MAY/JUNE 2009, v.36, no. 5
The SCALL Newsletter is published electronically five times per year (September/October, November/December, January/February, March/April, and May/June by the Southern California Association of Law Libraries, a chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries. PDF versions of the SCALL Newletter can be downloaded here: http://www.aallnet.org/chapter/scall/newsletter.htm
Editor's Notes... Hugh J. Treacy
“All good things come to an end.” We’ve all heard that expression before. In this case, it means that I am stepping down as editor and compiler of the SCALL Newsletter, and I’m leaving the SCALL Newsletter Committee, too.
This “good thing” for me has been one of the most enjoyable exercises in creativity I have been challenged with since that day in early September 2003 when Belinda Beardt walked into my office with a box containing old issues of the Newsletter and the hope that I might learn the Publisher program fast enough to generate the upcoming November / December issue. I had heard of Publisher, of course, but had never used it. Belinda spent an hour with me, showing me the basics of the program. The fun was just about ready to begin! I joined the Newsletter Committee. I got to work, and I haven’t looked back since.
Last summer, after I spent five years as compiler of this wonderful publication, Victoria Williamson handed over to me the opportunities and the responsibilities as editor. No Perry White have I been—that crusty old editor of The Daily Planet, the great metropolitan daily newspaper of fictional Metropolis. I’ve had no reason to be that stereotypical editor, yelling at a certain cub reporter, or somehow not recognizing the identity of a superhero on staff disguised only by a business suit and a pair of glasses. You see, our super SCALL Newsletter Committee is composed of very talented law librarians who, at the drop of a hat, a simple request, and often on their own initiative, consistently turn out well-thought and well-written material of interest to all SCALL members. Five times a year, under deadline, they’ve worked hard to bring you the best of SCALL. It’s been a distinct pleasure and honor for me to be a part of this group for the past six years, and to lead them for the past year. I thank all of you on the committee for the opportunity to have served SCALL in this way.
Please welcome Patricia Pelz Hart as your new editor and Debbie Lipton as compiler of the SCALL Newsletter beginning with the September / October 2009 issue. Patricia and Debbie are colleagues at Chapman University School of Law Library. Patricia is a Lawyer/Librarian and Debbie is an Administrative Assistant to the Law Library Director and Information Services Technician there. I am certain they will do an excellent job of producing future issues of our publication!
If all good things end, that implies that there is a beginning to all good things, too. I’ve decided to develop my creativity and leadership skills further as the next Vice President / President-Elect of SCALL. I thank you very much for your vote of confidence in the recent election, and I am looking forward with eager anticipation to the great things we SCALL members will accomplish together over the next few years.