INDEPENDENT LAW LIBRARIANS GROUP
PLL/SIS
STATUS REPORT
PLL NEWSLETTER:
As reported in March, we had articles by Independents in several issues, if not all.
DIRECTORY AND SURVEY:
I still have the list and labels that Becky Davis printed up. If and when a printed survey is needed, it can easily be sent. In the meantime, I have been collecting and reviewing all the names we have. I’m putting everything into an Excel spreadsheet. This will help in determining who is a member of AALL and can be listed on the Independents’ website. I have many names of people who are not members. Some are members of AIIP or SLA. Last year in Washington we agreed that anyone can be on my e-mail list, including those people just interested in what we are doing but who are not independents. To be listed on the official website will require membership in AALL.
AALL 2000 ILL PROGRAM:
We will not have an official program with a speaker. I’m not yet sure what we will do with the room and the time, (Sunday 4-5 pm) perhaps open it up for general discussions. There are many people who are interested in becoming independent and many of us who would like to talk about various issues.
Instead of concentrating on a program this year, I have spent my energies in working with SLA’s Legal Division. I attended the conference this month and went to the program on SLA-AALL relations. (I plan to attend the same meeting at AALL) I also spent a lot of time in the Legal Division’s Hospitality Suite and various functions finding out what SLA and the Legal Division were all about. I need to follow-up with some of the people I met in Philadelphia.
AALL 2000 ILL BUSINESS MEETING:
The Business Meeting is scheduled for Sunday from 5-6 pm. I have not yet worked up an agenda.
REFERRALS:
Referrals are still coming in at about the same rate as last year. With the spreadsheet, I can track them better. I try to follow up on any questions and leads I see. There are a lot of requests posted through PLL and even SLA’s listservs.
PUBLIC RELATIONS:
I try to serve as an advocate for the Independents, PLL and AALL wherever I go. I spent most of my time at SLA in the exhibit hall talking to other librarians and the publishers. I encouraged several of the publishers to exhibit at AALL.
EXHIBITING:
Instead of having a formal program this year, I suggested to our group to help staff the PLL booth in the activities area of the exhibit hall. This was met with mixed results. Several people thought it was a great idea; one person wanted to keep the same format. So, I am working on a display of some sort. At the very least we will have a list of our members, samples of some of our brochures displayed in a notebook, and a sign-up sheet for anyone interested in joining us. I emphasize that the purpose of this is to attract and find anyone who is an independent or is interested in becoming one. It is not to solicit business for ourselves. I will put out a final call for volunteers next week. At the very least, I can staff the booth from time to time, since I spend most of my time in the exhibit hall anyway.
BUSINESS MEETING REPORT:
I have a late meeting Saturday and don’t know if I can make it to the business meeting Sunday morning to present my report. Therefore, I will make sure you have something in writing.
PROCEDURES MANUAL:
As you can imagine, I have been swamped with work, training a new employee, and just generally drained. I have done what I can, but haven’t even had a chance to look at the Manual or the website information for our group. I will discuss these with our group and get working on an update. I think having it just on the web is fine. It is easier to update and I can print it out if needed.
GOALS FOR 2000-2001: During the coming year I intend to continue the dialog with SLA’s Legal Division. Completing our list of members and compiling information on what they do will be priorities. I hope to do better this coming year as my staff gets better trained, I get more organized, my health improves, and I recruit volunteers for specific tasks with deadlines.
Submitted by:
Ruth G. Balkin
Chair, Independent Law Librarians’ Group of PLL
MIDYEAR UPDATE (FROM MARCH, 2000)
Things have progressed slowly, due to lack of volunteers and coordination. (I have been very busy and a bit disorganized due to two full-time people leaving). However, we have accomplished the following:
CURRENT PROJECTS
PLL NEWSLETTER:
Contributions to all issues so far. Victor Miller, a colleague from AIIP and a medical researcher, recently wrote an article on Medical Research for law firms. I just sent in a book review on Don't Hire a Crook (published by BRB Publications). This book review was written by my new intern and a colleague
from my consultant's network, besides myself. A first glance it did not seem appropriate for PLL, but it has been so useful to us, that I thought other law librarians would like to know about it.
I have also sent a plea out to PLL Newsletter for any independents to contact me.I can't refer clients to them if I don't know about them.
AALL 2000 MEETING PROGRAM (Philadelphia):
Although we decided on a topic for the program (last year in Washington), I haven't had a chance to follow-up. I need to review the list of topics for regular programs and workshops so we don't duplicate anything. It was suggested at the Intellectual Property luncheon last year that we have a
joint program. I will follow up on this with that group.
Last year I had several volunteers for speakers, including the Law Librarian of Congress! Our program was quite a success. I could also get vendor-independents to speak, if necessary. I'll get working on this ASAP.
EXHIBITING:
There is the possibility of having promotional materials on display at association conferences. We have put together a binder of brochures and business cards of some of our members. I would like to have something for the PLL table at Philadelphia if possible.
DIRECTORY AND SURVEY:
We will be updating our print directory this year. This is more than just a > list of names, etc. It is intended to really clarify what each of us does - everyone's strengths, specializations, locations covered. This is to help prospective customers in choosing the right person. It is especially useful to the group chair in making referrals. A survey will be used to gather this information. We already have the list of members from national headquarters (prepared by Becky Davis)
REFERRALS AND PR:
I continue to respond to requests for consultants. Requests come to us through national, over the Internet and on listservs and by word of mouth. Occasionally I get interviewed about what I do and I always mention ILL and AALL.
I hope to make more progress overall in the next few months and will keep everyone informed.
Ruth G. Balkin
Chair, Independent Law Librarians Group of PLL