Law Librarian Blog

"The Girl in the Photo" Enters...

"the elusive world of paralegaldom." Stina McClintock has left King County Law Library (Seattle) to become a paralegal! In an email to me she wrote in her usual tongue-in-cheek fashion:

"God help me and what I am about to encounter. I guess I will now be the person on the other side of the [reference] desk, asking for help and then trying to cobble something workable from the resources provided."

The law library community learned about Stina when she was featured in the above AALL award winning photo. Catching my attention (judicial notice duly taken by my long-suffering wife, Lynette), Stina agreed to join this blog where she chronicled her life and times as a law library support staffer and her love of beer (drinking, brewing and judging brew contests), stiletto heels, and Noah Wyle in her A View from the Stacks column.

What is paralegadom's gain surely is the law library community's loss but rumors are circulating that Stina will be doing guest spots for King County Law Library podcasts as the beer critic so all is not lost. Hopefully she will drop us a line once in awhile too. Middle-age men like to receive emails from a half-their-age razor-sharp blond who likes loves to wear stiletto pumps to work. (Oy, I hear the mouse clicks of sexist remark emails heading for my mailbox...but there won't be one from Stina folks, she has a sense of humor.)

Good luck Stina! Even Lynette is going to miss you. [JH]

A View from the Stacks: Hey, Beer's Important!

Stina McClintock writes to apologize for not being able to post recently. In addition to helping keep her law library, King County Law Library (Seattle) up and running while others take their summer vacations (she's almost out of vacation time), Stina has been consulting a brewery in crisis. Hey, beer's important! Here's the workforce problems she faced at the brewery and her solution for them. As you will see, brewery executives implemented her recommendations. Great job, Stina! [JH]

A View from the Stacks: Stina Reads Me the Riot Act

In response to my Day in the Life photo spoof, Stina McClintock emailed me her critique:

"The mark of a fine parody is attention to detail.  For example, in the recent South Park episode concerning “snukes” the references to 24 were spot on, right down to the ring tone that they used for the cell phones.  I say all this because I wonder “Why is it so hard to put on some heels and stand on a step stool?  Do it right people!”  Actually, I am more concerned that people do not believe this is how I shelve.  Maybe I will make a Quicktime video and upload it to YouTube so everyone can see my work in action.  The leg lift is necessary to balance out the heel height.  If I kept both feet flat, there is no telling what might happen."

Unfortunately, I do not own a pair of stiletto heels but, even if I did, I wouldn't have been able to wear them for the photo shoot. I was holding the stacks for dear life because my bad knee couldn't support my ... ah ... the 60 pounds I've gained since

1. marriage;
2. aging metabolism;
3. living in a state where potatoes are a main course for breakfast, lunch and dinner;
4. all of the above.

I'm just glad Stina didn't ask me why I wasn't wearing a manssiere!

Now, about that video Stina. [JH]

A View from the Stacks: Diners and Doggies and Beer

Oh my.

Politics here in the “other Washington” are oftentimes (dare I say it?) pretty amusing.  From a state senator who routinely calls for the splitting of the state right down the Cascade Mountain range [here and here] and creating two new states, to initiative sponsors who show up on the steps of the state capitol dressed as Darth Vader  [here], the local news does not go for wanting when it comes to quirky political stories.

And while each state has their own funny moments in political history, how many states can claim that they may soon pass legislation to allow dogs to go to restaurants and bars with their owners? [here] 

I was going to write about this legislation a while ago, seeing that it covers two of my most favorite things: beer and puppies.  But I figured this was a short-lived, will die in committee type of bill and that I shouldn’t get my hopes up that I will soon be able to bring my most trusted friend Fido to the bar.  On the face of it, the idea seems so nice.  Never have I heard about a dog getting drunk at a bar and starting a fight.  Gone would be the days that you take a book to your dining destination and pretend to read it so it does not look so blatantly obvious that you are dining alone.  Ever lament about the fact that you want to go out, but you have no one to go with?  Well, that tail-wagging companion of yours can now accompany you.

Of course, Washington State has many more serious problems facing it that make the topic of dogs going along with their owners to eating destinations seem downright ridiculous.  And I totally understand those people who do not want dogs in bars because of hair/poo/barking/teeth.  And I will not even broach the topic of kids vs. dogs but allow the Seattle P-I article and accompanying “Sound-Off” section to speak for itself.  What I will say, however, is that the law and legislature of this great state never seems to disappoint when it comes to the topic of “offbeat news.”

And if you were curious, if I had a dog, I would totally take it to the bar with me.  I just wish that they would serve doggy beer to go along with mine. [here]

A View from the Stacks: The Perfect Storm…

…of celebrity-gossip-news.

It is no secret among those who know me that I am a fan of Vicki Lynn Marshall, a.ka. Anna Nicole Smith, so it goes without saying that this has been a rough couple of days for me.

Gossip blogs and rumors aside, the death of Anna Nicole is more of a story then a People Magazine headline because it begs the question of where certain legal proceedings will now end up.  Anna Nicole was embroiled in a nasty court case concerning the estate of her late husband.  With the birth of her daughter Dannielynn, you can also add a pending paternity suit that promises to be more salacious than anything that Law & Order could dream up (as I type this, I am convinced that next week’s advertisements for L&O will feature this story…).  And, of course, there are some pretty serious questions surrounding her cause of death and the Internets are all abuzz with conspiracy theories.

The lawyers on every side of these matters have expressed their deepest sympathies for the family of Anna Nicole.  They are also positioning themselves in a manner that leads me to believe that the legacy of Anna Nicole’s life will not be on her modeling or reality show, but on the gross amount of legal fees that she can amass posthumously.   

So why should you care?

Truthfully, I have no answer to that question, but since I get to write an entry every now and again for this blog, I figured I should take advantage of the space and pay some last respects to Anna.  Anyone who can simultaneously charm Supreme Court Justices and show up to award shows semi-coherent has my attention, especially when that person appears to be the underdog existing on borrowed time.  While the death on Anna Nicole Smith is shocking, there is a certain feeling that this is no surprise at all.

Now, let the legal games begin.

R.I.P.

Stina McClintock, Library Technician, King County Law Library (Seattle) and Beer Judge (BJCP)

Editor's Note: Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog is covering the estate issues. [JH]

A View from the Stacks: Jennifer Lopez Needs to Call Me

This last week, I was lucky enough to come down with a cold.  It was one of those nose- runny-and-then-plugged-and-then-runny-again type colds that left me with no other choice then to stay home and heavily medicate myself.  This description of my cold is necessary so you can all understand my mind set when I came to the following conclusion: librarians need a reality show.

While home, I was (un)fortunate enough to watch roughly 30 hours of television.  And of these 30 hours, 15 were spent watching MTV’s “Monday Night Encore” of shows, including the new reality show produced by Jennifer Lopez.  (For those of you who do not know who Jennifer Lopez is, well…this is the kind of situation where Google comes in handy.)  The show itself is about dancers and their experiences in the rough and tumble world of Los Angeles.  I have nothing in common with these people (with the exception of appreciating finely groomed facial hair) but I watched reruns of this program at least 4 times, each time more captivated then the last.

I believe the combination of flashy camera work and an overdose of cough medicine may be part of the reason that I sat there enthralled with this program, but I also think that this show embodies a very critical feature to reality TV: high production value with an over-the-top soundtrack.  At times, I was not sure if I was watching a reality show or a movie about dancers.  And the manufactured tension between the different personalities was brilliant.  This got me thinking about the format for a reality show featuring librarians.

First off, I believe the opening sequence would have to feature a librarian shelving to AC/DC’s “Back in Black.”  There would have to be a story line featuring a “new-comer” to the world of libraries, who faces off against someone established and who resents this “new-comer’s” approach.  And the library would come equipped with a confessional, where both staff and patrons could tell the viewers how they are feeling at any given moment.  I have not quite figured out how to make filing sexy, but here is where the soundtrack would come in handy.  And the technician could look sad, like they are reflecting on something in their life at that moment that is bringing them down.  Foreshadowing a future confessional, perhaps?

I am putting this idea out there because I believe that pretty much every other reality show has been done (does anyone else remember Fox’s The Will?) so now is the time to shine the light (and cameras)  on the hallowed halls of knowledge.  Of course, this idea might only seem like a good idea because I am still on cough medicine, but isn’t that how they got the idea for Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire?

Stina McClintock, Library Technician, King County Law Library (Seattle) and Beer Judge (BJCP)

A View from the Stacks: If you hit that bell one more time…

I have a theory about service bells:  when a person sees a service bell, they are almost certainly compelled to ring the service bell.  This is the case no matter what the circumstances of the situation, including life and limb.

This theory was developed in the most scientific method of ways.  My hypothesis was born one afternoon while on the reference desk.   I got to thinking that even after making eye contact with me, a person would still ring the bell in order to get my attention.  Of course, my null hypothesis was that this would not be the case.  After an exhausting hour (hour!) of data collection, I determined that my hypothesis is correct.  People love to hit the damn service bell, even if I happened to be two feet in front of them.  (I am excluding children from this data set since I believe that the shiny nature of a service bell is like a beacon to the under 9 years of age crowd).

To make matters a little more annoying, these same people have the utmost look of satisfaction after hitting the bell that leaves me slightly uncomfortable.  Why so smug?  It is not as though you have outsmarted me with your invisible ways and I only can now see you once the bell has been rung.  Chances are, I saw you and was about to get up when you hit that bell (My apologies to anyone who can only become visible after ringing a service bell). 

Because I do not want to leave anyone with the impression that I am just complaining about an issue to complain, I polled the other employees here at my workplace, and of those asked, 50% said they hated the bell and 50% said there needed to be a buffer time between when a person arrives at the reference desk and when they can ring the bell.  This has led me to the conclusion that the bell is a serious issue of workplace morale. What can be done to balance the use of the service bell with the sanity of the service provider?

Since I am more of a decider than a whiner, I wanted to take this opportunity to ask you all, in the New Year, to resolve to ignore the bell more often.  Please only hit the bell if you cannot see anyone behind the desk.  This is why the bell has been made available.  Think about a service bell like you think about Ben Affleck: only in moderation.

Stina McClintock, Library Technician, King County Law Library (Seattle) and Beer Judge (BJCP)

A View from the Stacks: Happy Holidays!

With the Holidays approaching with such speed that I am beginning to wonder if I was just in denial of this time of year, I just want to take am moment to wish you all a Happy Holiday and New Year.  With that in mind, I raise a glass of the finest Old Ale to all of you and thank you for reading my somewhat rambling thoughts throughout the year.  I look forward to writing more in 2007.

Cheers!  Stina

P.S.  Rita K. would kill me if I didn’t remind everyone to listen to our podcast. http://www.kcll.org/aboutus/publications/podcasts/  There should be a new one up by the end of this week featuring a classic Holiday tale re-mastered to address the complexities of Estate Planning.

Stina McClintock, Library Technician, King County Law Library (Seattle) and Beer Judge (BJCP)

Editor's Note: Stina has entertained and enlighted readers of the blog all year. This link will take you to a complete listing of her posts, all worthy of "best of..." status for wit and wisdom. [JH]

A View from the Stacks: Noah Wyle is back!

The library was all a-buzz this week about two things:  snow closures for 1 inch of snow in Seattle and The Librarian: Return to King Solomon’s Mine.

That is right, my old nemesis, Noah Wyle is back.  This time he is making librarians look like martial-art, weapons wielding archeologists.  Again!  (Isn’t this Harrison Ford’s gig?)  At the time of writing, the movie has yet to premiere on TNT, but I am willing to bet that it will be played in heavy rotation for the next few weeks, giving you all ample opportunity to check out Mr. Wyle’s wily ways.  Say that three times fast.

Since I have not seen it, I cannot comment on the actual merits of the made-for-TV film.  I liked the first movie and I figure the second movie will be fairly similar.  What I can comment on, though, is how to throw a “That Librarian-ER Guy is Back on TNT” movie party for all your friends that are not working in a library and thus do not feel any need to watch the film with as much reverence as one may wish.  If you will indulge me for a second, I would like to channel my inner Martha Stewart (more like Rachael Ray, but a little bit lazier and less perky) and suggest some tips for throwing one awesome viewing party.

First off, you need a TV with cable.  I would recommend that this be the time to convince your other household inhabitants that a new TV would be ideal.  Something nice, like a 56” flat screen with HDTV and the ability to auto-swivel should do the trick.  The TV should be placed in front of a wide variety of seating to accommodate all your guests.  I would also recommend that you buy some extra throw pillows.  Just because Pottery Barn has some very nice throw pillows right now.

Second, you need some snacks.  All snacks should have some sort of library theme:  cookies cut into shapes of books, pocket-part pita sandwiches and potato chips (pour the chips into a bowl because you do not want the sound of the chip bag to distract viewers).  Make sure to pair all of your snacks with the appropriate beer.  No wine at the venture.  It is either beer or water.  Be a stickler about this.  I would recommend anything pale in color with a nice hop for the movie and then maybe a nice holiday-ale inspired dessert beer.  In fact, if you can get your hands on some chocolate stout, you can make some nice stout floats after the movie and use that time to discuss, decompress and dissect the themes of the show.  I can write a whole homage to the topic of chocolate beers.  Thanks to you brewers for chocolate beer!

Finally, make a note on your invitations that people are to come dressed in their “library finest.”  This will make for an interesting social science experiment because it will tell you how your friends view librarians.  Are they working a stereotype?  Did they come in pajamas and slippers?  Instantly, you have provided cocktail hour conversation which will enhance the after show discussion.  Extra points will be awarded to anyone that wears stilettos.  That includes men.

Overall, you should have fun with this party and relax.  No decorations are really necessary.  You could always “borrow” a date stamp for the evening, but with a TV and some beer, you should satisfy everyone.

Full disclosure:  I think Noah Wyle is great.  No George Clooney…but a fine actor.

Stina McClintock, Library Technician, King County Law Library (Seattle) and Beer Judge (BJCP)

A View from the Stacks: I go to a chapter meeting smiling and leave concerned for my professional future

You know those people who go to meetings and make everyone look bad by speaking about a certain topic with great umbrage and eloquence?  I am not one of those people.  I would not go so far as to say I despise those people, but after attending (and speaking) at a meeting for the local chapter of law librarians this last week, I am very jealous of those who can walk into a room and leave without being concerned that they have made an utter fool of themselves.

Last week, I took part in a panel discussion on the topic of generational differences in librarianship.  My friend Robyn, who was organizing the panel, and who I have more respect and adoration for than she will ever know, asked me if I would be interested in speaking on behalf of the technician portion of the librarian profession.  I was both there as a non-librarian, as well as a person from the “Generation Y” age group.  I was also in the company of a panel of speakers who were highly esteemed and who could string together words in a much more coherent manner than me.  Oh, and they were also not shaking like I was out of nervousness.  Tip for those who get nervous speaking in front of people:  Never, ever, pick up a can of Diet Coke and try and drink from it if your hands are shaking. 

In all honesty, I have blown the whole thing out of proportion in my head.  But, after telling the audience that I don’t like job feedback (full disclosure:  I really do like to know what people think of me personally.  I just don’t like having to talk about projects ad nauseum) and that South Park is the one movie that I believe defines my generation, I began to wonder if I had gone about this meeting all wrong.  This was my “debut” into the world of panel discussions and I had, in my opinion, blown everything by being a little too, um…blunt?

Or perhaps I should say that I was not polished.  There was a time in my life where I was quite comfortable talking in front of groups.  Of course, this was when I was in Mr. Harrison’s fourth grade classroom and I got to present on my findings of paper mache volcanoes.  With delight and a knowing smirk, I wowed my fourth grade peers by showing them the amazing combination of baking soda and vinegar at work.  Looking back, this may have been the peak of my public speaking career. 

Strangely, even after the feeling of dread I had that day leaving the conference room, I would gladly agree to speak again.  I think that may be the one way to get over both the stage fright, as well as learn how to be one of those eloquent folks who are so articulate in their statements.  However, the next time (if there is a next time) I am going to request a straw for my Diet Coke.  It will be just one less thing to worry about.

Stina McClintock, Library Technician, King County Law Library (Seattle) and Beer Judge (BJCP)

Editor's Note: ... the joys of being perceived as being blunt. Been there, still there. [JH]

A View from the Stacks: If Technicians Gave Library Tours

I have this fantasy that involves me giving tours of the CIA Headquarters.  I have no idea why.  No, actually, I do.  You know when you see a movie (most likely adapted from a Tom Clancy novel) or the TV show Alias and they inevitably show the “look we really did shoot this in Langley because we are showing you the huge seal on the floor that reads Central Intelligence Agency” scene that is supposed to impart a great deal of significance to the rest of the story?  Yep, I want to show and highlight that seal to people in between saying “We’re walking, we’re walking.  Please stop and look to you left now.”

But, I work in a law library.  We do not see much espionage here.  But, I do like to think about what I would highlight in my library if I had to give a tour.  On occasion, we have groups of people who request tours of our space, either out of curiosity or because they are from a legal research class.  People show up, mill around and then ask to be given a tour, at which point I demure and find a reference librarian.  I am not sure if it is because I don’t feel qualified to give tours or if I am just not wearing comfortable footwear, but every time I have been asked about tours, I do not volunteer myself to take them around the library.  This is odd, because here would be my chance to live out my dream of giving tours, albeit without a big seal on the floor to highlight.

So what would I highlight should I ever actually agree to give a guided tour of the library?  Well, I would like to say that I would point out the technology that we have to compliment our book collection.  I might even stop and explain how our space has changed throughout the years due to changing needs, being moved from our space for renovation, etc.  And, of course, our view of Puget Sound is pretty impressive.

However, I think a worthwhile feature of any library tour might be showing folks what a pocket part is and how to insert them into the back of a book.  Also, I might express myself through a quick diatribe on the topic of weekly filing in overstuffed binders.  Oh, and I would be remiss in not mentioning that reshelving your books in any old place is highly frowned upon.  Perhaps the tour could even engage in a little hands on exercise by filing a loose-leaf service so they can see what “updating” really involves.  I would probably conclude the tour by talking about some of our more exciting patron transactions (and any celebrity gossip that might seem relevant).

In the meantime, I will continue to watch The Sum of All Fears and spend my time planning the installment of a large seal with a book and gavel on it that reads “King County Law Library” for the library.  I wonder if I can make budget requests?

Stina McClintock, Library Technician, King County Law Library (Seattle) and Beer Judge (BJCP)

Editor's Note: "Consensus facit legem" is not the motto of the King County Law Library. And the above seal is not the official seal of the King County Law Library.  I added the motto to this playful little graphic as a timely reminder of the upcoming elections. The Latin phrase means "consent makes the law" as in if two persons make an agreement in good faith and with full knowledge, the law will insist on its being carried out. In political theory, consensus facit legem represents a foundation myth for republican forms of government, one that legitimizes peaceful and orderly elections and and not so peaceful nor orderly revolutions. Our Bill of Rights originates in the recognition that consensus facit legem does not protect the rights of minorities and individuals from the tyranny of the majority. [JH]

A View from the Stacks: Stina Lets Rita K Talk – As If She Could Stop Her

Stina told me (Rita K) that I could be a guest blogger and write her entry this week. Now, if you have read her blog previously, you know I work with her and enjoy her quick wit and excellent reference skills and that I don’t care whether she is a “real” librarian or not.  When she gets her union card – that is, her Masters in Library and Information Sciences, she will make some library a great reference librarian. And while she can certainly sew and judge beer – I think she even knits – those things don’t define her. She is a brilliant young woman who will be a terrific librarian!

I asked her if I could guest blog because I want to do more promotion for our podcast, KCLL’s Sidebar. An ulterior motive, I know, but the more publicity we get, the more people might even listen to the podcast. My original purpose for starting a podcast was to find another way to disseminate information on how to do legal research, about how we can help those with legal questions, and to address those auditory learners out there. Of course, I also just want to learn new skills – I love learning and always have. I think we quit growing when we stop learning.

Today we received a message from a law library in New Zealand, telling us that they had listened to our podcast and had enjoyed it. And Jim Milles of “Check This Out” fame has offered to do a promo for us. Jim, I haven’t got it yet – hope you are still planning to do it! A nephew of one of our librarians listened to the podcast and said it was a snore, but I doubt if we will ever really appeal to those aficionados who expect exciting entertainment from a podcast.

We will continue to run Stina’s beer reviews, will try to include comic segments from time to time, and answer interesting reference questions we receive. We know that ultimately the appeal of our podcast will be limited to fellow librarians who teach the public, to those few public patrons who are comfortable with techy toys, Stina’s Mom, and my spouse.  We expect to have our second episode posted in a couple of weeks. You can subscribe to it through iTunes, find us on Feedburner, and access us at our web site at www.kcll.org. Tune in and listen.

Rita Kaiser, Reference Services Librarian, King County Law Library

A View from the Stacks: My Day of Civic Duty

I had seriously considered writing ANOTHER blog entry about podcasts this week.  However, out of concern that I would soon be classified as a “one-trick pony”, I am departing from the usual discourse of podcasts and my CCH filing to highlight something a little different.

In an effort to make a few extra dollars this last week, I decided to work at a polling place near my house for the Washington State Primary Elections.  The story I am about to tell is about overcoming the unthinkable:  sitting in a Middle School Gymnasium for 16 hours with one magazine and sewing machine instruction book.

Despite attending one four-hour training session, I was not prepared for a day of aiding voters.  I was not even prepared for a half-day of aiding voters.  This, by the way, was not the trainer’s fault.  For some reason, I thought that between individuals needing ballots and those individuals using the new Accessible-Voting Units, I would be busy enough to only get through my thick new issue of In Style (in all fairness, the magazine weighed about 50 lbs.) and maybe glance over the instruction booklet that went along with my sewing machine.  Why I was reading this booklet is a story for another day but it involves nearly electrocuting myself.

When I showed up to the gymnasium, everything needed to set up for the day was set out and ready for assembly.  But since it was 5:45 in the morning, some of us were still moving a little slow.  By 7 AM, when the polls opened, we had just barely finished with all our set-up.  We even had a line!  I thought that this was a sign that turn out might be more than the 20% projected by some on the morning news and that we would be in for a busy day.

I worked at the provisional ballot table because I thought that would be the place that would stay the busiest.  I have absolutely no idea why I assumed this, but for some reason, visions of hanging chads and angry voters made me shy away from the general ballot tables (full disclosure:  the ballots used did not involve chads and that made me a little sad.)  Plus, I leave my house all the time without my ID, so I figured that other people like me might try to vote and need a provisional ballot. 

It was not a busy day.  By 10:00 that night, we had not seen that many people.  Like me, most of my precinct’s voters had probably mailed in their ballots the previous week.   But, and in despite of my complaining, I am glad that I saw the process of voting from beginning to end.  Especially since my lack of reading materials forced me to really read through my Poll Worker Manual and get acquainted with the laws surrounding Washington Elections.  I was even able to transfer some of this new-found knowledge into an upcoming podcast script.

There is one thing though; you don’t get to keep the “Vote Here” button.

Stina McClintock, Library Technician, King County Law Library (Seattle) and Beer Judge (BJCP)

A View from the Stacks: My Very Last Entry on Podcasting…

…until the next time I blog about podcasting (so maybe two weeks).

When I last left you all, I had just finished telling my story of woe regarding the process of recording our very first podcast here at King  County Law Library.

I am happy to announce that we have made great strides since that last blog entry.  So great, in fact, that we may even reach out target time goal of pushing out a show by the end of September.  Actually, I feel confident in the fact that we will reach our time goal, barring laryngitis of the entire staff or somebody stealing the microphone from our workplace and living out their American Idol dreams at home.  Not only do we have a very solid idea of what we want to talk about in our first show, but we have also figured out, with minimal profanity used, how to record ourselves and convert those files into MP3 files.  In fact, I know we are on the road to success because we have even come to agreement on the most vital aspect of the entire project: a title.

If you think back to the last time you wrote something, did you struggle with the title?  If so, capture that feeling of struggle and amplify it with the fact that you have to convince 7 other people that whatever title you come up with is a good title.  This situation is similar to what happened here in the library.  Not that we had knock-down, drag-out fights over the title, but there were some very strong opinions as to what worked and as to what definitely did not work (I still think An Earful for the Esquires was brilliant and will someday be recognized as such).

In fact, choosing a title was almost as difficult as choosing some music to fill time and create transitions throughout our show.  I was and still am surprised about the fact that these details are the ones that cause the most conversation.  I thought for sure that content development would be a key conversation, but the actual substance of the show is proving to be easy to develop (or at least not controversial.  However, I have been told that lovingly mentioning my favorite brands of beer in a shameless attempt to get free beer is not allowed).  By the end of this last week, we had enough ideas floating around for quite a few programs.  However, we are still not sure on the music and may end up having to draw the name of a song out of a hat.

Oh, and if you are curious, the title is Sidebar.  And Rick gets all the credit form coming up with it.

P.S.  In an effort to boost my beer street-cred, I just want to let you all know that we are now entering that special time of year when breweries begin brewing the best beer of the year, pumpkin ale.  If you have not tried it, don’t be scared.  Imagine everything good about beer and everything tasty about pumpkin pie and mix them together.  And if you live somewhere that does not have pumpkin ale, well…fall is always a nice time for a road-trip.

Editor's Note: Is it just me or do you also get thirsty every time Stina says "beer"?

If you can't to make it to Seattle to hoist a stein of Stina's Pumpkin Ale, I recommend you head for Schafly's in St. Louis. Schafly's will feature its Pumpkin Ale at its annual "Hops in the City" on September 16, 2006 at the Schafly Tap Room. Hurry up and purchase your tickets online.

Of course the best way to drink beer, almost any beer, is in a "I (heart) my law library" stein. And I just happen to know where you can buy one! [JH]

A View from the Stacks: How Do You Cast A Podcast? (Part Deux)

A while back, I mentioned that King County Law Library was working toward producing a semi-regular podcast for our website. 

Well, this past Saturday, Rita Kaiser (the brain-trust behind this whole project) and I decided to take this project by the horns and record some content.  This is the conversation, verbatim, on the process of recording:

Rita:  “Press ‘M’ to turn on.  Why isn’t it turning on?”
Stina:  “I don’t know, it says press ‘M’ to turn on.”
Rita:  “Well, it is not turning on.  Is there a battery in here?  Where is the battery?”
Stina:  “On the back?  Wait, it just turned on.”
Rita:  “How?”
Stina:  “I think you pressed the button below.”
Rita:   “Well, that is dumb.  That is not the ‘M’ button.”

And so it went, for about three hours, a conversation that, in itself, was podcast worthy.  Finally, we stopped reading the directions and just looked at the pictures (much like the directions that come with IKEA furniture that needs to be assembled).  Thankfully, after threatening to throw the recorder across the room, we had enough of an introduction recorded to warrant some editing and music.

Oh, and on the topic of music for a podcast…there seems to be a large amount of music out there to choose from, but not a lot of music that works as a viable choice.

By the end of the day this past Saturday, Rita had edited my words (I said “you guys” which is a particularly nasty habit of mine that has been years in the breaking) and made our very first segment of our very first podcast.  We listened to it, both proud of our efforts.  Rita lauded our initial attempts, and then told me that we needed to re-record the entire introduction as soon as possible.

Never have I given proper credit to radio-personalities, or folks who have existing podcasts.  I would like to take this moment to say “hats off.”  It is hard to listen to yourself read from a script, even harder to try and sound like you are not reading from a script, and almost impossible to sound relaxed while making a conscience effort to be relaxed.  Maybe after we have been recording these podcasts for a few months (or years) we will have a handle on pacing and the tone of our voices. 

In the meantime, we have successfully put together (after about 6 hours of time) a good seven minute show that may, someday, make its way to our website.

After it has been re-recorded, of course.

Stina McClintock, Library Technician, King County Law Library (Seattle) and Beer Judge (BJCP)

Editor's Note: Stina has used the word "beer" twenty times in her posts, more than any contributor to the Law Professor Blogs Network. I am certain that if Stina podcasts about beer or while drinking a beer or both, the King County Law Library podcasts will move forward at a very lively pace and replace Check This Out! as the most popular law library/law librarian-related podcast site on the net. Sorry, Jim. You're good, very good, but you're no Stina! [JH]

A View from the Stacks: Can I Speak to a Reference Librarian?

I will never forget the first Saturday that I worked here at King County Law Library.  First off, the day was cold and snowing.  Now, in Seattle, any amount of snow equals an automatic “don’t come to work today” card.  The fact that the courthouse stayed open was pretty amazing to me (and, frankly, disappointing.  What about our institutional snow days?).  This, however, was not what stands out as the most memorable thing on that Saturday.  The reason I will never forget my first Saturday in a law library is because I have never felt like more of an idiot in my life on this day.

Maybe I am not giving myself enough credit.  Idiot is a bit harsh of a word.  Maybe what I should say is that I was wholly unprepared for the questions that I was going to have to answer.  That Saturday, I was here with one other person and we were both assigned to the desk.  And here at King County, all of us are expected to answer reference questions.  In fact, it was not until later on in my career here that I was told that our approach to non-librarians working the reference desk was a bit unusual.  Needless to say, that Saturday, I learned many valuable lessons.  For example, who knew that lawyers (and the law) embraced the acronym with such affection?   

I mention all this because I am here, four years later, working on a Saturday and I am having a hard time remembering why I was so scared of being on the reference desk.  In fact, one of the things I enjoy most about my job is the variety of questions that I receive throughout the day.  Unlike filing, working reference is never the same from day-to-day.  That the librarians allow us technicians to answer in-person questions, as well as email and online chat questions, provides a unique, and often welcome, alternative to our traditional duties.   

In addition to all the knowledge I have gained by working reference, I have also witnessed how the business of reference is changing.  It used to be that our questions came in the form of in-person inquiries, or over the phone.  More and more, people are logging on to our online chat and using our email services as a mode of asking questions.  This has forced us to look to the Internet as a tool of providing service, since these questions sometimes come from folks who live nowhere near a law library (or did not know that law libraries exist). 

But, working in a library that allows non-librarians to work on the reference desk can often be a double edged sword.  As a non-librarian, some people do not believe that I am able to answer their questions (even if the question is “Do you have Scott on Trusts?”).  This, on some days, can bother the best of us.  I cannot count the number of times I have felt the need to explain that I will try my best to answer the questions presented to me, even if I am not a librarian.  I completely understand why people would want to speak to a reference librarian about their issue (especially since having a master’s degree trumps my beer certification any day).  And sometimes I am grateful to pass on questions to the librarians so I can continue checking in the mail.

But, when I think back to my first Saturday here at the library, I am proud of how much I have learned.  I believe that schooling can teach you so much, but working reference is one of those “baptism by fire” things that you can only get better at by doing on a daily basis.  And luckily for me, I work in a place that allows me, even without the paper-work, to get my fill of experience.

Stina McClintock, Library Technician, King County Law Library (Seattle)

Editor's Note: I can remember being the only person working on Saturdays at the University of Chicago Law Library when I was attending library school. I don't recall anyone asking if we had Scott on Trusts but I do remember feeling like the village idiot every time I have to answer one prof's question "do you have my mail sorted?" in the negative. Of course, he would just stand there while I dove into the mailing frantically looking for his. That prof now sits on the US Supreme Court. Reflecting on my life, I've been thinking I might have "Here lies the village idiot who sorted Justice Scalia's mail" etched on my tombstone. [JH]

A View from the Stacks: Can We Rearrange The Library By Color?

Every once in a while, I find myself trying to answer a question about the library world that leaves the questioner more confused and myself a bit frustrated.  Such was a time last Saturday night, when I tried to explain why my library chooses to use Library of Congress call numbers as a means of organization.  Of course, this was nothing like the time that I erroneously explained the library catalog as a system of tubes, but I digress…

Last Saturday night, the temperature was still hovering around 80 degrees when my boyfriend and I were sitting in a club enjoying an extremely cold beer.  (I feel the need to set this story up this way so you can all understand how a light conversation can turn so ugly, so quickly.)  My boyfriend works at amazon.com, and we had somehow gotten on the topic of the amazon.com warehouse where all my goods live before making their way to my home after purchase.  I wondered aloud “how do you organize all that mess?” 

And so it began.

While there may be an infinite number of ways to organize things (I, for example, have all my spices arranged by amount of use, not alphabetically), I had never considered organizing sections of the library by color (for example) as a viable option. When I first started working in a law library, well over 4 years ago, we had stacks arranged by topic, but not necessarily in call number order.  It worked for those who knew the library well, but could be confusing to those who stopped by for a one time use.  When the library was displaced for a period of over a year due to a building remodel, the decision was made to rearrange the books by call number order and do away with “satellite sections” when we moved back to our original space.

But, on that hot Saturday night, my boyfriend did wonder aloud why organizing a library by color was not a viable option. By the end of the conversation, I had been accused of being “defensive” and he was on the hunt for another cold beer.  While he was away from the table, I ran through my reasoning (consistency, ease of shelving, and universal appeal of the Library of Congress call numbers) and realized that I should have entertained his questions with a little more seriousness.  Who is to say that one system is any better than another?  Certainly not me, who enjoys color coding my closet in reverse rainbow order, despite the obvious confusion of having your pants and shirts spread out all over the place.

Later on, while walking home, I did concede that I was not completely sure why libraries choose one system of organization over another.  This, I am hoping, will be something that I learn in library school.  If anything, this knowledge will allow me to be better prepared for late Saturday-night discussions about library systems.  This knowledge may also prevent me from sounding (on those rare occasions) defensive to people around me.

Stina McClintock, Library Technician, King County Law Library (Seattle).

Editor's Note: Boyfriend! Did I read "boyfriend?" Mongo very sad.

A View from the Stacks: A Post-Conference Wrap-up…

First off, may I congratulate those at my work who brought back pens from St. Louis.  I believe we tallied 34 pens in total (of which, 30 will go missing in the next five days, but no matter).  If Lexis-Nexis pens are the future currency, we are doing alright.

So, all is back to normal here at King County Law Library.  Staff members have returned, everyone has caught up on their email and the post-conference “hangover” (overindulgence on programs, not liquor) has ebbed.  From what it sounds like, the conference was a smashing success and all who went had a good time.  And fun came in all forms, including a talent show that I am sorry to say I missed, since our director was involved.  Thankfully, there is a video of his singing, which was quite good.

Sometime during this past week, and after a phone call from a friend of mine who was in St. Louis having a great time, I got to thinking about professional conferences.  What programs would I like to attend?  What would I, if ever, like to propose as a program?  And most importantly, where would I like to go?

All these questions intensified after the realization that the WESTPAC conference (which boasts Willie…a buffalo mascot in a Hawaiian shirt) was going to be in Las Vegas this year http://westpac.law.unlv.edu/ .  Essentially, I was trying to hatch a plan to get to Vegas, but I needed an excuse, since I wanted the library to pay for my travel, room and bond (the last part is a joke, Mom).  While pleading my case for library cash, one of our librarians told me to “get on a panel discussion.”  It seems that this would justify my going to Las Vegas in September.

I am sure one day I will go to Las Vegas, but I will not be going to Las Vegas in September for the WESTPAC Conference. 

Unless they need a last minute expert in one of my many fields (the topics vary folks), I will just have to start concentrating my efforts on other conferences.  All the programs look interesting, but I am no expert on any of the topics being presented.  The best I can do is plead my “expertise” on the Nevada Sex Industry, since I once read a book on the topic (the name of the book is Brothel and it is quite interesting).  I have feeling that this is not nearly enough study on the topic.

Oh, and can library technicians even be on panel discussions?  I better find out before next year, because I hear the WESTPAC conference will be in Hawaii. 

Stina McClintock, Library Technician, King County Law Library (Seattle).

Editor’s Note: WESTPAC meets in Las Vegas, my local chapter met in Indianapolis last year. Life is cruel, very, very cruel.

BTW I want to thank West for the free Black’s Law Dictionary. It fetched two dollars at my hotel bar. I also want to thank Stina for referring me to Schlafly's Brew Pub. The Univ. of Cincinnati Law Library staff and friends enjoyed dinner there. Schlafly's Oatmeal Stout and catching up with a dear old friend made St. Louis worthwhile.

A View from the Stacks: While The Director Is Away…

Is it true that when you walk through the door to an AALL conference reception, they just hand you a large duffel bag emblazoned with some publishing company’s name on it, filled with all sorts of vendor fare weighing roughly 85 lbs.?  Or is this some vicious rumor spread in the hopes of making those of us who walk around the aisles at supermarkets looking for free samples, jealous?

For those of you who have not read your last 5 issues of AALL’s Spectrum, the AALL conference is rapidly approaching.  Swooping down on St. Louis in the next two weeks, law librarians from all over the country will be converging on the city that boasts the Anheuser-Busch factory and a structure that can only be described as one-half of an overlarge McDonald’s arch.  Since I cannot be there to enjoy it this time, I was going to live vicariously through those I know and ask them to go places for me (like the Schafly Brewpub and any of these Candy Shops).  This, I felt, would make me feel like I was there, in absentia, and that I was not missing out on all the fun.

So, what will those of us left behind do while you are all away?

Good question.  And I am here to share some insight (if you work at my library, and are me).

On the first day of the conference, staff members will grumble about the reduced number of people available to staff the reference desk.  At some point, talk will turn to "closing the library for the rest of the day and going out to enjoy the afternoon."  This threat will not be acted on, but it will lead to some moments of pontificating, and the eventual acceptance of the fact that we can stick out the day.  Also, someone will buy candy as a "perk up."  We will, at this point, declare that no one who is at AALL will share in any left over candy (which is fine because it is the summer and everyone seems to be on the new South Beach/Zone/Weight Watchers diet anyway).

Day 2 will be much like day 1, only this time the conversation about closing the library will include dreams about going out for drinks.  In the afternoon!  How rebellious could it get?  Of course, this will only lead us thirsty to buy a Diet Coke out of a vending machine and work out our rebel side by reading a gossip blog without feeling the need to be on the look out for the director.  Somehow, this will lead to "virtual shopping", but in the end, we will return to our cart of mail or whatever reference question we have yet to complete. 

Day 3 will be exactly the same as the previous 2 days, only this time, we may read gossip blogs for an even longer period of time.  And possibly buy something from amazon.com.  Perhaps feeling guilty, we will then return to our work and chide our selves for having our newly purchased goods sent to our work address.  However, this guilt will pass and we will try to finish eating all the candy before the "others" (as we refer to them at this point) return.  By the end of the day, threats of drinks will turn into an actual decision to go out for drinks after work.  It will be at the nearby bar where we place bets on how many pens and thermoses the "others" will have in their possession when they return.

Day 4 will witness the return of some librarians from the conference, which will lead to the eventual "no really, how many pens did you get?" conversation.  It will also be on this day that someone in the library will win the bet placed the previous night at the bar.  Of course, we will also want to know what programs they attended and who they saw, but we will try not to act too interested.  We will also try and refrain from discussing celebrity gossip (well, try at least). 

In other words, we will have some fun of our own.

Editor's Note: Finding myself with nothing to do on Day One (or is it Day Two?), I will stop by the Schafly Brewpub on my way back from the President Casino on the Admiral riverboot, assuming I have enough money left to buy a pint. I'll even pick up a t-shirt from the casino for you (Stina, not all you other youz). That's right, knowing what a wild bunch we law librarians are, the casino's crafty marketing staff is offering free t-shirts July 10, 11 & 12! [JH]

A View from the Stacks: How Do You Cast a Podcast?

It turns out that the Reference Service Librarian at my library, Rita Kaiser, has a lot to say.  And not just about her granddaughter.  In fact, Rita has so much to say that she is putting together a podcast that will be available via our website by (hopefully!) the end of the year.  While the actual logistics of this podcast may be a bit hazy (examples include not yet having a name for the podcast, frequency, any sort of feeling on the length, etc…you know the little things), the topics that will be discussed are going to come from the numerous publications and research guides that the librarians have put together over the years.  In addition, Rita hopes to include questions that we receive each day from library patrons as a way to make the material helpful to any and all individuals listening.

All this left the technicians wondering:  What will our role be in all of this?

I have a little known talent (well, I think I have a little known talent) in yodeling.  Not like the Julie Andrews in Sound of Music ability, mind you, but I can make what I believe to be a “yodel-like sound.”  This led me to believe that I could contribute to the podcast by yodeling a section out of the USCA each week.   Or, better yet, a section from the USA PATRIOT ACT that directly applies to libraries.  I thought that this would provide a much needed service of informing while entertaining.  Isn’t this the whole point of a podcast?

While I have yet to actually suggest this idea to Rita, I have a sinking suspicion that my great yodeling idea will be vetoed.

In all seriousness, the production of a podcast involves more work than just deciding a name and how frequent they will be.  All the podcasts that I listen to are funny, thought provoking and very well put-together (in some ways this is a surprise since they lack yodeling).  Listening to Jim Milles’ Check This Out and the Slate’s daily news program hosted by NPR called Day to Day , these podcasts keep things interesting by using music and references to pop culture which seem fresh and topical.  What would be the King County Law Library’s angle?

So far, the slate is blank.  The optimist would say this is a good thing.  Ideas come from a blank slate.  The pessimist would argue that a blank slate means that there are no good ideas to be had.  I would argue that a blank slate means that ideas from the library techs are just as valid as the ideas from librarians.  Yodeling aside, maybe there is a space in the podcast for a “Celebrity Law Breakers” corner every now and again.  Or perhaps a piece discussing “dumb laws” that are still on the books, written by Craig, our library tech who could be voted most likely to write the Next Great American Novel?

Overall, the goal of this podcast is to utilize new technology to aid our patrons with legal research, as well as educate guests to our website about our services. 

With or without yodeling.

Stina McClintock, Library Technician, King County Law Library (Seattle).

Editor's Note: I think AALL should hire Stina to yodel all SIS by-law amendment proposals in St. Louis.