Ben on Jeopardy!

Yes, that's right -- VALL's own Ben Almoite will be a contestant on Jeopardy! this Thursday, January 14, so don't forget to tune in and cheer Ben on!

How does one get to be on Jeopardy!? Other than the obvious ... be really, really good in trivia. Ben took the Jeopardy! Adult Online Test in January, 2014, and had to wait an entire year before he received an email inviting him to an in-person audition in DC in March 2015.

"During that audition, they took my picture and I took another timed 50-question test. Then, on camera I got to play a mock game of the show, and was interviewd," Ben said.

After the interview, he was placed into Jeopardy's contestant pool, which meant that he could get a call to appear on the show within the next 18 months. For Ben that call came eight months later in November, 2015. And in December 2015 Ben flew to Los Angeles to tape the show.

Ben prepared by watching as many Jeopardy! shows as possible. "I played along with the games, practicing ringing in to answer using the Jeopardy! pen I got at the audition," he said.

"I also read several books written by former Jeopardy! champions, including Brainiac by Ken Jennings, and Prisoner of Trebekistan by Bob Harris. Finally, I tried to review a few subjects in which I felt I was not particularly well-versed."

The most nerve wrecking part for Ben was waiting for the show to begin, and the most fun part was, of course, playing the game. Everything is done in real time so the episodes are all really shot in thirty minutes.

"For me, it felt surreal. My whole taping experience was a blur. I remember being on stage and playing the game, having my picture taken with Alex, talking to him briefly during my interview, and then trading handshakes at the end of it all," Ben said.

Being on Jeopardy! was one of the most memorable experiences of Ben's life. Let's tune in on Thursday and cheer Ben on!

Message from the President

Hello, VALL members and Happy New Year!  As 2015 has now come and gone I would like to take a moment to thank all VALL members for a great year for our organization and look forward to many more milestones and achievements.

After a very enjoyable lunch at AALL in Philadelphia, VALL members gathered again in Richmond for a joint meeting with VLA.   At the joint meeting VALL member presented four sessions that were all well attended by conference goers:

·         Joyce Manna Janto, University of Richmond School of Law Library, Workplace Privacy: A Reality or an Oxymoron?

·         Caroline Osborne, Washington and Lee University School of Law, Privacy, Archives & the Digital Age

·         Stephanie Miller, Washington and Lee University School of Law, Managing Online Presence for Students and Professionals

·         Terry Long,

VALL members also hosted a table at the conference exhibit hall with much success.  We created many opportunities to talk about VALL and law librarianship with other librarians across Virginia.

VALL members at VLA also met for a lovely dinner together at the Baker’s Crust in Richmond.  Thanks to everyone who attended! 

It is that time of year for nominations again.  Candidates are needed to fill three positions on the Executive Board: Vice President/President-Elect, and two-year terms for Treasurer and Director.  The Vice President must be a member of AALL.  Any VALL member may serve as Treasurer or Director regardless of AALL membership status.  Please contact Amy Wharton at aaw7mh@virginia.edu to nominate yourself or a fellow VALL member as a candidate.

Our next VALL meeting will be in Lexington, VA at Washington and Lee on Friday April 8, 2015.   I hope to see you all here this spring! 

Stephanie