Technology Training for a New Millennium Teach-In 2000 — Seeking Contributors

Does the dawn of a new millennium and all the accompanying technology have you frantically seeking solid solutions to your training needs? Maybe Teach-In 2000 can help!

Year 2000 marks the eighth annual National Legal Research Teach-In, sponsored by RIPS-SIS. The Teach-In gives law librarians around the country the opportunity to share materials and ideas for legal research instruction. Each year the Teach-In committee creates a set of materials that can be used to design and advertise programs and events for our institutions. These materials are distributed several weeks prior to National Library Week (April 9-15, 2000) to anyone interested in legal research instruction.

One of the ways you can contribute to the success of our profession is through our widely acclaimed Teach-In. Over the past eight years Teach-In materials have been distributed to an increasing number of interested people in diverse institutions all over the world. In 1993, for the first Teach-In, training kits were distributed to 315 locations and promotional items (posters & bookmarks) went to about 200 people. A new record has been set each year, culminating in 1999 when training kits were sent to over 770 people and over 20,000 notepads were used for promotional purposes! From these brief figures it is easy to see that the Teach-In has become an integral part of the law librarian landscape.

Successful? Absolutely! Of course, it is never too early to plan for success! The best way to remain successful is for this year’s training kit to contain the finest instructional materials that our profession can create. Now is the time for YOU to become involved in the creation of these materials! We need your ideas, your contribution materials, and your success stories! Please take a few minutes to contact us about any type of research instruction you are doing or any instructional materials that you have created. This could include descriptions of successful teaching techniques, training scripts, lecture notes, outlines, handouts, exercises, lesson plans, user guides, pathfinders, research guides, or descriptions of past training events. We want to know what you are doing to teach your patrons about legal research. 

We are looking for materials on ANY SUBJECT that would be relevant to the legal community. However, as we approach the millennium, it seems appropriate to feature electronic legal research training materials—ones that are especially timely and of heightened interest. Right now, however, we need your input and donations in order to determine what to include.

As you are developing new training sessions, or revamping old ones, keep the Teach-In in mind. We are always scouting for traditional and unique ideas. Please, act now! Take a few minutes to share some of your resources and ideas with us! You’ll be glad you did, and so will your colleagues.

Gail Partin
Phone: (717) 240-5294
Fax: (717) 240-5127
gap6@psu.edu

Karen Brunner
Phone: (973) 538-0800
Fax: (973) 538-1984
kbrunner@riker.com