Upcoming seminars

DALL Members Barbara Fullerton, Kevin Miles, and Jennifer Stephens were all asked to present at the Find it Free and Fast on the Net: Strategies for Paralegals Conducting Legal Research seminar, hosted by the Institute for Paralegal Education. See link for complete details and pricing.

Information for Program Proposers - AALL 2012

Do you have a great idea for a program at AALL 2012? Go to the Information for Program Proposers page on aallnet.org for information on how to format and submit your idea. The theme for the 105th Annual Meeting and Conference is "Learn, Connect, Grow", and will be held in Boston , MA. All proposals are due September 15, 2011.

Four years for college?

Texas Law seeks to keep college students on a four-year track
Stateline.org.

Law designed to keep college students on track - but how will this affect those who change majors?

Hat tip to Legislative Reference Library Blog.

School Finance in Texas

The Legislative Reference Library of Texas compiled some links about state finance in Texas.

Let them use laptops

Let Them Use Laptops: Debunking the Assumptions Underlying the Debate Over Laptops in the Classroom

by Kristen E. Murray
Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law
Oklahoma City University Law Review, Forthcoming

Interesting article looking at several studies of whether or not it is a good idea to let law students have laptops in classes. I found it intriguing, since I usually take notes on my laptop at conferences, and find it a slightly different notetaking mindset than taking notes with pen and paper.

A different kind of library conference

I'm sitting outside the exhibit hall for the Texas Library Association Region 1 Fall Media conference, after having listened to the keynote speaker and a panel of authors. Why, you ask? Because I am on vacation, and my friend Clare B. Dunkle was the keynote speaker. And how does this relate to law libraries?

Clare spoke on how librarians and teachers influenced her in all grades, and ultimately influenced her career choices as first a cataloger, then as a young adult author. No matter what type of librarian we are, we need to remember that our primary duty is to help our patrons find the information they seek, and to let them know it is okay to ask for help. The resources may be different, the patrons may be different, but the goal is the same; to help match the resources with the information seeker.

AALL Programming - a roundup of recent blog posts

• Some Thoughts on Programming at AALL – Caren Biberman
• A “Modest Propsal” on Programming at AALL - Mark Gediman
• Dream Big or Comments on “A “Modest Proposal on Programming at AALL” and the Report of the AALL Annual Meeting Review Special Committee – Caren Biberman
• My Experience in Participating in the AALL Programming Process or AALL Educational Programming Needs to go Back to School - Nina Platt

All three bloggers discuss programming for the AALL Annual Conference and how they each either think it could be better or their experiences in submitting programming for the conference.

Handheld Librarian Online Conference

When: July 30, 2009
More Info: http://www.handheldlibrarian.org/
Price: $49/person

"More people than ever are using mobile devices for a wide variety of purposes including communication, internet access, text messaging, and entertainment. It is important that libraries provide services on these devices as use increases.

The first ever Handheld Librarian Online on July 30, 2009 is the place to learn about these and other topics related to using wireless and handheld devices in your library. The program -- sponsored by Alliance Library System, LearningTimes and Infoquest -- will include a variety of ways to collaborate, network and learn from a great group of experts in the field. In addition to live interactive webcasts, we will have a collection of available resources, discussions boards, and access to the recording of all live events for one year after the conference."

[via Peter Scott's Library Blog]

Annual Sales Tax Holiday Includes School Supplies

From the Dallas Business Journal...

"For the first time in 10 years, Texas’ annual August sales tax holiday will include school supplies."

Date: Aug. 21-23, 20009
Covered: Pens, crayons, calculators, notebooks, rulers, scissors, lunch boxes, etc.
http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2009/06/22/daily30.html?ana=from_rss

Yvonne Chandler wins award

Please join me in congratulating Yvonne Chandler who was selected as one of the two winners of the prestigious President's Council Outstanding Teaching Award for 2008.

Yvonne is an Associate Professor at the University of North Texas School of Library and Information Sciences. She has been at UNT SLIS for the last 15 years.

Wendy K. Wilkins, UNT provost and vice president for academic affairs, is presenting Dr. Chandler her award.

Legal education

I found this FindLaw Writ column putting forth the theory that law students should get an MBA as well.

The Case for Combining Law School with Business School: Five Key Reasons to Think Very Seriously About the Option
By JULIE HILDEN
Monday, Apr. 14, 2008

Recently, I discovered that a law school friend and I share one major regret: We both wish we had combined our law school education with a business school education. (cont.)

Interesting. Discuss.

University of Chicago bans classroom internet

U of C Law School Takes Classrooms Out of the Internet Age
Jerry Crimmins
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
April 10, 2008

The University of Chicago Law School has removed Internet access in most of its classrooms because of a growing problem of students surfing the Web on laptops during lectures.

Tip of the hat to: Sabrina Pacifici at BeSpacific.

Webinar: Legal Technology Group

From AALL Website

RIPS REPARTEE WEBINAR: Legal Technology
Group/Sponsor: RIPS-SISCo-Group/Co-Sponsor: AALL
Date: Thursday, November 15, 2007Time: 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Eastern Time (U.S. and Canada)

In this inaugural presentation of the RIPS Repartee Webinar Series, Catherine Sanders Reach, Director of the American Bar Association’s Legal Technology Resource Center, will provide a brief update on current issues and advances in legal technology, addressing questions posed by law librarians from around the country. Academic law librarians can learn more about what students need to know when they get out into the "real world." Private law librarians can ensure they will have up-to-the-minute technology information from the ABA to amaze their attorneys. Government and court law librarians can find out more on how technology advances, such as KM and e-discovery tools, can benefit their patrons. Pull up a virtual chair and listen in or, better yet, join in the action by submitting a question.

Registrations for the webinar will be accepted until November 12. Register online at http://www.regonline.com/AALL-RIPS .

Spots are limited and will be filled in the order received. Instructions on how to access the webinar will be distributed via email, prior to the presentation. The registration fee is $15.00 for AALL members and $20.00 for all others.

Payment can be made either by credit card, or by check, made payable to AALL. For further information go to http://www.aallnet.org/sis/ripssis/RIPSWebinarNov15.pdf, or contact Robb Farmer (rfarmer@faulkner.edu).

Or why you need to be off the reference desk once in a while

Saving Good Judgment From the BlackBerry Culture
Gregory S. Gallopoulos
Special to Law.com
August 20, 2007

Very good essay for attorneys and for librarians who work for attorneys: How the quick responses that are expected in a technology age can work against the ability to provide the very best work for the client.

http://www.law.com/jsp/llf/PubArticleLLF.jsp?id=1187341330347

Lifehacker - book recommendation

Lifehacker: 88 Tech Tricks to Turbocharge Your Day by Gina Trapani http://www.amazon.com/Lifehacker-Tech-Tricks-Turbocharge-Your/dp/0470050659

It's grand to have grown children who share their book finds with you. This from my oldest son, whom many of you know, formerly a technology employee with the law firms of J&G, Locke Liddell.

Ms. Trapani also shares ideas on http://lifehacker.com/ You will have to pick and choose from the 88 tricks those that fit you.

DALL's Spring Seminar: Update

Cheryl's and Ana's Powerpoint presentations are now available on the DALL's website under the Members Only section.
http://www.dallnet.org/members/march07_seminar.asp

Teaching the Teachers Conference in Austin

This looks like an interesting conference!

In October 2007, the Tarlton Law Library will host a conference that will explore the teaching of legal research in today’s information environment.

Teaching the Teachers: Effective Instruction in Legal Research will focus on the best methods and practices for teaching legal research to today’s generation of law students.

Conference faculty represents excellence in teaching and communication and come from the judiciary, the practicing bar, and the legal academy. The conference responds to and will further the National Conference of Bar Examiners’ initiative to develop a stand-alone component of the bar exam focusing on legal research methods and skills.

The conference will be held October 18-20, 2007, at the Tarlton Law Library, Jamail Center for Legal Research at the University of Texas.

For further information, conference details, and online registration, please visit the conference website at http://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/ttt/.

L. Monique Gonzalez, J.D., M.L.I.S.
Reference Librarian
Jamail Center for Legal Research
Tarlton Law Library
The University of Texas School of Law
727 East Dean Keeton Street
Austin, TX 78705-3299
(512) 232-3814
Fax (512) 471-0243
mgonzalez@law.utexas.edu