looks at one’s own library with a new come to us. This Members' Briefing law library conference in a city and perspective that helps to clarify priorities highlights the importance of building your global network and gives some tips on country I had never visited before. It was a and might unsettle one’s sense of how to do it. long journey and a hot and humid arrival satisfaction with the status quo. in July on the banks of a great brown river. Jules Winterton, law library director of the The cover of AALL Spectrum lying on my It was, of course, the Annual Meeting of Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in desk as I write reads: “Cross-Pollination: AALL in New Orleans—an unforgettable London, is an expert on the topic. He Learning each other’s roles and realities.” experience and the start of many valued knows from experience the value of having a global network of law librarians friendships. The process of learning each other’s roles and realities that takes place in an to tap into whenever needed. Sometimes That trip was my first visit to the United international dimension may take a greater global contacts provide a critical piece States, although several AALL members intellectual leap than when one attends of information, or, as Winterton points out, sometimes they provide a fresh insisted that, “This is not the States!” regional and national conferences. You perspective on a tiresome problem. Since then I have attended nine AALL may have less in common with other Annual Meetings. For me, attending the delegates, but you also have more to learn Global networking greatly improves our meeting is a chance for international for the same reason. ability to influence information policy and networking, an essential and hugely achieve a level of standardization that enjoyable part of my job. The process of international networking will make the exchange of information so can often provide an opportunity to much easier. Each and every one of us So I guess it was entirely reasonable for contribute. For example, you may have a can benefit in some way from a global AALL President Janis Johnston to ask me chance to set up a publications exchange, network of law librarian friends and to write a little about the opportunities establish an internship program, or colleagues. Winterton will help you make those connections. and benefits of international networking. volunteer your time and efforts. However, It also fits with the themes being anyone who has been involved in programs This summer's Annual Meeting and addressed by the Association and by of assistance, consultancy, or voluntary Conference should help you make the Annual Meeting in Boston this year: work will know that the teacher rapidly global connections, too. Our theme is globalization and the larger environments becomes the student. The two-way nature "Boston to Mumbai: The World of Legal Information." We hope that a larger than of legal information in which we work. of the process of learning is extremely usual number of law librarians from In case my employers are reading, I shall important; the benefits are reciprocal. outside the United States will join us in keep the anecdotes to a minimum and try My predecessors, as directors of the Boston. This year's Annual Meeting will to concentrate on the more professional Library of the Institute of Advanced start you on the road to building your own international network. aspects of networking. In other words, Legal Studies in London, were all I won’t relate in detail the incident when internationalists. Muriel Anderson was Many, many thanks to Winterton for I sent back a bottle of wine in a French given leave of absence for an extended writing this Members' Briefing. I hope you Jewish restaurant in New York, when I period to assist in setting up the Library find it as interesting and useful as I do. was mistaken for someone important in of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Sausalito, or when I was briefly given control Legal Studies in Lagos. In the process she of a public address system at the former forged an enduring link that led both to Robben Island prison in South Africa. our library supplying duplicate books to Janis Johnston the Nigerian Institute and the building of AALL President, 2003-2004 The Chance to Explore a strong Nigerian law collection in London. The lines above from one of T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets provide one of the best K. Howard Drake, the Institute’s first explanations and justifications for librarian, was a figure of international international networking. Conferences standing in law librarianship and was one often give attendees an insight into other of the moving forces behind the creation approaches to law librarianship—the of the International Association of Law

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American Association 2 Members’ Briefing — AALL Spectrum, April 2004 of Law Libraries

contemplation of constitutional rights— collaborative projects rely on coordination Ignorance not just during the framing of the of efforts and ultimately rely on contact continued from page 1 constitution, but also in its interpretation between a relatively few people and on by the courts—relies on the comparative meetings between individuals. Libraries, of which he was president at study of legal norms in other countries. the time of his early death. There are other aspects of globalization One of the interests and challenges of law that can give us cause for optimism. The late Willi Steiner, who was for many librarianship has always been that each As standards become global rather than years editor of the Index to Foreign Legal country has a different legal system and regional, there are more opportunities Periodicals, was one of a generation of different legal publications; indeed to learn from each other and share émigrés from continental Europe who each country may well have multiple experience. It is always reassuring to enriched legal scholarship and law jurisdictions. The legal systems may discover that we face similar challenges, librarianship in the common law world. belong to larger families of systems, they serve researchers with similar motivations As we lose that generation, it becomes may have influenced each other, but they and needs, and hit similar snags. It is also increasingly important to cultivate a new still remain an expression of the culture extremely helpful to know we are using cadre of foreign, comparative, and inter- and identity of a jurisdiction. This has increasingly similar data formats, are national law librarians with an understanding always been the case, and globalization able to employ similar strategies and of foreign legal systems, a need expressed in has not reduced the complexity. Instead utilize similar bibliographic utilities, the institute’s strategic plan. the demand for access to legal information communicate with each other’s systems, from these jurisdictions has increased. and, indeed, often use the same Growing Globalization automated systems. If international aspects of law and law As law librarians, we need to be aware of librarianship were important then, they are foreign and international legal systems, When I attend the workshop of our far more important now. We all know about understand the sources of law, and have automated system supplier at AALL, I the globalization of law. Today we are faced recourse to expertise beyond our local learn much more than I would back home. not only with a growth of trans-border resources. International contacts not only I also meet a number of law librarians who economic activity, but every aspect of law broaden our horizons, make us aware use the system. One of them, Mary Jane is affected by the interconnectedness of of other legal systems, and make us Kelsey of Yale Law Library, accepted an our world. Legal systems are increasingly responsive to enquiries about them, but invitation to become a Visiting Fellow interpenetrated. Whole areas of law are they also give us back-up for materials, in Law Librarianship at the Institute of subject to some degree to supranational language, and expertise. Many of us are Advanced Legal Studies in London. regimes, whether emanating from thankful for our international contacts at Through this scheme, which I will describe international entities, such as the United the end of a phone call or an e-mail. in more detail below, the IALS Library has Nations or the European Union, or from Discussion lists provide much-needed been fortunate enough to benefit from the international treaty regimes. expertise, although the cost-effectiveness expertise of a range of law librarians from of numerous people helpfully going off to overseas. In this case we were given the The movement of information or people do the same thing may be questionable. encouragement and the know-how to take creates challenges that national law is The right contact for the right problem is us further down the path of implementation struggling to keep up with, and these a much better answer. of recent system products together with challenges bring in their wake more and good practical advice that arose from more complex problems of both public We Need Each Other observing our local requirements. and private international law. Even local One of the watchwords of modern law practice and the judiciary need to librarianship is collaboration; we know be aware of the international aspects of Opportunities for International we need each other. Take the example of Networking litigation as matters of rights, family law, digitization of materials. We need to So how do you go about it? As you already and inheritance increasingly require collaborate in terms of using international know, the AALL Annual Meeting provides consideration of the provisions of another opportunities to attend sessions on legal system apart from its own. standards for data format, electronic manipulation of metadata, and metadata foreign, comparative, and international The process of rebuilding and content. We need to collaborate in order themes (usually not enough of them, in my reconstructing the legal order of many to make the most efficient use of available opinion). These formal sessions are often countries around the world continues in funds for digitization projects and ensure sponsored by the Foreign, Comparative, this decade. Huge strides have been taken that no project unnecessarily duplicates and International Law Special Interest in the introduction of new constitutions the efforts of another. Section (FCIL-SIS), which recognizes an and new legal frameworks for economic increasing need among our members to Such collaboration is important not only activity. Armies of legal advisers have been gain experience in working with foreign locally or nationally, but also internationally. made available to advise the best models legal information sources and to develop One has only to look at the huge LLMC on which to base new legislation. This personal and professional relationships Digital “Common Law Abroad” project, may be a process of imparting knowledge, with law librarians around the world. but in order for that to be a success, it is which is dear to my heart, to see the value necessary for the local legal systems and of collaboration. In that case the project AALL has been working to make it easier their histories to be understood. to digitize materials from the countries for overseas delegates to attend the of the British Commonwealth prior to Annual Meeting by providing more In some legal systems, comparative legal independence is a collaboration of great information and hosting arrangements. research has been built into the fabric of research libraries inside and outside the The FCIL-SIS Business Meeting and the law. For example, in South Africa the United States. So many initiatives and Reception for Attendees from Abroad 85282 AALL Memb. brief 3/26/04 10:54 AM Page 3

American Association Members’ Briefing — AALL Spectrum, April 2004of Law Libraries 3

provide great opportunities to meet overseas The International Federation of Library School Library, Los Angeles County Law delegates. The FCIL-SIS administers the Associations (IFLA) is a massive meeting Library, the Law Library of the University of Ellen Schaffer Foreign Librarians Grant and not one that concentrates on law Bergen in Norway, and currently from the to provide financial assistance to ensure librarianship. Traditionally arranged by the Alaska State Court Law Library. This has the presence and participation of foreign IALL, the meeting includes a short session proved to be an exceptionally rewarding librarians at the AALL Annual Meeting each year to bring law library matters to the program. and to enrich the event by sharing global attention of a wider audience of librarians in perspectives. The grant recipient is presented different sectors. However, the importance IALL at the FCIL-SIS event. of IFLA is its role in international policy Perhaps the quintessential example issues, such as intellectual property and of international networking is the In common with some other associations, international trade, which now strongly International Association of Law Libraries the International Association of Law impinge on all libraries. (IALL). The IALL is a worldwide Libraries sends an official representative organization of librarians, libraries, and to the AALL Annual Meeting and hosts AALL has a strong agenda in the public others concerned with the acquisition and its own reception—open to all—that policy arena, and overseas members use of legal information emanating from attracts overseas delegates, FCIL members, always admire its participation in advocacy, sources other than their own jurisdictions. and plenty of others. That is another lobbying, and policy-making at regional The IALL has been dedicated since its opportunity to cultivate overseas contacts and national levels. AALL also has an foundation in 1959 to bringing together and also to hear about the upcoming IALL important role to play in international and facilitating the work of law librarians conference. policymaking, and the IFLA conference is who use foreign and international legal International networking can start at home, one of the forums for that participation. resources. It publishes the International and, of course, networking can be virtual. More recently national associations, Journal of Legal Information and holds a You can participate through joining lists notably AALL, have formed with IALL a law conference each year—its annual course and discussion groups, becoming a library association discussion group under in international law librarianship—and member of other associations, reading the auspices of IFLA. This is international maintains a scholarship program not publications, and building up contacts by networking at a strategic level and may limited to association members. e-mail. There are plenty of associations of offer us all a stronger voice in advocacy at During the past few years, IALL law librarians and law libraries around the an international level. These issues are conferences have taken place at the Bar world from South Africa to the Nordic expertly addressed in the December 2003 Council of Ireland in Dublin; at the Swiss countries, from Britain and Ireland to New Members’ Briefing by Robert Oakley. Institute for the Comparative Law in Zealand. A wide range of discussion lists An extended visit to a library in another Lausanne, Switzerland; at Yale Law School, focus on foreign and international law and country provides a more immersive with an additional day program at Harvard legal information. The organizations and experience than a conference and Law School; and at the University of Cape the discussion lists are summarized on potentially provides a much more valuable Town in South Africa. The conferences do the Web (see “Key Web Sites” on pg. 4). experience. The FCIL-SIS channels not address areas generally covered at the Just because you have a great Annual information to interested law librarians conferences of national associations, such Meeting right there at home and have all on opportunities to visit libraries abroad as transferable skills in librarianship. the bandwidth you want, don’t think that through the Clearinghouse for Internships Rather they address in detail aspects of you don’t need to go further. There’s a and International Personnel Exchanges foreign and international legal systems, whole wide world out there waiting to meet (see “Key Web Sites” on pg. 4). The IALL both in substance and in their expression you. Some may maintain that “thinking is also working on a program that will in legal information, seeking to give an is the best way to travel,” but as we all facilitate internships and exchanges. understanding of the law underlying the know, traveling is the best way to travel. There is one specialist form of attachment information with which we have to grapple. Particularly if you find that you are to another institution that I am bound to Recent themes of IALL conferences increasingly dealing with foreign law mention. Several years ago the Institute of have been: “A Common Law for Europe: enquiries, start thinking about a trip to Advanced Legal Studies created a Visiting legal systems and legal information,” meet your international colleagues. Attend Fellowship in Law Librarianship as part of “Comparative and International Law another meeting in the United States or its academic research program. Although in a Multilingual Environment: current overseas. “Key Web Sites” on pg. 4 includes the fellowship provides no funding, it issues and information resources,” “Order an international calendar of events on the offers a powerful argument to a librarian’s from Chaos: contexts for global legal IALL Web site; the calendar also appears in employer for paid leave. It is designed information,” and “New Rights, New Laws: the International Journal of Legal Information. to place an experienced law librarian in legal information in a changing world.” Each of the national and regional a research library environment, and it The conferences have also included associations has a meeting. In recent years encourages research of mutual benefit to introductions to the legal systems of the American, Australian, British and Irish, the visiting fellow and the library. Visiting Ireland, South Africa, and Switzerland, as and Canadian associations have also held Fellows have come from the Squire Law well as the law of the Islamic world. Many a biennial joint study institute to cultivate Library of the University of Cambridge, the of the papers from the conferences are interchange and give an opportunity to Law Courts Library in Sydney, the Diana M. published in the International Journal of Legal learn about the legal system, heritage, Priestly Law Library at the University of Information. The next conference, in August and traditions of the host countries in turn. Victoria in British Columbia, Harvard Law 2004, will be at the University of Helsinki In February the Joint Study Institute met School Library, the Nigerian Institute of in Finland, with a day at the Estonian in Sydney. Advanced Legal Studies Library, Yale Law National Library in Tallinn. Its theme will

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American Association 4 Members’ Briefing — AALL Spectrum, April 2004 of Law Libraries

Ignorance a former member of the government, who spent 18 years as a political prisoner within Key Web Sites continued from page 3 those walls. Perhaps you can never fully Clearinghouse for Internships and understand those experiences that are so International Personnel Exchanges be, “Protecting the Environment: a fundamental to the understanding of law, www.lawsch.uga.edu/fcil/clearintro.html challenge across borders.” but you can get closer by being there and Foreign, Comparative, and The most recent IALL conference was at listening to speakers than by reading about International Law Special Interest the University of Cape Town, South Africa, it. International networking can take you to Section and attracted law librarians from more places where you cannot otherwise go. www.lawsch.uga.edu/fcil/fcil.html than 20 countries. It dealt with the By the way, the title of this piece is taken transformation of the legal system in from another of Eliot’s Four Quartets, “East International Association of South Africa, and we heard from speakers Coker III”: “In order to arrive at what you do Law Libraries including judges from the Constitutional not know you must go by a way which is www.iall.org Court and the Cape High Court; members the way of ignorance.” Travel safely, but not of the Truth and Reconciliation International Calendar too wisely. Commission, the Gender Commission, www.iall.org/calendar/show.asp and the Treatment Action Campaign; Jules Winterton ([email protected]) Law Lists and people who both helped to write the is director of the Library of the Institute www.lib.uchicago.edu/~llou/lawlists/ new constitution and are responsible of Advanced Legal Studies, University of info.html for interpreting it. We also stood within London, England, and first vice-president List of National and International Law the former maximum security prison on of the International Association of Law Library and Related Associations Robben Island—now a museum—and Libraries. He is a member of the FCIL-SIS www.lib.uchicago.edu/~llou/iall.html heard from Dr. Ahmed Kathrada, and of the Board of Directors of LLMC chairperson of the Museum Council and Digital. Visiting Fellowship in Law Librarianship at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies www.ials.sas.ac.uk/fellows/fellapp.htm