In August 2012, new editions of the following PLI treatises were published:
If you would like to order a copy of one or both of these treatises, please contact PLI Library Relations (libraryrelations@pli.edu; 877-900-5291).
Last year, PLI asked you to caption a cartoon featuring a PLI treatise and be entered to win an iPad. Ms. Sherry VonBehren of Drake University Law Library was our winner (click here to see her caption) and below, Sherry answers some questions about libraries, librarians, and how technology is changing our field.
Tell us a little about yourself:
I’ve been working at the Drake LawSchool Library since August of 1985. When I started, my daughters were nine and twelve years old (almost). Now the older daughter works in the financial industry and has a Masters degree from Drake while the other is a registered nurse.
I’ve done many jobs at the Law Library, from labeling new books, filing cards into the obsolete card catalog, and making thousands of pages of photocopies of court cases to using a computer program to interlibrary loan items around the country, providing legal material from our electronic databases, and preparing library displays on such varied topics as the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa, visits from Chief Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, and U.S. soldiers getting their wrongful WWII era convictions overturned just a few years ago.
What is a typical day like for you? :
First, I process the library’sinterlibrary loan and document delivery requests. I may need to put out anothercollection of “new books” or add recent faculty publications or student publications and awards to the large display cases.
I’m always developing new displays for the law library. The displays draw attention to library resources, give information on a law school subject, give tips on how to manage final exams stress, highlight law school lectures by visiting legal experts, law school symposiums, other law school activities, etc.
Why did you choose this career? :
I’ve loved libraries since I was achild. I had enjoyed my volunteer work at a public library and I liked the idea of doing the detailed work that keeps a library functioning. I had no idea of learning about legal resources when I started at the Law Library, it happened as my responsibilities changed over the years.
How do you feel technology has changed the field of law and/or librarianship? :
Technology has certainly changed how legal professionals do their research. Having legal resources available electronically has changed how fast legal sources can be found and has added tremendously to the number and variety of resources we can now access. Libraries must keep up with ever changing methods of finding answers to legal questions.
Helping law students, law faculty, attorneys and members of the public use electronic legal sources requires the skill to use electronic databases and especially the ability to advise patrons on how to conduct efficient, cost effective, and successful legal research.
What do you like most about your job? :
Most of all, I like being able to help people. I feel that providing the legal materials they need is an important job.
I also like developing informational displays. I’m very fortunate that I have a good amount of freedom to be creative and develop the displays in the manner I think will work to further the mission of the Law Library and the entire Law School.
How do you think the field of librarianship is changing? How is it staying the same? :
As ways of accessing legal materials have changed due to our use of computers, so have the options on how librarians must be able to connect with library users and the research skills they must learn. Those research skills must also be continually updated.
Librarianship is a helping profession. Most library workers are very service oriented. Our sincere desire to help people has stayed the same.
Do you use your iPad for anything work related, if so, for what? :
I have not used the iPad at work yet, but other people at the law school do use iPads at work and love them. Several people were quite excited about my winning the iPad.
Thank you again for such a wonderful gift. I was certainly surprised and excited to get it as well as very appreciative.
Wish you’d won an iPad? You’re in luck! We’ll be having another caption the cartoon contest this year so stay tuned for the details on how to submit your caption via the website or stop by our booth at SLA (# 153) or AALL (# 323)!
Did you know that May 1st is Law Day? This year’s theme is “No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom”, which according to the American Bar Association, “underscores the importance of the courts and their role in ensuring access to justice for all Americans.”
To celebrate, PLI is offering 35% off all of our publications, including treatises, course handbooks, and answer books. Click here make a purchase or contact PLI’s Library Relations Department by email (libraryrelations@pli.edu).
How are you celebrating?
PLI and LLAGNY have teamed up to offer free one-hour audio briefings for librarians, researchers, attorneys, and allied professionals. This spring we are offering a two-part session on Competitive Intelligence. Part 1 will be held on April 25th at 1:00 pm and Part 2 will be on May 9th at 1:00 pm.
As librarians we know how to find information, but historically we have been asked to provide raw data rather than an analytical report with business projections and actionable conclusions.
•Learn about the resources that are currently being used to perform competitive intelligence research
•Obtain or hone the skills needed to become an effective CI Researcher or Analyst
•Start a competitive intelligence project or program in your firm
•Create an analytical report from start to finish
What: What is CI?: An Introduction to Competitive Intelligence in the Law Firm Environment – Part I
When: The original one-hour briefing took place on April 25, 2012 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm EDT
Speakers: Jennifer Alexander ~ Business Analysis Manager, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP and Margaret T. Hennessey ~ Business Intelligence Analyst, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please note this program has expired. If you are interested in current PLI Library Programs, please visit www.pli.edu/libraryaudiobriefings
PLI Discover is our eBook library. Discover subscribers have 24/7 access to our complete publication catalog. This all-inclusive collection is available for a flat-fee, no per-click charges. If you are interested in trial access, please write us at libraryrelations@pli.edu.
Are you interested in learning more about Discover, PLI’s eBook library? Discover subscribers have 24/7 access to our complete publication catalog. This all-inclusive collection is available for a flat-fee, no per-click charges.
If you are interested in learning more, you can download our pdf flyer here or contact us at libraryrelations@pli.edu.
Last week, the Supreme Court of the United States announced the appointment of its 11th Librarian of the Court, Linda Maslow. A long-time Assistant Librarian for Research Services at SCOTUS, Maslow replaces Judith Gaskell, who retired in September 2011. Read the press release here.
The New York State Bar Association just came out with an app that has a searchable database of ethics opinions from the NY State Bar Association Committee on Professional Ethics. It has more than 850 opinions on topics including various conflicts of interest, attorney advertising, standards for social media and social networking and more. This app is free and is available for iPhone, Android , and Blackberry. Opinions are keyed to the New York Rules of Model Conduct and are available for sharing via social networks or email.
Reflecting the many statutory and regulatory changes made since the beginning of the economic downturn, the newly published Finan
cial Institutions Answer Book 2012 provides, in a handy Q&A format, a comprehensive overview of the complex federal requirements regulating financial institutions in the United States. Every aspect of a financial institution lifecycle is covered, from understanding the differences in regulation based on what type of charter is chosen, through ongoing capital and deposit activities requirements and major changes in corporate control, to the cessation of entity activity through merger, acquisition or entity failure.
Financial Institutions Answer Book 2012 covers the entire spectrum of financial institution regulation, including those regulating:
To order the book, click here or contact libraryrelations@pli.edu.
The U.S Government Printing Office (GPO) and its Federal Digital System (FDsys) added 30,000 court opinions to its online collection of opinions, part of a new pilot program.
The United States Courts Opinions collection in FDsys contains opinions from the Federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts. The collection is divided into appellate, district, and bankruptcy court opinions. Opinions are text-searchable across opinions and across courts. Posted court opinions date as far back as April 2004.
The opinions on FDsys may differ from opinions available on online legal research services—FDsys permits embedded animation and audio that works while the opinion is accessed.
If you need additional resources for trial preparation check out our Trial Handbook.