I believe an issue that many law librarians in certain settings have,
however, is that we also have interests that are the same as those of
nonlegal libraries. For example, I've probably used Medline more in my
career than I have used the Index to Legal Periodicals, and my most
valuable work is usually in providing nonlegal research, such as
business or expert witness background research. Many librarians in
non-academic settings who choose SLA I think do so because of the more
varied content. A browse through the program of an SLA annual meeting
can make me drool.
The Seattle annual meeting did offer quite a bit of great content for
private law librarians, such as the presentation on business information
research, as well as the overview of the SEC filings. I believe that
AALL is growing more aware of the needs of all of its membership
(possibly because members leaving for SLA), and I am staying a member
for this reason, as well as for my desire to network with academic and
public law librarians. At the same time, however, I am considering
paying for my own membership to SLA, to give me greater access to that
organization's content and networking opportunities.
Kreig Kitts
Research Librarian
Troutman Sanders LLP
600 Peachtree St., NE
Suite 5200
Atlanta, GA 30308-2216
phone 404-885-3794
fax 404-962-6944
kreig.kitts@troutmansanders.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: Terry Long [mailto:tlong@infionline.net]
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 10:08 AM
To: Judith Cole; law-lib@ucdavis.edu
Subject: Re: AALL or ALA
Judy -
AALL is not just for academic librarians. It is the sole library
organization dedicated to law libraries. Granted there are law
librarians who like you and I are in government but, we are, after all,
law librarians. AALL presents programs and publications that are unique
to our types of law libraries. It is not serving the interests of
pharmaceutical, museum, banking, engineering and law; it is serving only
the needs of law libraries.
Stick with AALL. Try to attend an annual meeting (There are scholarships
available, if your agency can not afford to send you.), while at the
annual meeting attend the State, Court and County SIS meeting. Get
involved with the section. You will meet others in your situation and
will benefit from sharing ideas and attending programs. And, speaking of
programs, you can propose one for next year's meeting - another way to
get involved in an organization dedicated to your profession. Even if
you can't attend a meeting, the literature and listserv discussions
provided by AALL are beneficial to the profession.
On a local level, try to attend a SEAALL meeting (There are scholarships
availabe to attend - I have received one.). Local involvement is
helpful, too.
Remember AALL is for law libraries.
Terry
***********************************************
Elizabeth Terry Long
Assistant Law Librarian
Virginia State Law Library
Supreme Court Building, 2d floor
100 N. Ninth St.
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: 804-786-2075
E-mail: tlong@infionline.net
or tlong@courts.state.va.us
----- Original Message -----
From: "Judith Cole" <ColeJ@hillsboroughcounty.org>
To: <law-lib@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2004 2:11 PM
Subject: AALL or ALA
This is a departure from the conference thread. I have been a member of
AALL for 2 years and have never been a member of SLA. I can belong to
only one or the other. I am thinking of moving over to SLA because my
organization's needs are very different from those of academic law
libraries. We are a government entity but aside from having a captive
clientele and not having shareholders, we function very much like a
private practice. I would welcome feedback before I make the move.
Judy Cole, Law Librarian
Hillsborough County Attorney's Office
601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 27th Fl.
Tampa, FL 33602
Tel: 813-272-5673, Ext. 126
Fax: 813-272-5758
colej@hillsboroughcounty.org
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