The Librarian as Author:  AALL/LexisNexis Call for Papers

This program, coordinated by Joseph Gerken (University of Buffalo), included author presentations of the three winning entries in the 2008 AALL/LexisNexis Call for Papers competition and also provided insight and advice for librarians interested in writing and publishing themselves. The award-winning papers reflect in-depth research and writing on a range of scholarly topics.

And the winners are…

Open Member Division:  Judith Lihosit, University of San Diego Legal Research Center
Research in the Wild:  CALR and the Role of Informal Apprenticeship in Attorney Training

Ms. Lihosit makes an original contribution to the ongoing debate regarding the effectiveness of law school legal research instruction. Her analysis calls our attention to a factor often overlooked in this debate - namely, that much of what new lawyers learn about law and the practice of law comes in the form of “apprenticeship” and social networking. Her paper explores the very important implications of this insight.

New Members Division:  Julie M. Jones, Cornell University Law Library
Not Just Key Numbers and Keywords Anymore:  How User Interface Affects Legal Research

Legal research is one of the foundational skills for the practice of law. However, law school graduates frequently do not enter the bar with adequate competencies in this regard. Applying both information foraging theory and current standards in optimal web design, Ms. Jones considers through a heuristic analysis whether the user interfaces of Westlaw and Lexis help or hinder the process of legal research and the development of effective research skills.

New Members Division:  I-Wei Wang, Berkeley Law Library
Schoolhouse Rock is No Longer Enough:  The Presidential Signing Statements Controversy and its Implications for Library Professionals

Presidential signing statements, a potent but previously little-discussed lawmaking device, have recently become the focus of fierce controversy both inside and outside the academy. Ms. Wang presents an overview of the debates, identifies informational gaps that characterize the subject area, and reviews practical and policy implications for library professionals.

In addition to learning about the authors’ substantive topics, the program provided an opportunity for the audience to learn more about the writing and publication processes. Michael Chiorazzi (The University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law) began the program by stressing the importance of writing in our profession. He noted that the reasons librarians write may be changing, and that “publishing” is becoming a dirty word. Librarians speak of the pressure to publish in terms of “publish or perish.” But, he argued, there is a more noble side to writing and we currently are not doing a good job of creating our own professional literature.

Chiorazzi cited several reasons that writing and publication is crucial. We need to write to educate new and upcoming librarians, and more experienced librarians need to learn from one another. Furthermore, engaging in the writing process helps us to better understand our users and the challenges they face. Writing also can help provide balance in one’s job, provide an opportunity for self-actualization, and it can be fun! On the practical side, for many librarians publication is necessary to move forward in the profession.

After presenting her paper, each of the award-winning authors shared her insight into the writing process. Ms. Lihosit offered suggestions for choosing a topic:  try to join a current conversation in the literature; be creative in bringing your own experiences into the process; and find something that interests you. Each of the speakers talked about the need to find time to write, and the importance of quality, uninterrupted blocks of time. All agreed that deadlines were very helpful in keeping the process moving forward and external deadlines, such as the AALL/LexisNexis Call for Papers deadline, were most helpful. Each noted the importance of honest feedback on drafts, and they also cited professional support within their libraries as playing a key role in their ability to write and publish. Speakers touched upon the emotional aspects of engaging in the difficult and personal process of writing, noting the importance of moral support and the need to move beyond self doubt. Ms. Wang concluded the session by observing that publishing can be somewhat intimidating because it’s so … public! But it is good for you - and for your library, and sometimes it’s kind of fun.