law libraries and emerging technologies
TRANSCRIPT
Law Libraries and Emerging Technologies
Saskia Mehlhorn, Assessor jur., LL.M.March 2009
Emerging Technologies
Nanotechnology Semantic Web Cognitive Science Artificial Intelligence
and Web 2.0 with an assortment of tools suitable
for use in law libraries
Web 2.0
Has no hard boundary but rather a gravitational core.
Visualize Web 2.0 as a set of principles and practices that tie together a veritable solar system of sites that demonstrate some or all of those principles, at a varying distance from that core.
Flickr, diigo: Tagging
not taxonomy
“Attitude not Technolgy”
Software gets better with the growing number of users
Playful
Harnessingcollective
intelligence
Services, not packaged
software
Wiki’s: trust inUniversal knowledge
Blogs: Participation
The Web as a Platform
Applications
Social networking Social bookmarking Participation and Expression Initiation of virtual realities
flickr
One of the earliest web 2.0 platforms Image, video hosting website, web service
suite, and online community platform
flickr
This is a snapshot of the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library on flickr
Social network website, especially used by students other than LinkedIn which is for “older” professionals or myspace which is popular among high school students
Useful to stay in touch with friends and colleagues around the country and the globe
Excellent tool for alumni associations
diigo
Digest of Internet Information, Groups and Other things
Social bookmarking website which allows users to bookmark and tag web-pages
Can be shared with friends and groups In 2006 named one of the 10 best research
tools
diigo
Wiki
Comes from the Hawaiian and means “fast” Designed to enable anyone who accesses to
contribute and modify content Can be open, and for anyone, or access-
restricted Often used in business to provide Knowledge
Management
Wiki
Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service launched in 2006
Allows users to send and read other users' updates which are up to 140 characters in length
Public or private Ideal for exchange of links etc. In August 2008 it was used the first time for
up-to-the-minute court reporting
Twitter Applications
Twitter is elegant, but limiting. As a result, hundreds of third-party tools were developed to enhance Twitter.
TweetBeep Twellow TwitterFeed
TweetBeep
Twellow
TwitterFeed
Second Life
Internet-based virtual world launched in 2003, became widely known in 2006/2007
Used by companies as a training tool Info Island offers a variety of specialty
libraries among them law libraries
Law Firms in SL
Open House of Law Libraries
Law Library of Nova Southeastern University
Second Life
legallyminded
Provided by the ABA Currently in the beta phase Geared towards legal community Combines networking features (People Map,
blog, wiki etc.) with news and articles and the possibility to schedule meetings within your sub-community.
Use of emerging technologies
As a research tool As a teaching tool As a knowledge management tool As a marketing tool
Research Tool
Diigo – bookmark once – share with a group Facebook – network, connect and share Twitter – write and share
Teaching Tool
Second Life – Set up a session in SL – a different set of students will respond
Wiki – assign every student a topic to report on
Blog – widely used in private law libraries, good way to prepare for practice
Twitter – in trial (or moot court) instant connection - train now - use later
Marketing Tool
Flickr – present your library and your school Facebook – connect with alumni, current and
future students Twitter – through Hein Online, WestLaw and
the like stay connected SL – have a presence Diigo – search and find where you are
present
The Future of Law Libraries
is connected to technology.
We librarians have the training
to use technology, but we
have to raise our voice and
make it be heard.