SR-SIS Newsletter, vol. 9, no. 1

In This Issue:

AALL Special Interest Sections, by Timothy L. Coggins
Union/Reunion, by Bruce Kleinschmidt
From the Chair
Program Selected for D.C.
Minutes of the Business Meeting
Nominations

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AALL Special Interest Sections:
Contributing to Successful Annual Meetings

Timothy L. Coggins, Chair
Annual Meeting Program Selection Committee

Most AALL members who attend the AALL Annual Meeting each year think about the significant number of business meetings, task force meetings, special activities, and receptions sponsored by or hosted by the Special Interest Sections. But there is another portion of the Annual Meeting that simply would not succeed as well as it does without the active participation of the Special Interest Sections - the educational program component of the Annual Meeting. Each year the Special Interest Sections and their education or program committees develop, submit, and present a considerable number of educational programs that address the needs of all AALL members.

The Washington, D.C. meeting, "At the Crossroads: Information Management, Technology, and Policy" (July 17 - 22, 1999), is no exception. The SIS education committees submitted more than 100 of the 170+ program proposals (each proposal was counted only once even if it was co-sponsored by more than one SIS) for the 1999 Annual Meeting. Additionally, the SlSs also participated in the development of ten of the 17 submitted workshop proposals. The Annual Meeting Program Selection Committee appreciates very much all the hard work comthe SlSs for the 1999 Annual Meeting.

Following are some statistics that show the crucial role that the SlSs will play in the 1999 Annual Meeting.* The 1999 Annual Meeting will include 76 educational programs and six workshops. Five of the six accepted workshops are sponsored or co-sponsored by an SIS. The Private Law Libraries Special Interest Section (PLL) is sponsoring two workshops - "All Systems Are Not Created Equal: How to Navigate the World of Integrated Library Systems" and "Second Generation: the Advanced Intranet Web Site." The Government Documents SIS also is sponsoring or co-sponsoring two workshops - "Law Librarians Meet the 106th Congress: AALL Legislative Day" and "Depository Library Workshop for Law Librarians at the Govemment Printing Office." The other SlS-sponsored workshop is "Meet the Legal Specialists: Expert Advice on Research and Acquisitions of Foreign Law in the Vernacular," developed and sponsored by the Foreign, Comparative, and International Law SIS.

Of the 76 programs that will be presented at the 1999 Annual Meeting, 46 - approximately 60% - are sponsored or co-sponsored by the Special Interest Sections! All thirteen SlSs are sponsors or co-sponsors of programs. Several of the SlSs are sponsoring or co-sponsoring many programs. One SIS, for example, is sponsoring eight programs, while another SIS is sponsoring 7 programs. SlS-sponsored programs will deal with crucial issues facing all of us as law librarians and legal information specialists. Some topics covered by SIS programs are the impact of electronic publishing on law libraries; improving public trust in the justice system; getting clients to value legal research; the year 2000 millennium bug; information architecture for the world wide web; court information and access to it; official gazettes; encryption; privacy law in the Internet age; the Cuban legal system; antitrust review procedures; use of the Internet in Technical Services; collaborative knowledge sharing; and many, many, others!

The Annual Meeting Program Selection Committee gratefully appreciates the SIS efforts to develop, submit, and present terrific educational programming for MALL members. The Committee absolutely could not put on the great show that the 1999 Annual Meeting will be (we hope!) without your help! See you in Washington, D.C. in July, 1999.

(*This article is intended to illustrate the importance of the SlSs to the educational program of AALL and is not intended to generate competition among the SlSs for program slots. The Annual Meeting Program Selection Committee selects programs based on the quality and the strength of the proposals and does not look at the sponsoring person or group.)

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Union/Reunion
by Bruce Kleinschmidt

Summer of 1998 gave me some very distinct times to reflect on my life and take inventory, as well as to be loved and encouraged. I won't apologize for these being personal experiences. In June I attended the 20th reunion of my law school graduation. Eight of us were rather close then and of the eight, seven of us are still in touch. You can appreciate that there was a desire to get back together as a group.

And that is what really struck me. I realized how fortunate I had been to have such a circle of support during the three years of law school. After working in three law schools, I know that I was given something remarkable, friends in law school who mattered to me, and who still visit, write and E-mail me, 20 years later. I see so little of that today. I talked to someone in alumni relations and she said it was a common reaction. The folks who feel they belonged are the ones who come back, because they sense they had an identity all along.

The associate dean commented to me that I was the only one in my class who held an academic appointment. I was surprised that it somehow mattered to her, but it did. She was pleased that I was waving the colors. I'd taken that for granted too.

In late summer my home parish had its 50th Anniversary.

It was a wonderful weekend, because we spent a lot of time remembering the vision of those who started the place, of our founding bishop and priest. There was a memorial service for all those who had been buried from the church, and the reading of those names was quite touching, both like and unlike All Souls Day, because this time I knew so many of the departed. And what struck me most of all was that I was seated with the survivors, the parents of the children who had committed suicide, the parents of the children killed in accidents, the parents of the children who had died an early death. And I thought of the strength that those parents showed me. They were there, now and thirty years ago and they were going on with the business of life. The first time that I had gone there was for the funeral of a friend who killed himself when we were 16. I may live in another state now, but I've been connected to that place since 1968.

On Sunday I was the rector at the principal service, thinking it funny that two bishops had to listen to me read from a lectern I had not used in fifteen years. I stood there and realized that I was one of those bridges to the next century that President Clinton used to talk about. Among the faces that heard me read were some I had known since first grade, and some who had been at the law school reunion in June, and now were part of "my" parish.

And it is the little things that people notice about us or we remember of them. I connect these thoughts by asking you to remember what is important to you. It's fine to talk about being recognized as a professional, but what do people see when they look at you? Do they connect with you as a person who IS a librarian or as a person who works IN a library? What do they take away when they touch your essence? The little things matter. My friends and memories tell me so.

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From the Chair

Greetings to all of you. Fall is fully here (in Minnesota we can smell winter in the air!) and the Social Responsibilities Special Interest Section has an opportunity in front of us that I propose we grab hold of. Jim Heller, AALL President, has looked to ALA's experience providing service opportunities for librarians at their annual conference and has suggested that AALL offer similar opportunities for our members. He, wisely, approached the SR-SIS (among others) with this idea, and it was briefly discussed at our Business Meeting in Anaheim.

It is my understanding that ALA members read to children in summer schools and public libraries. AALL could attempt something similar, or try to find service projects more closely related to our particular skills in law librarianship. From American Libraries (August 1998), I can see that we'll have our work cut out for us. ALA drew 11,799 attendees to Washington, D.C. in 1998 - 130 volunteered for "Volunteer Day". Since AALL draws significantly fewer attendees, we'll have to be realistic about what kind of turnout we should hope for.

I have been on the phone recently with Jim Heller and with a couple of Washington, D.C. law librarians about the development of this idea. Interest remains high, but it appears that no one has stepped forward to take charge of this project. Here's where the SR-SIS can make a mark. I propose that we offer to be the sponsoring SIS for this proposal, working closely with LLSDC (Law Librarians Society of Washington, D.C.) and the Local Arrangements Committee. I am willing to make some phone calls to get the ball rolling. What I need from you is your collective wisdom/opinions/suggestions/volunteerism. If you'd like to work on this project (shall we name a task force?), please call (651-297-2087), write (Minnesota State Law Library, 25 Constitution Ave. St. Paul, MN 55155), e-mail (karen.westwood@courts.state.mn.us) or fax (651-296-6740). This is truly at the very beginning stages so all thoughts are welcome (I need to hear both pro and con on this, so please tell me also if you're opposed to this idea and why).

The benefits I see to our SIS include: a clearcut goal to work towards for the next AALL Annual Meeting, increased visibility for the SIS, good PR for the SIS (being associated with a "feel good" issue once in awhile is not all bad), and perhaps some new members. I have high hopes that you all will share my enthusiasm for this project. I look forward to hearing from you.

Karen Westwood
October 29, 1998

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Program Selected for D.C.

SR-SIS is pleased to announce that the program Bruce Kleinschmidt proposed on behalf of the Social Responsibilities Special Interest Section of AALL has been accepted by the Program Committee.

On Sunday, July 18, 1999 we will sponsor a one hour program on the National Equal Justice Library, located in Washington, DC. Danna Bel-Russell the archivist of the library and Justice Earl Johnson of the California Court of Appeals will be the speakers. Justice Johnson, the moving force behind the formation of the project serves on the Board of Directors of the NEJL along with Bruce.

Kudos Bruce!!

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Minutes of the Business Meeting

Social Responsibilities SIS Business Meeting Minutes
July 15, 1998 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.

The meeting was called to order by Bruce Kleinschmidt. Reading of the minutes of last year's meeting was dispensed with.

Treasurer's Report. Rebecca Trammell, Treasurer, reported that for the Fiscal Year 10/1/96-9/30/97 the total balance was $16,142.48 and as of March 30, 1998 (the most current statement date) the total balance was $16,220.98. The principle of the Holoch fund ($10,000) is not included in this total however the interest earned on that money is included in the general SIS fund account, though it is the Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues' money.)

Interest on the Holoch fund: FY 1997:	$471
Prior interest on the Holoch Fund:	$917
Total Interest	$1,388

Additional expenses to the general SIS fund not reported are the refreshments provided for this year's Business Meeting and the expenses from the publication of the newsletter which will be submitted by Prano Amjadi. Bruce Kleinschmidt confirmed that the general fund of the SIS does support both the SIS newsletter and any standing committee newsletters.

A question arose as to whether interest could be earned on the balance of general SIS funding; according to Rebecca Trammell AALL could not get interest and does not allow the SlS's to separately invest. Secretary/Treasurer to double check on this.

Committee Reports:
Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues: John Davey reported that the Standing Committee has voted on the use of the Holoch fund and their decision was not to invade principle and to use the interest earned for grants to attend AALL. The Standing Committee also voted on the bylaws to require that everyone in the standing committee would also be required to join the SIS. General discussion was had regarding the growing interest within the Standing Committee to form a separate SIS. Members are looking into what would be required. There is not a decision to do this at this time but just preliminary discussion. Discussion of the newsletters and possibly distributing the Standing Committee newsletters to others; Prano Amjadi has asked Scott Burgh (and Rebecca Trammell) about having an ongoing column for each Standing Committee in the SIS newsletter.

Standing Committee on Service to Institutional Residents: Rebecca Trammel reported that she submitted an article on the Lewis v. Casey decision for the Spectrum. Discussion of the refusal by AALL to continue to fund membership in the American Correctional Association and the ALA subgroup on prisoners rights. Bruce Kleinschmidt noted continuing and strong interest in the "Recommended Collections" publication including one request from the Department of Justice.

Education Committee: Karen Westwood reported that at the 1998 program the one of 3 programs submitted by the SIS was accepted. (The program was widely praised.) Next year the SIS business meetings will be on Sunday (as opposed to the Wednesday time slots this year). Karen W. and Bruce K. have already requested Sunday time slots for the Business Meetings of the SIS and Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay issues.

Carol Billings reported that Jim Heller has appointed an "advisory group" to the education programs to coordinate with "sister organizations" to encourage participation of other professionals such as judges, attorneys, etc. She also mentioned that they have applied for a grant from the State Justice Institute to bring judges etc. to the next meeting and are looking for suggestions as to who to send. Bruce mentioned an Equal Justice Library program proposal; Jim Heller was very supportive of this proposal.

Old Business: Official Representation with the American Correction Association: As reported by Rebecca Trammell the cost of joining the ACA is approx. $120 per year. A motion (Prano Amjadi) was made to fund this membership out of SIS monies this year, leaving to the Executive Committee decision any expenses relating to this membership over $200. (There is a possibility of attendance at meetings and travel expenses, which the Executive Committee could approve.) The motion was seconded and passed unanimously after no discussion.

Bruce Kleinschmidt asked that we authorize Karen Westwood to send a letter to the AALL board to express our interest in continued support from AALL in this membership. All agreed.

STML Proposal: Bruce Kleinschmidt: This proposal to fund some registration grants costing $400 was well received by the grants committee. Nothing has happened this year but will be raised at an appropriate time in the future.

New Business:
Election Results
New officers were introduced: John Davey, Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect;
Leslie Campbell, Secretary Treasurer (2 years, beginning July 1998)

Newsletter: Prano Amjadi graciously volunteered to edit the SIS newsletter. Bruce Kleinschmidt will continue to contribute his column, which has garnered praise. Kudos were given to Prano's work in layout and design of the newsletter. Prano asked that people contribute articles to her; she encouraged everyone to raise any controversial, interesting issues.

Webpage: John Davey reported that Frosty Owen is willing to update and maintain our web page. (Prano Amjadi suggested that if needed she knows a consultant in New York who could work on it for us at a cost of $500 - $700.) She will share his resume with John Davey. Bruce Kleinschmidt suggested having the newsletters available on the page.

Other New Business:
Public Service Activity and 1999 Annual Meeting: Carol Billings reported that Jim Heller has suggested the Association organize a public service activity at the DC Meeting in 1999 and Carol suggested that the SR SIS take a lead role. Specific suggestions included work with libraries; legal information to disadvantaged people; working at a homeless shelter etc. Laura of the Law Librarians of Washington DC reported that they have done several things in the community including work with the Whitman Walker clinic and public libraries. Karen Westwood suggested that this be advertised prominently.

Free Memberships at Connell: Prano Amjadi proposed spending $120 to fund 10 free memberships at next year's Connell meeting. (And also to advertise this in advance.) The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

Meeting was ajourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Leslie M. Campbell

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Nominations

The April issue of the newsletter will contain the ballot for the SR-SIS elections. for the 1999-2000 year.

Bruce Kleinschmidt, Past SR-SIS Chair, is serving as the current chair of the Nominations Committee. The election this year will be for the Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect position. The Secretary/Treasurer position is a two year position and will voted on next year.

All committee members are encouraged to nominate themselves or others that they would like to see as officers. As Vice-Chair the successful candidate would head the SIS's Education Committee.

If you have questions, would like more information, or would like to nominate someone, contact Bruce Kleinschmidt at (317) 274-1929.