by Margareta Horiba
Tulane University Law Library
Indianapolis is behind us but not forgotten, and I want to thank you all for the help and encouragement I received while taking on my new duties. I came away inspired by the high level of energy, interest, and dedication of our members, which I hope will be sustained over the years and imparted to new members joining us.
In the larger context, we continue our identity crisis as librarians. The discussion on the program Redefining the Law Librarian's Profession led down many roads, but the conclusion was simply that we must try harder lest we be out of a job. It lacked the angry voice of Bob Berring to get us to put a price tag on what we are doing. In this time of change there is also a new vocabulary out there: renaissance, sea change, spectrum, waterfronts. It seems one could make a whole speech based on those words—which I will spare you. But isn't it just possible that foreign and international law librarians are well placed to make a difference?
A few notes on the SIS committees and working groups. Their meetings are informal and open to anyone at the Annual Meeting. Most of the working groups have a well-defined charge and are led by members with expertise in their areas who pass on the baton as the situation warrants. Their various reports can be found in this issue of the newsletter. We had some orphans in Indianapolis, but helpful members stepped in to save the day. The Processing Issues Group and the International and Intergovernmental Organization Issues Group are in need of leadership and an agenda, and I would be happy to hear from anyone with ideas.
The Special Committee on Materials for Third-World Libraries has been discontinued, the work having been completed. A bibliography will appear in a future issue of the newsletter. The Special Committee on Curriculum for Librarians in Developing Countries has also been discontinued. Work in this area is conducted by the ABA. There is a current agenda for the Special Committee on Self-Instructional Materials with ideas being explored for language training for law librarians. Some committees with traditionally small membership meet concurrently, but the composition of those may be reconfigured for next year.
With regard to the irregular scheduling of meetings this year, and the last, I am happy to report that Headquarters has indicated that we should have no trouble getting back to our Sunday schedule for next year in Baltimore.
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