What Makes D.C. Special & The Spirit of Innovation It is possible for Communication That One “Special Book”: one “special” book and organization to make being a are two of the D.C. Law Librarians Discuss the Rare Book in Their law librarian in biggest challenges Washington Collections Which Speaks to Them Most Eloquently facing librarians “special?” I believe who manage so. The D.C. area Jennie Meade, Director of Special Collections, The George Washington University Law School, student workers offers an uncom- Jacob Burns Law Library, [email protected] in academic mon opportunity libraries. Academic for intellectual Introduction been expensive to buy, but may have been. libraries rely on extension beyond Is it possible for one “special book” to make Manuscripts as well as printed books could student workers the four walls, being a law librarian in Washington “special?” I qualify. Most important, the work needed to to staff the library or the computer Ibelieve so. The D.C. area offers an uncommon “speak” to the librarian more than others in the during weekends, screens, of our opportunity for intellectual extension beyond collection (hence the choice): affinity between holidays, and late own libraries. the four walls, or the computer screens, of our the librarian and the work was of fundamental into the night. own libraries. Our city is home to a number importance. of law libraries with special collections, and The four librarians made erudite and becoming aware of the treasures hidden within creative choices, their exemplars exhibiting them is a unique pleasure. I recently have been originality in selection and variety in subject working with the book which is, for me, the matter. Dr. Meredith Shedd-Driskel, Law most special in our collection. Since there are Curator in the Collection Services Division of many contenders in our special collections for the Law Library of Congress, chose an illumi- “the most special book” title, not everyone would nated manuscript, Larbre des batailles (France, agree with my choice. A relationship with a 14--). Lawrence S. Guthrie II, Interlibrary Loan book grows from many factors: intellectual, Librarian at Covington & Burling LLP, selected historical, and aesthetic may be near the top A Treatise on the Virtues and Efficacy of a Crust of the list, and each person weighs these of Bread (Dublin, 1757), from an unexpected differently, perhaps adding other considerations source, the firm’s Food and Drug collection. into the mix. But as I spent more time with the William Ryan, Foreign & International Law book which “speaks” to me most expressively, Librarian at the Pence Law Library at the I wondered whether other books in other American University Washington College of collections held a similar sway over their Law, picked out the first American edition guardians, and decided to ask. In response, four of Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of librarians from D.C. law libraries—government, England (1771-1772). Mary Strouse, Associate private, and academic—generously agreed to Director & Head of Technical Services at The share their thoughts about “that one ‘special’ Catholic University of America Columbus book” in their collections. School of Law’s Judge Kathryn J. DuFour Law The criteria for choosing the book were Library, selected the rare typescript memoir simple. The book had to be rare or unusual, (19--?) of former dean of the law school Robert with few recorded copies. It did not need to J. White, whose experiences in life may be the be old, but likely it would be. It need not have continued on page 3 Volume 52, Numbers 3–4 • Spring/Summer 2009 1 FROM THE EDITOR Table of Contents FEATURES That One “Special Book” The Long Road Jennie Meade 1 Matthew Braun, Legal Reference Librarian, Law Only Librarians Get It Library of Congress, [email protected] Cameron Gowan 9 Washington, D.C.: A Capital City for the Profession Steve Young 10 Well, my friends, we have finally arrived. As you Research at the National Archives Wmay have noticed, Law Library Lights (Volume Jennifer Locke Davitt 13 52, Number 3, if you are keeping track) was One of the Federal Triangle’s not published this past spring. This was due to Semi-Hidden Gems the diagnosis of my fiancée (now wife) Denise Jan Oberla 16 with acute myeloid leukemia near the time that GPO Launches FDsys the spring issue was to go press. I thank each of Catherine Dunn 18 you for your patience and understanding during Zen and the Art of Interlibrary Loan this delay, and thank those of you who have Scott Wales 21 offered support to Denise and myself as we Marketing the Firm Law Library battle this illness. During Challenging Economic Times Indeed, at the end of a long road, I am Monique LaForce 22 happy to present to you a combined spring/ Embracing the Future at the summer issue of Lights that incorporates both Department of Justice Libraries the themes of “What Makes D.C. Special” and Jennifer McMahan & Michele Masias 24 “The Spirit of Innovation.” The Pence Law Library’s Electronic From light to shade, from a shout to a Resourcement Management whisper, this combined issue of Lights just about Implementation Tale Billie Jo Kaufman, Sima Mirkin continued on page 3 & Michael J. Petit 27 Time to Collaborate Charlotte Osborn-Bensaada 35 Library Rules: A (Modest) Procedural Proposal LLSDC Matthew Mantel 37 Law Librarians’ Society of Washington, DC COLUMNS A Chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries Editor’s Column Matthew Braun 2 Deadline for If you would like to write for Lights, please contact Matthew Braun at [email protected]. For President’s Column Submissions Frances Brilliantine 4 information regarding submission deadlines and issue themes, visit the LLSDC Web site at Membership News www.llsdc.org. Shannon O’Connell 12 Book Review Kasia Solon 30 Law Library Lights is published quarterly by the Law Librarians’ Society of Washington, D.C., Inc. 20009, ISSN 0546-2483. Tech Talk Roger Skalbeck 33 Beginning with Vol. 50, #1 (Fall 2006), Law Library Lights is now published in PDF format on the LLSDC Web site: www.llsdc.org. Notification of avail- ability of each new issue will be sent to the LLSDC listserv. If you would like to receive individual e-mail notification when new issues are published, please send an e-mail to Matthew Braun at [email protected]. LLSDC LLSDC does not assume any responsibility for the statements advanced by Law Librarians’ Society of Washington, DC contributors to Law Library Lights. The views expressed herein are those of the A Chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries individual authors and do not constitute an endorsement by LLSDC. 2 Law Library Lights From the Editor continued from page 2 offer suggestions on how to create a succession As I prepare to plan for library staff. hand over the has it all. Steve Young shares a few thoughts Charlotte Osborn-Bensaada also reviews reigns of the about being a law librarian in Washington, this past year’s Joint Spring Workshop, which Lights to Sara D.C. as we prepare to host the 102nd Annual extolled the virtues of collaboration, and Sampson, who Meeting of the American Association of Law Matthew Mantel gives us a little food for has been a Libraries (AALL), while Jennie Meade and thought on being “innovative” with library great friend Jennifer Locke Davitt share some detailed rules. and supported accounts of what makes the legal collections If that were not enough, our Lights in my year as and research processes in this city so unique. columns are, once again, as unique as the city editor, I offer my Jan Oberla tells us why justice and art are so and region that we call home. Kasia Solon sincerest gratitude closely related, and Scott Wales gives some highlights a rare item located at, interestingly, to everyone who reasons as to why our law library community in the U.S. Department of Justice Library, while contributed to D.C. is so interconnected. Roger Skalbeck gives us some guidance on Lights during And, since the theme of this year’s AALL how and when to use URL shorteners. 2008–2009. Annual Meeting is “Innovate,” we have As I prepare to hand over the reigns of Catherine Dunn giving us the ins and outs of the Lights to Sara Sampson, who has been FDSys, the Government Printing Office’s a great friend and supporter in my year as newest site for federal government publications, editor, I offer my sincerest gratitude to every- and a trio of librarians, Billie Jo Kaufman, one who contributed to Lights during 2008- Sima Mirkin, and Michael Petit, telling us 09. We have an immensely talented group what it is really like to select and then implement of feature authors and columnists, and I have a system for managing electronic journal sub- been consistently impressed by the high quality scriptions. Monique LaForce shares ideas on of our society’s newsletter. My year as Lights how to be innovative with library marketing, editor has been rewarding beyond words, and while Jennifer McMahan and Michele Masias I thank you all so very much. LLL That One “Special Book” cont. from page 1 artistry of French miniature painting with a most eclectic of law school deans past or pre- large illustration on leaf 7a (reproduced here) sent, and must have provided him with and ornate initials and rubrication in colors unparalleled perspective on his chosen work. with gold embellishments. Other contemporary Each entry begins with the work’s biblio- manuscript versions of the text exist at the graphic information, followed by the librarian’s Pierpont Morgan Library in New York City discussion.