Katrina on rediscovering the benefits of AALL
Katrina Miller is a Law Librarian at Florida State University College of Law’s Research Center.
WHY DID YOU JOIN AALL?
I found AALL while in library and law school. I joined as a student member for help with my job search and to find information about law librarianship. Unfortunately, I let my membership lapse after graduation. When I started my current position as a law librarian, all of my co-workers were members and were involved in AALL so I re-joined and found out about all the professional benefits that exist outside of the AALL website.
WHY DO YOU STAY A MEMBER?
AALL provides a connection with other law librarians, libraries, and current information to keep up-to-date within our profession.
WHAT ONE MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT IS MOST VALUABLE TO YOU?
The annual meeting because of the networking, informative presentations, small group discussions, and access to all the vendors.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY ASSOCIATED WITH AALL?
By far, my favorite AALL memory is the keynote address given by Bryan Stevenson at the 2017 annual meeting in Austin. I have attended other events where he spoke, most recently the opening of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. Each time I hear a Bryan Stevenson speech or re-watch his famous TED talk, I am in awe of his work fighting the problems in our criminal justice system and poverty. His keynote was a powerful way to start a great annual meeting.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING OUTSIDE OF WORK?
Reading, yoga, and swimming.
WHAT BOOK(S) ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?
I’m always in the middle of at least one print book, multiple e-books on my phone, and an audio book for car rides. Right now the print book is Haruki Marukami’s Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, the e-book is Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, and I’m finishing up the audio book of Meg Wolitzer’s The Female Persuasion. I’m also reading Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with my son.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL/VACATION DESTINATION?
Any vacation in vibrant and loud cities like New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, and even internationally in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. I love getting an Airbnb and feeling like I live in the city for a short time. I enjoy all the diverse food options, visiting museums, and just walking everywhere and taking in the energy of the city. Then I return from vacation appreciative of my quiet existence living on a dirt road in Florida.