Summer 2010 The Newsletter of the Legal Division of The Special Libraries Association Volume 17, Number 3 Social Media at Legal Inside Division Programs Social Media at Legal Division by Stephanie Davidson, (@stephdavidson), Head of Public Services & Assistant Programs Professor of Library Administration, University of Illinois College of Law Library, 2010 Stephanie Davidson . 1 Academic Law Librarian Grant Recipient Editor’s Notes Liz Smith . 2 As a new member of SLA and the about programs could be shared Legal Division and a first-time attendee between participants and attendees and From the Board Room Constance Ard . 3 of the SLA annual conference, there even with SLA members and others at were many programs that caught my home. The most interesting example Conference Review: BNA Breakfast and eye before I arrived in New Orleans. I observed during the conference was Legal Division Business Meeting Certainly all of this year’s Legal Division in the 10 AM Tuesday program slot, as Kami Bedard . 4 programs were of interest, though Steve I tweeted from Steve Arnold’s program Conference Review: “SPOTLIGHT Arnold’s “Emerging Technologies: Real- and simultaneously monitored tweets SESSION—Emerging Technologies: Time Search” and the panel on “Law from at least three other sessions. Real-time Search” Librarianship Off the Cuff,” were most Emily Rushing . 6 At the same time Steve Arnold’s “Real applicable to my work and experience Conference Review: “60 Sites in 60 level (“Cases, Codes & Context,” was Time Search” program was being held Minutes” marketed to non-law librarians). in the VirtualU Spotlight Session room Virginia M . Smith . 8 (livecast to registered SLA members), What struck me immediately was the several related programs were being Conference Review: “Law Librarianship Off the Cuff” balance among programs sponsored by held, each with at least one attendee John DiGilio . 9 the Division, in terms of audience level, “live-tweeting” from the audience: composition, and presentation styles. Conference Review: “Cases, Codes And in a nice contrast to the typical • “SLA Hot Topic: Does Taxonomy and Content: An Introduction to Legal Research” programs at other conferences, where Matter in a New World of Search and Tricia Bond Thomas . 9 the library type heavily influences the Discovery?” Presented by Suzanne presentation topic, the presentations DeBell, an SLA HQ conference-wide Conference Review: “SPOTLIGHT SESSION--Nuts and Bolts of Contract featured speakers from a range of event. Management” backgrounds. • “InfoCitizen: Creating and Finding Susan M .Yancey . .10 Value in Online Communities” While the two Legal Division programs International Corner I attended were lively and informative, Presented by Scott Brown and sponsored Letter From Australia they also had thematic connections by the Competitive Intelligence Dennis Warren . 11 Division. to other programs that I found International Corner interesting on another level. Viewing • “Using Social Media for Business Letter From Australia the conference through the lens of Research and Competitive Intelligence” Miz Brmbota, . 12 social media provides an interesting Presented by Andrew Clark and The 2010 SLA Conference in New perspective on topics and issues of Ken Sickles and sponsored by the Orleans: Reflections of A Veteran interest to attendees. With the use Pharmaceutical & Health Technology Librarian of Twitter in particular, information Division. Larry Guthrie . 13 cont . on page 5 cont . on page 2 1 Summer 2010 Editor’s Notes Now that the 2010 SLA conference is over, we can catch up and Legal Division Quarterly is published 4 times a year. We reserve the right to edit for space and clarity. share information about this year’s sessions, the BNA breakfast and Please send submissions to Elizabeth L. Smith, librarianliz@ gmail .com, as an email attachment in Microsoft Word annual business meeting, Legal Division news, and much more. The for Windows, 12-point Times font. Big Easy proved to be all that we hoped for. We fell in love with the Legal Division Quarterly accepts sponsorship of mailing, printing and other services. Inquiries regarding LDQ amazing food, the lively entertainment, and the friendly people. sponsorship or advertising should be sent to Abigail Ellsworth Ross, Keller & Heckman LLP, 1001 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20001; 202/434-4148, ross@khlaw com. Included in this issue of the LDQ is the 2011 slate of Legal Division The Special Libraries Association assumes no respon si­­ bility for the statements and opinions advanced by the candidates. The division will deliver electronic ballots on October contributors to its publications. Editorial views do not necessarily represent the official position of the Special 13 so be sure to vote! Libraries Association. Acceptance of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product by the Special Libraries Association. I thank those of you who volunteered to review a session. Thanks also to our regular contributing authors for preparing their columns in spite of the distraction of the conference. Please send me any news, articles, photos, opinions, and suggestions for future issues of LDQ. Liz Smith Liz Smith, Editor Inside cont . from page 1 Let the Good Times Roll! Loyita Worley . 15 Full Disclosure: Get to Know a Legal MISSION STATEMENT Division Member! The Legal Division intends to play a leading role in SLA as it becomes the premier association of Tracy Z . Maleeff . 17 the library world. Our profession is our central focus and our activities will promote professional development and competence. “Opinion is cheap, but news is expensive ”. The 2010 SLA JOIN THE LEGAL DIVISION LISTSERV Conference in New Orleans Send a message to sla-dleg@sla lyris. net. In the message type: subscribe sla-law yourname. One of the David Ogden . .18 uses of this listserv is Division business. You will not be inundated with messages. Please subscribe. Experiencing the Big Easy from a SLA First-time Attendee LDQ CONTRIBUTORS Grace Rosales . 19 Anne Abate Martha Foote Constance Ard Jill Gray Archives Volunteer Receives Miroslav Brmbota Tracy Z. Maleef Suzanne Castroman Josephine Murfey Materials Susan Catterall Dennis Warren Anne Abate . 21 Charlene Cunniffe Barbara Folensbee-Moore Meet Your Candidates for the 2011 Legal Division Board of Directors EDITOR . 21 Elizabeth L. Smith Photos courtesy of Virginia M. Smith. 2 Summer 2010 From the Board Room by Constance Ard, Answer Maven (http://www.answermaven.com), 2010 Division Chair As I sit here writing this a thunderstorm has come • Professional Development is focusing on offering through and cooled down the 90-degree plus regional or virtual programs to our members. weather reminiscent of my time just last month in New Orleans. What a great time it was. Our We are lucky to have great leaders who are programs were popular and despite continually moving these efforts forward. In fact, a survey was asking for a larger room each year Gayle Lynn- recently sent out seeking member input to move Nelson and John DiGilio’s “60 Sites in 60 Minutes” the communications’ plans forward. And in May, was over capacity. But have no fears because next Jill Strand and her committee with the support year this popular program will be a spotlight session of the Practical Law Company, hosted the first in a ballroom with room for all. virtual webinar for our members. Over 100 of you attended! These efforts and others will enhance the Our members and presenters were great about value of your SLA and Legal Division membership. getting the word out about our programs in the Twitter stream with the #slalegal handle. Our In truth, the need for these and other iniatives that Spotlight Emerging Technologies presenter, Stephen bring strong value to our members was evident E. Arnold, brought the virtual conference attendees as we looked around and missed many of our right into the room during his Real-Time Search colleagues both at the programs and the open presentation. And by the way, if you missed this houses. Attendance was down, jobs are still being presentation either virtually or in person you can sought, and division members are required to read a recap of it on his weblog, Beyond Search provide value back to their supporting institutions (http://arnoldit.com/wordpress/). in a demonstrable manner. As your Chair, I am acutely aware of the need for our members to Our Unconference, organized by Sarah Glassmeyer, receive applicable value for their participation in was a great engaging conversation that allowed the division and the organization as a whole. the attendees to direct the topics. All in all, Linda Dunton and I were proud parents of the 2010 In fact, the organization as a whole is focused on SLA Legal Division programs. Our award winners bringing value to members despite the challenge of remained active throughout the conference and decreased revenue and the related consequences. you will hear from many of them about their SLA Treasurer Dan Trefethen did a great job of experiences in this issue of the LDQ. delivering bad news in a constructive way. You can see Mr. Trefethen, SLA CEO Janice LaChance, Our 17th annual BNA breakfast was, as always, a and SLA President Anne Caputo’s comments at the great venue for our business meeting and I can’t following URLs: thank Michael Bernier enough for all of the work he did in preparing for the event. It was during this • Dan Trefethen (http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/ meeting that I was able to share with our members governance/bodsection/ceocorner/10speeches/ in person some of the great things our officers and 061610treasurer.cfm) committee chairs are doing. I emphasized a few of the many things that are happening in the division • Janice Lachance (http://www.sla.org/content/ mainly because they are the focus of my term as SLA/governance/bodsection/ceocorner/10speec chair, including: hes/061610SLA2010.cfm) • Ad Hoc Communications Committee is working • Anne Caputo (http://www.sla.org/content/SLA to redesign our website and enhance our governance/bodsection/ceocorner/10speeches/ communication methods.