New page for AALL!

AALL has upgraded its web page! Links to resources can now be found on the top center of the page and have drop down menus. A few additional links that can be expanded or contracting by clicking the + or - signs are available on the right hand side of the screen. The AALL Spectrum blog feeds into the AALL Spectrum page, which is a great feature in my opinion. Similarly, #AALL11 tweets feed into the Annual Meeting page. AALL's social media links are visible on every page. What do you think of the new design?

Gov Docs: The Basics SlideShare Presentation

Yesterday I attended a webinar called Accidental Government Document Librarian: The Basics. The session was hosted by the North Carolina Library Association Section on Government Resources and the presenter was Bryna Coonin of the Joyner Library at Eastern Carolina University. The session is great for those who need Government Document information, but do not deal with these documents on a daily basis. Ms. Coonin covered information on conducting a reference interview when gov docs materials are involved, gave lists of many useful websites, and SuDoc classification, as well as other topics. This session is available on SlideShare. The webinar is useful for all librarians, not just those in NC, that work with government documents sporadically.

Drama in the Library Facebook Page

Whether it be from patrons or co-workers, most libraries experience drama every now and then. The Drama in the Library Facebook Page is a place where library workers can go and vent, but more importantly get valuable advice from colleagues. Additionally, the page links to articles that give advice on how to help keep a healthy work environment.

Stay in touch with AALL 2011 Local Arrangements Committee

The Annual Meeting is still several months away, but you can stay in contact with the AALL 2011 Local Arrangements Committee through several avenues.

Committee Web Page

Facebook

Discussion Board

You can also stay in touch with 2011 meeting information on Twitter using #AALL11 or follow the Annual Meeting Updates.

ProQuest LibGuides

As you may have heard ProQuest has acquired LexisNexis Congressional.

In addition to finding information on the ProQuest Congressional Wiki, users can now also find relevant information for Congressional, as well as other ProQuest products, through their LibGuide. The ProQuest LibGuides are currently divided into three categories: Current Bibliographies; Getting Started; and Quick Start Guides.

Additionally, users can also suggest future guides and receive email alerts when new guides are published.

Quick Access Guide: Links to Law Library Research Guides/Pathfinders

This guide contains links to ABA accredited and provisionally credited law school libraries that have access to their research guides electronically either on the library’s website or through LibGuides. Some court and public law library guides are also included. Schools marked with an asterisk (*) did not have a link to electronic guides readily available and the link listed is the library home page. This does not mean that these schools do not offer research guides, just that I did not have access to their guides electronically at the time of this guide. The list of schools appears in the same order as it does on the ABA website. Please send any suggestions or corrections to mcosby@nccu.edu.

To access the guide click here.

AALL Management Institute

The AALL 2011 Management Institute will be held April 7-9 in Chicago, IL.

I attended the 2009 Management Institute in Tampa, FL and it truly was an enriching experience. You can read my thoughts about the Management Institute in the SEAALL Newsletter (2009 AALL Management Institute, 34 Southeastern Law Librarian 3. Spring 2009).

Sign up is limited 50 participants and is on a first come, first served basis. For more information see the AALL Management Institute page.

CALI.org Videos Available on YouTube

I read this blog post on the CALI Blog. CALI has a YouTube Channel that you can subscribe to. The CALI YouTube channel will replace the CALI Blip.TV channel.

Call for Nominations: AALL New Product Award

Have you discovered any great new library products this past year? If so, let us know! It is time to nominate these products for AALL’s New Product Award.

The New Product Award honors a new and innovative commercial legal information product that enhances or improves existing law library services and/or procedures. New products may include, but are not limited to, printed material, computer hardware and/or software, or other products or devices that aid or improve access to legal information, the legal research process, or procedures for technical processing of library materials. Any product that has been re-introduced in a new format or with substantial changes is also eligible. A new product is one that has been in the library-related marketplace for two years or less.

All AALL members are encouraged to think about the exciting new information products being used in their libraries and to send us their nominations for this award. Interested vendors may also self-nominate their new products. Recipients of the New Product Award need not hold membership in AALL. Nominations can be sent by mail to the address below or via email.

To Submit a Nomination for the 2011 Award
Nomination forms can be found on the CRIV website under the New Product Award tab. The deadline for receipt of submissions is January 31, 2011.

Librarian Nominations
If you are a librarian nominating a product, please give as much information about the product as possible. The New Product Awards Subcommittee will contact the publisher of the product for any further information required.

Vendor/Publisher Nominations
If you are a vendor or publisher nominating a hard copy product, please submit the form along with a sample product, if available. If you are nominating a Web-based or online product, please submit the form with all necessary contact information, including URL(s) and temporary login and password information.

For hard copy products, brochures, and/or any other materials, we recommend that you send four copies for the New Product Award Subcommittee and the AALL Awards Committee.

Please send completed forms and documents to:

Michelle Cosby
Faculty Services Librarian
North Carolina Central University School of Law
640 Nelson Street
Durham, NC 27707
919.530.5241 (Office)
919.530.7926 (Fax)
mcosby@nccu.edu

The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2011.

Click here for application form.

The Legislative History of Veterans Day

Post courtousey of Yolonda P. Harrison, our guest blogger for today.

In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11th “Armistice Day” in order to commemorate the armistice signed between the allies of World War I and Germany that occurred on November 11, 1918. “Armistice Day” was meant to serve as a day of remembrance for individuals who fought during World War I and was not designated as a national holiday until nearly 20 years later.

On June 4, 1926, the United States Congress passed a concurrent resolution requesting that the President Calvin Coolidge issue a proclamation to observe November 11th with appropriate ceremonies.

On May 13, 1958, an Act entitled “Making Armistice Day a Legal Holiday” (75 P.L. 510, 52 Stat. 351; 5 U.S.C. §87a; 5 U.S.C. §6103(a)) was passed, making November 11th a legal holiday.

On June 1, 1954, Congress amended the Act, renaming "Armistice Day" to “Veterans Day.”

On June 28, 1958, The Uniform Holiday Bill (P.L. 90-363; 82 Stat. 250) was signed and the observance of Veterans Day was moved to Mondays in order to guarantee three-day weekends for federal employees.

On September 20, 1975, President Gerald Ford signed P.L. 94-97; 89 Stat. 479 and returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11th, beginning in 1978.