Site Map

About the PR Committee

Annual Reports of the Public Relations Committee

1977-1978

The principal thrust of the Public Relations Committee in fiscal 1978-79 will be presenting an AALL exhibit at the LAWYERS' EXPO during the 1978 Centennial Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association in New York, Thursday, August 3 to Tuesday, August 8. The EXPO will be held in the second floor Exhibit Hall of the New York Hilton. The purpose is to communicate effectively an awareness of AALL organization, membership, and activities. The Committee is grateful to Dianne C. Witkowski, principal organizer of this effort.

Approval for the endeavor was granted by the AALL Executive Board in December 1977 with $200 additional funds added to the Committee's $50.00 basic annual stipend to cover the $200 booth cost and furniture rental.

The booth (#603) will be staffed by New York Chapter members and other volunteer members attending the Convention, all to whom the Committee is deeply grateful.

With the funds available and considering all factors, the Committee believes the above project is the most far reaching and effective (project) possible for fiscal 1977-78. Indeed, this initial effort will be monitored closely to evaluate its worth and to prepare guide lines for any similar effort in the future.

The Committee plans a second 1978-79 project in the preparation of an inexpensive, succinct, public relations guide to assist AALL chapters. Such pointers as how to work with news media, how to prepare a news release, what a news release should include, photographs--how to prepare for dissemination and a public relations reference bibliography will be featured.

In conclusion, definitions of the term, "Public Relations" abound. The key words in this Committee's opinion are: communication, orientation and information. A short definition of publicity is, "bringing notice to the public." It is the aim of public relations to transcend simply "bringing notice." The American Association of Law Libraries and its chapters engage in noteworthy projects and innovations of which the legal profession and general public should be aware. Law Librarianship is a distinguished profession. We believe that carefully considered public relations efforts are eminently worthwhile for the AALL as well as for furthering general understanding of law librarianship.

"AALL Reports of Officers, Chapters, Special Interest Sections, Committees and Representatives 1977-78", 71 Law Library Journal 511, 530.

1977-1978 Committee Members

Walter McLeod, Chairman
Lisa Fowler
Carol Roehrenbeck
Jacqueline Smith
Dianne Witkowski
Stanley Pearce, Board Liaison

Back to Reports Index

Last Updated: December 11, 2002

© 2003, American Association of Law Libraries
AALLNET is hosted in cooperation with Washburn University School of Law