Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Andrew Winston in April 2014 Virginia Lawyer
Andrew Winston has written A Bibliography of Resources on Mindfulness in the Law which was published in the April 2014 Virginia Lawyer. To access the article: http://www.vsb.org/docs/valawyermagazine/vl0414-libraries.pdf
Thursday, April 17, 2014
VALL Spring Meeting, April 11, 2014
It was a beautiful day in Glen Allen for the Spring meeting (it didn't rain and there was no snow) and that bright object in the sky was actually the sun!
VALL attendees registering at South University for the meeting
Having a bite and catching up with other Vallers before the conference
Listening intently to Kristen Glover's "Don't Just Do Something, Sit There!"
Thanks to Kristen Glover from the University of Virginia Arthur J. Morris Law Library, I will never look at a raisin in quite the same way again, and I like raisins! One of the exercises that Kristen used in her "mindfulness" presentation was the examination of a raisin. Putting a shriveled up grape in the palm of your hand, bringing it up to your ear, sniffing it, letting it rest on your tongue, gives you a whole new appreciation for that innocous looking dried fruit.
The idea of centering oneself in the moment and being aware of your surroundings and your being is not new to those of us who practice yoga. The fact that it is now being used in law schools, businesses and organizations to improve students' and employees' well being and performance, is certainly new.
Kristen shared some of the things that the University of Virginia's Mindfulness Center is doing -- it offers a six-week course where students can spend two hours a week participating in mindfulness activities. During finals students can come to the library where there is a room designated for half hour meditations, etc. And if you hit it on the right day, rumour has it that you may even get grilled cheese sandwiches served up by Micheal Klepper and Ben Doherty!
For Kristen's presentation and some very helpful resources on mindfulness, please click here: http://vall.pbworks.com/w/page/78868157/Kristin%20Glover%20on%20Mindfulness%2C%20Spring%20Meeting%202014
John Eller and Andrew Christensen from the Washington & Lee Law Library speaking on "Expanding the Frontiers of Service" from the traditional reference and instructional services provided to students and faculty, to providing "competitive intelligence" to other university departments such as human resources for career placement, recruitment and curriculum development purposes.
Those from firm libraries will notice that these are things that firm librarians have been doing for years. It's good to see that there is now a focus on expanding services beyond the traditional ideas of what libraries do, and this also opens up avenues for a greater partnership between academic and firm librarians.
For John and Andrew's presentation, please click here: http://vall.pbworks.com/w/page/78873362/Eller%20and%20Christensen%2C%20Expanding%20the%20Frontiers%20of%20Service%2C%20Spring%20Meeting%202014
Andrew Christensen in a breakaway group discussion
Group discussions
Outgoing VALL President, Amy Wharton, conducting her last business meeting
The Executive Board: L-R: Lara Dresser (outgoing Secretary), Andrew Winston (incoming director), Chris Vassey (incoming secretary), Ben Almoite (incoming president), Stephanie Miller (vice president), and Amy Wharton (outgoing president)
The new board!
A little gift to Amy for her service to VALL
It's a gavel with an inscription!
VLA Council Meeting Highlights, April 11, 2014
by Terry Long, VALL liaison to VLA Council
·
Membership is showing strength as the renewal period
has just begun - 773 members have renewed and there are 147 new members.
·
VLA’s new web site will go live by May 1.
·
Shari Henry is working on making the VLA Manual
consistent with its by-laws.
·
Several council members participated in a
conference call with Senator Warner. Kevin Smith said it went very well.
·
Phil Abraham, the VLA lobbyist spoke to the
Council:
o State
Aid has fared well despite the current budget debacle in the General Assembly.
o The
budget impasse may affect public law libraries.
o There
are two different attorney general opinions on whether the government can
continue to operate after July 1 if a budget has not passed.
o John
Ulmschneider, Legislative Committee co-chair, commended Phil’s good work on
behalf of VLA.
·
VLA’s Paraprofessional Forum will be held May
18-20 in Richmond. Registration is open.
·
The Paraprofessional Forum is changing its name
to Professional Associates Forum as they want to broaden their membership base
to those working in libraries that are not librarians, i.e. financial staff,
facilities managers, administrative assistants, etc. And, likewise, the Forum
will provide programing of interest to them.
·
Ten VLA members have signed up to attend
National Legislative Day May 5-6. VLA pays up to $300 per day for a member to
attend.
·
VLA Annual Conference is October 22-24 at the
DoubleTree Hotel in Williamsburg
o Programs
submissions will be reviewed and selections made mid-May.
o 28
vendors have already signed up.
o Fundraising
is going well, $5200 has been raised with a goal of $11,000.
o Wednesday
afternoon tours will be offered of Swem Library. Shuttle service will be
provided.
o The
unconference will be held in the hotel atrium instead of a meeting room to be
more accessible.
·
New Member mentoring program is going well.
There will continue to be directed Twitter chats and a visit to a winery is
planned.
·
The Leadership Development Academy had more
applicants than places. It convenes in Staunton at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel
from May 5-6. There will be 24 attendees.
·
The Library of Virginia is the host for the
National Genealogical Conference, May 7-10. The conference is huge 2300 people
are expected –according to the NGS web site all 6 downtown hotels are booked –
they have also reserved rooms in many suburban hotels! For the first time, the Library will be open
one evening.
·
The Library of Virginia is conducting social
media boot camps for public libraries to be held throughout the state in May.
AALL 2014 Leadership Academy
by Ben Almoite
I was privileged to have been chosen to
participate in this year’s AALL Leadership Academy, April 4-5, at the Hyatt
Lodge at McDonald’s Campus, in Oak Brook, Illinois. Yes, that’s THE McDonald’s!
The location of the two-day workshop was in the same grounds that include McDonald’s
Corporate Headquarters, and Hamburger University nearby. If one needed further
proof where you were, the hotel showcased much McDonald’s-themed art throughout
its halls (see accompanying pictures). In addition, the timing of the academy could
not have been any better, as it took place exactly one week before my official succession
as VALL President.
.jpg)
.jpg)
It was a very intense yet educational
two days. The academy was led by Gail Johnson and Pam Parr, of Face To Face Communications and
Training, Inc. Their presentations were very entertaining and engaging. As participants
we watched PowerPoint slides, took short, interesting tests and played “ice
breakers” and team building games. From all these activities we learned about the
“myths” and definitions of leadership, people’s different styles of communication
and leadership, how to communicate clearly and directly, and how to have the
“tough talk” or difficult conversation with co-workers. In addition, we learned
how one’s values and leadership go hand-in-hand, and how to motivate yourself
and others at the workplace.
.jpg)
The academy was also notable in that three
VALL members had been selected to participate this year. In addition to me, Debbie
Shrager of George Mason Law Library and Andrew Winston of the University of
Richmond Law Library were in attendance.
All in all, it was a very informative
and productive two days. I am very grateful to have been awarded the VALL grant
that allowed me to participate in such an innovative workshop. I definitely
plan to practice the skills I have learned during this year’s AALL Leadership
Academy - during my coming year as VALL President, and beyond.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Choice Reviews Online April 2014
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zarnowski, Frank. American work-sports: a history of
competitions for cornhuskers, lumberjacks, firemen and others. McFarland, 2013. 230p bibl
index afp ISBN 9780786467846 <http://worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/isbn/9780786467846>
pbk, $35.00; ISBN 9780786491261 ebook <http://worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/isbn/9780786491261
ebook>, contact publisher for price (reviewed in CHOICE April 2014).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surdam, David George.
Run to glory & profits: the economic rise of the NFL during the
1950s. Nebraska, 2013. 433p bibl
index afp ISBN 9780803246966 <http://worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/isbn/9780803246966>,
$55.00 (reviewed in CHOICE April 2014).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smil, Vaclav. Made
in the USA: the rise and retreat of American manufacturing. MIT, 2013.
263p bibl indexes afp ISBN 9780262019385 <http://worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/isbn/9780262019385>
pbk, $27.95 (reviewed in CHOICE April 2014).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sax, Boria.
Imaginary animals: the monstrous, the wondrous and the human. Reaktion Books, 2013. 278p bibl ISBN 9781780231730 <http://worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/isbn/9781780231730>,
$39.00 (reviewed in CHOICE April 2014).
Full review available online: http://www.cro3.org/lookup/doi/10.5860/CHOICE.51-4212
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rutherford, Jennifer.
Zombies. Routledge, 2013. 111p bibl
index ISBN 9780415524476 <http://worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/isbn/9780415524476>,
$100.00; ISBN 9780415524483 <http://worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/isbn/9780415524483>
pbk, $19.95; ISBN 9780203101841 ebook <http://worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/isbn/9780203101841
ebook>, contact publisher for price (reviewed in CHOICE April 2014).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reprinted with permission from the American Library Association.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Spring Meeting Deadline!
April 7 is the deadline for registrations to the Spring Meeting which will be held on April 11 from 8:30 am - 2:30 pm at South University. Make sure you get your registerations in next week to make the deadline. Here is the link to the registration form, food and parking information: http://vall.pbworks.com/w/file/76518296/VALL_2014_Spring_Meeting_Registration_FINAL.pdf
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
VALL Grants
The VALL Executive Board has directed the Grants committee to award three grants to help members interested in attending the AALL Annual Meeting in San Antonio. The first of these grants is the Barbara Cumming Professional Development Grant in the amount of $500. This grant is named after a long-time VALL member and was established by her firm upon her death. Priority for this grant will be given to a firm librarian. The other two grants are VALL/AALL Travel Grants in the amount of $1000 each.
All three grants use the common application form found on the VALL wiki. The application form and information about the grants can be found here: http://vall.pbworks.com/w/page/23509251/VALL%20Grants
The deadline for all of the grants is 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1, 2014.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)