Margaret Hall is the Associate Director at the Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, California.
Why did you join AALL?
I joined AALL in the fall of 2004. I had just started my new position of Reference Librarian at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. I was lucky enough to work with librarians who knew the importance of collaborating within the larger Law Library community.
Why do you stay a member?
I stayed a member because of the great benefits available to me. Even before I joined AALL I used the AALL job postings to find my first professional position. Now I value the range of opportunities presented by AALL, from working on various committees, to looking up the contact information of my fellow librarians.
What one membership benefit is most valuable to you?
I believe the most valuable membership benefit is the Annual Meeting. I enjoy the opportunity to gather new ideas and learn during the programs and events. But my favorite aspect is the relationships I’ve made and continue to develop due to the Annual Meeting. I still remember the wonderful time I had at CONELL my first year as a librarian. It was held in San Antonio and I enjoyed getting to know the other members of AALL. I still have dinner with my “classmates” from that CONELL and look forward to seeing them every year. Our profession is small and we often need to move to different libraries over the course of our careers. The Annual Meeting is a perfect reunion of friends and colleagues. I am a big fan of the hugs in the exhibit hall, outside the program rooms, and in the crosswalks outside the conference center.
What is your favorite memory associated with AALL?
My favorite memory is when I hosted one of the CONELL dine-arounds. The group of new librarians I was hosting were simply fantastic. I thought my role would be to spark conversation, but these librarians needed no help. We had a lively and interesting night out. It felt like we had been friends for years.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
As any good librarian I enjoy reading; I am a fan of young adult literature. I also enjoy, to the point of obsession, Bollywood movies and Spanish Telenovelas, and no I do not speak Hindi and Spanish. I love to travel and often will take weekend trips, especially road trips. I traveled everywhere within an eight hour radius of Chapel Hill, NC and ,now that I live in LA, I hope to do the same here on the West Coast.
What book(s) are you currently reading?
I just finished a captivating book on Minor League Baseball called Bottom of the 33rd: Hope, Redemption, and Baseball’s Longest Game by Dan Barry. Not being a baseball enthusiast, I enjoyed that the book was not only about the game itself, but the players, the spectators, and baseball’s place in American History.
What’s your favorite travel/vacation destination?
You have not lived until you have experienced a Pronto Pup, the giant slide, Sweet Martha’s cookies, a grandstand concert and the all-you-can-drink milk booth at the Minnesota State Fair.