Law Librarian Blog

Kudos to Washington & Lee's Sally Wiant on a Job Very Well Done for 31 Years

Sally Wiant will retire as director of the Washington and Lee Law School Library at the end of June after 31 years at the helm according to W&L's announcement. She will assume full-time duties on the Washington and Lee Faculty of Law. This fall, Sally will teach a practicum course on intellectual property in the Law School's new third-year curriculum.

In July, Caroline Osborne, research and instructional services librarian, will assume the duties of Acting Director of the Law Library.  The School will form a committee to conduct a national search for a new library director in August. [JH]

Kudos to Vicenc Feliu

Vicenç Feliú has been appointed Law Library Director of the Law Library at the University of the District of Columbia School of Law effective July 1st. Vicenç Feliú comes to UDC from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University where he has served as the Assistant Director for Public Services and Associate Librarian for Foreign, Comparative, and International Law. Congratulations! [JH]

Open Access Marches On

Signatories to Open Access Statement

The statement is signed by the directors of the University Press of Florida, University of Akron Press, University Press of New England, Athabasca University Press, Wayne State University Press, University of Calgary Press, University of Michigan Press, Rockefeller University Press, Penn State University Press, and University of Massachusetts Press. Mike Rossner of Rockefeller University Press said that the press directors issued the statement as they wanted "to align ourselves with the stances taken by many universities -- by faculties and administrators -- on scholarly communication." Quoted in Inside Higher Ed.

Open Access News blog reported on June 4th that ten university press directors signed a position statement in support of free access to scientific, technical, and medical journal articles no later than twelve months after publication. The statement is further discussed on the Chronicle of Higher Education news blog. This announcement should remind you of the November 7, 2008 Durham Statement on Open Access to Legal Scholarship that was signed by many law library directors and called for elimination of printed law journals and adoption of a stable, open access model for law journals.

The Press Directors’ position statement is somewhat contrary to the position of the American Association of University Presses, their 112-member national organization. Executive Director Charles Lowery’s nine page PDF explains the AAUP position which is argued with the assumption that the reason academic law libraries support open access is to help meet shrinking budget lines. I do not think this is the only reason why academic library directors support open access, but the essay is worth reading to review different approaches to journal deselection choices such as combining a cost-per-page with a cost-per-use strategy.

AAUP filed a letter of support for the Fair Copyright in Research Works bill (H.R. 6845) which was reintroduced into Congress this past September (and seems to have died in the Judiciary Committee) prohibiting federal agencies from requiring fund recipients to give up their copyright in order to receive federal monies.

The American Association of Publishers also supports bills like H.R. 6845. At the site of their affiliate, Professional Scholarly Publishing, you can find key talking points surrounding the Fair Copyright in Research Works bill, and reposted statements from other organizations concerning retention of copyright in funded scientific works. The AAP also lobbied President Obama on the same. You can find their letter to him and Vice President Biden at this site.

At least one of the signatories to the position statement, Rockefeller University Press Director Mike Rossner, already makes Rockefeller journals available six months after publication. He has not found this practice of delayed free posting contrary to their business model. This position diffuses much of the discussion levied against open access. Hopefully, we will see more concrete support of an open access model that will result in more collections such as the Directory of Open Access Journals and BioMed Central, or direct access to journals via their own web sites.

To inform yourselves more fully on the benefits of open access, I highly recommend the SPARC pages on this issue. (VS)

Recent Law Library Renovations Open the Premises to Natural Light and State-of-the-Art IT

Check out AALL Spectrum Blog for photos of recent library renovations completed at John Marshall Law School, Chicago [here] and Ohio Northern University College of Law [here]. At both academic law libraries, the renovations created a environment more conducive to researching and studying: natural light, IT upgrades, new furnishings. Never ever any easy task, the renovations at both law libraries have achieved excellent results. Congratulations to John Marshall and Ohio Northern law library directors, June Liebert and Nancy Armstrong, respectively, and their law library staff members. For more, see The Ninth Annual AALL Spectrum Architecture Series in the latest issue of AALL Spectrum. [JH]

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Kudos to Michelle Rigual

Michelle Rigual has accepted an appointment to become the next Law Library Director of the Dee J. Kelly Law Library at the Texas Wesleyan School of Law effective August 1st.  Michelle has been serving as Associate Director of the University of New Mexico Law Library where she was responsible for the Library's day-to-day operations, overseeing Faculty & Public Services, Technical Services, electronic resources, and collection development. She joined the University of New Mexico law library faculty in February 2003 as a reference librarian and moved up the ranks serving as Head of Technical Services, and Assistant Director for Technical Services, Electronic Resources, and Collections. Michelle also served at Co-Interim Director at New Mexico. With this wealth of experience, the Texas Wesleyan appointment should come as no surprise. Congratulations Michelle. [JH]

AAUP Releases Annual Report on Faculty Salaries

"With the broader economy in free fall and new indicators reported almost daily, the economic outlook for faculty members and higher education is anything but clear." That's according to the AAUP's report, On the Brink: The Annual Report on the Economic Status of the Profession, 2008–09  which provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive analysis available of faculty salaries at colleges and universities around the country.  [RJ]

Article Submissions for ALL-SIS Newsletter's Summer Issue Due May 20th

If you are interested in submitting articles for the Summer issue of the ALL-SIS Newsletter, the deadline for this issue is May 20. According to the newsletter's editor, Leah Sandwell-Weiss (Arizona), the issue will be a great place for articles about the Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., committee reports, and other SIS news. Here's the contact information for Leah. Previous newsletter issues can be viewed here. [RJ]

 

New Columnists Sought for Law Library Journal

Law Library Journal is looking for librarians interested in writing a regular column for the Journal because two columnists are giving up their columns as of the final issue of Volume 101: Diane Murley, author of the "Technology for Everyone" column, and Jean Holcomb, who writes "Managing by the Book." 

If you are interested in becoming a regular columnist, please send a short description of the proposed subject for a column and a writing sample to Janet Sinder, Editor, Law Library Journal, at jsinder@law.umaryland.edu by Friday, May 29, 2009.  Columnists will be selected by the end of June, and the first column deadline will be in October.  While column deadlines change each year, they are usually around the beginning of October, January, April, and July.  Column length averages between 2,000 and 4,000 words. Columnists must be able to meet deadlines and willing to commit to writing for at least three issues per year. 

2009 Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements

Published each each in conjunction with the National Conference of Bar Examiners, the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements sets out the rules and practices of all U.S. jurisdiction for admission to the bar by examination and on motion. Copies can be purchased for $15 or downloaded for free.  [RJ]

AALL Archived Webinars Available Online

AALL has made available four archived Webinars presented October 2008 - January 2009 in the Members Only Section of AALLNET:

• Twenty Essentials for the Effective Speaker ($25)
• How to Train Without Showing Up ($25)
• Law Firm Library Budgeting for Hard Economic Times ($25)
• Take the Lead: Journey to Authentic Leadership (free)

The links above are available for AALL members only. Nonmembers can access the Webinars for $60.  [RJ]

The March Issue of AALL Spectrum Online

The March issue of AALL Spectrum is now available online. This month’s articles feature:

• a look at the agreements you make when you participate in Web 2.0
• the future of shrinking print reference collections
• a review of a guide to the lawyer-client relationship
• how the Americans with Disabilities Act addresses animals in your library
• a display case for the 21st century
• one member’s experience at the AALL Leadership Academy

[RJ]

Should Academic Law Library Directors Be Tenured Law Faculty?

ABA Standard 603(d) provides that directors should hold faculty appointments with security of faculty position, and not in the administrative position of director, unless under very special circumstances. In What Interests are Served When Academic Law Library Directors are Tenured Law Faculty? Spencer Simons (Houston) argues that academic law library directors should have all the rights and privileges but not the job security afforded by tenure because "deadwood" directors cannot be removed once they have tenure.

Is the deadwood professor phenomena isolated to law library directors? I think every academic law librarian can point to one-two-three-more(?) deadwood law profs at their law schools. In all likelihood there are more deadwood law profs than law library directors. So if Simons wants to apply this argument, he ought to be proposing that no one in the legal academy be granted the job security tenure provides. My hunch is some law deans would give that argument a big thumbs up (but not in a faculty meeting). [JH]

Public Universities Begin Furloughing Employees and Law Schools Are Not Exempt

Many Public universities have asked their employees to take an unpaid leave of absence in an effort to reduce spending.  In an interesting article from the National Law Journal, Karen Sloan reports that Law Schools aren't exempt from these policies.  [RJ]

Spring 2009 Issue of the ALL-SIS Newsletter

The Spring 2009 issue of the ALL-SIS Newsletter is now available.  In this issue, we introduce two new columns:  Law Librarian in the Dark and Survey Roundup. We also have an article about the new SSRN eJournal, Legal Information & Technology, a report about a people to people trip to China by a group of law librarians, and information on several grants, a scholarship, calls for nominations for awards, and activities at the AALL Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. Hope you enjoy!

Leah Sandwell-Weiss
Editor, ALL-SIS Newsletter
Reference Librarian & Adj. Asst. Prof. of Legal Research
The University of Arizona
Daniel F. Cracchiolo Law Library, James E. Rogers College of Law
P.O. Box 210176
Tucson AZ 85721-0176
(520) 621-3140
leah.sandwell-weiss@law.arizona.edu

December Issue of AALL Washington Blawg E-Bulletin Now Available

From the Table of Contents for the January Edition:

• Nominations Open for Two AALL Government Relations Committee Awards
• AALL Travel Grants Available for the 2009 Annual Meeting
• President Obama Demonstrates Commitment to Open Government
• House Passes Legislation to Restore Transparency and Accountability
• New Administration Brings Changes to WhiteHouse.gov
• Government Printing Office Launches FDsys Beta Site
• NARA Seeks Director of Office of Government Information Services
• LLAM Hosts Government Relations Office for Advocacy Discussion
• New Issue of Digital Preservation Newsletter Now Available
• Congressional Research Service Report Profiles the 111th Congress
• New RSS Feeds from USA.gov and PACER
  

Kudos to Virginia Thomas

On February 1, 2009, the Wayne State University Library System welcomed Virginia C. Thomas as the new director of the Arthur Neef Law Library. Thomas joins the Library System with over 30 years of experience working in law libraries, most recently as Law Library and Information Technology director at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, where she also served as an adjunct law professor.  Previously, Thomas held positions at the University of Miami School of Law, Loyola University of Chicago School of Law and the Chicago-Kent College of Law at the Illinois Institute of Technology. “Wayne State is widely recognized as a model among urban research institutions,” said Thomas. “I look forward to working in this intellectually vibrant environment and providing information service to the community.”

Thomas received a B.A. in philosophy and German language and literature from DePaul University, an M.B.A. and J.D. from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and an M.A. in library science from the University of Chicago. She has taught, lectured and coordinated instructional support in law and is currently developing a course in empirical legal research. The author of numerous publications and presentations, Thomas is active in professional and community service activities and organizations.

As the director of the Neef Law Library, Thomas is now responsible for overseeing one of the nation’s 30 largest legal collections. Thomas succeeds Georgia Clark, who retired from Wayne State after serving over 30 years as the director of the Law Library. “We’re very excited to have Virginia Thomas joining the Library System,” said Sandra Yee, dean of the University Library System.  “Her experience, enthusiasm and commitment to providing students with the best education and resources possible are going to significantly benefit our Wayne State and community users.”

Academic Law Librarians: Be a CALI Legal Research Author!

There are LOTS of benefits of being a CALI Legal Researcher Author ....

1.  Help your students:  A majority of students would rather do a CALI lesson than read a legal research textbook. See Elizabeth G. Adelman, CALI Lessons in Legal Research Courses: Alternatives to Reading About Research, 15 Perspectives: Teaching Legal Research and Writing 25 (No. 1,  2006).  Students and teachers feel that the lessons enhance student understanding.   Id.

2.  Help the academic legal community:  Students and faculty at other schools can make use of your lesson.

3. Help your career:   

• Deepen your own understanding of the material.
• Add to your authorship credentials by completing  a peer-reviewed product.
• Raise your profile among legal research professionals.

4.  Earn Money and Perks upon lesson completion: 

• $1,250 per lesson, split between the lesson's authors
• Waiver of the fee for the next CALI Conference on Law School Computing

For information on how to apply, visit the CALI Legal Research Community Authoring Project page.

For a personal account of a CALI author, see the following short articles from Legal Information Alert:

Top four insights.(writing a CALI lesson), April 01, 2008
CALI diary.(Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Research Instruction), September 01, 2007
Diary of a CALI exercise.(Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Research ...April 01, 2007
Diary of a CALI exercise.(Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction)February 01, 2007

(SA)

RIPS Launches New Blog

The AALL Research Instruction and Patron Services Special Interest Section recently launched a new blog, RIPS Law Librarian. Check it out!  [RJ]

Budgetary Woes Return to Law Schools and Their Law Libraries

Public law school are facing budget cuts because of state-wide shortfalls caused by the current economic downturn but according to this National Law Journal article, private law schools may be in a far worse situation long-term because the stock market crash has hit private law school endowments hard. Endowments, which  provide between 25 to 50 percent of a private law school's operating budget, have lost between 20% and 40% of their value. If the economy does not recover quickly, long-term reductions could reach about 17% for very endowment-dependent schools according to Chicago Law School Dean Saul Levmore in Law schools dealing with budget cuts.

For academic law libraries, is it back to the bad old days of paying invoices only eleven months of the year? Or worse --- "it's all digital so why are we spending so much money on print resources?" [JH]

ALL-SIS Sourcebook for Teaching Legal Research Needs Your Contributions

Have you created any legal instructional materials such as syllabi, presentations, handouts, exercises, or exams?  If so, please consider sharing them with your colleagues through the ALL-SIS Sourcebook for Teaching Legal Research, http://www.aallnet.org/sis/allsis/secure/Research/sourcebook.asp.  The Sourcebook is a searchable, subject-browsable database of instructional materials accessible by any member of AALL who has an AALLNet password. You do not have to be a member of ALL-SIS to use or contribute to the Sourcebook. The purpose of the Sourcebook is to make course materials available to members of AALL for use in teaching and training.

Materials can be submitted in any electronic format, including Word, WordPerfect, HTML, PowerPoint, and PDF.  Authors retain copyright in the materials they submit to the Sourcebook, but grant AALL members permission to use them for educational purposes. The Sourcebook is password protected, so your students will not find your materials on the open web.

The more instructional materials the Sourcebook can compile, the more useful it will be to all members, including you.  Please contribute today. Contributions can be sent to me at sek28@law.georgetown.edu.

Sincerely,
Sara Kelley Burriesci
Electronic Services Librarian
Georgetown Law Library