From the Desk of Susan E. Fox

Joint Study Institute - Australia - February 2004

This item comes to us from our Australian colleague, Mary Greenfield:

The fourth Joint Study Institute (BIALL, CALL, AALL, ALLG) is being hosted in Sydney in February next year.

The Institute evolved from a discussion among a group of international librarians at an American Association of Law Libraries conference some years ago where it was agreed that it would be stimulating and useful to be able to mix with their colleagues from other jurisdictions and discuss common, current, relevant issues. From this arose the Joint Study Institute (JSI), which would feature learning about the host country's legal heritage and traditions. It would be high level and it was hoped it would attract participants who were otherwise respected professionals in the law library community, leading scholars, academics, authors, think tank specialists, futurists, philosophers, jurists, lawyers and historians. The meetings were to be held in a desirable venue for an intensive, but informal several days of thinking and learning. It was hoped that they would attract delegates primarily from the non-host countries.

Please visit the web site where you will find an overview, general information, a draft program, the registration form and much more. We encourage you to register and make your travel plans to attend SOON! Remember, you will be heading towards the end of winter, and have the opportunity to attend a stimulating (and very social) conference at the best time of year in Sydney's summer!! Please feel free to contact me or any of the other contacts about the JSI, or about any other information you might need about having a holiday in Australia.

The U.S. IFLA 2001 National Organizing Committee is pleased to announce that it will support the participation of 20 young professional librarians from the Americas (South America, Central America, North America, and the Caribbean) to IFLA's World Library and Information Conference, August 22-27, 2004 in Buenos Aires.

The fellowship will cover air travel, shared accommodation, a per diem food allowance, and conference registration fees.

The deadline for applications is January 15, 2004. Applications in Spanish and English can be found here.

We received nine applications for the volunteer position of Membership News Editor for AALL Spectrum and every one a strong contender. After much pondering, we chose Sarah Mauldin, a law librarian with Lionel Sawyer & Collins, Las Vegas, Nevada. She will be working closely with current Membership News Editor, Beth DiFelice, during the transition.

Here’s a big thank you to all the applicants and Sarah and Beth for their willingness to serve in this position and especially to Beth for her excellent work in keeping us connected and informed.

I am very pleased to announce that Pam Reisinger received a promotion from AALL Meetings Manager to Director of Meetings. Job well done, Pam!

I am also very pleased to announce that Julia O’Donnell will join the staff on October 20 as AALL’s Director of Publications. She comes to us from the American Student Dental Association where she served for three years, first as Associate Editor and then as Publications Manager. In her spare time she volunteers for the Jane Addams Hull House Association Family Literacy Program. She brings excellent experience and a terrific attitude to our already terrific staff. You’ll enjoy getting to know her.

Reggie Swanigan: AALL’s Director of Information Technology

Reggie Swanigan serves as AALL’s Director of Information Technology. In a nearly 24-hour-a-day job, Reggie serves as the main information systems and technology contact for the association. Some of his main responsibilities include maintaining the database and creating custom reports, providing web accounts, discussion forums, and technical support to AALL groups, supporting chapter database administration, maintaining and supporting headquarters hardware and software and providing technical support to headquarters staff and AALL members.

Reggie recently became the father of Taylor Raye, now two months old. In those rare moments off the job, Reggie describes himself as a true “do-it-yourselfer” who loves restoring his 1888 greystone in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood and the 1970 Buick muscle car he just acquired off Ebay!