VALL Reaches 100-Article Milestone in the Virginia Lawyer

By Gail Zwirner

VALL reached a major milestone in August 2015 in our collaboration with the Virginia State Bar.  Roger Skalbeck’s article on legal research technologies for the Law Libraries column in the Virginia Lawyer was the 100^th article we contributed. Our relationship started in April 1997 when Donna Bausch, in an outreach and public relations effort, contributed “Tools of the Trade: Research Resources for the Virginia Practitioner.”  After doing a book review for the next issue, Lyn Warmath worked with then-Editor, Rod Coggin, and they created the Law Libraries column. 

Rod said our contributions were always timely, linked well to the issue theme, and required little editing.  He also noted that our articles are some of the most-linked sources in the publication.  In February 2000, the VSB released the first all-librarian authored issue.  Not only did we contribute the regular column, but we also filled each issue with five substantive articles on legal research and technology issues.  There have been six all-librarian issues since 2000. 

You may see the list of articles with links to the full text at the VALL Wiki at:  http://vall.pbworks.com/w/page/79718339/Virginia%20Lawyer%20and%20Virginia%20Law%20Weekly%20Contributions%202006-

Thanks to all VALL member authors who contributed articles for the Law Libraries column.

VLA Council Meeting, 19 March 2016

Submitted by Terry Long, VALL liaison to VLA

Highlights of the VLA Council Meeting:

• VLA annual meeting will be held at the Homestead, October 26-28^th.

o   More program proposals are needed.

o   Lisa Varga, Executive Director, explored some conference ideas with the group.

•  VLA Professional Associated Forum will be held May 2^nd at the Doubletree in Williamsburg.

o   Pay for four registrations, get the fifth free.

•   VLA’s Legislative update http://www.vla.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=447:vla-2016-legislative-committee-update--increase-to-state-aid-and-more&catid=21:latest-news

o   There was an increase in state aid to libraries.

•      National Legislative Day for libraries is May 2-3, 2016. VLA gives financial support to those attending.

• VLA’s Professional Development Forum is having job fairs around the state.

• VLA’s Membership Directory is now available online.

•  New Members Forum has kicked off it mentoring effort for 2016.

• 175 books have been nominated for the Jefferson Cup award.

• ALA is promoting its new marketing effort, Libraries Transform. Some of their products can be customized for your library.

• VLA’s 2017 meeting will be in Norfolk; and, in 2018 it will be in Colonial Williamsburg.

VALL Spring Meeting, April 8, 2016

The Spring Meeting and changeover of officers will be on April 8, 2016, at Washington & Lee Law School in Lexington, Virginia.

Click here for a preliminary program:  Spring Meeting Progam

More details to follow!

AALL name change vote

The proposal to change the name of American Association of Law Libraries to the Association for Legal Information has failed by a vote of 1998 (80.11 percent) opposed, to 496 (19.89 percent) in favor. A record number of members voted on this proposal, with 59.51 percent casting a ballot.

VLA Council Meeting highlights from January 29, 2016

Submitted by Terry Long, VALL Liaison

·         The VLA annual conference was a success.

·         The cost to post on Jobline has increased from $75 to $100. This increase will help keep the dues at the current level.

·         VLA is in a strong financial position as have a healthy reserve fund.

·         Lisa Varga, Executive Director, wants VLA to push for a license plate promoting libraries. She explained the process to council. She said a member of the General Assembly would have to introduce the bill next year after a commitment had been made to purchase the plate by at least 450 constituents. It is a good way to raise the profile of libraries.

·         Legislative agenda is on VLA’s web site.

o   They are asking for an increase in state aid. The Governor’s budget does not increase state aid. With the governor asking for an increase to the education budget, VLA is asking for the increase to state aid because of the effectiveness of the summer reading program in the public libraries.

o   Of interest is HB 336 concerning a parent’s right to access their child’s library record. This currently is addressed by local practice.

·         VLA Paraprofessional Forum will be held in at the Doubletree Hotel in Williamsburg on May 2^nd.

·         The 2016 VLA meeting will be held at the Homestead resort in Hot Springs, October 26-28.

o   The opportunity to propose programs is open until April 15^th.

o   West Virginia librarians will be invited to attend at VLA member rates.

o    Mixers will take the place of the traditional Thursday evening All Conference Social. The mixers may be centered around foods but there has also been suggestions for a knitters mixer, and one for people interested in board games,

·         The number one thing VLA members ask for is that the membership directory be made available on the website. It is currently a work-in-progress.

Ben on Jeopardy!

Yes, that's right -- VALL's own Ben Almoite will be a contestant on Jeopardy! this Thursday, January 14, so don't forget to tune in and cheer Ben on!

How does one get to be on Jeopardy!? Other than the obvious ... be really, really good in trivia. Ben took the Jeopardy! Adult Online Test in January, 2014, and had to wait an entire year before he received an email inviting him to an in-person audition in DC in March 2015.

"During that audition, they took my picture and I took another timed 50-question test. Then, on camera I got to play a mock game of the show, and was interviewd," Ben said.

After the interview, he was placed into Jeopardy's contestant pool, which meant that he could get a call to appear on the show within the next 18 months. For Ben that call came eight months later in November, 2015. And in December 2015 Ben flew to Los Angeles to tape the show.

Ben prepared by watching as many Jeopardy! shows as possible. "I played along with the games, practicing ringing in to answer using the Jeopardy! pen I got at the audition," he said.

"I also read several books written by former Jeopardy! champions, including Brainiac by Ken Jennings, and Prisoner of Trebekistan by Bob Harris. Finally, I tried to review a few subjects in which I felt I was not particularly well-versed."

The most nerve wrecking part for Ben was waiting for the show to begin, and the most fun part was, of course, playing the game. Everything is done in real time so the episodes are all really shot in thirty minutes.

"For me, it felt surreal. My whole taping experience was a blur. I remember being on stage and playing the game, having my picture taken with Alex, talking to him briefly during my interview, and then trading handshakes at the end of it all," Ben said.

Being on Jeopardy! was one of the most memorable experiences of Ben's life. Let's tune in on Thursday and cheer Ben on!

Message from the President

Hello, VALL members and Happy New Year!  As 2015 has now come and gone I would like to take a moment to thank all VALL members for a great year for our organization and look forward to many more milestones and achievements.

After a very enjoyable lunch at AALL in Philadelphia, VALL members gathered again in Richmond for a joint meeting with VLA.   At the joint meeting VALL member presented four sessions that were all well attended by conference goers:

·         Joyce Manna Janto, University of Richmond School of Law Library, Workplace Privacy: A Reality or an Oxymoron?

·         Caroline Osborne, Washington and Lee University School of Law, Privacy, Archives & the Digital Age

·         Stephanie Miller, Washington and Lee University School of Law, Managing Online Presence for Students and Professionals

·         Terry Long,

VALL members also hosted a table at the conference exhibit hall with much success.  We created many opportunities to talk about VALL and law librarianship with other librarians across Virginia.

VALL members at VLA also met for a lovely dinner together at the Baker’s Crust in Richmond.  Thanks to everyone who attended! 

It is that time of year for nominations again.  Candidates are needed to fill three positions on the Executive Board: Vice President/President-Elect, and two-year terms for Treasurer and Director.  The Vice President must be a member of AALL.  Any VALL member may serve as Treasurer or Director regardless of AALL membership status.  Please contact Amy Wharton at aaw7mh@virginia.edu to nominate yourself or a fellow VALL member as a candidate.

Our next VALL meeting will be in Lexington, VA at Washington and Lee on Friday April 8, 2015.   I hope to see you all here this spring! 

Stephanie