Reflections

by Robert L. Davis, III

In my personal life I often advise folks who are seeking anything to “go for it!” and “don’t let them tell you ‘no’.” But I have neglected to do that for myself and my library.

Sure, I was trying to be altruistic and give librarians who were new to the profession, the advantage of using the scholarships/grants offered. Thanks to talking with Leanne Battle at the VALL Winter meeting I applied for and received a grant. I clearly appreciated and understood its value.

This was especially poignant when I saw and read the article “Wishing We Were in Washington” by Kathy Fletcher and Jennifer Finch, The Capital Crier, Convention Newspaper, Saturday, July 25, 2009. The authors were not able to attend AALL “for institutional financial reasons”. The article also indicated overall attendance for the annual meeting was down about 20%.

Unlike some of you whose library budgets have endured cuts within the last year, the PWCLL travel and membership budget was cut years ago. Civil filing fees, on which this library subsists, were down, anything other than essential operating costs were eliminated.

Thus, I am really grateful to Leanne for strongly encouraging me to apply for the grant. Sure, I had to add monies to make registration a reality. But for the grant I probably would not have attended this annual convention. Not attending would have created a lapse of 10 years of not connecting with colleagues and renewing my spirit to continue.

Speaking of “renewing my spirit to continue”, I want to share a secret I have carried during my 14 years as a law librarian. The mere presence of Gail Zwirner, Donna Bausch, Isabel Paul, Evelyn Campbell and Terry Long always encouraged and sustained me. These stalwarts of the profession have always been there for me and for VALL. When I see and speak with them I understand and know they are the keepers of my flame. Looking to the examples and standards they set keeps me on track and helps me continue to strive to be the best law librarian I can be. I thank them for all that they do and represent. And I thank VALL for the grant and opportunity to serve and commune with you all.

VALL at AALL Washington, DC, 2009,

Thank You from VIP Sandra Treadway

Dear Leanne and Fred,

Just a quick note to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to attend AALL this past week as VALL's VIP guest. It was a wonderful experience! I learned so much, made many new professional acquaintances and connections, and came away tremendously impressed with the state of law librarianship as well as an appreciation for many of the issues that the law library community faces.

You both as well as many other members of VALL who I encountered during the three days I was there made me feel very welcome and watched out to be sure that I could find my way around the the program schedule, receptions, etc. I truly felt like a VIP, which my staff back at the Library has already told me not to get used to!

I am off on vacation this Friday, but on my return I plan on joining VALL to show my support for the wonderful work that you do.

If I can help you in any way, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Again, thank you for including me in this special opportunity. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

Hope the conference concluded successfully and that you both had/have a little time to rest before heading back to work.

All the best,
Sandy

In-House Supply Stockpile Checklist for Disaster Preparedness

OPERATIONAL SUPPLIES:

Location Quantity Date

batteries
book trucks
boots, rubber
brooms, regular
brooms with squeegees
cleaning compounds
extension cords (3-wire, grounded, 50 feet)
first aid kits
flashlights
fungicide (Lysol)
garbage bags
generator, portable
identification badges
light sticks, chemical
lights, shop
mop buckets
mops
plastic sheeting
protective masks and gloves
scissors
shovel
walkie-talkies
wet/dry vacuum(s)

PACKING SUPPLIES:

boxes, cardboard bread trays, plastic buckets

freezer or waxed paper
hoses, water
labels, adhesives
milk crates, plastic
notepads
packing slips
pens/pencils
plastic sheeting
scissors
tape, filament

DRYING SUPPLIES:
clothesline (30lb monofilament or nylon)
clothes pins, plastic
dehumidifiers
fans
hygrometers
paper for interleaving (paper towels or unprinted newsprint)

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS:

crowbar
duct tape
hammers
hand saw
ladders
nails, miscellaneous sizes
plywood, assorted sizes

Note: List supplied by Sally Wambold on behalf of the Preservation Committee. This list was originally a SOLINET Preservation Services Leaflet.

Disaster Preparedness Kit

Ready, Set, Preserve—Redux!
Sally Wambold, University of Richmond Law Library
for the VALL Preservation Committee

A considerable time ago, the VALL Preservation Committee issued a challenge to the membership to develop a Disaster Preparedness Kit. SOLINET, now Lyrasis, provided a list of items. Preservation and disaster preparedness have two powerful enemies, lack of time and lack of money; and no library accepted the challenge. UR Law volunteered to work through the challenge and especially encountered the problem of limited time.

The list is long and can be off-putting. However, Director Tim Coggins at UR wisely helped to shorten the list by observing that many items are already onsite. Below are the items on the UR shopping list. Buying them will not complete the work, but it will demonstrate progress. With luck, the ball will “remain in play” until there is completion. The VALL Preservation Committee hopes to report on this topic again very soon.

OPERATIONAL SUPPLIES
boots, rubber
brooms, regular
brooms with squeegees
cleaning compounds
fungicide (Lysol)
garbage bags
identification badges
light sticks, chemical
lights, shop
mops
walkie-talkies

PACKING SUPPLIES
boxes, cardboard
bread trays, plastic buckets (for photos)
freezer or waxed paper
hoses, water

DRYING SUPPLIES
clothesline (30lb monofilament or nylon)
clothespins, plastic
paper for interleaving (paper towels or unprinted newsprint)

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
crowbar
hand saw
plywood, assorted sizes

Directions to the VALL luncheon at AALL

The VALL summer meeting will be at Biersch Brewery on Monday, July 27 at 12:30 pm. Please see link below for directions:

http://vall.pbworks.com/2009-Summer-Meeting

President's Message: Fred Dingledy

The smoke from the fireworks has cleared, the July Fourth barbecues are but a memory.
Welcome to the middle of summer.

It’s been quite a year for VALL so far; we’ve had a successful Winter meeting at George Mason University School of Law, and a very enjoyable Spring meeting with the Virginia chapter of SLA at Washington and Lee School of Law. My thanks go out to the hosts of both these meetings for their generous help. My thanks also to Leanne Battle and the 2008-09 Executive Board for a year well-done. I am thrilled to be taking the baton from Leanne Battle and hope to serve you well as president, along with the 2009-10 Executive Board.

Tony Ikwueme and his Program Committee are hard at work on events for the upcoming year. On July 27, we will be meeting at Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant during AALL, and in Spring 2010, we will be meeting in Williamsburg during the SEAALL Annual Meeting. We’ll keep you up-to-date with more details on upcoming meetings as they develop.

The year ahead will be full of challenges. The current economy has meant tough times and tight budgets for libraries of all sizes and specialties. It is during times such as these that I hope VALL can truly be of service to you, the members who make VALL possible. Take advantage of what we can offer you, whether it be applying for a grant to attend a meeting, using the new VALL wiki to get some practice with Web 2.0, or simply communicating with your fellow members. VALL’s committees are always looking for new volunteers, so be sure to let me know if you’re interested.

Best wishes to all of you, and I hope to meet up with many of you in DC! Enjoy the rest of summer!

Fred