of Law Libraries
Special Interest Section
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American Association of Law Libraries |
Social Responsibilities Special Interest Section |
In This Issue
Conference Preview
Call for Program Ideas 2000/Philadelphia Meeting
Election Results
From the Chair
Death be not proud
Washington, D.C.: Dupont Circle
A Question of Principles
Washington, D.C. Standing Committee Reception
SR-SIS Website
Dupont Circle Bookstores
Conference PreviewThe 1999 Washington, D.C. Annual Meeting promises to have lots to entertain and inform all types of law librarians.
Everyone is encouraged to attend the SR-SIS Business Meeting on Sunday at 5 pm. The Library Services for Institutionalized Residents standing committee will have their Business Meeting on Monday at 7:30 am, and the Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues will meet on Monday at 4:45 pm for their Business Meeting.
Other highlights not to be missed include: the Diversity Symposium on Saturday at 2:30 pm and Bruce Kleinschmidt's program, C-6, National Equal Justice Library: At the Crossroads, Sunday at 4 pm (right before our business meeting).
G-4, Censorship at your Library, Tuesday 8:30 am and K5, Making Web Resources Accessible to Users with Disabilities, Wednesday at 10 am also look to be good bets for the socially conscious librarian.
>>>> Back to Top <<<< Call for Program Ideas 2000/Philadelphia Meeting
by Ellen PlattAs the annual meeting sneaks closer, and with it the deadline for submission of program ideas for next year's meeting, I call upon everyone to begin thinking of ideas for programs. As incoming Vice Chair/Chair-Elect-the honor falls to me to coordinate selection of program ideas to put forward on behalf of the SIS. Sooo, please bring those ideas to the meeting, or, if you're not able to attend, send them win someone or directly to me (by email or snail mail).
Remember, the idea doesn't have to be in final form, just submitted. If you need help filling out the official program proposal, just let me know; we've got some talented and seasoned program proposers in this SIS who are willing to share their secrets. The main thing is to get the idea for a program and/or the names of some great speakers into the pool.
Some final thoughts:
The saddest thing is a great idea NOT submitted; even if you don't end up submitting the proposal to AALL yourself, let us know about the idea, someone else might be thrilled to see it through.
You don't have to be a member of this SIS to contribute a proposal. If you think it's an issue or area that this SIS should or could sponsor, send it on in; we'll work with you or try to find someone who's interested in running with it.
The best thing is to have to choose among may fine proposals; the worst thing is for this SIS not to sponsor any program ideas (or for me to be forced to make something up so we don't look bad).
We will discuss more about programs during the SR-SIS business meeting Sunday at 5 pm and possibly again on Tuesday at the end of the General Business meeting. Be sure to get your ideas to me.
Ellen Platt (eplatt@scu.edu)
>>>> Back to Top <<<< Election Results
by Leslie CampbellThe results of the election are in. The only newly elected position was the Vice Chair/Chair Elect. The new Vice Chair/ Chair Elect is Ellen Platt, Director of Public Services at Santa Clara University School of Law Library. Men has been an active member of AALL since 1992; she has been Secretary/Treasurer of the Academic Law Libraries SIS, and chaired its Membership and Public Relations Committees. She has been involved in educational programs and co coordinated an SR-SIS sponsored in 1994.
Ellen worked for several years at Marquette University Law School before joining Santa Clara's excellent staff in 1997. She has served as president of LLAW, the Wisconsin MLL chapter, and is currently chair of the Audit and Budget Committee of NOCALL, the Northem California chapter.
Despite being an unopposed election, many folks did resumed ballots. We wanted to thank you for your participation in the election. We know that Ellen will start her term with strong support! Congratulations, Ellen.
The other Officers for 1999-2000 include:
Chair: John Davey
Secretary /Treasurer: Leslie Campbell
Past Chair: Karen Westwood
>>>> Back to Top <<<< Greetings SR-SIS members:
As I typed that greeting, my finger slipped and I typed "SRO" rather man "SR". When I see SRO, I think "Standing Room Only" and that reminded me of Ellen Platt's candidate's statement in the last SR-SIS newsletter (I recommend reading it if you haven't already). Both Ellen and incoming chair John Davey have voiced concerns over attracting new members to the SIS and broadening the scope of the issues the SIS addresses. I'm excited at the energy and new vision that they will bring, and am confident that the SIS is in good hands with John and Ellen. I invite all SIS members to join me in supporting our SR-SIS leadership in their future endeavors. When our membership gets too big for the conference meeting rooms, I volunteer to put forth the motion to change our acronym from SR-SIS to SRO-SIS!
On a more practical note (D.C. is almost here!) Rebecca Alexander has added inforrnation about "A Capital Contribution" to the SR-SIS website (www.aallnet.org/sis/srsis). Be sure to visit the site if you haven't lately, Rebecca has updated it extensively over the past couple of months. I encourage you to participate in the volunteer effort either by signing up with me to volunteer at a local public school, or by donating a book at the SR-SIS table in the exhibit hall. The SR-SIS table will need staffing as well (to collect books and sign people up to go out to the schools). If you can commit an hour or two here or there, it will go a long way toward letting me off the hook to go see some of the convention (and D.C.!!). Please contact me in the manner in which you feel most comfortable. I'm happy to sign you up - or to answer any questions you might have about the work of the SIS.
I hope to see many of you at the SIS business meeting Sunday July 18, 5:00-6:00 p.m. If you cannot make it, but have an item for the agenda, please contact a member of the SIS leadership (John Davey, Leslie Campbell, Elan Platt or myself), and we will raise the issue at the meeting.
Karen Westwood
karen.westwood@courts.state.mn.us
>>>> Back to Top <<<< Death be not proud
by Bruce KleinschmidtOn Friday, May 21, 1999 my friend Minde Browning died. She had been in the hospital for exactly four weeks and other than being in operating rooms for five surgeries, she was living in the Intensive Care Unit, on a forest of tubes and a respirator; so sedated that she did not know where she was. The face of cancer is not pretty.
I write this in uncertainty. A few of you will have known Minde. She was my supervisor for all of the four years I have been at IU, but beyond that she was my friend. I thought of her as that. I now have an empty place in my heart and an empty desk by me.
I have been active in working with people living with HIV/AIDS. I stopped counting the number of friends I have lost to that disease when it reached twenty. I visited one of my dearest friends last week. He was HIV+ when we met in 1991. He'll be reading this. In so many ways, the flood of that disease has been around me for years, such that my sons now participate in knowing and loving my friends with their own reality of all this. And it pains me to sense the difference our society gives to persons with AIDS. AIDS is still a disease that is stigmatized. Old age, heart problems and cancer still seem to provoke different reactions. I have buried a number of men in their 20's. Minde's death at age 41 was too damn early.
So much of my frustration with Minde's disease dealt with a sense of bleakness I had. I did not expect that good would come from this and I could not feel very optimistic. Some of that was my experience with AIDS and some was directly related to what I knew of her situation. Minde shared a great deal with me. I have now grasped that there was a very small group of us who knew how grave her cancer was, how slim her chances were, and how horrible all the choices would be. That was her gift to me. She entrusted me with the full, unvarnished horror of what she was facing, knowing I would honor her request for silence. With her permission I talked to surgeons and nurses, researching out of state cancer centers and went over the findings of various medical literature searches with her. We knew how bleak it was.
So now I sort my way through my frustrations. I wanted to yell, shake and explode at a variety of people and say, 'Wake up you fool, she's dying." I didn't, but my journal pages are still smoldering. I'm learning from the grieving I and others are doing. A lot of people just cannot grasp these situations and they cling to hope at any price. Perhaps that is what AIDS has taught me. Life is finite. Others Just prefer to be in denial, praying for miracles. I was praying too, but that her pain would end. I watch the reactions of those who did not like her, and how they struggle to make peace with that discord. That one is way beyond me.
But most of all I know this. I know that my friendship gave Minde a place to share. I know that she gave me a hug and her blessing the last time I saw her awake. And l know that is the way I want to live. I want to respect the diversity in how we face our problems and to alarm, with unconditional love, the fact that the death of any person comes with pain, suffering, and loss.
Strive to be at peace with all people. Life is short and precious.
Pax.
>>>> Back to Top <<<< Washington, D.C.: Dupont Circle
by Laura WhitbeckCURRENT EVENTS
Pick up a copy of the Washington Blade, the weekly gay newspaper, available at bookstores, businesses, restaurants and bars throughout the Circle and across town. See the "Out & About" section for regular meetings (AA to Zen meditation), and events. Also check the "Appointments" section for special events (concerts, shows, plays, readings, etc.). The "Blade," also includes a bar guide. Plan your trip now at http://www.washblade.com. While you're at it, get a copy of Metro Weekly a.k.a. MW for what the Blade doesn't provide.
COFFEE, TEA OR ...
The Circle area has three Starbucks locations on Connecticut Ave: 1301(at N Street), 1501 (at the Circle North), and 1700 (at R Street). Try Xando Coffee and Bar at 1350 Connecticut (at the Circle- South) or at 1647 Connecticut (at R).
For a real change of pace, try Teaism at 2009 R (Connecticut and R) for everything its name implies.
While you're on 17th Street, visit Java House at 1645 Q St (17th & Q) for fresh roasted coffee. Also try Cyber Stop Cafe at 1513 17th (between P&Q) with see and be seen outdoor seating.
See the Dupont Circle Review, http://www.announce.com/khein/dupont/index.html for a block by block analysis of Dupont Circle, with links for individual businesses. See the Rainbow tour section for gay specific sites.
You can easily spend a day visiting just the bookstores in the Dupont Circle area. The list on this page list is arranged from South to North for a little "walking tour" of Dupont Circle bookstores.
Look for more articles on Lesbian and Gay Washington, DC in the forthcoming issue of COLLAGE.
>>>> Back to Top <<<< A Question of Principles
by Mack MacklerI wanted to let my colleagues in the Section know about my upcoming article in the "AALL Spectrum." I believe that it might have special meaning to Section members.
You might remember that the Association recently passed a new set of "Ethical Principles," which replaced a 20 year-old, "Code of Ethics." One line in the new Principles troubled me: 'We distinguish between our personal convictionc and professtional duties and do not allow our personal beliefs to interfere with the service we provide," Became of this line, I voted "No " because I felt that the Principles compelled us to work on projects to which we had moral or ethical objections.
Last month, a partner gave me a reference project which I considered reprehensible. For the first time in fifteen years of practice, I refused a request. It felt great! There were no repercussions, but quite clearly I violated our new Ethical Principles.
You can read more about this in the "Spectrum," but I was wondering if any of you share my belief that we might have made a mistake in adopting this particular Ethical Principle.
Letters in response to Mark's column can be sent to Prano Amjadi (pamjadi@scu.edu) to be included in the next issue.
>>>> Back to Top <<<< Washington, D.C. Standing Committee Reception
Openly gay Representatives Barney Frank (D-MA-4th), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI-2nd), and Jim Kolbe (R-AZ-5th) will be among the attendees at the Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay issues Reception on Tuesday, July 20th.
Congressman Frank, who has served in the US House of Representatives since 1980, and has been noted by Politics in America to have a "penchant for trying to match liberalism with hard-nosed pragmatism in order to move the legislative ball."
Tammy Baldwin is the only open Lesbian ever to serve in the US House of Representatives, and the first person to win a seat in Congress as an openly Gay candidate during their first run for office. According to her website biography at http://www.house.gov/baldwin/," she is a leading advocate for health care reform, preserving and protecting Social Security and Medicare, and assisting people with disabilities in their efforts to lead productive lives."
Jim Kolbe is currently serving his eighth consecutive term in the US House of Representatives. At a recent fund-raiser, he was quoted by the Washington Blade as saying, "Just because we're Gay doesn't mean we can't believe that capitalism can be a dynamic force that can create wealth and good for everybody in our society,' he said. ... 'In other words, I think it makes perfectly good sense for Gays to be Republicans, considering our beliefs in the individual rights and responsibilities for all people.'" Chibbaro, L. (1999, March 12).'
The reception will be held in the beautiful and historic Woman's National Democratic Club http://www.democraticwoman.org/, centrally located just one block north of Dupont Circle. This 1892 mansion is on the National Register of Historic Places, and houses numerous antiques and political memorabilia, including the desk on which Frances Perkins signed the first Minimum Wage Act. Additionally, Eleanor Roosevelt gave her weekly radio addresses from the library on the second floor.
The Standing Comrade will have full use of the first two floors of the house, including the library, the music room (complete twin baby grand piano), and an outdoor garden for smoking. The house is barrier free, has an elevator, and is one short block from Dupont Circle Metro. Please feel free to invite your friends and colleagues to this reception as we get reacquainted with old friends and make new ones.
The reception will include buffet style displays of vegetable erudite, round of beef (carved to order with Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, creamy horseradish sauce, and silver dollar rolls), and antipasto (mortadella, artichoke hearts, mozzarella, provolone, marinated vegetables, Italian bread, and sesame seed breadsticks).
Passed h'ors d'oeuvres of shrimp mandarin, lobster and kiwi, coppa ham with melon, English roast beef rolls with baby corn, boursin on cucumber with hazelnut, smoked duck canapes with chutney, and smoked trout mousse canapes will also be included in the $10 reception fee. This year's event is generously sponsored in part by Lexis®-Nexis®, West Group, and CCH Inc.
A fomn is attached. Registrations *MUST* be made prior to your arrival in DC. Please register today!
>>>> Back to Top <<<< Find all the latest inforrnation about the SIS on our web page. Rebecca Alexander, our Webrnaster has created an informative site. Check it out:
>>>> Back to Top <<<< Vertigo Books
1337 Connecticut Ave NW
Good collection of African American works - regular readings.
(202) 429-9272.Olson's Books & Records
1307 19th St NW
Local chain with good selection
and service. (202) 785-1133.
http://www.olssons.com/Second Story Books
2000 P St NW
Used books and prints.
(202) 659-8884.
http://www.secondstorybooks.corn/Backstage
Theater and film.
(202) 775-1488.Kramerbooks & Afterwords
1517 Connecticut Ave
NW. Books and desserts.
Extended hours.
(202) 387-1400.
http://kramers.com/Lambda Rising
1625 Connecticut Ave NW
Gay & lesbian.
(202) 462-6969Mystery Books
1715 Connecticut Ave NW
(202) 483-1600Kulturas Books
1741 Connecticut Ave NW
Used
(202) 462-2541Newsroom
1753 Connecticut Ave NW
News & foreign language
(202) 332-1489Lammas Women's Books
1607 17th St NW (at Q St)
(202) 775-8218
http://www.zzapp.org/lammas
>>>> Back to Top <<<<
Comments to: Rebecca
Alexander
Last updated 12 February 2000