southern california association of law librariesscall ......minutes—june 2017 11 executive board...
TRANSCRIPT
November/December 2017 volume 45, number 2
Contents
From the President 1
Inspired to Change 1
Existentialism for Good 4
Career Opportunities 5
Reenergizing at AALL Annual Meetings
6
SCALL’s Fall Program: Law Library Directors Discuss Return on Investment (ROI)
9
Membership News 10
Executive Board Meeting Minutes—June 2017
11
Executive Board Meeting Minutes—July 2017
12
Treasurer’s Report 13
A Chapter of The American Association of Law Libraries
Southern California Association of Law Libraries
http://scallnet.org
SCALL Newsletter
Inspired to Change By Sangeeta Pal
The theme for the 110th AALL Annual Meeting and Conference in Austin was “Forgo the Status Quo.” So, it was fitting to have the Keynote address delivered by Bryan Stevenson, the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative. Mr. Stevenson is an extreme example of leaving behind the status quo and striving to help change the current narrative about racial injustice, children in prison, and the death penalty. His talk set the bar high and challenged us to think about our role in American injustice.
Part of what makes Bryan Stevenson’s talk so impactful is the way he demonstrates how he was inspired from his own experience to do the work he is doing. He tells story after story about people he has worked with and tried to help. He is real about his own reactions and fears, but in each of his stories he
describes how he chose to act or be involved in spite of his own panic or fear in order to make a difference.
Two of the points from his keynote address that were particularly compelling to me were the idea of
From the President By Ramon Barajas
Return on Investment (ROI) was the theme of the SCALL Fall Meeting. We had the good fortune and pleasure of listening to a panel of librarians from a variety of backgrounds who shared their collective wisdom for the benefit of the attendees. The panel was composed of Pauline Aranas from the USC Law School, Martin Korn of Sheppard Mullin, and Sandra Levin from the LA Law Library. The panelists made salient points and observations on the nuances of measuring ROI in the law library setting.
One of the main takeaways for me was the reminder of using effective communication when explaining library processes to non-librarian stakeholders and decision makers. Pauline emphasized the importance getting away from
“library speak” and instead embracing business vernacular and non-library terminology.
Please stay with me as I make this next point. When I was in college I had a friend and bandmate we affectionately
called "Spike Mike," a name bestowed on him in honor of his famous spiked blue mohawk (I played in several rock and punk bands before becoming a law librarian). Whenever Mike agreed with an idea, he would acquiesce by saying, "talking my language, mister." For example, If I offered up something along the lines of, "Hey Mike do you want to go grab a beer?" "Ah, mister. Talking my language," Mike would reply. His famous catch
phrase applied to a wide range of suggestions such as grabbing a burrito,
proximity and the notion that we need to be uncomfortable. Mr. Stevenson points out that we must be proximate in order to participate in change. We cannot help from a distance because in order to help, we must be informed of the complexities and issues involved. However, he goes on to state, we also need to be proximate in order to help ourselves. It is only by being close to the real problems at hand that we are engaged and that we ourselves change in the process.
In his address, Stevenson also stressed the need for us to be uncomfortable. Issues of racial injustice and the current problems in our criminal justice system will change only as we confront the issues and help alter the current narrative. This requires confronting difficult ideas and practices and can only be done by putting ourselves in uncomfortable situations. The work that the Equal Justice Initiative is doing—specifically the research and reports that it is producing—is an attempt to shape the
continued on page 3
continued on page 2
Bryan Stevenson gives the keynote address at the 2017 AALL Annual Conference, Forgo the Status Quo.
2
quitting band practice early, or just about anything that promoted the idea something fun. As I listened to the panelists at the fall meeting I had an epiphany. The whole world is Spike Mike, and I just need to learn how to talk their language!
Our enlightened employers invest in libraries and librarians, and they expect us to deliver a certain return on that investment (business is business, after all). The value that we bring to our organizations is obvious to us, but that may not be true to our stakeholders and decision makers. For that reason, it is our responsibility to measure ROI, document advances, and showcase the many ways we contribute to our respective organizations. One of my professors from library school once told me that librarians must do a better job of “tooting their own horn.” I remember being inspired by those words but also wondering exactly how to apply that philosophy.
One highly effective and seemingly easy approach to accomplishing this is to prepare a concise and well-rehearsed elevator pitch that you can deliver when needed. About a month ago I answered a call from a partner who was so impressed with research the library provided that she called to find out what other skills and talents the library possesses. She was short on time and was hardly interested
in a comprehensive library orientation. I realized then that I sorely lacked a well-oiled and succinct elevator pitch. That is something I am currently drafting and hope to have perfected soon.
How do the principles of ROI apply to SCALL? As members, what benefits do we want and receive from our association? Speaking for myself, SCALL has allowed me the opportunity to grow professionally through volunteering. The networking opportunities are increasingly invaluable. Being a part of a community allows us to draw from the collective wisdom of all members. There is no way that one person can possibly be an expert in all things, but together we blossom by exchanging ideas and sharing our collective expertise. SCALL also promotes professional development by awarding scholarships and grants. The small cost of membership is rewarding many times over by the benefits SCALL provides.
What about from the employers’ perspective - what value do employers gain by supporting our membership dues and conference costs? SCALL provides educational opportunities like the seasonal meetings and the annual Institute (March 2018). The employer also benefits via a pass-through effect of the member’s direct engagement. The active SCALL member is reading the
SCALL Newsletter
continued from page 1 (From the President)
Downtown Los Angeles
600 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90017
https://www.karlstrauss.com/visit/downtown-los-angeles/
More information to follow.
Questions? Contact the Programs Committee: Elyse Meyers: [email protected], Sarah Joshi: [email protected],
or Alina Kelly: [email protected]
newsletter, attending meetings, attending the Institute while all along gaining invaluable experience and knowledge that becomes an advantage to the employer.
The SCALL Board recently surveyed the membership and received very interesting feedback and suggestions. One popular suggestion was the desire to have more networking opportunities via informal evening or lunchtime meetups. Another survey question raised the idea of exploring a social media platform. Overwhelmingly, SCALL members responded by expressing a strong interest in LinkedIn. The Board is pleased to announce that it is working on rolling out a LinkedIn page soon. We are also planning an informal meetup in Orange County during the month of February. More details will be made available soon.
As the year comes to a close, let us look back on 2017 and celebrate our achievements while respecting our defeats. This was a good year for SCALL. I’m happy to report the association is in sound fiscal health, our membership numbers are steady, and the future of our association is looking bright.
I wish you all a happy, festive, and safe holiday season. Cheers!
3 SCALL Newsletter
narrative and reframe how we view injustice, racial inequality, and the prison system in our country. If we want to make a difference, we too must be willing to enter unfamiliar situations, ask the hard questions, and raise the challenging issues that will ultimately lead to change.
This keynote address was thought-provoking and inspiring, and it left me asking myself a number of questions. What can I be doing now to make a difference? What is my takeaway from this talk and also from the conference in general? And, what does forgoing the status quo look like in my library and larger institution?
Social justice and racial inequality are issues that have been personally important to me for many years. In the past I have volunteered with different non-profits in various parts of Los Angeles in an effort to make a difference. After listening to Mr. Stevenson and reading his book Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, I decided to reach out to some of those organizations and see what I could do to get involved. But I was still left with the question of how this could make a difference to me professionally.
Certainly we have programs and clinics at my law school where I could contribute. But without redefining my entire job, it was difficult to see how I could do much in my library. As I reflected on his keynote address and all of the stories I read in his book, I recalled that this was a story of Bryan Stevenson’s journey and that it happened
over a period of time. Change does not happen instantly; it happens as a result of a series of seemingly endless decisions and choices to go against the flow, to try something different, to ask difficult questions, and to challenge the status quo. When I think about it in these terms, there are many different ways I can contribute and be an agent of change. Perhaps not in the same ways and with the same impact as someone like Bryan Stevenson, but if I am responsible and do my part to foster positive change, then I am taking steps in the right direction. Both the keynote address and some of the conference programming inspired me to want to make some changes. Since returning from Austin, I have been trying to put some of my ideas into practice,
both personally and professionally.
I had intended to end this article with a link to the AALL 2017 Keynote Address recording, but unfortunately, due to contractual limitations, AALL was obligated to remove the recording after 90 days. But if you haven’t already done so, please read Just Mercy by Mr. Stevenson. It is a fantastic book, and it includes many of the stories and ideas he spoke about at the conference. I hope it might inspire you to be an agent of change, too.
Sangeeta Pal is the Access Services Librarian at UCLA Law Library.
continued from page 1 (Inspired to Change)
Stevenson chats onstage with AALL President Ron Wheeler.
Save the date for the
2018 SCALL Institute March 23-24, 2018
Mission Inn, Riverside
More details to follow...
4
This essay is about me, the United States, and UC Irvine Law students. About me: I ascribe to absurdism and fatalism. Absurdists believe that human effort to find inherent meaning will ultimately fail. I picked this up from my mother who became an ordained Lutheran minister before turning to atheism. Fatalists say we must accept what is. I picked this up as a Peace Corps volunteer in Burkina Faso, where infant mortality rates are among the highest, and where people seem mostly happy. In fact, the common refrain is “c’est comme ca,” or it is what it is.
After the Peace Corps, I moved to New York and found work at an investment bank. Life has no knowable purpose, I reasoned, and so why not learn finance. After a few years, and in a moment of weakness, I abandoned fatalism, and enrolled in law school. I quickly turned back, but not before stumbling into the library profession, where I am generally fulfilled helping others find and use information.
Fulfillment has recently become more elusive. I moved to Los Angeles, and started driving. I turned 41 and then 42. I usually cope
Existentialism for Good By Lisa Junghahn
with change by telling myself, “c’est comme ca.” Younger Lisa would handle aging and moving with some equanimity. The me of today, however, is having a harder time shrugging off life. What if I should be doing something else, somewhere else, and with someone else. What if there is meaning, and I am too complacent to know.
In the midst of my own (indulged) struggles, something else happened. The United States swore in a president who I believe is a demagogue. I have always doubted American exceptionalism, and the often blindly held belief that we live in a representative democracy. Still, I had pride in the United States and believed we had the best rule of law. I believed we could support political diversity, veering left and right, while still creating an inclusive, educated, and healthy society.
Between life and politics, I am no longer comforted by absurdism and fatalism. I feel uncertain and sometimes terrified. I am calling this: The age of existentialism. I may not have existential intelligence, a concept pioneered by developmental psychologist Howard Gardner, and is the ability to think philosophically to solve problems. I do, however, know that many UCI Law students believe in self-determination, and are looking beyond what exists today.
Last spring, many of my students, like me, were reeling from the election. As such, I taught Advanced Legal Research from a philosophical perspective. Instead of researching narrow questions of law, like whether an employee would fall into the white collar exemption of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), we researched more globally the questions of who should be exempt (if at all), and what the agencies should do to enforce. By asking big questions, students could see how and why the language of the code changes over time, and how outmoded standards can linger when it does not. For example, the language on exemptions does not reflect current salaries, or the commodification of skills, like using computers.
Taking a philosophical approach, and reminding students that there are many answers, helped them communicate without getting personal, political, or burdened by what the law states. It also freed them up to see more clearly that the FLSA does not stand alone, but exists with the National Labor Relations Act, Department of Labor, the judicial system, all 50 states, and society. Together, we looked beyond the law of today to what has been. We looked ahead to what could be. This involved researching social movements, legislative documents, agency activity, reports by advocates, and important case law, including one currently before the Supreme Court (Ernst & Young LLP v. Morris).
Big questions require looking at a range of resources, and our research was not contained to treatises in proprietary databases. Unprompted, students started to bring in articles from the New York Times and Orange County Register.
SCALL Newsletter
continued on page 5
“Laura is eager to see newer
librarians at the forefront of
developing innovative
programming which will bring in
new members and enhance
connections between current
SCALL members.”
Career Opportunities By Tiffani Willis
Date Posted Job Description Location
December 1 Law Library Director, Orange County Public Law Library Santa Ana
November 20 Temporary Researcher; LibGig Los Angeles or San Diego or
other cities
November 15 Electronic Services Librarian; Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP San Francisco or Los Angeles
November 13 Research Librarian; Winston & Strawn LLP Los Angeles or San Francisco
or Silicon Valley
November 1 Catalog and Research Services Librarian; UC Davis Mabie Law Library Davis
October 12 Research Services Librarian; Buchalter Los Angeles
September 25 Research Analyst; Sidley Austin LLP Los Angeles
September 7 Research Analyst; Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP San Francisco
September 6 Legal Library Assistant; JW Michaels & Co. (Agency Listing) Palo Alto
September 1 Cataloging Librarian; LA Law Library Los Angeles
August 30 Librarian; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit San Jose Branch
Library
San Jose
August 21 Records Manager and Records & Archives Group Supervisor; JPL
Library
Pasadena
July 14 Library Assistant V; USF Dorraine Zief Law Library San Francisco
May 22 Principal Librarian; California State Library Sacramento
April 12 Librarian/Information Services Manager; Atkinson Andelson Loya
Ruud & Romo
Cerritos
Tiffani Willis
Chair, SCALL Placement Committee View complete job descriptions at scallnet.org/career-opportunities/
They circulated podcasts on labor rights, and showed up for labor law panels held at the law school. Students were thrilled to learn that this is all considered research and is relevant to serving clients, whether as business advisors, litigators, or legislative advocates. They were also thrilled to see that, although law reflects a moral choice on the part of those who show up, it is pushed by forces
we can all join (as lawyers).
Beyond the FLSA, we got existential on the resources, and took a critical look at the legal publishing industry, which serves corporate and commercial lawyers. Students realized quickly that profit drives design choice, and that our digital systems needlessly recreate an analog world. In my existential dreams, it is a UCI Law graduate who disrupts (like
really disrupts) the current legal publishing world.
Further, in my dreams, it is my UCI Law alumni who fix this world, such that I am not driving on the 405 and terrified about tomorrow.
Lisa Junghahn is the Research and
Instructional Services Librarian at UCI
Law Library.
continued from page 4 (Existentialism)
5 SCALL Newsletter
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The AALL Annual Meeting provides great benefit to attendees each year. I reconnect with colleagues, find inspiration in the program sessions, and fulfill national committee work when needed. This past meeting in Austin proved no exception, and I look forward to Baltimore in 2018.
Networking and connecting with colleagues and friends is one of the main reasons, if not the top reason, I have attended all but one of the past fourteen annual meetings. This past summer marked the first AALL Annual Meeting ever held in Austin, Texas, and I could not wait to experience the city with friends, old and new. Fortunately, because I had a committee meeting midday on Saturday, I was able to fly in on Friday to enjoy dinner and take in the city with two colleagues I know very well, and get a jump on the busy
schedule Annual Meetings always offer.
Saturday was filled with committee work and networking opportunities. I caught up with one of my mentors at a leadership luncheon, and then fit in an off-site party that a colleague from North Carolina hosted. The afternoon included a productive session with the Annual Meeting Program Committee, and the Marketing & Outreach Content Team I am a part of for the Baltimore meeting. The opening reception allowed me to meet informally with the Emerging Leader Award Jury, which I am chairing this year, to put faces to names. The SCALL reception at Roppolo’s Pizzeria was a nice time to relax and talk about meeting plans with SCALL colleagues. The only gathering I could not partake in was the ever-popular Karaoke with Ken, as the venue was packed beyond capacity before I arrived. The Annual Meeting
had not officially started, but the value of being there on Saturday cannot be overstated. This was the only time I could possibly meet in person the members of the committee and jury I am a part of this year. I find that opportunity extremely valuable.
On Sunday, the educational sessions started, and the day was filled by several high-quality sessions. The morning kicked off brilliantly with the opening general session, Bryan Stevenson’s “American Injustice: Mercy, Humanity, and Making a Difference.” I then attended the Hot Topic: Finding Truth in the Age of Fake News and Alternative Facts. These two sessions, in particular, were memorable for me by inspiring me to remember the bigger picture of what we do as librarians, or dare I say
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Reenergizing at AALL Annual Meetings By Joy Shoemaker
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information professionals: connect people in need, sometimes desperate and dire need, to accurate and reliable information, which in this day and age can be hard for the average information seeker to recognize.
The evening social invitations allowed me to reconnect with colleagues in the federal judiciary who I would never be able to visit without AALL. Gathering early with friends from the U.S. Supreme Court Library is a highlight each year, and we were able to do so in the always-popular headquarters hotel lobby bar. You will always run into someone you know if you simply sit in the headquarters lobby bar. Dinner organized by the leaders from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts allowed me to meet with my colleagues from other judicial circuits, and this year I happened to sit with two wonderful colleagues from the Seventh Circuit.
Monday was no exception in providing quality programming and important networking events. One aspect of
volunteering for SCALL or AALL work I find valuable is that these opportunities often introduce you to individuals or groups you would not have the opportunity to meet otherwise. This year, as a member of the AMPC for 2018, I am the liaison for FCIL-SIS, and stopped in on their business meeting (bright and early!) on Monday and attended their education committee meeting (bright and early!) on Tuesday. I have never been a part of FCIL-SIS, and meeting those librarians and hearing their concerns about AALL Annual Meeting programs and the planning process was an eye-opening experience. There is sometimes no substitute for meeting colleagues face-to-face to gain a better understanding, and be able to work together better, when you return home to conduct the majority of business through email.
The Monday evening receptions were a wonderful mix of old and new workplaces and environments. The GLL-SIS reception held at a local restaurant was where I met with many fellow government law librarians from the far
SCALL Newsletter
reaches of the country. The Indiana University reception and the Duke Law School receptions allowed me to catch up with my friends and colleagues from my days as graduate student and in academic employment.
Tuesday rounded out a wonderful Austin meeting. Most notable for me was that even at the end of the meeting, folks were still energized at the last exhibit hall break, when I manned the GLL-SIS board and greeted several enthusiastic colleagues.
Reflecting on the Austin meeting several months later, I can say it was one of the most productive for aiding my AALL work when I returned home. I encourage you to volunteer for SCALL and AALL opportunities at every chance you get. As the AMPC currently plans the next meeting, I look forward to more excellent educational and networking prospects in Baltimore.
Joy Shoemaker is the Branch Librarian of the U.S. Court of Appeals Library—
Pasadena.
continued from page 6 (Reenergizing at AALL)
LRI History LLC
PO Box 2166, Placerville, CA 95667 (916) 442.7660 · [email protected]
www.lrihistory.com
_________________________________________________________________________________
You Only Think You Have a California Legislative History: West’s & Lexis’s Legislative Histories Are Woefully Incomplete
It is most regrettable that WestLaw and LexisNexis tout that they provide California legislative histories, implying that they are complete, for what they offer their users is anything but. What they claim as a “legislative history” barely scratches the surface of the materials available to the public; the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Worse yet, by not providing an obvious disclaimer otherwise, they deceive the novice researcher into thinking that nothing beyond those select items exists. That is hardly the case. One only need be willing to
dive into the perilous depths of the “un-internet” world of paper files to potentially discover a mountain of material pertaining to the comprehensive legislative history of an act.
This old-fashioned universe of paper is the main source of unpublished bill files which contain the documents necessary to unlock the legislative history and intent of California law. A thirty page internet compilation of legislative intent documents can easily turn into a three thousand page report when a researcher looks beyond West and Lexis. The odds of
an attorney finding that single statement that will win them the case increase dramatically when they have a comprehensive legislative history in front of them, instead of just the online version.
The moral of the story? WestLaw and LexisNexis provide many valuable services for attorneys. We use their Annotated Codes on a daily basis. But when it comes to advanced California legislative history and intent research, they simply do not get the job done.
SCALL’s fall program, held in November at USC’s Asa V. Call Law Library, featured a moderated panel discussion with library directors from public, academic, and firm, libraries on the topic of return on investment (ROI). The topic was inspired by AALL’s white paper, Defining ROI: Law Library Best Practices. The library directors’ experiences were diverse and the program was an excellent introduction to the challenges of implementing ROI in a law library.
Define ROI in the context of your library? What does it mean to you?
Moderator and SCALL President, Ramon Barajas, opened the conversation by asking the directors what ROI means in each of their libraries. Their differing perspectives were enlightening and highlighted that ROI is well established in some firms, just working its way through academic institutions, and perhaps not applicable to public libraries.
Martin Korn, Director of Research and Library Services at Sheppard Mullin, is clearly a seasoned professional at ROI and he has clear uses for ROI in law firm library services. He stated that ROI provides the firm library with the ability to demonstrate how the library is meeting the firm’s goals, including cost-efficiency and profitability. Some of the measurable values that he has utilized include the time it takes attorneys to complete research before and after meeting with a librarian, and demonstrating the connection between services, collections, and client billing.
Pauline Aranas, Director of the USC Law Library, stated that law schools tend to lag behind law firms and are looking to other libraries, particularly firm libraries, to help them figure out how to effectively use ROI in the library. She went on to point out that law schools are embracing new business models, that these new models impact libraries, and that law school administrations will continue to ask law libraries to measure their value.
Sandi Levin, Executive Director at the LA Law Library, stated that ROI is not applied to public libraries. In her discussion, she highlighted that ROI is founded upon having the same input and output and that investment of public monetary funds into libraries does not result in a monetary output. The output is access to justice which is difficult to measure.
How do you get people on board with ROI?
There were three really useful takeaways from this question: (1) each institution should focus on the mission of their library when getting others on board with ROI, (2) librarians need to end “library speak” when talking to stakeholders from outside the library, and (3) talk about your successes. The mission of your library can help you define the measurable values that are useful. For example, in law schools where libraries primarily serve faculty and students, measurable values will likely focus on services to those two groups.
Pauline Aranas explained the issue with library speak by discussing the term catalog. We have all worked with patrons who tell you they have never seen or used a catalog. So, why are we still calling it a catalog when we talk to others? While librarians love to have those teachable moments, perhaps when talking to stakeholders and administrators, it is best to use a term they understand. Pauline suggested using inventory when referring to the catalog in discussions with administrators. At its very basic level, isn’t a catalog an inventory? It is a familiar term that those outside library operations easily understand. This may also be the easiest of the takeaways to implement.
We need to publicize our successes. Martin mentioned how he informs administrators when he saves the firm money through vendor negotiations and ending subscriptions that did not serve the firm and its clients. Sandi also felt it was important to personalize successes by becoming storytellers when
informing administrators of the help librarians provide to patrons. It is important for administrators to know that we regularly engage in actions that can be measured and benefit the larger community.
How to work within your larger governing body?
The consensus of the panel was that educating the larger governing body about the library and what it does is the most important step in measuring value. Pauline emphasized the importance of including non-traditional library services such as citation counts for faculty publications. In the firm setting, Martin noted that it is important that administrators understand firm librarians are generalists and handle not only research, but also library administrative tasks. Sandi brought an informative handout, created by the California Council of County Law Libraries, that contains quotes from Californians about county law libraries, and stories about their impact on patrons.
Have you redeveloped workflow as a result of ROI in your institution?
Workflows are changing. For some it is due to ROI, for other it is due to lower budgets and fewer staff. Some are ending certain library tasks, like library displays, and others are focusing efforts on classes and workshops that can be replicated and reused. All of the library directors discussed their collections and the need to end some subscriptions. Martin has added a follow-up process to research questions while Sandi is working to anticipate common questions asked by legislators and prepare readily available answers.
In wrapping up the panel, the discussion focused on the importance of creating an elevator pitch about the library that did not use library speak and that what librarians do does not really change, but how we do it is always changing.
Kelly M. Leong is a Reference Librarian
at UCLA Law Library.
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SCALL’s Fall Program: Law Library Directors Discuss Return
on Investment (ROI) By Kelly M. Leong
SCALL Newsletter
10
Steve Roses of William S. Hein & Co. was recently in Syracuse for the ALLUNY chapter meeting when he ran into movie star Jeff Goldblum. Don’t believe him? Check out their cool selfie!
Suzie Shatarevyan of Loyola Law School and Maggie Hall of Southwestern Law School went to Cuba last month! Being the good librarians they are, they of course visited the cruise ship’s Mark Twain Library en route to Havana. Looks like they had a fantastic time!
Membership News By Judy K. Davis and Karen Skinner
Welcome new members!
Melanie Gorscak is Knowledge Management Coordinator with Nossaman, LLP.
Dan Kimmons is Reference Librar ian with the University of San Diego, Pardee Legal Research Center.
Welcome back returning members!
Austin Stoub is Senior Librar ian with the LA Law Library.
SCALL Newsletter
Any corrections, changes, or additions to your membership information, as well as any announcements for Membership News, should be sent to:
Judy K. Davis Co-Chair, SCALL Membership Committee Law Librarian, Head of Access Services and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Law USC Gould School of Law University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 90089-0071 (213) 740-2189 [email protected]
Karen Skinner Co-Chair, SCALL Membership Committee Law Librarian, Research Services, and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Law USC Gould School of Law University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 90089-0071 (213) 740-2615 [email protected]
Jeff Goldblum gets to meet Steve Roses at ALLUNY in Syracuse.
Suzie Shatarevyan and Maggie Hall in the beautiful Mark Twain Library
aboard their cruise ship.
Maggie Hall, Suzie Shatarevyan, and friend in beautiful Havana, Cuba.
More photos of Cuba.
11
Executive Board Meeting Minutes—June 2017 By Amber Kennedy Madole
SCALL Newsletter
A regular meeting of the SCALL Executive Board was held on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit in Pasadena.
Stefanie Frame, President Ramon Barajas, Vice President Victoria Williamson, Past President Joy Shoemaker, Treasurer Amber Kennedy Madole, Secretary Erik Y. Adams, Board Member Christina Tsou, Board Member Judy K. Davis, Vice President Elect Caitlin Hunter, Treasurer Elect Margaret F. Hall, Board Member Elect
A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order at 4:48 p.m.
1. The minutes of the last session of the regular board meeting were presented for review.
Joy Shoemaker moved to approve the minutes and Christina Tsou seconded. There was no discussion and the motion carried.
2. Treasurer’s Report
Joy Shoemaker reported that SCALL has a bank balance of $39,738.9 and a PayPal balance of $3,413.60 as of June 21, 2017. She noted that as in past years, the Institute, membership fee renewals and newsletter advertising provide the bulk of SCALL’s income for the year. SCALL’s major expenses were the Inner City Youth program, scholarships, and grants.
Amber Kennedy Madole moved to approve the treasurer’s report and Victoria Williamson seconded.
3. Secretary’s Report
Secretary Amber Kennedy Madole reported that the SCALL mail forwarding service changed this year from the UPS Store to Wilshire Mailbox. As a result of this change, SCALL will save around $300 annually.
Madole also reported on the election results. The results were as follows: Judy Davis was elected for the position of SCALL Vice President/President Elect, Caitlin Hunter was elected as treasurer, and Margaret
Hall was elected as Board Member. As in prior years, SCALL used the online AALL election platform to administer the election.
Christina Tsou moved to approve the report and Joy Shoemaker seconded.
4. President’s Report
President Stefanie Frame reported on SCALL’s highlights over the year, including the fall program on Election Law, the SCALL holiday party (held in January) and the SCALL Spring Meeting at McDermott Will &Emery.
Frame also noted that SCALL, NOCALL and SANDALL had agreed to collaborate with each other to coordinate law library government relation efforts in California.
Frame said that SCALL was well-represented in AALL awards this year, noting that Melody Lembke and Maryruth Storer were inducted in the AALL Hall of Fame and that Larry Meyer received the AALL Volunteer Service Award. She also reported that AALL had posthumously awarded Karl T. Gruben the Marian Gould Gallagher Distinguished Service Award.
Ramon Barajas moved to approve the report and Erik Y. Adams seconded.
5. Vice President’s Report
Vice President Ramon Barajas reported that the 2017 SCALL Institute was successful and that it yielded an estimated profit of $12,780.92.
The SCALL Institute was supported by Major Exhibitors (Bloomberg Law, Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), LexisNexis, ProQuest, Questel Orbit Inc.) as well as Exhibitors (AALL, Darts-ip, Jan Raymond/Legislative History & Intent, Legislative Intent Service, Inc., Minesoft, UNT Department of Information Science, William S. Hein & Co.) as well as Major Sponsors (Bloomberg BNA, Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), LexisNexis, Questel Orbit Inc., Thomson Reuters) and Regular Sponsors (CourtAlert, Courthouse News Service, DocketNavigator,
Loose Leaf Filing Service, and Retriev-It.)
Barajas noted that he sent out a post-Institute feedback form and had received predominantly positive feedback on speakers and topics.
Victoria Williamson moved to approve the Vice President’s report and Christina Tsou seconded.
6. Committee Reports
Committee reports were submitted for all committees except for the Professional Development Committee and the Placement Committee. Committee reports are considered submitted as filed.
7. Old Business
New Member Outreach
Stefanie Frame discussed SCALL’s plan for the president to contact new members twice a year, in March and October.
Social Media
Amber Kennedy Madole (board liaison to the IT committee) reported on the IT committee’s plans to establish a social media presence.
The board agreed to draft a SCALL social media policy and then establish a SCALL LinkedIn account that will be maintained by the IT committee.
SCALL Website Original Content
Amber Madole reported on the IT committee’s website traffic numbers, to see if the SCALL website might want to host original content in the future. The SCALL website received more traffic than the newsletter, and the board agreed to look into the possibility of original content on the SCALL website at a later meeting.
Online Payments for SCALL Programs
Stefanie Frame reported that the 2017 SCALL Business Meeting served as the pilot program for online payments for SCALL events. She said that the feedback she received was
continued on page 12
12
Executive Board Meeting Minutes—July 2017 By Caitlin Hunter
SCALL Newsletter
A board meeting was held Thursday, July 27, 2017 by phone conference.
In attendance were:
President Ramon Barajas Vice President Judy K. Davis Treasurer Caitlin Hunter Immediate Past President Stefanie Frame Board Member Erik Y. Adams Board Member Margaret F. Hall
At 10:07 a.m., President Ramon Barajas called the meeting to order. Treasurer Caitlin Hunter recorded the minutes in lieu of secretary Amber Madole.
1. Celebrating SCALL’s 65th Anniversary
At this year’s AALL conference, Ramon Barajas learned that SCALL’s 65th anniversary is in 2017 (not 2018 as previously thought) and that some SCALL members would like to celebrate it.
The board discussed how to honor the anniversary.
Board members did not recall celebrations for the 55th and 60th anniversaries but agreed that a small celebration was appropriate.
Suggested celebrations were remarks by past presidents, happy 65th anniversary easel signs and napkins at events, and a slideshow of SCALL through the years, possibly including materials obtained from the Archives Committee.
The board discussed when to honor the anniversary.
Because SCALL’s business year runs from July to June, the board agreed it would be acceptable to honor the anniversary at SCALL’s January 2018 holiday party or at the 2018 SCALL Institute rather than rushing to throw something together before the end of 2017.
Vice President Judy Davis said she was willing to incorporate the celebration into the Institute, possibly as part of the reception. Ramon Barajas and Stefanie Frame indicated that expenses for this could come out of a separate budget for the 65th anniversary and not out of the Institute budget.
Generally, however, board members preferred to honor the anniversary at the holiday party. This would provide the holiday party with a theme and allow the Institute to remain the Institute.
Judy Davis moved to honor the 65th anniversary milestone at the January 2018 SCALL holiday party. Margaret Hall seconded the motion. There was no discussion and the motion was carried.
As the liaison for the Programs Committee, Erik Adams agreed to contact the Programs Committee to discuss the possibility of honoring the 65th anniversary milestone at the
holiday party.
The board agreed that they should also talk separately with past presidents who had expressed interest in celebrating the milestone to obtain their input.
2. Change of signers on the SCALL bank account
Caitlin Hunter explained that, according to the SCALL bylaws, the authorized signers for the SCALL bank account should be the President, Treasurer, and Vice President. The current President, Treasurer, and Vice President are not yet on the bank account and other former and current board members are on the bank account. A Bank of America employee Caitlin Hunter spoke to yesterday said that the bank would need minutes authorizing the addition of the new signers and removal of current signers.
Stefanie Frame moved to:
Add as signers to the bank account:
President Ramon Barajas
Vice President Judy Davis
Treasurer Caitlin Hunter
Remove all other signers from the bank account.
Judy Davis seconded. There was no discussion and the motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:19 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted, Caitlin Hunter SCALL Treasurer, 2017-2019
overwhelmingly positive, with a few suggestions that fees should not be taken out of the event price. She noted that the committee is looking into an integrated payment system that integrates fees with the price of the event for the future.
Policies and Procedures Revision
Ramon Barajas will follow up with a SCALL member who would like to see SCALL’s policies and procedures updated, asking for details about
time frame and scope of revision.
8. New Business
Member Satisfaction Survey
Joy Shoemaker asked if SCALL had issued any members-wide surveys of SCALL satisfaction, and Victoria Williamson noted that SCALL had done several individual surveys but not a general satisfaction survey. The board agreed to draft a SCALL membership satisfaction survey to be distributed to the membership.
SCALL/SANDALL Joint Reception at AALL
Stefanie Frame reported that the Pacific Chapters Joint Reception will not be held this year as planned. Instead, SCALL and SANDALL will have a joint reception in Austin at AALL, to be held immediately after the opening reception. The location is yet to be announced.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:58 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted, Amber Kennedy Madole SCALL Secretary 2016-2018
continued from page 11 (Executive Board June)
13
President
Ramon Barajas
Alston & Bird
(213) 576-1092
Vice-President / President-
Elect
Judy K. Davis
USC Law School
(213) 740-2189
Treasurer
Caitlin Hunter
Loyola Law School
(213) 736-1132
Secretary
Amber Kennedy Madole
Loyola Law School
(213) 736-8389
Executive Board Members
Erik Y. Adams
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter &
Hampton
(213) 617-5429
Margaret F. Hall
Southwestern Law School
(213) 738-6851
Immediate Past President
Stefanie Frame
Foley & Lardner LLP
(213) 972-4657
Executive Board 2017–2018
Submission Deadlines The SCALL Newsletter team welcomes submission of any articles of interest to the
law library community. Contact Christina Tsou, SCALL Newsletter Editor:
All submissions should be received by:
Jan/Feb 2018 January 16, 2018
Mar/Apr 2018 March 19, 2018
May/Jun 2018 May 7, 2018
Sept/Oct 2018 September 10, 2018
Nov/Dec 2018 November 12, 2018
Treasurer’s Report By Caitlin Hunter
SCALL Balances Bank Balance as of November 5, 2017 $44,989.90
PayPal Balance as of November 5, 2017 $623.94
Total Balance as of November 5, 2017 $45,613.84
Committee Income and Expenses Since July 1, 2017
SCALL Newsletter
Committee Budget Income Expenses Budget Balance
Archives $100.00 $0.00 $0.00 $100.00
Awards $400.00 $0.00 $328.88 $71.12
Board/Pres/VP $4,000.00 $0.00 $815.28 $3,184.72
Government Relations $400.00 $0.00 $0.00 $400.00
Grants $6,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $6,000.00
IT $1,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,000.00
Institute $12,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $12,000.00
Inner City Youth $5,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $5,000.00
Library School Liaison $5,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $5,000.00
Membership $2,800.00 $4,160.00 $959.78 $6,000.22
Newsletter $300.00 $0.00 $0.00 $300.00
Professional Development
$1,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,000.00
Programs $3,000.00 $875.00 $1,228.54 $2,646.46
PALI $150.00 $0.00 $0.00 $150.00
Public Relations $300.00 $0.00 $0.00 $300.00
Secretary $1,000.00 $0.00 $250.00 $750.00
Treasurer $500.00 $0.00 $121.22 $378.78
Totals $42,950.00 $5,035.00 $3,673.70 $44,311.30
Committee
Chairs 2017–2018
Newsletter
Staff 2017–2018
Erik Y. Adams
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter &
Hampton LLP
(213) 617-5429
John DiGilio
LibSource
(323) 459-4999
Archives
Christine Langteau
LA Law Library
(213) 785-2542
Awards
Jennifer A. Berman
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
(310) 551-9360
Budget & Finance
Jessica Wimer
UCI Law Library
(949) 824-7293
Bylaws
Amy Atchison
UCI Law Library
(949) 824-3203
Government Relations
David McFadden
Southwestern Law School
Library
(213) 738-6726
Grants
Cynthia Guyer
USC Law Library
(213) 740-2621
Information Technology—
Listserv & Website
Suzie Shatarevyan
Loyola Law School Library
(213) 736-1147
Inner City Youth
Diana Jaque
USC Law Library
(213) 740-6482
Institute
Judy K. Davis
USC Law School
(213) 740-2189
Institute Advisory
Jennifer Berman
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
(310) 551-9360
Library School Liaison
Stephanie Anayah
UCLA Law Library
(310) 206-4860
Membership
Judy K. Davis, Co-Chair
USC Law Library
(213) 740-2189
Karen Skinner, Co-Chair
USC Law Library
(213) 740-2615
Newsletter
Judy K. Davis
USC Law Library
(213) 740-2189
Christina Tsou
UCI Law Library
(949) 824-1430
Jessica Wimer
UCI Law Library
(949) 824-7293
Nominations
Cornell Winston
United States Attorney’s Office
(213) 894-2419
Placement
Tiffani Willis
Loyola Law School Library
(213) 736-1413
Professional Development
Jennifer Berman, Co-Chair
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
(310) 551-9360
Mark Gediman, Co-Chair
Best Best & Krieger LLP
(951) 826-8230
Programs
Sarah Joshi, Co-Chair
Continuing Education of the Bar
(800) 988-4340
Elyse Meyers, Co-Chair
UCLA Law Library
(310) 794-5415
Public Access to Legal
Information
Elizabeth Caulfield
Court of Appeal, Second
Appellate District
(213) 830-7242
Public Relations
Bret N. Christensen
Riverside County Law Library
(951) 368-0379
Relations with Vendors
Lawrence R. Meyer
San Bernadino County Law
Library
(909) 885-3020
Lisa Junghahn
UCI Law Library
(949) 824-6421
Kelly Leong
UCLA Law Library
(310) 206-3793
Sherry L. Leysen
Fowler School of Law at
Chapman University
(714) 628-2546
Jim Senter
Jones Day
(213) 243-2531
Editors
Judy K. Davis
USC Law Library
(213) 740-2189
Christina Tsou
UCI Law Library
(949) 824-1430
Jessica Wimer
UCI Law Library
(949) 824-7293
Compiler
Jessica Pierucci UCI Law Library (949) 824-5370 [email protected]
Business Manager
Patrick Sullivan Jones Day (213) 243-2530 [email protected]
Webmaster and Listserv
Suzie Shatarevyan Loyola Law School Library (213) 736-1147 [email protected]
14 SCALL Newsletter