Congratulations!

Former VALL president, Kevin Butterfield, is now the University Librarian of the Boatwright Memorial Library of the University of Richmond.

Kevin became University Librarian on April 16 after serving as interim University Librarian for about seven months.

Congratulations to Kevin from VALL!

VALL Spring Meeting 2012

The meeting which was held on Friday, April 13, 2012, at the University of Richmond School of Law, was attended by at least 52 people, and filled Classroom L30 in the law library to capacity.

Attendees were given an update by the new Law Librarian of Congress, David Mao, and his team (please see entry below for a summary of what was presented).

The team of Elizabeth Ladner and Loren Moulds, from the University of Virginia Law Library, shared their work on the digitization of the Tokyo War Crimes Trial Papers (please see entry below for a summary).

VALL was also fortunate to have a chapter visitor from AALL -- vice president, Jean Wenger, who talked about recent AALL initiatives and upcoming changes to the AALL annual meeting (please see below for a summary of her update).

Dean Wendy Perdue from the University of Richmond School of Law welcoming VALL members. "Libraries are critical to what we do," she said in her opening remarks.

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.