LLTC Trivia Game update

Thank you for making the 2011-2012 edition of the LLTC’s Trivia Game a great success. We had approximately 50 participants and awarded over $400 in cash and prizes.

Congratulations to Darla Grondin, the overall point leader for the 2011-2012 academic school year. She earned over 700 total points and will be awarded a $100 Visa Gift Card as a result of her efforts. Congratulations to Christina Lehm, who finished a close second, and is also the winner of the final trivia period, a feat for which she will receive a $25 Visa Gift Card. Finally, congratulations to Mike Leonard, who was this semester’s overall point leader, a feat for which he will receive a $50 Visa Gift Card.

This year’s five trivia topics were as follows:

1)      Name that Movie

2)      Name that Professor

3)      Name that Library/Legal Resource

4)      Name that Case

5)      Name that Pop Culture (Person/Place/Thing)

Each week (Mon-Fri) 5 clues are released daily, once every 24 hours regarding a particular movie, professor, resource, case or pop culture.

Sample Trivia Series:

Name that Case: Dad is a nonbeliever. #trivia

Name that Case: Dad wanted to force schools to quit long-time practice. #trivia

Name that Case: Mom does not mind the recitation of certain words. #trivia

Name that Case: Dad loses 8-0 in the SCOTUS. #trivia

Name that Case: “[U]nder God” stays; sorry pops. #trivia

Answer: Newdow v. United States Congress, Elk Grove Unified School District, et al., 542 U.S. 1 (2004) (or one of its other procedural incarnations).

Please remember to check the LLTC’s Twitter and Facebook accounts every Monday (during the academic school year) at 8:00 P.M. for the initial clue regarding that week’s trivia series. Clues are posted weekdays and correct responses are worth up to 50 points if submitted to owensw@nsu.law.nova.edu on the day of release; points awarded for correct submissions will decrease by 10 points daily e.g. Monday (from 8:00 P.M. until Tuesday at 7:59:59 P.M.) =50 points, Tuesday (from 8:00 P.M. until Wednesday at 7:59:59 PM)=40 points, etc… No points will be awarded for incorrect responses or for responses submitted after 7:59:59 P.M. on the Saturday following the release of that week’s final clue. All responses MUST be submitted to owensw@nsu.law.nova.edu.

Please DO NOT post your responses to the LLTC’s Twitter or Facebook accounts.

Each period (approximately 5 weeks), a $25 prize (gift certificate) will be awarded to the point leader.  Each semester, a $50 prize (gift certificate) will be awarded to the point leader.  At the end of the school year, the overall point leader will receive a $100 prize (gift certificate).  At all stages of play, tied players will be entered into a drawing to determine the final disposition of the prize.

Once again, thank you for your participation and please be sure to join us for the next installment of the LLTC’s Trivia Game!

Have a great summer!

I’ll Have a Caramel Macchiato and So Will Everyone Else

Last weekend, I attended the annual meeting of the Southeastern Chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries (SEAALL) in Clearwater Beach, Florida.  While I could devote an entire discussion to the many things I learned at the conference, I will instead discuss an idea I had en route from the conference, while driving on Interstate 75.  Well, the first idea that came to me, while on my drive, was to stop for some coffee.  This was not unusual for me, as I like coffee very much, especially at Starbucks.  Sprinkled across the state, there are a number of these coffee shops, and I was determined to see other parts of Florida, so I based my stops on the location of these particular coffee shops.  Using my GPS, I located a number of coffee shops to stop at along the way.  While advertising takes many forms, once you have actually entered the coffee shop, you’ll notice that at Starbucks, they tend to promote items on the menu using posters or chalkboard drawings.  That way, if you don’t readily know what a Tazo® Green Tea Crème Frappuccino® is, you might explore that option, and it’s a delicious option indeed.  Upon approaching the register, I noticed that the sign this month was promoting a caramel macchiato, one of the more expensive drinks on the menu.  It was a simple sign, with an attractive photo of two beverages, one with ice and one with steam.  I wondered how effective these simple advertisements were in helping customers select a menu item, or even whether it would make them aware that this was an item on the menu available for purchase (and had been for years).  I decided to ask the barista if he had noticed an increase in sales of the caramel macchiato.  He replied that sales at his store had increased significantly for the caramel macchiato, likely due to the signage.  It wasn’t being advertised as a special for that month; rather the message was just that you could have one, if you wanted, at Starbucks, in the morning or afternoon, iced or hot, as you always could.  After the conference, which was all about law libraries, teaching, service, and scholarship, I had been left thinking about various ways to promote resources in our library, and of course there should probably be a number of different strategies used to disseminate information; but I wondered about the Starbucks method.  Clearly, a retail store does not have the same goals as a library, but we do share some things in common.  Signage is relevant in both contexts, and getting the word out about our offerings is also important.  We’re not interested in sales, but we’d be very happy to let our patrons know about databases that have always been available and have always been great, but might be new to them.

But, when is signage most effective?  I discussed this topic with a librarian colleague, and we came to the conclusion that signage can be more effective when the audience already wants something, as in the case of the coffee shop customer, who has already entered the store in pursuit of something, whether a beverage, food item, or a place to sit for hours to think; or in the case of a library patron, who is looking for information, guidance, or a place to sit for hours to think.  Where is the best place for a sign?  It’s been my experience that signs tend to be missed when people are in motion (although billboards seem to be effective, but it’s likely that there are other explanations for that).  Therefore, signs might be more effective for promotion purposes, if they’re placed where a person will be stationary, at his/her final destination or rest point, in a place where you’d like them to end up, either at the register or at the reference desk.  For example, a sign, simply drawn or visually captivating, placed in front of the reference desk, might be just the right location to encourage a patron to ask about the highlighted resource.  I’m sure there are many other ideas that I could take away from observing the signage at Starbucks (I immediately think about how Starbucks has to make the language of coffee accessible to its customers, a venti white chocolate mocha no whip, what’s that?, as we have similar concerns about terminology in libraries, e.g., interlibrary loan, SuDoc numbers, subject headings, etc.).  I welcome your suggestions.  I probably wouldn’t have had six caramel macchiato beverages this month but for the effective signage at Starbucks, and I am sure that there are others who’ve responded similarly.  In fact, the moment I stepped away from the register to collect my beverage, the very next person put in her order for a caramel macchiato.

Getting to Know the LLTC: Angie Stramiello

Where did you grow up?:

I was born in Brooklyn,New York, but grew up in Knoxville,Tennessee, where my family moved when I was four.  I received my B.S. degree from the University of Tennessee and upon graduation, accepted a position as Graduation Assistant in the Dean of Admissions Office.  I loved working with the students but felt their disappointment if they failed to make their required GPA and could not graduate.  I loved being with those who did graduate and shared the joy of seeing happy faces on graduation day.  After several years, I wanted a change, but only went across the street to the College of Law Library.  My Dad retired that year and my parents moved toFlorida’s west coast.  After eight years of frequent visits toFlorida, I decided I wanted to be closer to family.  Broward County Law Library was in the process of developing a reference librarian position, and I was recommended for the position by the TVA Law Librarian.  I had no idea where Broward County was located until I came for an interview.  I was offered the job and accepted.

Where did you work prior to LLTC?

I began my law library career at the University of Tennessee, College of Law Library, where I was very fortunate to have a nationally known law professor as my supervisor and mentor. I took his legal research class, which gave me the background I would later use to teach legal research in the paralegal program at BCC.  I left Knoxville and accepted a position as Reference Librarian at Broward County Law Library.  After two years, I became the first law librarian for a major Miami law firm. Three and a half years later, when a Ft.Lauderdale law firm decided they wanted to hire a firm librarian, I became their first law librarian, where I stayed for twenty two years.  Sadly, the firm dissolved at the end of 2001, and I went to work for the Broward County Public Library as Assistant Branch Head of the Dania Beach Branch.  I wanted to return to a law library and kept in touch with the then director of Nova’s Law Library. When a position opened, I was offered the job and accepted.

When did you begin working for the LLTC?

I began working at the LLTC on December 16, 2002.

What do you do at LLTC?

I began at the LLTC in a full time position as Assistant Head of Collection and Bibliographic Services for Acquisitions and Serials.  This title was too long for me, so I introduced myself as Acquisitions Librarian. I worked with the publishers’ representatives and did a lot of problem solving.  By this time, I wanted to go part time, so when a part time reference librarian position was offered, I accepted. This is my current position.

What do you like best about your job?

Working with faculty and students, because that is really our reason for being here.  Our faculty is very supportive of the library and this makes our work enjoyable. This fall, we initiated Movie Night as a joint project between the LLTC and the Law School Faculty.  It is intended to be fun and also to teach legal issues that are incorporated into movies.

What are your proudest accomplishments on the job?

I expressed an interest in reading an article  that Prof. Charlene Smith was authoring with two other professionals. I told her that I have a strong background as an editor and she invited me to edit her article.  I am very honored that she has give me footnote recognition for doing so, and I look forward to seeing the article when it is published next spring.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I like going to plays and especially enjoy community theater.  I also love college football and I am a loyal fan of my school,  The University of Tennessee.  I support the Vols in good years and in bad, and unfortunately, this has not been a good year. I enjoy visiting with family and friends and I do some volunteer work at my church.  I also like puzzles, such as Sudoku.

What is your favorite food?

Mangos are a real treat when right off the tree.

What is your favorite book?

I don’t read much fiction, because I like to read for information.  I guess my favorite book, which I read in college, is the Diary of Anne Frank.  No fiction could compare to her story.

Is there any particular advice you would like to share with the students?:

Don’t be discouraged if things take a while to understand, and let those of us in the library be of help when we can. Also, learn to use the books for research because they will help you understand computer research, and you never know when the power will fail and you have a client waiting for a result.

Self-Checkout at The Library?

The future could be now. Image via LibBest

Don’t you love going to the supermarket or hardware store and have the convenience of self-checkout? Shouldn’t a similar system be used in a library? RFID technology is nothing new for libraries. For years, anti-theft tags have been used to stop intentional and accidental removal of unchecked materials. RFID tags expand on this by enabling the following.

• Upon checkout the tag ID is listed as checked out in the database and bound to the patron.
• Books that pass through security are checked with the database dynamically to ensure they are checked out. This simplifies circulation overhead by no longer requiring a security stripe to be disabled or re-enabled upon checkout, collection, and shelving.
• The physical location of a book can be tracked using a Digital Library Assistant. Imagine an incorrectly shelved book, waiting on some forgotten shelf until discovered by weeding or chance observation. These systems are standard in warehouses.

When a library’s collection can be indexed and tracked by a computer, self-checkout kiosks become an obvious progression.

See some examples of similar systems all ready in use.

Video demonstration of an RFID self-checkout – Queens Library

Hamilton Library, University of Hawaii  - Self-checkout using 3M Self-Checkout stations..

Policies and procedures for Self-Checkout – At New York University

The Top 12 Reasons for Faculty to Work with Outreach Services at the Law Library & Technology Center

12. Expert research assistance from experienced librarians—contact your faculty liaison for details

11. Library guides with print and electronic resources for your seminar classes—these are subject bibliographies available online for your students, created by librarians and research assistants

10. In class presentations on specialized research topics—librarians will teach a lesson in your class with your input and guidance, or without, whichever you prefer

9. Library tours—we’ll guide you and/or your students through the collection and we’ll welcome your suggestions for new acquisitions

8. Meetings with Alison Rosenberg—I’m available any time you want to talk, not just when there’s an iPad at stake

7. We’re on Facebook and Twitter, so you can find us or follow us any time and we’ll provide you with useful information about our
events, resources, and services

6. We’ll be at law school events—supporting all of our efforts to promote intellectual growth and curiosity

5. There’s more than one way to search for information, and we’ll make it fun—if we can’t find what you’re looking for, we probably know someone who can, and if we can’t or don’t, in all likelihood what you’re looking for doesn’t exist—at least not yet; which brings me to my next reason

4. We’re creators of information—we blog on Novalawcity, write for publications, author library guides, and engage in our own scholarship—and we are available to work with you on your projects

3. We’re a friendly group, and we’ll help you in any way we can—librarianship is a service oriented profession

2. Technology—it’s abundant and at times overwhelming, but we can teach you how to apply it, operate it, consume it, or simply make it work for you

1. The possibility of an iPad with your name on it—it’s our participation reward of choice, definitely a good reason to fill out the
faculty survey by November 15, 2011

Getting to Know LLTC: Alison Rosenberg

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Miami, Florida, and I resided there for eighteen years.  As for growing up, that’s a lifelong process for me.

What year did you begin working for the LLTC?

I began working part-time for the LLTC in 2008 while I was enrolled in the distance Master’s program in library and information studies at Florida State University.  When I arrived at the LLTC, I spent most of my time at the reference desk, which was great for me because I love helping people.

Where did you work prior to the LLTC? 

Prior to arriving in Davie, Florida, I attended law school at Northwestern in Chicago, Illinois.  While in Chicago, I developed a love for the Chicago Transit Authority (“CTA”).  I was fascinated by the concept that you could travel anywhere in the city without having to walk a great distance once you arrived at your destination, which was a benefit while living in cold weather.  A bit of advice for those who move to cold climates after spending the majority of their lives in flip flops—it’s the accessories that really protect against the elements, so (1) find boots with excellent tread on the bottom—don’t go for fashion, as slipping is a very real possibility; (2) get a very long coat—the longest you can find, and get a puffy one—throw style to the wind (literally, if you’re in Chicago); (3) wear earmuffs—I had to learn the hard way that if you need to walk even a small distance, your ears will soon be radiating with pain (at first I thought it was just me and that I had been walking too fast or that I had an ear infection—but no, you need to cover every part of your body with fabric—see my coat; and (4) invest in a snowbrush if you own a car—do not attempt to use paper towels because although they are super absorbent, it’s not practical to use them for snow removal, and even less practical to use your hands once you run out of paper towels.

So, as I said, I developed an interest in public transportation, and I thought that I might apply to work for the City after graduation.  I loved the CTA for the people watching—and there was much to observe on public transportation.  I worked at a law firm before law school, and I loved the morning ride to work when passengers took up every inch of space in the bus, all of them bright-eyed and ready for the day ahead (I’m not sure if they actually were bright-eyed or just being squeezed too tightly by the other passengers).  I read up on the bus and train schedules, discovering all of the places you could go on the different routes.  Soon, I had lived in Chicago long enough to be able to help others get to their destinations.  I loved tourist season in the summer when all the visitors would board the CTA, fold open their maps, and try to figure out how to get from place to place.  I was really excited to tell these travelers the best ways to go and provide them with a little known fact about each landmark.  Looking back at these experiences, it makes sense to me now that I became a librarian.  These experiences—and the time when my college English class was scheduled to take a field trip to the rare books collection in our library, and I could not contain my enthusiasm—should have all pointed me toward librarianship.  Yes, I was just that excited to see the rare books—and they definitely lived up to the hype.

Simply stated, my prior law experience includes several public interest organizations with a focus on access to justice and civil liberties, a big law firm, and a small law firm.  My prior library experience includes the LLTC.

What do I do at the LLTC?

I am the head of a new department in the LLTC called Outreach Services.  My department is responsible for developing programs and services for faculty and students, and also for the NSU community, alumni, and public.  It is a job that makes me excited to come to work every day because there are endless opportunities for professional growth, and I still get to tell people how to get places. 

What do you like best about your job? How did you come to be here?

There are many things that I love about my job, but mainly I love being in academics because of the opportunities to learn.  I was always someone who loved being in school.  I really loved it, and I was a very serious student.  Years ago, I realized that at some point my formal education would end, and I would be forced to secure a job where I would be focused on one area or skill.  So, before that happened, I considered ways to prolong my education.  I decided to attend law school, in part because my father held a strong belief that I would become a skilled appellate attorney (I think he still hopes that will happen someday), and in part because my undergraduate English major had very few obvious career choices that weren’t prefaced by the words “struggling” or “starving”.  When I graduated from law school, my career counselor helped me discover that I didn’t want to be a practicing attorney—at least not right away.  So, after reviewing my life’s path, I went back to what I loved, which had always been books and learning, and I decided to enter library school.  It was a decision that required a lot of explanations to those who had seen me go through law school.  How many years of school is it?  Your classes are all online?  All of them?  Fortunately, it turned out that there was an actual job where I could use both my law degree and my library degree—a law librarian—and that’s how I came to be here.

What is your proudest accomplishment on the job? 

My goal as a librarian is to help people find information and feel good about the process, and I am happy when I can make someone’s work a little easier for them by teaching them something they didn’t know before.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? 

Television—lots of television. That probably seems somewhat discordant following everything I just said about loving education and learning, but I love TV—and it does have an educational component.  My brother and I used to identify SAT words while watching The Simpsons, and I can get very competitive playing Jeopardy—by the way, did you ever notice how successful librarians are on Jeopardy?  Whenever they appear, it seems that they have no problem answering questions about obscure or random topics.  Television also helps me stay attuned to popular culture.  If I don’t understand a reference that I hear on TV, I look it up. 

I also enjoy taking naps, vacations, and spending time with my family.  I like activities that require only a moderate level of energy.

Favorite food? 

Since I enjoy so many types of food, I’ll just name the greens and the sweets:  Le Sueur very young small early peas, artichokes, avocados, frosting, cake with ample frosting, and boxes of chocolates that contain a map (because I like to look up each chocolate and read a bit about it before I eat it).

Favorite book? 

My favorite books to read are those that provide me with insight into the human experience through character development.  I like to read the same book multiple times and sometimes years apart, because I have found that I get more out of reading that way.

Is there any particular advice you would like to share with students? 

As you are mastering the legal theory in your classes, learn as many practical skills as you can while in law school.  Enroll in clinics and externships that will expose you to the areas of law that interest you.  Take advantage of any opportunity to develop your legal research skills, as it’s been suggested that good students can get by without strong legal research skills.  See Steve Kolowich’s article.  So, while it’s possible to become a top student without possessing strong legal research skills, it is advisable to take some time to focus on this aspect of your education because it is vital to the practice of law.  This statement taken from the preamble to the Florida Rules of Professional Conduct is one that I’ve found to be a useful guide for present and future lawyers:  A lawyer should strive to attain the highest level of skill, to improve the law and the legal profession, and to exemplify the legal profession’s ideals of public service.  You can work on these goals right now, while you’re in law school, and if you’ll let us, librarians are excited to help you do it.

Trivia returns for 2011-2012 school year!

The LLTC is proud to announce the return of the trivia game for the 2011-2012 school year.  All Nova law students are eligible to participate.

A new clue will be posted every day from Monday through Friday at 8pm, with the topic changing from week to week.  Monday’s clue will be the hardest to guess and Friday’s the easiest. You get more points the earlier you guess the right answer (50 points if you guess on Monday, 10 on Friday). Clues will be posted on the LLTC’s Twitter and Facebook feeds.  Your guess/answer to the clue should be sent to William Owens (owensw@nsu.law.nova.edu) who will be tabulating the answers.

There will be five trivia topics this year:

1)      Name that Movie

2)      Name that Professor

3)      Name that Library/Legal Resource

4)      Name that Case

5)      Name that Pop Culture (Person/Place/Thing)

Every week, we will post the leaderboard to the blog so that everyone can see who our top trivia players are.  Each month, a $25 prize will go to the top player.  Each semester, a $50 prize will go to the top player.  At the end of the school year, the top contender will receive a $100 prize.  In the case of a tie, players will be entered into a drawing for the prize.

For Movie questions, you will also have an additional opportunity for a prize.  The LLTC is showing six movies this year in a series called Law on the Silver Screen.  Correct answers to Movie trivia questions (regardless of the number of points) will be entered into a drawing that will take place each movie night.  Movie trivia participants who join us to enjoy the movie, popcorn, treats, and other prizes will be eligible for a special $25 prize drawing.

Because we’re getting a late start this week, two clues will be released tonight at 8 and two clues will be released tomorrow at 8, with the final clue being released Friday at 8.  If you guess tonight, you will be eligible for 30 points, tomorrow (after 7:59 pm) 20 points, and Friday (after 7:59 pm) 10 points.

Join in and learn more about law and popular culture, the law school, our faculty, library resources, and the profession!

 

Update on the rules: You may ask professors if they are the professor named.  You may not ask your fellow students or librarians.

Getting to know LLTC: William Owens

Where did you grow up? How did you come to be here?

I was born and raised in Jacksonville, North Carolina, a “city” which is primarily known as the “home to Camp Lejeune.” Both my grandfathers were career military men (marines as indicated by the “camp” designation) and ultimately settled in the area surrounding their final duty station. My childhood and young adult life were primarily defined by my relationship with my sister, who had a rare genetic disorder called Friedreich’s ataxia. It is a progressive, degenerative autosomal recessive disorder that primarily affects motor functions regulated by the cerebellum; fortunately, while physically disabled, she was quite intelligent and we would spend seemingly countless hours reading (which was her favorite pastime) and discussing topics of interest.

I was not particularly fond of grade/secondary school and generally avoided doing homework or any other educational responsibilities. I had to have minor surgery in high school because I developed a condition called “testicular tortion” as the result of an injury sustained during a martial arts class (just ask if you would like more details). I felt frustrated and hopeless after missing about three months of classes, so (to my mother’s utter chagrin) I decided to drop out of high school. By this point, however, I had developed an interest in education and decided to earn a college degree.  So, after I recovered from surgery, I proceed to Coastal Carolina Community College (CCCC) (at the time, Jacksonville’s only institution of higher education), completed the 6 required study hours and took/passed the GED exam. Then, after taking and passing CCCC’s placement test, I enrolled in college courses in May, 1994, ironically about one month prior to what should have been my high school graduation ceremony.

I was forced to withdraw several times due to my sister’s deteriorating health, and was not able complete my BA until a little over 8 years later in December, 2002. Originally, I was a biology/pre-med major, but I quickly lost interest in that path after my sister passed away on November 23, 1998. I transferred to the University of North Carolina-Greensboro in 2000 and changed my major to philosophy/pre-law after taking an incredible Introduction to Philosophy course. I decided to apply to law school after taking a moral philosophy course (What makes right/wrong actions right/wrong?) and a philosophy of law course (which primarily focused on arguments from Judith Jarvis Thomson’s “Defense of Abortion”). Since most of my family relocated to Florida in the early 2000s I decided to attend a Florida law school (a partial scholarship factored into that decision as well).

During law school I read a colleague’s paper regarding alternative professions for the Juris Doctor; the section describing law librarianship blew me away. I had always been more of a research nerd and preferred the research and philosophical aspects of the law to its actual practice (however, I have recently been contemplating sitting for and passing the Florida bar exam and taking on a few cases here and there). So, I earned a Master of Arts in Library and Information Science in December of 2010 and here I am working in my first position as a law librarian at NSU’s Shepard Broad Law Center Law Library and Technology Center (that’s a mouthful). I am happy to be here and shall endeavor to have a positive impact on everyone with whom I come into physical, electronic or audio contact.

Where did you work prior to LLTC?

Just prior to the LLTC, I worked for the University of South Florida’s Center for the Study of International Languages and Cultures (CSILC), whose mission is to promote global understanding through the integrated and interdisciplinary study of languages and cultures.  At CSILC, I held the title, “Translation Research Specialist,” a position which is responsible for ensuring that target language source materials are accurately translated into English. I cooperated with an English proficient target language expert and researched individual words and phrases as well as understood various cultural issues in order to create the most accurate translation of the source material as possible. A few of my previous jobs include: assistant manager at Walgreen Co., U.S Army Reserves and Martial Arts Instructor.

When did you begin working for the LLTC?

I began working at the LLTC on May 16, 2011 as a part time reference librarian, and was officially promoted to a full time position titled, Evening and Reference Services Librarian, on July 9, 2011.

What do you do at LLTC?

As the Evening and Weekend Services Librarian (although I assist all library patrons) I act primarily as the contact/liaison for evening students, associate professors and adjunct professors (who generally teach during the evening hours). I help students, attorneys and pro se patrons to locate materials that might elucidate their legal queries. I also teach basic legal research instruction modules to LSV students to supplement professorial instruction.

What do you like best about your job?

I love just about every aspect of being a law librarian: reference interviews, print research, database/online searching, instructing patrons in the use of the vast array of legal resources etc… ad infinitum. Most especially, I love the fact that I am always learning something new; I am not limited to researching one category or topic. I also love the fact that I assist a very diverse group of patrons: professors, students, attorneys and pro se patrons. Just about everyone will have a legal research question at some point in their lives; I hope to be there to assist in their quest to discover the answer.

What are your proudest accomplishments on the job?

So far, my proudest moments have been those in which I have successfully taught patrons how to utilize legal resources. Many first year students and pro se patrons know very little about the law and even less about the legal resources necessary to perform quality legal research; if I can impart some small measure of useful research knowledge unto them, then I will consider myself to have served them well.

 What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Among other things, I enjoy reading, cooking, exercising, and spending time with my family. I have been trying to run 2 to 3 miles every other day since I moved to Fort Lauderdale, but something always seems to happen that precludes me from achieving that goal; I do run, just not as consistently as I would like to. I was making good use of NSU’s recplex for the first few weeks after I joined back in May, but I have been slacking off there as well. I also enjoy kickboxing and basketball. Next to engaging in family activities, reading moral or metaphysical philosophy is probably my favorite thing to do.

Favorite food?

Although I have my favorite set of parents (my own) and my favorite wife (my current and only one at this time), I am not really a “favorites” kind of person; there are way too many wonderful dishes out there for me to say that any particular one of them is my favorite. I am more of a top ten kind of guy. Let’s see I love my grandmother’s 150-200 year old recipe for Macaroni and Gravy (thick, red sauce with pork loin, Italian sausages, ¼ inch thick slices of pepperoni etc…). I am also particularly fond of Puerto Rican red beans and rice. My wife’s family hails from the island country of St. Lucia, which is located in the Caribbean, so I am also quite fond of stew peas, bakes, curry goat, roti, and numerous other dishes (this section of the blog is making me really hungry). Hmm here are a few more dishes I could go crazy for right now: a slice of New York style thin crust pizza from Circle Pizza in the Bronx, an order of shrimp fried rice or an egg roll from Amy’s Chinese Restaurant in Jacksonville, NC circa 1989, a Philly cheese steak sandwich (on amorosa bread) with or without onions from Philly Flava in Tampa, Florida, a chipotle cheeseburger from Cruisers in Ponte Vedra, Florida, an oxtail roti from Golden Crust in the Bronx. Okay, okay, I could go on and on with food, but I’ll do you a favor and stop here. Oh yeah, I would appreciate it if you would email me a list of your favorite Fort Lauderdale area restaurants.

Favorite book?

If you read the last paragraph, then you probably correctly anticipated, at least in part, how I would respond to this question. That’s right. There are way too many great books for me to ascribe the word “favorite” to any particular one of them. However, as with food, I could probably construct a few top ten lists. Here are a few of my personal favorites.

The Critique of Pure Reason

A Brief History of Time

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding

The God Delusion

The Iliad

Lord Foul’s Bane

Maus: a Survivor’s Tale

Meditations on First Philosophy: in which the existence of God and the immortality of the soul are demonstrated

A People’s History of the United States

Principia Ethica

Relativity: the Special and the General Theory

A Theory of Justice

Utilitarianism

 Is there any particular advice you would like to share with students?

Yes. Learn as much about conducting efficient print/online legal research as you possibly can. Once you leave law school you will no longer have unlimited access to either Westlaw or Lexis Nexis. Utilizing research tools can become very expensive even if you have developed an advanced set of legal research skills. The more time you dedicate to building upon and mastering the skills you learn in LSV, the less time, money and effort you will waste as an associate muddling through the legal research process at which you should have become competent in law school. Also, we librarians are here to help you to become effective legal researchers so that you will not only be successful law students but successful legal professionals as well; I suggest you take advantage of our expertise while we are available to you. Good luck!!!

Getting to Know the LLTC: Mary Paige Smith

 
How long have you worked at the Law Library and Technology Center?  This month, I celebrated my 18^th anniversary here!

Where did you work before you came here?  I’ve worked as a librarian at the University of Baltimore Law Library, and at the Eisenhower Library, Johns Hopkins University. Before I got my Master of Library Science degree, I worked as a library assistant at the Eisenhower Library, and at the Perkins Library of Duke University. My very first job out of college was with the IRS!

What do you do at the LLTC?  My title is Associate Director for Technical Services. Technical Services (or Collection Services, as it is sometimes known) is the department in the LLTC which is responsible for ordering, receiving, paying for, cataloging and processing all library materials. This includes print and electronic books, journals, audio and video materials, and microforms, as well as reference databases such as Hein Online, Lexis and Westlaw. Our department creates up-to-date information about the LLTC’s collections in the University Libraries’ online catalog, NovaCat. In addition to these responsibilities, I provide in-person, telephone and online chat reference assistance to information-seekers near and far!

What your favorite part of your job? As a librarian, I get paid to do what I love to do: satisfy my intellectual curiosity, and help people at the same time!

What is your most memorable contribution on the job?  In 2004, the Law Center hosted a symposium called Centuries of Commerce : Law, Trade, Spain and the Americas. My part in the activities around the symposium consisted of helping to mount a display of rare books and manuscripts, on loan from the Barcelona Bar Association.  In collaboration with the Bar Association’s Rare Books Librarian, I translated descriptions of each item on display, which were compiled in an exhibit catalog. The exhibit featured bilingual self-guided  audio tours, and I also translated the scripts for the tour, which were recorded by the first class of students in NSU’s dual degree program with the University of Barcelona.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work? Reading goes without saying, right? I love listening to many different kinds of music, especially classical and jazz. I also watch old movies whenever I can. My favorite outdoor sport is snorkeling, which I do as often as I possible in our beautiful Florida Keys!

 What do you like to read best? Fiction! My favorite novel for the past few years has been The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood.  For beach reading, Alexander McCall Smith tops my list.

What is your favorite meal? I love tapas, especially tortilla española  and gambas al ajillo.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with students? Don’t be shy about asking questions! Everyone in the library is here to help you get the most out of your law school experience, and we do that best when you let us know what you need.

QR Codes! (or what is that funny looking bar code thingee?)

Over the next couple of m onths, you will see QR Codes appearing next to the names of librarians, faculty, and at the ends of stacks to provide additional information of who we are and how best to use resources.  

QR Codes (short for Quick Response Code) direct you to websites, videos, or other content using your mobile phone and its camera.  

QR Codes were originally created for inventory, but their appearance and ability to encode more data than a traditional barcode has lead to them being used in creative ways.

A separate application is necessary to read them on most mobile phones.

To install a QR Code reader (and get in on the fun!), go to your phone's app store just as you would for any other application (The App Store, Android Market, Blackberry App World, etc.) or visit one of the following URLs on your phone:

i-nigma reader

• Browse to http://www.i-nigma.mobi/ 

mobiletag

• Visit http://m.mobiletag.com

neoreader

• Visit http://getneoreader.com/

QuickMark

• Please use your app store

ScanLife

• Visit http://www.2dscan.com/

UpCode

• Visit http://www.upcode.fi/

BeeTagg

• Visit http://getbeetagg.com/

Kaywa

• Visit http://reader.kaywa.com/