Updates from the Law Library of Congress

The Law Librarian of Congress, David Mao, took time from his first 100 days in office, to give VALL members an update on the goings on in the law library, and reminded us that with 2.78 million volumes in its collection, it is the largest law library in the world.

What has the Law Library of Congress been up to? Keeping up with the Joneses in the world of social media -- it created a FaceBook page in 2009, YouTube & iTunes in 2010, its In Custodia Legis blog in 2010 and launched a Twitter account in 2011.

Next on the list is a redesign of the law library website with a "new visual design" which will include the ability to search for everything through one interface instead of having to conduct multiple searches. Keep an eye out on the Law Library of Congress, many new changes are coming.

Law Librarian of Congress David Mao

 Andrew Weber, legislative information systems manager, talked about changes to THOMAS as well as the law library's work with new media

Tina, Gheen, emerging technologies librarian

Here is the web link to THOMAS: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.php To the bottom left are links to the new media including the blog.

Tavener Papers Digitization Project Management

University of Virginia Law Library's digital librarian, Loren Moulds, and digital fellow, Elizabeth Ladner, took VALL members on a journey of how they produced a virtual library from the Frank S. Tavener, Jr. Tokyo War Crimes Trial Papers. They discussed the digitization of 20,000 pages, the creation of a robust website which includes videos of the trial, equipment selection and software tools.

 Digital fellow Elizabeth Ladner



 

Digital librarian Loren Moulds

Chapter Visitor: Jean Wenger (AALL Vice President)

"There are exciting new things coming about," AALL vice president, Jean Wenger, told VALL members.

She talked about the Futures Summit and some of the issues that have come out of it including the relevancy of AALL to the outside world, how to attact students to law librarianship, and transperancy in how AALL communicates with its members.

Jean also discussed changes to the annual meeting including the return of the Association Lunch on the Tuesday of the annual meeting. And she reminded VALLers that the deadline for the Hot Topic is May 15, and that there were two spots available.

The time in between conference sessions had been increased to half an hour from 15 minutes because conference attendees felt that they didn't have much time to transition from session to session.

The way AALL solicits programs for the annual meeting will also change. AALL will ask for ideas from the membership and from the "buckets of ideas" members will be asked to develop program proposals. Jean asked members to have faith in upcoming changes. "We as an association want to support you," she told VALL members.

Scenes from the Spring Meeting

Attendees to the VALL meeting enjoyed a beautiful Spring day and great informative programs.

The Law Library of Congress team arriving at the registration deskk. L-R: David Mao, Andrew Weber & Tina Gheen.

Terry Long from the Virginia State Law Library picking up her badge at the registration table.

Incoming president, Suzanne Corriell, from the University of Richmond Law School Library.

Part of the continental breakfast for attendees

Socializing before programs: L-R: Taylor Fitchett, Cathy Palombi (back to camera) & Isabel Paul, Amy Wharton.



On the library tour: L-R: AALL vice president, Jean Wenger, Joyce Janto, Catherine Lemann

Librarians ignoring the Quiet Area sign: L-R: Isabel Paul, Donna Bausch, Joyce Janto

Group tour of the library

The interior of the Robert R. Merhige, Jr. Special Collections & Rare Books Room

Bill Katz from Troutman Sanders & Anthony Ikwueme from  Liberty University School of Law Library

Changing of the Guard

Incoming president, Suzanne Corriell, and outgoing president, Michele Gernhardt. Thank you to Michele for her service to VALL. Michele will continue on the executive board as immediate past president. The current executive board: Suzanne Corriell (president), Amy Wharton (vice-president/president elect), Michele Gernhardt (immediate past president), Ben Keele (secretary 2012-2014), Patricia Petroccione (treasurer 2011-2013), Gregory Stoner (director 2011-2013), Heather Casey (director 2012-2014), Evelyn Campbell (ex-officio). Leaving the board is Anthony Ikwueme (immediate past president) and David Knight (director). Many thanks to Anthony and David for their service to VALL.

Norfolk Librarians' Luncheon for Jeanne Ullian

L-R: Laurie Claywell, Jeanne Ullian, Nancy Loewenberg, Tracie Krumbine

Photo by Donna Bausch

Farewell to Jeanne Ullian

by Greg Stoner

As you may already know, our friend and colleague Jeanne Ullian will soon be retiring from Williams Mullen after 13 years of dedicated service. Throughout the course of her time with the firm, our staff and attorneys have come to depend upon Jeanne and her ability to provide reliable information and assistance. Bob Nusbaum, a partner in our Norfolk office, has known Jeanne since her arrival at the firm:

“Jeanne Ullian is the consummate law librarian. She has managed our Law Library at Williams Mullen – Norfolk with a quiet efficiency that masks the magnitude of the routine work of receiving, shelving and maintaining a large volume of books and publications. Our lawyers, young and old, are daily beneficiaries of her uncommon skill in researching and delivering good legal authority for diverse and arcane propositions, both substantive and procedural. All this is done promptly and graciously. To say that Jeanne will be missed is a massive understatement! We wish her well.”

Many of you may have met Jeanne at a VALL meeting or event or had the opportunity to connect through your work. I first met Jeanne in 2008 when I came to Williams Mullen as a librarian in our Richmond office. New to the world of law libraries, I quickly found Jeanne’s approach to her work and the profession to be both inspiring and motivating. I soon realized her level of organization and attention to detail was second to none, and her diligence in dealing with any task or issue before her truly impressive. Regular conversations regarding matters both important and mundane soon became not only opportunities for us to make progress in our work, but also occasions for me to learn and help shape my developing understanding of the true essence of law librarianship.

While Jeanne has taught me so much, I do take great pleasure in knowing I was able to convince her to help share that knowledge with others in the form of a session at the 2011 VLA/VALL conference. While initially hesitant, she quickly jumped in with both feet (in characteristic fashion) and helped orchestrate a program on legal literacy we co-presented with Terry Long (and valuable assistance from Isabel Paul).

For me, Jeanne has been not only a colleague, but a valued friend and mentor. I know there are many others out there who have also reaped the benefits of Jeanne’s contributions to our profession or have come to count her as a friend. It almost goes without saying that we will miss her - but for someone who has worked so hard and done so much I can hardly think of anyone more deserving of the rewards of retirement. Our best wishes to Jeanne on this next chapter of her life!