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Volume AALL8 No. 7 May 2004 SpectrumAALL: Maximizing the Power of the Law Library Community Since 1906

The Trials and Tribulations In This Issue of Building or Remodeling a Law Library Blogs in Law Libraries

Easing the Path for Newer Colleagues

The CRIV Sheet

4th Annual Architecture Series

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Volume 8 No. 7 May 2004 AALL Spectrum letter from the editor New Architectural Beginnings for Law Libraries by Paul D. Healey, [email protected]

So it’s May already. Spring is in full force and soon rounding into summer, the weather is good, and new things are everywhere. I’ve never really thought about it before, but it is especially appropriate for the May issue of Spectrum to be our annual architectural issue. In covering architectural achievements in law library facilities, we celebrate both the new and the renewal of the old. How fitting for a spring issue of the magazine. The annual architectural issue always brings an interesting variety of projects to show off, with plenty of valuable information about planning, building, remodeling, and moving a law library. As in the past, when planning the architectural issue we put out a call for authors on the law-lib online list discussion and got many more offers than we could possibly use. We are sincerely grateful to everyone who offered to write for this year’s issue and regret that we didn’t have room for more articles. The articles that you will find in this issue represent much effort by the people who wrote them, but they also reflect real pride. We hope you find them useful and enjoyable. Of course we offer more than just architectural articles this month. By now you’ve probably heard of Web logs—or blogs—but you may have wondered whether they are a useful tool for law libraries; I know I have. Roy Balleste has written an interesting and highly informative article on blogs in law libraries that explains why they are useful and provides a number of resources for investigating and getting started with blogs. I found it to be an excellent introduction to the topic, and it has me thinking about some creative ways to use this new Web-based tool. As we continue to prepare for the AALL Annual Meeting in Boston this July, we feature the return of John Pedini and another article about the sights and attractions that might interest you before, after, or during your time in Boston. Following last month’s article on the attractions of Boston that are within walking distance of the Annual Meeting site, this month John covers all of New England. He points out a variety of interesting places to visit in Massachusetts and surrounding states. If John ever decides to leave librarianship, he could easily make a career of travel writing. We hope that you will find the information in his article enticing and will plan a wonderful trip to the Annual Meeting. Last month AALL Spectrum devoted its feature articles to the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. The actual anniversary of the decision is On the cover: this month—May 17 to be exact—and we are pleased to note a number of important The University of Washington’s new law library events marking the anniversary. Take special note of the Spring 2004 issue of Law is located in William H. Gates Hall. Skylights Library Journal (96:2), to be published this month, which contains a special feature on allow natural light to stream into the library the 50th anniversary of Brown. The journal will contain an article entitled “From space below. Brown to Topeka to the Future” by Peter C. Alexander; a book review of Brown v. Photo courtesy the University of Washington. Board of Education: Case, Culture, and the Constitution by Brannon P. Denning; and “Brown v. Board of Education: A Selected Annotated Bibliography” by William H. Manz. Under Frank Houdek’s excellent editorial hand, these articles promise to add important voices to the Brown commemoration.

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

Editorial Director Professional Development Series: Blogs in Law Libraries Paul D. Healey [email protected] Web Logs Offer an Electronic Alternative to Journals and Newsletters ...... 8 Copy Editor Robert B. Barnett Jr. by Roy Balleste Graphic Designer Kathy Wozbut Public Relations: Image and the Librarian 2003–2004 Law Library Journal and AALL Spectrum Editorial Board and Advisory Committee From Marian the Librarian to the Librarian Action Chair Camille Broussard Figure, the Profession through the Public’s Eye ...... 10 Members Sarah Andeen by Holly M. Riccio Sue Burch Daniel R. Campbell The Trials and Tribulations of Building or Naomi J. Goodman Elizabeth A. Greenfield Remodeling a Law Library ...... 12 Bonnie L. Koneski-White by Paul D. Healey Kathleen S. Martin Lisa A. Mecklenberg Jackson Less is More ...... 14 Patricia Parker by Mark E. Estes Paul D. Healey (ex officio) Frank G. Houdek (ex officio) The Intellectual Hub of a New Law School ...... 16 Sandra Marz (ex officio) by Ed Edmonds 2003–2004 Executive Board Designing a Library for the Computer Age ...... 18 President Janis L. Johnston by Mary Kay Jung Vice President/ President-Elect Victoria K. Trotta Accessible to All ...... 20 Secretary Catherine Lemann by Gary Gott Treasurer Anne C. Matthewman Immediate Past President Carol Avery Nicholson Moving a Law Library ...... 22 Executive Director Susan E. Fox Members Kathy Carlson by Penny Hazelton and Jonathan Franklin James E. Duggan Ann T. Fessenden Easing the Path for Newer Colleagues Nina Platt Conference for New Law Librarians Helps Alvin M. Podboy Jr. Beginners Learn AALL’s Ropes ...... 24 Merle J. Slyhoff by Joyce Manna Janto AALL Spectrum (ISSN: 1089–8689) is published monthly except January and August with combined September/October Get to Know New England by the American Association of Law Libraries, 53 W. Jackson Six States are Less than a Day Away from Boston . . . . . 26 Blvd., Suite 940, Chicago, IL 60604. Telephone: 312/939- by John Pedini 4764, fax: 312/431-1097, e-mail: [email protected]. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, Illinois. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AALL Spectrum, 53 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 940, columns Chicago, IL 60604. Writers wanted — contribute to your Association’s magazine. For guidelines, visit www.aallnet.org or contact Editorial Letter from Editor ...... 1 Director Paul D. Healey at [email protected]. From the President ...... 4 AALL Spectrum Deadlines From the Treasurer ...... 6 Articles are due on the following dates: 2003–2004 Issue Deadline Committee News ...... 28 Vol. 9, No. 1 Sept./Oct. July 22 No. 2 November August 19 SIS News ...... 30 No. 3 December September 23

Membership News ...... 34 Copy sent through a columnist or guest editor should be submitted to him or her well in advance of the monthly deadline. center insert AALLNET: www.aallnet.org Advertising Representatives The CRIV Sheet Benson, Coffee & Associates 1411 Peterson Ave., Park Ridge, IL 60068 Telephone: 847/692-4695 • Fax: 847/692-3877 announcements E-mail: [email protected] AALL Spectrum is a free benefit of membership in the American Association of Law Libraries. Of each year’s dues, $42 is for one Germain, Janto, Myers, and Sullivan Elected year of AALL Spectrum. Nonmembers may subscribe to AALL to Executive Board ...... 11 Spectrum for $75 per year. For membership and/or subscription information, please contact the American Association of Law Annual 2004 Business Meeting Agenda ...... 35 Libraries at the address above. FCIL-SIS Requests Teaching Materials...... 36 The American Association of Law Libraries does not assume any responsibility for the statements advanced by the contributors to, Make Way for AALL 2004 Book Drive ...... 36 nor the advertisers in, the Association’s publication. Editorial views do not necessarily represent the official position of the Association. All advertising copy is subject to editorial approval. departments ∞ AALL Spectrum is printed on acid-free, recycled paper. All contents copyright 2004 by the American Association of Law Libraries, except where otherwise expressly indicated. Ad Index...... 15 Except as otherwise expressly provided, the author of each item in this issue has granted permission for copies of that item to Classifieds ...... 29 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 ...... 33 author and AALL Spectrum are identified, and (3) proper notice Professional Development Calendar ...... 36 of copyright is affixed to each copy. For items in which it holds copyright, the American Association of Law Libraries grants permission for copies to be made for classroom use or for any other educational purpose under the same conditions.

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by Janis L. Johnston, from the president [email protected] Ode to Marvin Gaye, or the Art of Trend Spotting

Okay, so I have an unusual title for this should know a trend when we see one and I hope the new strategic plan will engage, month’s column, but my local PBS station position ourselves to take best advantage of enlighten, and empower all of us, I think was doing one of its fundraising events and changing circumstances. each of us is wise to engage in some trend aired a special on music from the ’60s and Next year AALL will create a new spotting of our own. Marvin would approve. ’70s. It showed a clip of Marvin Gaye strategic plan to take the Association into Each of us is best positioned to see the more performing his classic, “What’s Going the future. As with previous plans, immediate trends emerging for our libraries On,” and the song has been stuck we’ll do what has been termed and our parent institutions. The trend in my head ever since. an “environmental scan” as toward law firm mergers has private law Before I start my own background work before librarians very much on the alert. The trend soulful rendition right here at drafting the plan. An of reduced funding for county law libraries the office (when I sing at environmental scan to me is in several states has our state, court, and home, the dog howls), let’s really an exercise in trend county SIS colleagues very engaged in talk about what’s going on, spotting—asking the questions advocacy. Each of us would be wise to or more to my point, let’s about what is likely to anticipate the changes such trends will spot the trends that will transpire in our world in the impose and prepare for the next trends on impact our professional lives. next three to five years. It is not the horizon. When you find every day an easy task, and this time around The how-to of trend spotting is pretty filled with a to-do list a mile long, it doing a really good job of trend straightforward: pay attention to local gets hard to focus on trends. With so much spotting will be critical to the success of and national news, read the journals your “doing,” it is almost impossible to find time AALL in meeting member needs. boss reads, invest in subscriptions to to think about the changes that are affecting For the next plan it will be more trade publications for lawyers, monitor your firm, law school, corporation, court, important than ever that we ask the right developments in technology, pay attention county, or other government entity. Who questions, seek the right data, and look more to the ups and downs of the economy, talk has time to reflect on the future, much less broadly and more diversely to gather a wide with the attorneys/judges/professors in your prepare for it? variety of perspectives about the future of organization, attend professional meetings, We may be accomplishing many tasks, libraries and the legal profession. Without a talk with your colleagues, stay alert, and, but are we working on the right things? We clear understanding of the trends that will most importantly, think about what you may be meeting our users’ information needs impact our profession, we cannot create a discover. Finding time to do all this isn’t today, but are we thinking about how to do plan that best positions the Association to easy, but it is so very important to the that in our technology-driven future? We advocate for our interests and serve our success of our libraries and the future of might be succeeding with current goals, educational and networking needs. our profession. but are we setting the right things in motion No exercise in trend spotting will make Identifying and understanding the to prepare for tomorrow? We might be us clairvoyant. Maybe Dionne Warwick emerging trends gives you time to respond following proven methods, but are we (who was in the PBS special too and in the effectively to change; it also provides training ourselves to be flexible and adaptive ’90s was a spokesperson for the Psychic opportunities for you to use new for a constantly changing future? Friends Network) can see our future clearly. developments to your best advantage. There is much about the future that we But the more research and thought we give That is what AALL will be doing as it cannot predict, but it is dangerous to be to identifying trends and their implications crafts our next strategic plan. I hope you oblivious to the trends developing around for law librarianship, the more we increase will do the same. us. It is hard to respond well when caught our potential to exert influence on and work I apologize to you all for this concluding completely by surprise. Some of us might well with new trends. sentence, but those who pay attention to aspire to be the trendsetters in our Is it enough for AALL to engage in trends don’t have to lament, “I heard it organizations, but at the least, all of us trend spotting on your behalf? As much as through the grapevine.” Sorry, Marvin.

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from the treasurer by Anne C. Matthewman, [email protected]

AALL Recovers from Deficit Comparative Statement of Revenues & Expenses The Association’s fiscal year ended on Association. Members of the committee September 30, 2003, at which time the were given an opportunity to ask questions Schedule B independent audit firm of Wolf and regarding any items related to the Total of All Funds: Current Reserve, Investment, Company examined our financial statements, methods, records, or Special Interest Sections, and Restricted records. procedures employed by the financial staff. Wolf is retained by Fiscal Year Fiscal Year the Executive Board to The schedules found 2002 2003 certify the accuracy of on the following pages Revenues the financial statements summarize the data Membership Dues $ 652,734 $ 690,259 and the integrity of the presented in the audit Publications & Royalties 593,921 603,418 Scholarships, Grants, Association’s accounting report received by the Contributions 237,820 130,785 systems. The essence of Executive Board. If you Annual Meeting 1,158,873 1,294,508 the audit report is an would like to receive the Professional Development 51,871 55,325 complete report, you may Member List Sales 116,931 102,526 opinion as to whether Dividend & Interest Income 86,381 81,819 the statements fairly and request a copy from Steve Realized Gain (Loss) accurately report the Ligda, AALL director of on Investments (67,362) (148,492) Unrealized Gain (Loss) financial condition of the finance and administration. on Investments (148,959) 219,770 Association at the end of the year. Schedule A is a comparison Special Interest Sections 97,427 98,701 Again this year, Wolf rendered an of the assets, liabilities, and fund Other Revenues 29,486 39,429 unqualified opinion to the effect that our balances of total Association Funds as of financial statements “present fairly, in all September 30 (the fiscal year-end) of the Total Revenues $ 2,809,123 $ 3,168,048 material respects, the financial position of two most recent years. The investment Expenses the American Association of Law Libraries as portfolio composes the largest segment of Publications $ 669,781 $ 623,562 of September 30, 2003 ... and the results of AALL’s assets. Overall, its three invested Annual Meeting 1,168,596 1,093,656 its operations and cash flows for the year … funds, the permanent investment, restricted Professional Development 139,201 57,851 Executive Board & Committees 180,317 147,087 in conformity with generally accepted endowment, and cash management funds, Government Affairs 14,407 14,401 accounting principles.” account for 81 percent of AALL’s assets at Scholarships, Grants, September 30, 2003. Contributions 45,906 44,396 I am pleased to report that the Representatives to Allied Comparative Balance Sheets Organizations 179,810 199,859 permanent investment fund increased in Special Interest Sections 90,525 113,266 Schedule A value by more than $144,000 as a result Administrative & General 702,989 691,630 of the gains realized in the investment Total Expenses $ 3,191,532 $ 2,985,708 Fiscal Year Fiscal Year portfolio. AALL’s investment manager 2002 2003 at Chevy Chase Trust has guided the Excess (Deficiency) of Assets Association’s equity and bond investments Revenues over Expenses $ (382,409) $ 182,340 Cash $ 60,819 $ 243,773 Accrued Interest Receivable 21,136 24,986 through the rough waters of recent markets Fund Balance at the Beginning of the Year $ 3,157,501 $ 2,694,044 Accounts Receivable 79,794 186,373 to recover nearly all of its value that was lost Prepaid Expenses 405,006 115,194 after September 2001. The overall portfolio Prior Year Adjustments $ (81,048) $ — Investments at Market Value 3,088,112 3,037,359 continues to reflect a modest approach, with Furniture & Equipment, Fund Balance at the End net of depreciation 143,287 119,509 a market volatility of slightly less than the of the Year $ 2,694,044 $ 2,876,384 S&P 500 index. Total Assets $ 3,798,154 $ 3,727,194 Three years ago AALL segregated and endowed funds, which have been Liabilities & Fund Balances members, SISs, chapters, and publishers. Accounts Payable & contributed by members and AALL We are within striking distance of the Accrued Expenses $ 278,425 $ 268,111 supporters, to ensure that all contributions $100,000 goal set for AALL, and I feel Deferred Membership Dues 430,734 486,781 to these funds are permanently endowed confident that fiscal year 2004 will see us Deferred Subscription Income 111,709 90,818 Deferred Exhibit Fees 19,400 5,100 and support the intentions of the donors. exceed that target. Deferred Compensation 263,842 — These endowed funds are comprised of the Schedule B compares the various Scholarship Fund, the AALL/West George revenue and expense accounts for the Unrestricted Fund Balances 2,037,448 2,193,115 A. Strait Minority Scholarship Endowment, 2002 and 2003 fiscal years. Restricted Fund Balances 656,596 683,269 the Lexis-Nexis/John R. Johnson Memorial Overall, 2003 revenues increased by Total Liabilities & Fund Balances $ 3,798,154 $ 3,727,194 Scholarship Endowment, Institute for $359,000 from the prior year, primarily Courts Management Fund, Alan Holoch as a result of increased revenues from the Memorial Fund, Ellen Schaffer Annual Annual Meeting and net gains from our At the February meeting of the Finance Meeting Grant Fund, and the AALL/ investments. and Budget Committee, the Wolf and LexisNexis Research Fund. I am pleased to Increased revenue was also generated Company partner responsible for our audit note that the Strait Endowment increased by from membership dues and publications presented the report and comments regarding $50,000 during this past fiscal year, which and royalties. Although overall scholarships, the overall financial condition of the was the result of the contributions from grants, and contributions brought in less

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than in 2002, the decrease was due in large retaining a development consultant to part to West Group’s 2002 contribution to increase contributions in support of the Comparative Statement of fund the George Strait Minority Scholarship Association, and publishing the Price Index Fund Balances Endowment. of Legal Publications and the Biennial Salary Schedule D Fiscal year 2003 expenses decreased Survey. With our continuing inability to by $206,000 compared to the previous withdraw market-generated profits from Fiscal Year Fiscal Year year; this was caused by staff vacancies at our investments, the task of funding such 2002 2003 headquarters and savings reported from projects has become increasingly difficult. Funds the Annual Meeting and professional Additionally, the withdrawals helped to Current Reserve Fund $ (59,941) $ (30,765) development programs. I am grateful to maintain the balance of the current reserve Investment Fund (at Market) 1,674,723 1,819,061 the Finance and Budget Committee, the fund—our reserve against unexpected deficits Special Interest Sections 166,088 154,967 Aspen Research Grant Fund 26,161 18,811 Executive Board, and the Association staff incurred in our operating fund. The sum Call for Papers Award Fund (500) (1,250) for their serious efforts to cut expenses total of four years without withdrawals, plus Government Affairs Fund 36,828 37,260 wherever possible during this past year. the deficit reported in 2002, left the current Grant Fund 128 3,729 In total, the net surplus from all funds reserve fund with a negative balance of Schaffer Annual Meeting Grant Fund 17,885 17,616 Scholarship Fund 89,544 92,473 and activities was $182,340 in fiscal 2003, $59,941 one year ago. Although the negative AALL & West George A. Strait as compared to a deficit of $382,409 in balance of the fund has not been eliminated, Minority Scholarship Endowment 185,732 236,152 2002—a significant turnaround in our fiscal it has been reduced to $30,675 at the 2003 CIS Scholarship Fund 5,074 5,074 health and a positive sign that our financial fiscal year end. The value of the Permanent ICM Scholarship Fund 33,348 33,739 Minority Leadership Award Fund 930 — policies have served us well. Investment Fund continues to increase, and AALL Memorial Fund 9,785 9,270 For the past four years, including 2003, with modest returns from the market LexisNexis™/John R. Johnson the permanent investment fund has failed between today and September 30, 2004, I Memorial Scholarship Endowment 185,141 177,197 Holoch Fund 10,068 10,166 to achieve its targeted level as specified by foresee the permanent investment fund once West Professional Education Fund (110) — our financial policy. In years prior to 2000, again exceeding its target level. This will allow LexisNexis Series Project — 2,335 when our portfolio generated substantial us to withdraw a portion of our market gains AALL/LexisNexis Research Fund 84,676 75,584 market gains, the value of the fund exceeded to fund programs of value to our members Chapter Relations Project 1,250 — the target and was sufficient to allow and help rebuild our current reserve fund. IFLP Reserve Fund 206,999 206,999 Continuing Education Project 5,829 — withdrawal of some portion of the fund to Schedule C reports the fiscal year results Media Relations Project 3,836 — support specific projects, such as funding the of the general/operating fund only. The fund Biennial Salary Survey Project 2,603 — Government Affairs Fund, publishing an experienced a significant turn-around from Price Index 2000 Publication Project 7,967 7,966 economic study of legal publications pricing, 2002, as revenues increased and expenses Totals $ 2,694,044 $ 2,876,384 decreased to net a modest excess of $37,303. Analyses of some specific items from the Comparative Statement of general fund are noted as follows: Revenues & Expenses • Dues revenues were reported at Schedule D details the components of General (Operating) Fund $690,259, an increase of $37,525 from the restricted and unrestricted fund balances fiscal 2002. This improvement was due in from the bottom of Schedule A. Schedule C large part to the first $15 installment Various funds and projects have been established by the Executive Board to Fiscal Year Fiscal Year of the dues increase, which was effective 2002 2003 for the membership year that began ensure that adequate funding is available to Revenues on June 1, 2003. support issues, advocacy views, or specific Membership Dues $ 652,734 $ 690,259 • Net revenues generated from the programming efforts or, as is the case with Publications & Royalties 265,619 245,750 Annual Meeting were $135,635 greater restricted endowments, that contributions Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals 322,304 354,984 are accounted for and restricted to their Annual Meeting 1,158,873 1,294,508 than in 2002. Professional Development 51,871 55,325 • Although the Seattle Meeting attracted intended purposes. As the various funds Member List Sales 116,931 102,526 1,858 registered attendees, it failed to achieve their intended objectives, their SIS Dues Allocated to HQ 38,892 43,951 match the expected (budgeted) level unexpended balances are returned to the Other Revenues 39,454 42,020 of 1,940 registrants. The meeting also current reserve fund. Total Revenues $ 2,646,678 $ 2,829,323 experienced a drop-off in Exhibit The current reserve fund, as noted earlier, Hall revenues as three of our largest is still in a deficit position. The Finance Expenses vendors scaled back their Tech Center and Budget Committee discussed and Publications $ 471,928 $ 426,977 demonstration areas. Exhibit space sales examined several alternatives to restore the Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals 197,853 196,585 fund to a surplus balance. The committee’s Annual Meeting 1,168,596 1,093,656 totaled 164, our lowest total since 1998, Professional Development 139,201 57,851 and total firms in the hall declined to recommendations were presented for board Executive Board & Committees 180,317 147,087 83, by far our lowest total ever. approval at its April Meeting. I expect to Administrative & General 702,989 691,630 • Our professional development report on the board’s recommendations Representatives to Allied Organizations 165,983 178,234 programs have recovered to a near during the Business Meeting in Boston. break-even level as two of the three If any member would like to comment Total Expenses $ 3,026,867 $ 2,792,020 Seattle programs were oversubscribed— or would like clarification of our financial quite an improvement over 2002 when performance or policies, please feel free to Excess (Deficiency) of Revenues over Expenses $ (380,189) $ 37,303 three programs were cancelled for lack contact me or Steve Ligda. We will be glad of registrants. to respond.

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professional development series

can only library setting. The technology is fairly imagine simple, and best of all, you can set up your I what Jean own library blog for free. There are two François main applications for a blog: creating a Champollion journal and creating a newsletter. would have As a librarian you may want to set up a said had he blog for yourself as a daily log of activities. lived during Or you could create a blog for your library this age of the to keep the law school, partners at the firm, Internet. or judges at the courthouse informed. Why Champollion would you use a blog instead of the is known for traditional newsletter? Convenience. being the first decrypter of Why Blog? Egyptian As an online newsletter, blogs are easy to set hieroglyphics. up and much easier to update. The process He would of setting up a print newsletter is time- have found the consuming and costly. Many blogs are free, Internet to be while print newsletters require particular a great place software, like MS Publisher or Adobe to record his PageMaker. Print newsletters also involve Web logs by librarians have become more and more popular over time. They can serve as daily logs of research. supplies such as paper and ink and rely activities or to keep law schools, firm partners, or judges A Web log would have been the ideal on the perfect functioning of a copier. informed of library happenings. tool to share with fellow scientists his daily Distribution of blogs is simple with either discoveries in the land of the pharaohs e-mail addresses or a link to the page. when he first visited Egypt in 1828. To make Moreover, blog service providers often matters more interesting, Champollion provide tools to update templates in a matter would have been able to syndicate the news of seconds. The possibilities are endless, of his discoveries throughout the Web and the rewards are promising. directly from his Web log. Blogging in librarianship is not new, Today, more than 185 years later, we yet it is still an emerging technology for enjoy a great technological advantage—blogs librarians. Blogs by librarians started to provide us with the appear about two Blogs in Law electronic equivalent of years ago, and they a public journal. Blog, have become more short for Web log, “is a AALL Professional Development and more popular Libraries Web page that serves Program Competencies of Law over time. One of the as a publicly-accessible Librarianship best law library blog Web Logs Offer an personal journal for an 1 Core Competencies examples comes from individual,” according Specialized Competencies the Stark County Electronic Alternative to to Webopedia. 2 Library Management Law Library in Ohio “Typically updated 3 Reference, Research, and Client (http://temp.stark Journals and Newsletters daily, blogs often Services lawlibrary.org/ reflect the personality 4 Information Technology blog/). The blog, 5 Collection Care and Management by Roy Balleste of the author.” 6 Teaching managed by Nancy The term blog can Stinson and Kendel be used as both a noun This article addresses the AALL Specialized Croston, is an The Career Development Task Force, Competencies on Information Technology. The which coordinates the Desktop Learning and verb (he blogs, she complete AALL statement of Competencies excellent illustration Opportunity Series, encourages members to explore is a blogger, I have a of Law Librarianship is online at www.aall of a newsletter for the professional development offerings and blog, etc.). People net.org/prodev/competencies.asp. legal community. opportunities at the local, regional, and national from all walks of life From information levels. We welcome your comments and article use this tool to share about software suggestions. Please contact Phyllis Marion at ideas on diverse topics, thoughts, and programs, such as Time Matter and Amicus 619/525-1429 or [email protected]. personal experiences. “[U]nmonitored, each Attorney, to information about ABA events, blogger is author, editor, and publisher, this blog promises to capture your attention. beholden solely to his or her own whims The information provided is up-to-date and and desires,” wrote Michael Snider in the timely. September 15, 2003, issue of Maclean’s. The following blogs provide more great As we migrate many of our library examples of this medium’s potential for law resources to electronic media, blogs offer an librarians, general librarians, and lawyers: attractive option. Their malleability and LawLibTech (www.lawlibtech.com/) by law functionality make them ideal for use in the librarian Cindy L. Chick; LibrarianInBlack

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a desktop learning opportunity

(www.librarianinblack.net/) by librarian selected service provider and click on the Although you can find other syndication Sarah Faery; Law Related-Knowledge “create an account” button or link. Then, tools different from RSS, the format is “the Aforethought (http://knowledgeafore select a username and password—most most widely used and supported today,” thought.blogs.com/) by lawyer Tom likely the username that you select will according to www.faganfinder.com, an Collins; Excited Utterances (http:// become part of your blog’s URL. Next, fill Internet link compilation site. LiveJournal excitedutterances.blogspot.com/) by in your personal information. After this will offer you the option to add RSS feeds. lawyer Joy London; Leah’s Law Library step, sites like LiveJournal will give you the Blogger, on the other hand, provides a new Weblog (http://radio.weblogs.com/ option to upgrade to a paid account that syndication format called Atom. It is up to 0109773/) by law librarian Leah Sandwell- offers more features; however, your blog you to search and explore your options. Weiss; LisNews.com (http://lisnews.com/) will work perfectly with the free account. by librarian Blake Carver; and The Shifted Once the account is established, Tap into the Tech Generation Librarian (www.theshiftedlibrarian.com/) navigate the site; see what other bloggers If you are you still wondering why you by librarian Jenny Levine. have done and familiarize yourself with the would use a blog, remember that delivery of available tools. An advantage to using a information is our first name and retention Choosing a Provider hosted service is that you are allowed to of patrons is our second name. As You do not need to learn new software or navigate to other blogs and see how they librarians, we know that understanding our have prior designing experience to start a have used the service. Next, begin writing. patrons helps us tailor our services. Blogs blog. For those librarians who do know Select the required option (it is self- can increase visibility to your library and HTML, you have an added advantage and explanatory), choose a title for your posting ultimately your work. Like a newspaper, the potential to customize your blog. (if necessary), and begin to write. For those you will develop a faithful readership— However, avenues exist to customize your librarians with experience using Blackboard maybe even a fan base. And the syndication blog that do not require HTML knowledge. or Twen, you will find that blog tools feature could expand your fan base beyond First, be aware that there are two types are similar and that the navigation is the walls of your library. of blogging services: hosted blogs and comparable. If you prefer the option of When David Winer began his blog, server-based blogs. With hosted blogs, all hard-coding HTML, you will be able to Scripting News, back in 1995, I am sure the tools are prearranged in advance for you do so, but the preview option may not be that he understood the potential of this on the Web. You simply pick a service available with all service providers. Either technology. In 1997 he became the most provider and begin the journey. The server- way, once done, click on the preview button popular blogger. People do read blogs, and based option requires that you purchase the to access your project and, when you’re with proper marketing, their messages can necessary software and provide your own satisfied, submit it. It is that simple! spread throughout the Web. Go ahead, sign maintenance. (For more information on up and blog on! server-based blogs, see “For Further Syndicate Your Blog and Spread Roy Balleste ([email protected]) is head Information” on this page.) This article will the Word of public services at St. Thomas University concentrate on hosted blogs because they Now that you know how to design a blog, Law Library in Miami. are far easier and less expensive to operate. why not spice it up? Syndication, using Several companies offer free blog RSS, could be your ticket. There is no full hosting. The most notable examples are agreement yet as to what RSS stands for. Blogger (www.blogger.com) and “You will see it called RDF Site Summary, For Further Investigation Rich Site Summary, and even Really Simple LiveJournal (www.livejournal.com). Webopedia Syndication,” wrote David Mattison in the JoeUser (www.joeuser.com), DiaryLand www.pcwebopedia.com (www.diaryland.com/), and Electric Diary February 2003 issue of Searcher. The most (www.electricdiary.com) are also g