We attended all three California Law Librarian annual meetings this year and enjoyed meeting and catching up with our librarian friends from private practice, government and academia. These meetings provide a fascinating glimpse into the fields of both law and information science. Each of the three had very different focuses, which touched on areas of interest and applicability to all legal professionals.
SANDALL, February 10, 2017: This year’s San Diego Association of Law Librarians Winter Institute was held at Morrison Foerster’s Office and addressed “Library Safety and Security: Protecting Our People and Resources.” The different sessions addressed preparing for and responding during an active shooter incident, information system exploitation and how to rescue documents and other items in the case of a “water event.”
While much of the content did not seem too relevant to us in our roles as legislative and administrative history researchers, it was fascinating to learn more about data breaches and get tips on how to act in an emergency. As for the “water event” training: the librarians got to get their hands wet and “save” submerged books, photos and documents. It made us reflect on the “older books” on our shelves and that it would be tragic to us as historians if our bound archives were damaged by water.
SCALL, March 3-4, 2017: The Southern California Association of Law Librarians Institute was titled “ConLaw Conundrum: Constitutional Law & Challenges in Today’s Environment.” Those of us present were treated to a fascinating slate of speakers on subject matter that is incredibly relevant to current events. Speakers included three law professors: Catherine Fisk (UC Irvine), Kimberly West-Faulcon (UC Irvine) and David Cruz (USC), Associate Justice Brian Hoffstadt of the California Second District Court of Appeal and the “headliner,” Dean Erwin Chemerinksy of the University of California, Irvine School of Law.
The different sessions addressed the Supreme Court, the First Amendment, Affirmative Action, LGBT Rights and the process of taking cases to the Supreme Court.
Because we love historical buildings, it was a special treat that the Institute took place at the historic Horton Grand Hotel in the “Gaslamp Quarter District” of San Diego. The Horton Grand Hotel was built in 1886 and was home to Wyatt Earp for seven years! That makes the hotel only six years older than the building that houses our office.
NOCALL, April 1, 2017: The Northern California Association of Law Librarians met in our backyard at the University of California, Davis, and titled their institute “California Regulatory Research, No Fool’s Game.” We research state and federal regulatory history with regularity so we were excited for the opportunity to learn more. The speakers addressed interpreting, promulgating and researching regulations, as well as the accessibility of this information. Regulations are also a timely topic, these days!
In Case You Missed It on our Blog: We provide a legislative update on bills in response to California’s Housing Crisis and address a possible government shutdown.