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.