VALL at VLA 2016 Annual Meeting

by Evelyn M. Campbell

There are few things that can rival a crisp Fall day in Hot Springs, VA, even when foliage is not quite in its glory. More than 500 people attended the Virginia Library Association's Annual Meeting from Oct. 26 - 28, at the Homestead.

I had submitted four programs designed to build a legal reference foundation for public librarians, and was glad when Legal Reference 1: Providing Legal Reference Without Breaking the Law, was accepted with a request that I combine it with Legal Reference 4: Legal Reference Questions from the Trenches - You Asked and We Are Answering.

It was an opportunity for us to test the waters and see how receptive public librarians would be to a series of programs or workshops on legal reference. 

Virginia State Law Librarian, Gail Warren, agreed to talk to the attendees about Virginia's Unauthorized Practice of the Law, and VALL President, Patty Petroccione, joined her in answering legal questions that VLA members had submitted.

The program was well attended and attendees were lining up later to ask questions. They were very interested in our plans for a series of legal reference workshops designed for public librarians. We also provided the attendees with a handout of the legal websites that we referenced and one attendee in her evaluation called it "gold".

Patty Petroccione, Evelyn Campbell & Gail Warren before the start of the program

Gail Warren discussing Virginia's Unauthorized Practice of the Law

Gail and Patty giving attendees best practice tips on how to handle legal reference questions

VALLers, Amy O'Connor from the University of Richmond Law Library, and Suzanne Corriell from the Fourth Circuit Library, presented Promote, Praise, Repeat with People: Enhancing Your Staff Morale with Effective Performance Appraisals.

Barbie Selby talking about identity theft

Barbie Selby, from the University of Virginia, presented: Identity Theft - A First Hand Perspective.

Caroline Osborne, from Washington & Lee University School of Law, presented The Alchemy of Your Career: Spinning Straw into Gold.

VLA President, Martha Hutzel, cutting the ribbon to the exhibition hall 

VALL Fall Meeting at Lewis Ginter

by Patricia Petroccione

If you weren’t at the VALL 2016 Fall Meeting on October 14, you missed a very engaging event. Lara Dresser and the program committee, Alison Hancock and Chris Vassey, put much thought and effort into planning the entire day, which began with a light breakfast and ended with an invitation to stroll the grounds of the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. The meeting was held in a room with a lovely view of the gardens. We were honored to have Donna Nixon, Electronic Resources Librarian at UNC Law Library, as our AALL Executive Board visitor.

AALL Executive Board visitor, Donna Dixon (photo courtesy of Ben Almoite)

The program included the timely topic Cybersecurity Trends, quite appropriate since October was National Cyber Security Awareness month. The speaker, Joseph Racynski, technology manager at Thomson Reuters provided a sobering overview of the types and effects of data breaches. Fortunately, he offered several recommendations to enhance security, such as update patches and perform internal security audits. The second program on Competitive Intelligence was very enlightening. Michelle Gernhardt, Hunton & Williams, and Arlene Fletcher, Crowell & Moring, highlighted how analytic and research skills may be combined to gather and interpret information to enhance an organization’s strategic decisions. It is a developing field in which librarians should prepare to participate. The final presentation was a workshop led by John Worth of Virginia Commonwealth University. He provided excellent strategies and examples for managing and advancing one’s career. At the conclusion of the meeting, there was an opportunity to explore the gardens, or wander through the extensive and tempting gift shop.

 

Attendees enjoying breakfast before the program (photo courtesy of Patty Petroccione)

 

The time and dedication of our wonderful presenters is greatly appreciated, thank you all. We also value the support of our sponsors, Thomson Reuters, Wolters Kluwer, Bloomberg Law, Priory Solutions, LexisNexis and SirsiDynix; thank you as well.

VALL President Patricia Petroccione opening the meeting (photo courtesy of Ben Almoite)

Finally, thank you Lara, Alison and Chris for an inspiring and interesting day of information, delicious food and the great outdoors.

See you all at the Spring meeting on April 21, 2016.