LISP NEWSLETTER
LEGAL INFORMATION SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION
.................................................................
VOLUME 5 NO. 3 SPRING 1993
LETTER FROM THE CHAIR
More People Making a Difference
As you know, the ongoing theme for my column has been to
encourage law librarians, particularly LISP members, to make
contact with public librarians. Judging from the mail I've gotten,
I'd say that law librarians are very creative people. I have two
stories to share.
Bob Pool, in addition to his full-time position as
Reference/Computer Services Librarian at the University of
Baltimore Law Library, works part-time at various branches of the
Baltimore County Public Library. Needless to say, he is the
Legal Research Specialist. Bob has noticed his public librarian
colleagues mainly need help with basic legal research such as legal
citations and knowing about digests. In an effort to help them
learn more, he was an adviser on a training booklet to teach
reference staff how to do legal research. Unfortunately, budget
cuts have reduced his hours at the public library. As Bob says,
"my experience seems to be that my expertise is welcome, but now
the system is fighting just to keep up with previous levels of
service and materials, so the previous attitude of trying
to maintain a quality collection and use all available expertise to
this effect has become a secondary priority to a rather grim 'fight
for survival'." Law librarians understand that fight, too.
Fortunately, collective action is alive and kicking. Donna Bausch,
Law Librarian at the Norfolk (Va.) Law Library, writes that her
library will host a local public university's reference
department for a tour and short legal reference seminar. She hopes
that she'll be able to reach out to other area academic libraries
as well. Donna also writes that the Virginia Association of Law
Libraries will repeat a program first presented at the Virginia
Library Association for the VLA regional meetings. The program
will address rules covering unauthorized practice in Virginia,
federal and state legislative research, and general legal research
tips. "Most of all," Donna writes, "we want to convey that
referral of legal and law-related questions to law libraries is not
only permissible, but desirable." Hear! Hear!
As you see, law librarians can easily take the opportunity to reach
out to their public library. Take that first step. And, just as
important, let me know how you're doing. The Newsletter is the
perfect vehicle to share techniques, problems, and successes. By
sharing, you will not only provide an example of how to do things
now, but will inspire other law librarians to build on what you've
done. So, let's inspire that next generation!
And, speaking of the next generation, inside is the 1993
LISP Member Questionnaire which will help us plan for LISP's
future. You may propose programs and projects, volunteer for
officer or committee work. Tell us how LISP is doing and what it
should do. Your response is essential. Please help us
prepare for the second millennium.
Sharon Blackburn
INFORMATION SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC SIS -
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF LAW LIBRARIES
1992-93 OFFICERS
Chair: Sharon Blackburn
Texas Tech
University Law Library
Lubbock, TX 79409
Tel: 806-742-3883
FAX: 806-742-1629
XPSRB@TTACS1.TTU.EDU
XPSRB@TTACS1.BITNET
Vice-Chair/Chair Elect:
Heather Simmons
Wayne State University
Arthur Neef Law Library
468 West Ferry Mall
Detroit, MI 48202
Tel: 313-577-6173
FAX: 313-577-5478
HSIMMON@CMS.CC.WAYNE.EDU
Secretary-Treasurer:
Eileen Barbara Cohen
University of New Mexico
Law School Library
1117 Stanford Drive, N.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87131
Tel: 505-277-8654
FAX: 505-277-0068
COHEN@JURIS.UNM.EDU
Executive Board Member:
Kathy Garner
Southern Illinois University
School of Law Library
Lesar Law Building
Carbondale, IL 62901
Tel: 618-453-8789
NEWSLETTER Editor:
Franklin A. Weston
University of San Diego
Legal Research Center
5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA 92110-2492
Tel: 619-260-4612
FAX: 619-260-4616
FAW@ACUSD.BITNET
FAW@USDCSV.ACUSD.EDU
* * * * * * *
Deadlines for the LISP NEWSLETTER are as follows:
SUMMER 1993 ISSUE: MAY 15, 1993
FALL 1993 ISSUE: August 15, 1993
WINTER 1994 ISSUE: NOVEMBER 15, 1993
SPRING 1994 ISSUE: FEBRUARY 15, 1994
* * * * *
With this issue the LISP NEWS and LISP
NEWSLETTER are merged. From now
on only the NEWSLETTER will be
published. The Editor.
LEGAL INFORMATION SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC
SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION
1993 MEMBERSHIP SURVEY
Name:
______________________________________________________
Title:
______________________________________________________
Institution:
______________________________________________________
Address:
______________________________________________________
Phone:
______________________________________________________
Fax:
______________________________________________________
E-mail:
______________________________________________________
Type of library:
Academic _____ Law firm _____
Corporate _____ Court _____
Government _____ Self-Emp. _____ Other _____
LISP programs:
Each year LISP sponsors or co-sponsors programs on aspects of
legal information service to the public at the AALL annual meeting.
In the past such programs have included: pro bono librarianship,
legal information for prisoners, legal information to non-English
speaking people, unauthorized practice of law, battered women who
kill, and impact of television on the public's perception of the
law. What kind of programs would you like to see LISP undertake?
Please include any specifics.
Would you be interested in developing, chairing, or
co-chairing a program for the AALL meeting in Seattle in 1994?
Developing _____ Chair _____ Co-Chair _____
Which program(s)?
LISP Projects:
LISP is always looking for new ways we can be active.
Presently, LISP coordinates a pro-bono law librarian program,
maintains a clearinghouse of materials on legal information to the
public, and is developing a brochure for non-law librarians. What
other projects would you like LISP to do? (i.e., developing a
canned legal research presentation or an online legal reference
service for non-law librarians?)
Would you be interested in participating in a LISP project?
Developing _____ Chair _____ Co-Chair _____
Which project(s)?
LISP Officers
Would you be willing to serve as an officer of LISP?
Yes _____ No _____
If yes, which office?
_____ Chair:
assigns committees and chairs; coordinates
programs and meetings for the annual meeting; and
serves as contact for AALL SIS Council and AALL
Headquarters.
_____ Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect:
prepares to assume the Chair in one year; assists
the Chair with preparation of SIS activity at
annual meeting; participates in the SIS
leadership workshop; and appoints program chair
for next year's annual meeting.
_____ Secretary/Treasurer:
prepares, mails, receives, and counts election
ballots for LISP officers and handles
correspondence and financial activity of
the SIS.
LISP Committees
LISP committee membership is open to any LISP-SIS member
interested in active participation in the work of the committees.
Please select what committee(s) you would like to work on and rank
your preference(s).
LISP Clearinghouse _____ Public Services Guide _____
Nominating Committee _____ Publicity _____
Pro Bono Program _____ Program Committee _____
If you would be interested in serving as chair of one of the
above committees, please circle the name above.
Final Comments
What can the officers of LISP do to provide more
opportunities for member involvement?
Please return this survey by June 1, 1993 to:
Sharon Blackburn
Texas Tech University
School of Law Library
1802 Hartford Avenue
Lubbock, Texas 79409
NOMINATING COMMITTEE AT WORK
Geoffrey Trigger, Law Librarian at Tenzer, Greenblatt,
Fallon & Kaplan in New York, heads up the Nominating Committee for
1993/94 LISP officers. Geoff is ably assisted by Betsy McKenzie
of St. Louis University Law Library, Michael Miller of the Maryland
State Law Library, and Nancy Strohmeyer of Loyola University Law
Library, New Orleans.
* * * * *
LISP BROCHURE APPROVED FOR FUNDING
The AALL Executive Board, at its meeting on November 21,
1992, approved LISP's request to fund a brochure describing common
legal research materials. The brochure will be distributed to
local public librarians and other interested persons, as well as
state and local library organizations and ALA. Lee Warthen at the
University of Utah Law Library championed this project to the
Executive Board and is currently busy editing the proposed
brochure. We hope the brochure will be available for the
Boston meeting in July.
If you have any recommendations for or questions about the
brochure, please contact Lee at 801-581-6438 or by Internet to:
WARTHEN@ADMN1.LAW.UTAH.EDU
* * * * *
PLANNING FOR SEATTLE
Heather Simmons reports that Warren Rees, now at Gonzaga University
Law Library in Spokane, has agreed to chair the Program Committee
which will be gathering ideas for the 1994 AALL meeting in Seattle.
Since program proposals have to be submitted 11 months in advance,
this committee is getting to work early. If you have any program
ideas, proposals, or suggestions, or if you would like to work on
the Program Committee, please contact Warren at (509) 328-4220,
ext. 3750, or fax to (509) 484-2833. [Note: the AALL 1992-93
Directory lists Warren at Willamette University Law Library, but he
has since accepted a position at Gonzaga].
* * * * *
NEW BOOKS COVERED
Czaplyski, Lawrence J. and Vincent P. Czaplyski, The Homeowner's
Property Tax Relief Kit, New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1992. $29.95
Hello! from the great state of Louisiana, home of the
homestead exemption! This book was great reading but doesn't apply
to many in Louisiana, because few residential properties here are
not exempt from property taxes. However, if you live in a state or
county without the homestead exemption, you may want to consult
this book to get lower appraisals.
The authors go into great detail about the assessing
process, and especially take pains to explain the cost-approach
and the market data approach to assessing property. The types of
records and maps kept in a typical assessor's office are
described, with examples.
The list of common exemptions is entertaining, for instance,
the circuit breaker for the elderly exemption. This does not mean
what it sounds like; it just protects elderly people on fixed
incomes. When the tax reaches a certain percentage of the
homeowner's income, the "breaker" kicks in to keep the tax at that
level.
This book has very good checklists to help organize your tax
appeal, and a helpful appendix giving useful addresses and
information. It is a unique tool to help the harried homeowner.
Recommended for your SELF-HELP collection.
Madeline Hebert
Associate Librarian Reference
Paul M. Hebert Law Center
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
LLHEBE@LSUVM.BITNET
Nolo Press Announcement (dated
December 30, 1992):
How to Do Your Own Divorce in California, 17th ed.
To the Reference Librarian:
There are MAJOR changes in [California] divorce laws and procedures
effective January 1, 1993. We have been encouraging everyone
getting a divorce to file their first set of papers before the end
of 1992 because the new laws make the whole procedure much more
complicated.
The 17th edition of our [California] divorce book is now completely
out-of-date, and will no longer work. People trying to use it will
have their papers rejected by the court.
PLEASE PULL ALL COPIES OF THIS BOOK OFF YOUR SHELVES IMMEDIATELY!
The 18th edition (ISBN 0-944508-11-1) has just gone to the printer
and will be available by early February (we hope).
* * * * *
Worth Considering, especially for public libraries' reference
collections:
Hodes, W. William, Legal Research: A Self-teaching Guide to the Law
Library, 2d ed. St. Paul, MN: National Institute for Trial
Advocacy, 1988 173 p.
FOR INFORMATION ON THE CENTER OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT,
CONTACT:
Mary M. Elizabeth, Assistant Director
Tarlton Law Library
The University of Texas at Austin
727 East 26th Street
Austin, Texas 78705
Tel: 512-471-6543
FAX: 512-471-8398
800-543-8398
_____________________________________________________________
LISP CLEARINGHOUSE
Please think of the Clearinghouse whenever you produce
materials for a program or activity for the public, both before and
after. Before: borrow materials to stimulate ideas. After: make
an extra copy of your materials to donate to the Clearinghouse
collection. I know that more is out there! I wager that each of
you reading this has produced some handouts for a workshop,
program, speech, or other activity directed to the general public
at least once this past year. Share those materials. DO IT NOW!
WE NEED YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS! And please try to keep the
Clearinghouse in mind in the future.
Special requests: We need materials directed toward the Spanish
speaking community.
The following publication has been added to the Clearinghouse:
MN-013-1 Minnesota State Bar Association. Legal
Assistance to the Disadvantaged Committee.
Pro Bono Opportunities Directory. June
1992. 48 p.
Requests about and donations to the Clearinghouse should be
addressed to:
Barbara Golden, Outreach Services
State Law Library
Minnesota Judicial Center
25 Constitution Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55155-6102
Tel: 612-297-2087
SCALL PUBLIC ACCESS TO LEGAL INFORMATION REPORT
Just a few items to pass on: Committee member David
McFadden will be doing a legal research presentation at Chino to
the California Youth Authority librarians on March 4, 1993.
The Committee has also assisted some of the librarians who
will be speaking at the Legal Research workshop on March 27th,
which is being sponsored by the Committee on Paraprofessional
Outreach, by providing copies of past workshop materials from its
files.
Finally, Chair Joan Allen-Hart was contacted by Gail
McGovern of the California State Library, which is working with the
California State Bar to establish Legal Resource Centers in public
libraries around the state. These centers will provide
information, resources, and workshops about basic legal rights and
responsibilities of California residents, particularly recent
immigrants. The Committee was asked to provide recommendations for
organizing workshops and preparing materials for these new centers.
Again, using the Committee archives, copies of past workshop
materials were sent to Gail to assist her as she compiles a
legal-needs survey for the State Library.
Joan Allen-Hart, Chair
_______________________________________________________
Published by the Legal Information Services Special Interest
Section of the American Association of Law Libraries. For
comments, questions, or pertinent information concerning the
Section, contact one of the officers listed above. To submit
articles for publication in the LISP NEWSLETTER to:
Franklin A. Weston, Editor
LISP NEWSLETTER
University of San Diego
Legal Research Center
5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, CA 92110-2492
faw@acusd.bitnet faw@usdcsv.acusd.edu
Articles are requested to be submitted by E-Mail or WP5.1 on 5.25"
disks.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CALENDAR
- 1993 -
February 26 - 27 SCALL Institute: The Future is Now: Law
Libraries in a Changing
Economy. Bahia Hotel, San Diego, CA. Paul
George 213-740-6482.
March 16 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION DAY
March 19 INEX '93 (INformation EXposition '93),
sponsored by the Law
Librarians' Society of Washington, D.C. A
day-long exhibition and
vendor fair at the D.C. Convention Center,
includes product demonstrations. Free: open
to the public. Jane Towell, 202/778-2133
or Ann Simpson, 703/641-4332
March 27 SCALL Library Technician Certificate Program,
Legal Research: Putting It All Together, the
sequel. Loyola Law School Library, 1440 West
Ninth St., Los Angeles, CA 90015. Contact:
Lisa Baker, Musick, Peeler & Garrett,
213-629-7730
March 25 - 27 ABA/Law Practice Management TechShow,
Chicago, IL. Sue Koz,
Meeting Services Manager, 312/988-5661
April 15 - 17 SWALL Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM. Kay
Schlueter, State Law
Library, Austin, TX. 512/463-1722 or
FAX:512/463-1725
April 15 SEAALL Institute, Computer Networking in Law
Libraries, Registration:
SEAALL Registration, West Virginia Univ.,
College of Law Library,
P.O. Box 6135, Morgantown, WV 26506-6135
April 15 - 17 SEAALL Annual Meeting, West Virginia
Patchwork - Piecing it
Together. Charleston, WV. Camille Riley,
304/293-5309
April 18 - 24 NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK: "Libraries Change
Lives"
April 18 - 24 RIP (Research is Process) The National Legal
Research Teach-In
sponsored by the Research Instruction Caucus
of AALL. Training
events around the country. Contact Karen
Brunner (201-538-0800) or
Kathleen McCarthy (201-642-8861) or Ellen
Callinan (201-624-2838)
April 20 Legislative Day. Sponsored by the ALA
Washington office, the SLA,
and the D.C. Library Ass'n. ALA Washington
Office, Box 54 110
Maryland Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20002
April 26 - 29 22nd Annual Educational Conference, Ass'n of
Legal Administrators,
San Diego, CA. Jan Waugh 708/816-1212
May 23 - 27 ASIS Mid-Year Meeting, Knoxville, TN.
Contact ASIS at 301-495-0900
June 4 - 6 Human Resources, Cincinnati, Ohio, sponsored
by the Special Libraries
Ass'n. Topics: Managing Work Teams;
Motivation and Leadership;
Roles, tasks, and accountability; Managing
the Difficult Employee;
Interview and Selection. Contact:
Professional Development Section,
SLA 202-234-4700
June 5 - 10 Special Libraries Association 84th Annual
Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio
June 24 - July 1 American Library Association Annual
Conference, New Orleans,
Louisiana
July 5 - 9 Leadership and Management Skills, AALL Summer
Institute, Western
New England College, School of Law,
Springfield, MA.
July 6 - 9 International Organizations, AALL Summer
Institute, Harvard
University, Cambridge, MA
July 10 - 15 American Association of Law Libraries Annual
Meeting, Law Libraries:
The Next Generation, Haynes Convention
Center, Boston,
Massachusetts
August 22 - 26 IFLA Annual Conference, Barcelona, Spain
September 20 - 22 Management Skills, New York, NY. Sponsored
by the SLA. Topics:
The Role of Corporate Culture; Management
Style and Group Dynamics;
Management of Communications; Problem Solving
& Decision Making;
The Planning Process. Contact: Professional
Development Section,
SLA 202-234-4700
September 25 - October 2 BANNED BOOKS WEEK
- 1994 -
February 4 - 10 American Library Association Midwinter
Meeting, Los Angeles,
California
April 17 - 23 NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK
June 11 - 16 Special Libraries Association Annual
Conference, Atlanta, Georgia
June 21 - 30 American Library Association Annual
Conference, Miami, Florida
July 9 - 14 American Association of Law Libraries Annual
Meeting, Seattle,
Washington
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