NLW: University of Richmond Law Library

The University of Richmond School of Law Library celebrated National Library Week by inviting all students, faculty and staff to the Robert R. Merhige, Jr. Special Collections and Rare Books Room for cake on Tuesday, April 13. Heather Hamilton, Reference and Research Services Librarian (left), and Suzanne Corriell, Head of Reference and Research Services (right), await hungry students, staff and faculty.

Message From the President

It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost a year since I first took office as President of the Virginia Association of Law Libraries. These past months have been trying ones for VALL’s membership, as the economy’s effects were felt across the legal world. Through it all, however, I have been proud to observe how the people of VALL have been willing to lend a hand to each other. It is often during difficult times when we learn to appreciate the gifts of our friends and colleagues.

I’d like to thank those who have served as Executive Board members over the past year:

Leanne Battle
Anthony Ikwueme
Suzanne Corriell
Bill Magee
Charles J. Condon
Michelle Gernhardt

I’d also like to thank those who served VALL as committee chairs or members, and in administrative positions:

Evelyn Campbell
Nancy Loewenberg
Isabel Paul
Victoria Levy
Cathy Palombi
Jane Baugh
Teresa Schmid
Charles J. Condon
Sally Wambold
Jennifer Sekula
Donna Bausch
Paul Hellyer
Barbara Baxter
Anthony Ikwueme
Cindy Carlson
Julie Stuckey
Suzanne Corriell
Jean Holcomb
Gail Zwirner
Terry Long
Amy Wharton
Gail Warren

On April 23, during the VALL business meeting to be held at the VALL/SEAALL joint conference in Williamsburg, I will turn over the reins of the Association to the capable hands of Tony Ikwueme and assume the post of Past President. I’ll enjoy the chance to work with the other members of the new Executive Board to take on whatever challenges the new year may present. There are potential amendments to VALL’s bylaws in the making, which we will discuss at the Spring business meeting. VALL will also continue to take part in the fight to make government information available to the public, and to remind Virginians why law libraries remain a vital component of the legal world.

It has been a pleasure and an honor serving you; thank you for giving me this opportunity.

Fred

Things You Need to Know for the SEALL/VALL Meeting

Local Lingo:

"CW" = Colonial Williamsburg
"Confusion Corner" = the intersection of Jamestown Road, Richmond Road, Boundary Street, and Duke of Gloucester Street -- where the College of William & Mary meets the Historic Area.
"DOG Street" = Duke of Gloucester Street, the primary Historic Area street. The Merchant's Square shopping area is on the west end.
"The College" = The College of William & Mary

Weather: Highs are supposed to be in the lower- to mid-70's, with lows in the mid-50's. It may rain towards the end of the meeting. If you are staying at the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel: The Woodlands Hotel and the Cascades Conference Center are adjacent to one another, on the grounds of the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center.

To get to the Historic Area and downtown restaurants, you can:
1. Walk: it's 10 minutes to the Historic Area and about 20 minutes to the restaurants.
2. Take the free CW bus: it leaves from the Visitor's Center.
3. Drive: there's both free and paid parking downtown.

If you are staying at the Williamsburg Lodge: To get to the Cascades Conference Center, you can:
1. Drive: park by the Woodlands Hotel or the Cascades Conference Center (parking is free).
2. Take the free CW bus: to the CW Visitor Center, then walk a few minutes to the Cascades.
3. Walk: give yourself at least 30 minutes. From the Lodge, it's a short walk to the Historic Area and downtown restaurants.

If you are touring the Wolf Law Library on Thursday:

Location: The Law School is on South Henry Street, a few blocks south of Duke of Gloucester (DOG) Street and the Historic Area.

Tours are at 2:10, 2:40, 3:10, 3:40, and 4:10 pm, and last 40-50 minutes. Refreshments in our technical services area.

Vans (driven by members of our staff) leave from in front of the Conference Center at 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30 and 4:00 pm.

Walkers: It's about a 30-40 minute walk from the Cascades Conference Center to the Law Library.

Drivers: It's a 5-minute drive. You may park anywhere in the Law School lot, but you must have a parking pass. Pick one up at the SEAALL Registration/Information table.

Vans will take you back to the Cascades Conference Center at 3:15, 3:45, 4:15, 4:45, and 5:15 pm.

Dine-Around:
Reservations will be cut off at noon Friday, April 16, and all unreserved seats will be canceled. Details on getting to the restaurants will be available at the Registration/Information table at the meeting. Make reservations at: http://web.wm.edu/law/lawlibrary/seaall2010/program/dinearound.php

VALL Spring Meeting 2010

The VALL Spring Meeting 2010 will be held on April 23, 4:15 - 5 pm, in the Garden Room, Cascades Conference Center, Williamsburg.

VALL Nominees 2010-2011

Vice President/President Elect: Michele Gernhardt

Michele has worked as a reference librarian at the Richmond office of Hunton & Williams LLP since November 2005. In addition to her reference duties at Hunton & Williams, Michele is responsible for coordinating cataloging and serials management in the firm's library information system. She also creates and conducts training programs regarding various library resources. Michele has been a VALL member since 2004. Over the past 5 years, she has served on the VALL Membership and Program committees, served as Membership committee chair (2007-2008), and is presently a Director on the VALL Board. She received her JD from the University of Richmond, T.C. Williams School of Law in 2002 and her MSLS from the Catholic University of America in 2007. Michele resides in Chesterfield County with her husband (Alan), 2 1/2 year old daughter (Sabrina), two cats and six goldfish.

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Secretary: Amy Wharton

Amy is the Research and Emerging Technologies Librarian at the University of Virginia Law School Library. She recently authored the VALL column in the December 2009 issue of The Virginia Lawyer, "Web 2.0: What's in it for Lawyer 1.0?" and oversees the VALL Wiki (vall.pbworks.com). If elected VALL Secretary, Amy will do her part to ensure the timely publication of meeting minutes and a smooth election process. As an Executive Board member, she pledges to work with the Board and the VALL community to find creative ways to turn our common challenges into shared successes.

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Director candidates:

Patty Petroccione

Patty is director at the Walter T. McCarthy Law Library; the Arlington Public Law Library located in the Arlington County Courthouse. In 1999, she returned to the library and information services profession after practicing law for five years as an Assistant Commonwealth ’s Attorney in Arlington , and one year with a law firm. During her early years in the library profession, she was director of several law firm libraries in Washington , D.C. , including Sidley & Austin and Carr , Jordan , Savits & Lopata.

Patty received her J.D. from George Washington University , her master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Catholic University, and her Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Albany .

She enjoys travelling with her husband and teenage son and daughter. Yoga and reading are two of her favorite hobbies. Patty’s time out of the library is often spent driving her teenagers to various music lessons, performances and other afterschool activities. She has served as president and vice president of the elementary and high school PTAs.

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Tracie Krumbine

I bring several years of research and customer service experience, having worked in a variety of library settings including special, academic, law firm and public. I currently work as a Solutions Consultant for LexisNexis. The combination of of my past firm experience and my current experience working with firms of all sizes in all areas of the state makes me a good representative of Virginia law libraries. Although I no longer work as a law librarian I am very interested in the professional development of law librarians and plan to remain directly involved in the library profession in any capacity that I can.

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David Knight

I have been nominated for the office of Director of VALL. I have worked at the Norfolk Law Library for almost 3 years. This is my first position in a law library after 7 years in the public library sector, where I was head of reference for a branch of the Newport News Public Library System. I was co-author of an article that appeared in Virginia Libraries, Improving the Health of Seniors: A Partnership Between a Public Library and an Academic Health Sciences Library, vol. 51, no.4. After a couple of years as a paraprofessional in NNPLS, I decided to earn my Master’s degree, finishing in 2004. My favorite classes while in library school were legal and government information sources, so when a position opened in a law library, I jumped at the chance to apply. I have been very happy working at the Norfolk Law Library. Although I have not held an office in VALL before, I have filled in as Secretary for Bill Magee on those occasions when he has been unable to attend a VALL meeting. Taking minutes for VALL business meetings has given me an understanding of the organization and I would like the opportunity to become more involved.

VALL Winter & Spring Meetings

Registration forms for the Winter Meeting on March 5 at Liberty University School of Law in Lynchburg, and the Joint VALL/SEAALL Meeting April 22 - 24 in Williamsburg, are available at: http://vall.pbworks.com/

Don't let the deadlines creep up on you, register now!

Nominations 2010

It's that time of the year again! VALL is looking for a Vice President/President Elect, Secretary and Director.

Please fill out a nominations form located at: http://vall.pbworks.com/ or email Nominations Chair, Cathy Palombi at ccp7m@virginia.edu with your suggestions.

Deadline is February 5th, 2010.