by Marci Hoffman
University of Minnesota Law Library
The Education Subcommittee spent the weeks following the Annual Meeting reviewing, and in some cases writing, the proposals for next year's Annual Meeting. Eleven programs were submitted from various members. The committee recommended the following programs:
This year each SIS was allowed one designated slot. We worked closely with the Technical Services SIS and the Legal History SIS which enabled us to get three of our programs in three designated SIS spots. The International Legal Regimes program is a two-part program. We have put part one as our designated spot and Technical Services submitted part two as their designated slot. Legal History liked the Navigating the Law Through the Ages program so much that they offered to submit it as their designated spot. This allowed us more flexibility with our programs and assured us that these three programs will be part of next year's Annual Meeting.
The committee wishes to thank all of the people who worked so hard on program proposals especially in light of the time crunch. If your program was not chosen this time, we encourage you to submit it again next year.
Marci Hoffman, Co-Chair
Jolande Goldberg, Co-Chair
The AALL Education Committee has accepted four programs proposed by the FCIL Education Subcommittee:
BACK to Contents page.
by William B. McCloy
University of Washington Law Library
The International and Intergovernmental Issues Group met from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. on July 21, 1996, as part of the Indianapolis conference of AALL. Wiltrud Harms of the Boalt Hall Law Library served as coordinator of the session, and Jolande Goldberg of the Library of Congress presented information and led a discussion on the classification of United Nations materials with reference to the new JZ (International Relations) and KZ (International Law) classifications being prepared by the Library of Congress. Eleven individuals representing nine libraries were present and participated in the discussion.
At the beginning of the session, pending Jolande's arrival, Wiltrud shared information about Boalt Hall's extensive collections of UN documents and materials about the UN, highlighting the traditional way in which these collections have been arranged. This was enlightening, since the organization of the new schedule is based in large part on Boalt Hall's arrangement of its collections. Upon her arrival, Jolande began by reporting on her visit to Boalt Hall where she analyzed these as well as other collections, and proceeded by presenting details of the classification numbers just approved at LC for UN documents.
With these new numbers, a library will have several options for processing UN documents. A range of numbers will be available in JZ for United Nations publications which will enable libraries to group publications together, essentially using the UN document number (or for some publications, the UN sales number) as one would use a cutter. A library would have the option of using these numbers whether it wished to fully catalog publications, to catalog them only by series or by using "collection level records" for categories of publications, or if it wished to use the numbers simply for arrangement on the shelves if it did not wish to prepare catalog records at all.
In addition, if a library preferred to classify these materials in KZ rather than JZ, a space has been left in the KZ schedule allowing the entire block of numbers to be applied in exactly the same way in KZ as in JZ. Further, it is expected that some institutions may wish to continue their practice of classing UN sales publications by subject rather than bringing them together according to UN sales category. These libraries could adopt the schedule for other UN materials but opt not to class UN sales publications together in a sales number arrangement.
The new classification schedule will include detailed listings for many classification numbers and an abundance of detailed notes and references which (for users of machine-readable versions of the schedule) will all be searchable in the online index through word searches. This should greatly facilitate access to the various document series and be a convenient guide to locate materials issued by specific UN bodies.
When LC prepares a cataloging record for a UN publication, they will provide both a JZ number and a K number, allowing other libraries to choose whether they wish to class the item by subject or by document number.
BACK to Contents page.
by Marylin J. Raisch
Columbia University School of Law Library
The AALL Annual Meeting is an opportunity each year for foreign and international law librarians to catch up on the rapid growth of information on the Internet in the world of the World Wide Web. This year's working group was well attended by several FCIL SIS members and some non-members, as well. The meeting was convened by Marylin Raisch, librarian of international and comparative law at Columbia University School of Law Library.
The suggested agenda included three basic items for discussion, with the group welcome to raise additional issues as well. First, what is the experience of the group with search engines and their search language; do people get good results? Second, what about the issues of reliability and provenance? Third, what means are being used to control information about the 'Net as librarians instruct students as well as locate many international documents found nowhere else?
With regard to search engines, Mirela Roznovschi of New York University Law Library offered a positive evaluation of her experience with Infoseek for Professionals, a product of the Infoseek Guide which is made available for a reasonable fee to interested subscribers. This raised the issue of value-added electronic information and the need for standards, which participants discussed at some length. Some find the wealth of information is enough; others felt the Web definitely lacks the crucial information about its texts, such as frequency of updating, source of materials, etc. that would make it an even more valuable tool, and it was on this theme that the second issue was explored.
Finally, different libraries use different strategies to make both print and electronic information available. According to Associate Director Mark Bernstein, Duke University School of Law is checking all its holdings against materials indexed in Reynolds and Flores, Foreign Law: Current Sources of Codes and Basic Legislation in Jurisdictions of the World, 3 main vols. with 2 sub-vols., (Littleton, Colo.: Rothman and Co., 1993-). Sources of some of the foreign law material are now accessible via the Washlaw web (http://lawlib.wuacc.edu/washlaw/washlaw.html), Hieros Gamos (http://www.hg.org), and countless others.
The group resolved to meet next year at the Annual Meeting in Baltimore and update the success of strategies for managing web information, but there was some consensus that good search engines are indispensable as the list of URLs and official intergovernmental organization home pages grows and contains documents not readily available elsewhere or only on the web.
BACK to Contents page.
by Dennis S. Sears
Brigham Young University Law Library
The African Law Working Group met on Monday, July 22, 1996, at 6:00 p.m. in Room 145 of the Indiana Convention Center. Victor Essien (Fordham University Law Library) chaired the meeting.
The discussion of the group centered around two issues: 1) collection development, and 2) the African Law Initiative. Regarding collection development, Marylin Raisch (Columbia University Law School Library) commented that LL.M. students are often amazed the collection at Columbia has anything from this area. In response, Victor noted that such was no longer the case, but that not enough money is being spent to develop collections in this area. Marylin and Victor both agreed that the problem is not money, but availability, i.e., size (publication runs), postal services, transportation, etc. The Library of Congress has field offices which procure materials for its collection. Charles Mwiymo currently has that responsibility. People traveling in the area also serve as useful contacts and may help solve problems with unreliable jobbers. Publishers do not print large runs, in part, because of the instability of the governments which may bring about a new constitution, provisions for adoption, etc. And then there is the issue of whether the "new" law will be common law or civil law.
The discussion of collection development turned to the availability of electronic resources. At this time, only law reporters are available on the Internet and in some areas the Internet is limited to e-mail. The possibility existed that a legal CD-ROM product might have been developed for Ghana, but too little material was available. Currently, a ten-year gap exists in the law reports and a seven- to eight-year gap exists in the laws for Ghana. Ghana exemplifies the problems of procuring legal materials from Africa.
Although the African Law Initiative was undertaken by the American Bar Association, the group discussed the failure of the ABA to take a leadership role. The purpose of the initiative was to pair up law schools in the United States with law schools in Africa. From the perspective of the law library, the intent was 1) to evaluate the African law libraries, 2) to train the African law librarians there, and 3) to identify African legal materials. Nothing has happened to date except for a few visits.
Jessica Alexander (Texas Southern University Law Library) indicated that support of the Initiative was part of the law school mission statement at Texas Southern. This commitment is independent of any requirement to support the curriculum, which consists of only a general international law offering. This commitment is also independent of any requirement to support faculty with a specific interest in the area.
Marguerite Butler (Texas Southern University Law Library) added that the initiative was intended to support emerging democracies. She reported on the status of the law school in Malawi, the African law school associated with the law school at Texas Southern University.
BACK to Contents page.
by Joan Liu
New York University Law School Library
The Asian Law Working Group held its annual meeting at 5:00 p.m. on July 22,1996, at the Convention Center in Indianapolis. Bill McCloy (University of Washington, Gallagher Law Library) chaired the meeting. Other participants included Kai-yun Chiu (Baltimore Bar Library), Joan Liu (New York University Law Library), Wei Luo (Southern Illinois University Law Library), Grace Ooi (Columbia University Law Library), Mila Rush (University of Minnesota Law Library), and Nongji Zhang (Harvard University Law Library). Most attendants came to the meeting with both institutional and personal interests in Asian law.
During the two-hour long meeting, a variety of aspects and issues on Asian law collection were discussed. Bill McCloy reported the news and activities of the Council on East Asian Libraries (CEAL) and the Committee on Research Materials for Southeast Asia (CORMOSEA). Some participants introduced briefly the new developments in the collection of Asian legal materials at their institutions. Columbia University has explored a new approach to a more effective acquisition of Chinese legal literature and materials. A former Chinese visiting scholar in the Peoples' Republic of China who is familiar with the policy and demands of collection development at Columbia is assigned as a representative to help purchase Chinese legal materials on a regular basis. Supported by a state grant, the University of Washington has begun the reclassification of its CJK collection into LC. During the process, and working with LC, four new LC subclass numbers were created by LC under KNN. After outsourcing the retrospective conversion of its Chinese legal collection, Duke Law is now planning to outsource its Japanese collection. New York University Law Library is actively working on the CJK collection and planning to outsource cataloging in order to match the pace of the law school's Global Law School program.
People at the meeting also discussed some new Asian law resources in both electronic format and paper. For instance, there is a new CD-ROM product on Japanese law, Horitsu Hanrei Bunken Joho (Current legal information), which the faculty and students are really fond of at the University of Washington Law Library. Some fee-based Internet resources, such as World News Connection (http://wnc.fedworld.gov), have been accepted by many institutions for their fair price and good service. This database covers Asian media sources from East Asia, the Near East, South Asia, and China, and includes major legal journals and legal documents from those regions and countries. Some other issues, such as Law-On-Line, the quality of databases, the new Windows version of RLIN CJK, etc., were brought into the discussion as well.
In the meeting, Mr. Wei Luo from Southern Illinois University School of Law Library was elected as the next chair of the Asian Law Working Group.
BACK to Contents page.
by Jonathan Franklin
University of Michigan Law Library
The CIS/Eastern European Law Working Group had a fruitful session in Indianapolis. With an attendance of nine, it covered a wide range of relevant issues. Aaron Kuperman of the Library of Congress discussed the move towards including Eastern Europe in GLIN (Global Legal Information Network at http://lcweb2.loc.gov:8081/glin/ glin.html). He also touched on the politics of the LC schedule, mentioning that the Baltics had been shifted to the European schedule. This will become an issue for other CIS countries, Turkey and others who see a benefit to being in the European schedule. He also mentioned that one can find "in process" volumes in the MUMS file, http://lcweb.loc.gov/ z3950/ (for MUMS search tips, see http://lcweb.loc.gov/z3950/mumstips.html).
Areta Halibey of the University of Chicago shared that the Ukraine has passed its constitution. Furthermore, Svod Zakonov, compilations of laws in force, are expected in the near future for Latvia and Lithuania. She commented that CEELI, the American Bar Association's Central and East European Law Initiative, had been useful in getting specific documents through personal contacts.
Marylin Raisch of Columbia described her institution's focus on the materials of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and Belarus. She mentioned Kent McKeever's continuing ties with Khazakstan. She also alerted us to a useful source with the nondescript title Information Bulletin published by the Center for Parliamentary Activities of the CIS. In the context of a discussion of the full text of translated Russian legislation on Lexis (Library: INTLAW, File: RUSLEG), we learned that the vernacular text is available from Garant for $7 per page.
Maria Smolka-Day reported that all drafts of the Polish Constitution and other Polish legislation are on the web at http://web.mit.edu:80/stngiam2/www/ICL/pl__indx.html or http://www.law.cornell.edu:80/law/pl__indx.html. She also reported that on her most recent trip to Poland, book prices had soared, so we must expect to pay more for Polish law books.
Significant contributions to the discussion were also made by Mirela Roznovschi, Jane Williams, Dennis Sears, and Margareta Horiba.
BACK to Contents page.
by Dennis S. Sears
Brigham Young University Law Library
The Latin American Law Working Group met on Monday, July 22, 1996, at 5:15 p.m. in the Indiana Convention Center. Edgardo Rotman (University of Miami School of Law Library) chaired the meeting.
The group addressed the availability of electronic sources for legal information for Latin America. However, some of the group reject much of what is available electronically for Latin America because it is unreliable. Some materials for Mexico are available. The web page for Mexico was judged to be fair. It is linked to Diario Oficial. In addition, INFOJUS from Mexico's Institute for Legal Research (Instituto de Investigaciones Juridícas) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico has databases. Also, LEXIS has extensive databases. Global Legal Information Network (GLIN) provides a database of the laws of various countries. GLIN is now accessible through the WWW server of the Library of Congress.
Maria Otero (University of Puerto Rico Law Library) updated the group on the status of legal materials in Puerto Rico. Nothing exists in the area of legal bibliography. Regulations are being polished and will appear as a pamphlet in looseleaf format. They will also be online by subscription. Lexis and Westlaw both have statutes, but they have not been updated since 1992. In addition, the decisions of U.S. District Court cases originating in Puerto Rico are online, but not Commonwealth decisions. Finally, Compuclerk produces a CD-ROM containing the laws, decisions, and regulations of Puerto Rico. Michie has also released a similar CD-ROM product.
Jonathan Pratter (University of Texas at Austin) raised the issue of how to answer questions that have implications of which a law librarian is aware but of which the patron is unaware. Do we go beyond a basic answer, imparting a basic knowledge? Do we need to help the patron understand any constraints such as answers imbedded in a context?
The discussion turned to NAFTA, a familiarity with which the group considered critical. Although, the flow of literature is slowing since the crash in Mexico.
BACK to Contents page.
by Dennis S. Sears
Brigham Young University Law Library
The Teaching Foreign and International Legal Research Working Group met on Monday, July 22, 1996, at 7:00 a.m. in the Indiana Convention Center. Lyonette Louis-Jacques (D'Angelo Law Library, University of Chicago Law School) chaired the meeting.
The first topic of discussion was developing pathfinders for the area of FCIL. The bibliographies developed in conjunction with each of the five institutes were suggested as a starting point. Three related groups of people were identified as possible authors of pathfinders: 1) graduates of the institutes, 2) attendees of the institutes, and 3) presenters at the institutes (reworking/updating their bibliographies). New pathfinders could be produced by developing topical lists based on each of the institutes, e.g., environmental law, etc.
Regarding the quality of these pathfinders, the group suggested that the SIS could act as a clearinghouse for them. The structure of Article 38 (ICJ) was also suggested as a guideline.
Making these pathfinders available was also considered. Mark Folmsbee (Washburn University of Topeka School of Law Library) might allow the SIS to load them on to his site. In addition, Steven C. Perkins (Rutgers University Law School Library) has also offered to place them on his homepage. His offer is attractive because of the technical support available.
The group expressed concern with the proliferation of homepages and urged that new homepages not just link to other sources; rather those who create homepages should focus on the strength of their institution/collection. The University of Minnesota Human Rights Library, managed by Marci Hoffman, was cited as an example of a unique homepage.
Five suggestions arose out of the discussion of new ideas/issues in teaching FCIL:
Finally, several members of the group expressed interest in bringing and sharing the exercises they use in connection with their teaching of FCIL. Also, members expressed a willingness to bring sample syllabi and to revive the previous syllabi project, not brought to fruition.
BACK to Contents page.
The AALLC was organized at the 1987 AALL Annual Meeting in Chicago by Mon Yin Lung. The purposes of the Caucus are:
Although no contribution is needed for membership, a voluntary contribution of $10 for operating expenses would be appreciated. The check should be made payable to American Association of Law Libraries. It should mention AALLC in the comment space. Contributions should be sent to: Jonathan Franklin, Reference Librarian, University of Michigan Law Library, 801 Monroe Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1210
FORWARD to next article: Summer Institute on Public International Law.
BACK to Contents page.