Monthly Archives: December 2010

Interview with Library PhD student: Lisa Metzer

Lisa Metzer is currently working towards her doctoral degree in library science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.   She is one of six students who are benefitting from a grant by the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, which was established to address the shortage in doctoral-level educators qualified to train librarians in working with scientific data and information.  Before enrolling in this program, Lisa worked as a Learning Librarian at the National Geographic Society and as Adult Services Librarian at Wells Branch Community Library.

What made you decide to pursue your PhD in Library Science?

Five years ago, when I was in my masters program for library science, I realized I wanted to eventually teach at the university or college level.  I knew I wanted to be a professor.  I have always had a love for instruction.

What role does technology play in your education?

Technology plays a big role right now.  One project we are working on is to build a curriculum for a class.  The class will be taught in the spring.  We are using open source software to build the curriculum for a course management system.   The class will be able to be taught in the classroom or through distance education.

How do you think the role of a librarian is changing?

I think the emphasis is a little different today.  The emphasis is now on information delivered through web-based technology.  Right now many library schools are completely or partially online.  Another huge change is that information is not only being delivered online but being produced online.  We are finding new ways to manage this information.  And all of this means that information literacy skills are more important now than ever.

Can you tell me why you gravitated towards training and instruction?

Part of my personality comes alive when I am training.  I like communicating information.  I like to find a way to teach that makes sense for other people.

Free One-Hour Briefing on Dodd-Frank Research

PLI and LLAGNY have teamed up to offer a free one-hour audio briefing to librarians, researchers, attorneys, and allied professionals.  The program is entitled Where in the World is Dodd-Frank? A Guide for Researchers.

The session will cover:

  • An overview of the Dodd-Frank Act & the best available tools for getting up to speed on the law
  • How the regulatory structure has changed, and changes still in the offing
  • The best resources for tracking the ongoing regulatory process

This briefing, featuring instruction from noted law librarians Craig Eastland and Lisa A. Junghahn, was conceived and created in cooperation with the Practising Law Institute (PLI) and the Law Library Association of Greater New York (LLAGNY). This briefing is chaired by Janice E. Henderson, Gitelle Seer, and Patricia Barbone.

 

Attendees also receive a 20% discount on PLI’s treatise Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act — A Summary.

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Please note this program has expired.  If you are interested in current PLI Library Programs, please visit www.pli.edu/libraryaudiobriefings.

November 2010 Course Handbook Update

Here are the PLI Course Handbooks that were published during the month of November.

  • “Bet the Company” Litigation 2010:  Best Practices for Complex Cases
  • 42nd Annual Institute on Securities Regulation
  • Advanced Swaps & Other Derivatives 2010
  • Advanced Venture Capital 2010
  • Bridge the Gap: Basic Skills for Newly Admitted Attorneys 2010
  • California Employment Law Update
  • Communications Law in the Digital Age 2010
  • ERISA Litigation 2010
  • Export Controls 2010
  • False Claims Litigation 2010
  • Financial and Reporting Issues for Nonprofit Organizations 2010
  • Financial Crisis Fallout 2010: Emerging Enforcement Trends
  • Fundamentals of Swaps & Other Derivatives 2010
  • Government Contracts Workshop 2010
  • Hedge Fund Enforcement & Regulatory Developments 2010
  • Negotiating Commercial Leases: How Owners & Corporate Occupants Can Avoid Costly Errors 2010
  • Nuts and Bolts of Corporate Bankruptcy 2010
  • Open Source and Free Software 2010: Benefits, Risks and Challenges
  • Trial by Jury 2010

Please write libraryrelations@pli.edu if you have any questions or would like to order a title.

2011 PLI Treatise Catalog

The 2011 PLI Treatise Catalog is now available.  View it online here.  If you would like a print copy mailed to you please write libraryrelations@pli.edu.

Some of PLI’s recent new publications include:

•             Public Company Deskbook (2nd Edition)

•             Securities Investigations (2nd Edition)

•             Mergers, Acquisitions and Tender Offers

•             Outsourcing: A Practical Guide to Law and Business

•             Covered Bonds Handbook

•             Sack on Defamation (4th Edition)

•             Equipment Leasing – Leveraged Leasing

(5th Edition)

Dodd-Frank: new venture capital rules & rulemaking tracker

As part of the Dodd-Frank Act, many of the proposed rules have been written and are be available for public comment.  Most recently, the Exemptions for Advisers to Venture Capital Funds, Private Fund Advisers With Less Than $150 Million in Assets Under Management, and Foreign Private Advisers was posted here.  Imagine my pleasant surprise to see two PLI treatises cited in the proposed rules: Exempt and Hybrid Securities Offerings and Private Equity Funds: Formation and Operation.

In addition, the PLI Securities Law Practice Center set up some resources to help you keep up with the rulemaking. 

1. Dodd-Frank Rulemaking Tracker: Through this handy tool you can search for rulemaking by agency and by topic area within an agency.

2. This Week’s Rulemaking: This calendar feature shows the latest rulemaking announcements with agency, type of announcement, and links to the Federal Register.

3. Dodd-Frank News: This is an up-to-the-minute news feed devoted solely to Dodd-Frank news.

These three helpful tools are available here (they appear on the right-hand side).