Changes in Your Law Library & Technology Center

There are some new changes coming to Circulation at the LLTC!

As we strive to provide the best student & faculty services possible, we, at your law library’s circulation desk, are moving towards some exciting, new and innovative modifications to the old status quo circulation policies.  I’m happy to not only share these ideas and changes with you but also (and more importantly) ask for your input and guidance.  After all, this is your resource center.

In Process:

Shifting the reserve collection:

Your Circulation team has begun a massive shift of the collections housed behind the circulation desk in order to make more reserve study space available to you.  It is our goal to remove one stack from the existing shelving configuration, allowing us to add three new seating arrangements for use of reserve materials, journals, study guides, and even media!   Specifically, the tax collection has been, and continues to be, reviewed by our wonderful team of librarians.  It has been moved one and a half stacks to the right of its existing location in circulation, giving us room to move the entire journal collection into a more condensed and easily accessible collection.  Exceptionally exciting is the “renovation” of our media collection!  In conjunction with Technical Services, our assortment of law related VHS, CDs, CD-ROMs and DVDs are in the process of being upgraded to more current and easy-to-use formats.  Study guides will soon migrate to a larger, more visible location.  With the final organization of the study guides and the journals complete, your library will begin assessing and moving our excellent collection of reserve materials.  Most exciting of all, we will have a new, expanded home for our extensive CLE collection – no more crouching on the floor!  For your convenience, a complete list of locations and major title locations is always available at the circulation desk.

Study room enhancements:

In an attempt to improve our study rooms, your library has added brand new white boards to every study room.  We also have new, full color sets of dry erase makers available for check-out at the circulation desk.  Room 300, our most popular group study room, has been outfitted with new furniture, setup in conference room style.  Group room 109 has been cleaned, repainted, and slightly expanded to accommodate even larger group study, instruction and special events.  We are looking into acquiring portable fans that may be checked out at the circulation desk for those rooms that tend to get a little toasty during our warmer months.  Finally, your library now provides you with restaurant-style, waiting buzzers for those occasions when study rooms are at a premium.  They will notify the moment a room becomes available. You may use them anywhere in the library, mezzanine and atrium.  We currently have five buzzers but will increase this number during the summer semester.

Your law library has recently revamped the “New Books” display.  It is now located directly in front of the circulation desk.  Most new print materials can be found here!

Most exciting of all, your library will begin using digital display technology to keep you informed on the latest events and happenings in the LLTC!  Two very large plasma display screens will continually flash information such as, new or changing hours, materials, locations, events and programs, technology, printer status updates, and our newest databases upgrades and additions.  A smaller monitor will even be added to the circulation desk itself!

Your suggestions are always welcome:

If you have new and exciting ideas or concerns about your Law Library & Technology Center, always feel free to let us know.  Your input only makes us better.  Suggestions may always be given to any member of the library, however please feel to contact the circulation team directly at: (954) 262-6202, (954) 262-6219 or (954) 262-6205.   You can also email us at: davism@nsu.law.nova.edu.

As a reminder:

Extended hours for your library run through May 10th.  Monday – Friday the library will open at 8:00am and close at 2:00am the following morning.  On Saturdays, the library opens a little later, at 9:00am, closing again at 2:00am.  Sunday we will open later still, at 10:00am and remain open until 2:00am.

The Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act : Essential to 21st Century Democracy

The Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act (UELMA) was promulgated and recommended for enactment by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in July 2011. The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) sent a letter of support to the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) in November of that year, and at the American Bar Association midyear meeting in February 2012, the House of Delegates approved the Act.

What is UELMA? AALL’s FAQ on the Act states: “UELMA provides a technology-neutral … approach to ensuring that online state legal material … will be preserved and … permanently available to the public in unaltered form.” The categories of legal material named in the Act are:

1. The state constitution,
2. State session laws,
3. Codified laws, and
4. Agency regulations which have the effect of law.

States may include other types of publications as well.

What does UELMA require? According to the Uniform Law Commission’s summary, official electronic legal material must be:

1. Authenticated, by providing a method to determine that it is unaltered;
2. Preserved, either in electronic or print form; and
3. Accessible, for use by the public on a permanent basis.

Why should states adopt UELMA? The Uniform Law Commission has enumerated several reasons, the first of which states:

•  The availability of government information online facilitates transparency and accountability, provides widespread access to essential information, and encourages citizen participation.

Another important incentive highlighted by the ULC is the limited nature of the Act:

•  The UELMA does not affect any relationships between an official state publisher and a commercial publisher, leaving those relationships to contract law. Copyright laws are unaffected by the act. The act does not affect the rules of evidence; judges will continue to be able to make decisions about the admissibility of electronic evidence in their courtrooms.

Are states adopting UELMA? As of March 21, 2012, versions of the Act have been introduced in six states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Rhode Island, and Tennessee. You can track the progress of the legislation on the ULC’s Legislative Fact Sheet. If you support the principles that UELMA represents, contact your state representatives and urge them to sponsor the legislation. Not sure how to contact your representatives? Find them here.

Getting to Know the LLTC? Heath

Where did you grow up?

1.  I grew up in small town 5 miles north of Dayton, Ohio.  It was called Vandalia.  Our mascot was a cheesy little “aviator” who bore a striking resemblance to the Hamburglar at McDonalds.  I moved from Vandalia to Cincinnati as soon as humanly possible, and began my undergraduate degree at the University of Cincinnati in Architecture and Interior Design.  It was a grueling and didactic experience that included many internships, co-ops, and even a six-month study abroad program in Berlin, Germany.  Shortly after graduation, I realized architecture was not my passion and design alone would never be enough.  I decided to return to school and get my Master’s degree in librarianship.  I have always loved libraries and the library atmosphere.  This, coupled with my desire to help people, cemented the deal for me.  I attended Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, where I received my Master’s in Library Science.  I’ve loved every moment of it since, although my passion for design still survives.  I express it these days through marketing projects, primarily focused on libraries, but for the general public as well.  Librarianship, for me, is not limited to finding books, researching, cataloging and shelving, as some might think; it’s helping people. It’s a wonderfully rewarding career.

Where did you work prior to LLTC?

2.  Prior to my life as a librarian, I worked as an interior designer and a graphic designer in both Ohio and Kentucky.  I began my professional career as the Assistant Director of Visitor Services at the Dayton Museum of Natural History, and later the Development Director at the Carillon Historical Park and Heritage Museum, (home to the Wright Brother’s original bicycle workshop).  After obtaining my Master’s I worked at several public libraries in Ohio, doing both reference and instruction work.  Most recently I worked as the Evening Services Librarian at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida and as the Circulation Manager/Adult Services Librarian at the McCracken County Public Library in Paducah, Kentucky.

When did you begin working for the LLTC? 

3.  I began my adventure with Nova’s LLTC in March of 2011.

 

What do you do at the LLTC?

4.  I am the LLTC’s Circulation and ILL Manager.  In this capacity, I manage all aspects of the Circulation department, including supervision of approximately 20 student employees and two full-time employees.  I also manage the ILL (interlibrary loan) operations.  Additionally, I design print publications, posters and brochures for the LLTC and serve on a number of LLTC and University Library committees.

What do you like best about your job?

5.  The thing I like best about my job is working with, and getting to know the students, not only the very bright law students who we serve on a daily basis, but also the student employees that I supervise.  I have a great group of current students and am very proud of.  The sad part about this job is that students graduate.  Whether I lose them because they are now lawyers, or because they move on to an internship, they are dearly missed.  The good thing – new students also appear.  This really keeps things invigorating and interesting.  Without the Circulation Department’s student employees, the LLTC couldn’t offer the level of service that we currently do to our students, alumni and public.

What are your proudest accomplishments on the job?

6.  I am most proud of the Circulation Department.  It maintains an air of comradery and professionalism whilst providing our students, alumni and staff with excellent service.  I have made it my personal goal to remove the antiquated and staunch stereotypes of both academic and public libraries.  Libraries are changing, and I am overjoyed to be a part of that change.  Another accomplishment I am proud of is the fact that my student workers understand that it is their job to set an example campus-wide.  They constantly accomplish this by maintaining an excellent work ethic, good grades, continuing their education and eventually graduating.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

7.  I like to watch movies, play games, have fun with my three dogs (Tank, Piper, and Munchkin), spend time with my partner Eric, and work in my garden.

What is your favorite food?

8.  Pizza or chicken nachos are my first favorites.  However, coming from the Cincinnati area, I am also a huge fan of Skyline Chili!

What is your favorite book?

9.  I like all books and I read almost anything. For relaxation, I read fantasy novels, mystery novels, satire and bits of history. Declaring my favorite book would be impossible for me, however I can say I am quite fond of Chelsea Handler at the moment.

 

10. Since I arrived at the LLTC, the Circulation Department has instituted a number of new policies/initiatives.  First, for example, a study room’s status is no longer announced on an erasable whiteboard.  Availability is displayed electronically on a computer monitor at the Circulation Desk and accessible through the university’s Novacat OPAC.  This took some getting used to by LLTC patrons, but it is better than the whiteboard because it provides a truly accurate status of the study rooms.  Second, we now use restaurant style buzzers for patrons waiting on a study room.  You can take the buzzer anywhere in the library, the Mezzanine, or the Atrium.  When it buzzes, your study room is available!  And, a very big deal, Interlibrary Loan is now working properly.  This was a huge achievement!  I thank Rob Beharriell for his hard work in assisting me with this project.

Please watch, as in the future we have many exciting projects in the works that will only make for an even more exciting library experience for you.  It is my goal to see all of our law students not only utilizing, but enjoying every service we offer here at the LLTC.  I welcome the opportunity to meet all who have not yet visited with me.  If you have a few moments and can stop by the Desk, please ask a student employee to find me so we may shake hands and meet each other.  My door is always open so should you have ILL needs or questions.  Remember we are here for you.

SOPA/PIPA, the MegaUpload Raid, and Golan v. Holder: Reflections on the “Internet Spring”

Craig Newmark, founder of CraigsList, recently used the phrase “Internet Spring”, likening this week’s SOPA/PIPA furor to last year’s Arab Spring. His observation:  “It’s taken some really bad potential laws, but it’s roused the sleeping giant, both the people who build the Internet, and people in general who comprise the Internet community.” If you have any doubts about the size of this giant, check out the numbers: 10 million petition signatures, 3 million+ emails sent to elected officials, and more than 115,000 sites participating in the blackout on Wednesday.

As with any popular movement, this “Internet Spring” is not taking place in a vacuum. Other contemporaneous events affect the social and political climate which will determine the ultimate resolution of the SOPA/PIPA question. One obvious example is the FBI’s Thursday raid on world-wide offices of Internet media giant (and condoner of copyright violations) MegaUpload, conducted under existing U.S. law. This had Gizmodo blogger Sam Biddle wondering, Why Did the Feds Target Megaupload? And Why Now? He quotes another reporter’s sources as saying that the DOJ might have thought that busting such a blatant cyber-criminal would show the need for SOPA/PIPA. And the fact that DOJ, MPAA and RIAA websites were hit swiftly by DDoS attacks sponsored by Anonymous might have highlighted the “outlaw fringe” of the Internet community. In Biddle’s view, though, the raid can be seen, ironically, as lending credence to the protesters’ claims that SOPA and PIPA are ill-conceived and unnecessary.

Perhaps less obvious, and less intentional, are the ramifications of this week’s Supreme Court decision in Golan v. Holder. The court held that Congress has the right to reinstate expired copyright protections. Alison Frankel’s On the Case post notes the irony in this decision: “the Court’s opinion … expressly endorses Congressional authority to determine the scope of copyright protection. If some version of SOPA or PIPA is enacted, in other words, it will be tough to overturn in the courts.” Frankel spoke with Anthony Falzone, Executive Director of Stanford Law School’s Center for Internet and Society, to get his take on this week’s Internet blackout and the Golan decision. Falzone said, “One of the lessons of Golan is, ‘Don’t wait.’ You have to stop the legislation before it gets passed. You have to stop it in its tracks before it gets to the courts.”

As SOPA and PIPA appear to be losing support in Congress, an alternative bill could come into sharper focus. The Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade (OPEN) Act (S. 2029), according to KeepTheWebOpen.com, addresses many of the concerns that opponents of SOPA and PIPA have raised. A notable difference between OPEN and SOPA/PIPA is that OPEN would be enforced by the U.S. International Trade Commission. SOPA and PIPA as currently written would be enforced by the Department of Justice. Another significant difference involves the consequences of violating the act. SOPA and PIPA both prescribe the blocking of offending websites, and according to the American Library Association, “significantly increase… internet companies’ incentive for surveillance of online activity and speech of users”. In contrast, the OPEN Act would cut revenue sources for offending sites.

CNN’s John D. Sutter sees the campaign for the OPEN Act as an experiment in digital democracy. KeepTheWebOpen.com is bringing law-making to citizens: “[P]eople who go to that website can annotate the bill with comments and suggestions for its author [Rep. Darrell Issa, R - CA], much like they would a Wikipedia document. There’s a field where you can submit your e-mail address to receive updates about changes to the bill and its path through the maze that is our legislative process.”

We’ve seen this week that Congressional representatives do listen to individual constituents, if they speak loud enough, and deliver a consistent message. Although it’s not yet clear if or how SOPA and PIPA will be amended, or whether the OPEN Act will prevail, there is no doubt that 21^st century democracy has shaped the debate.

Do you have a minute? Or seven?

In my eleventh grade English class, we began each session with a seven minute writing assignment.  I’m sure this was intended to allow us time to think deeply about a topic for at least two minutes, and then to write furiously for the remaining five minutes so as to not be outdone by our peers who were composing the great American novel, or at least working out the plot mechanics, with a serenity and calmness that I did not possess.  Alternatively, maybe the purpose of this time was just to provide a seven minute break for the teacher.  Though after many years, I still remember this teacher, so she was, in all likelihood, an effective instructor despite the seven minute break.  In fact, she may have only had these seven minutes to sit quietly and reflect.  At the time, I didn’t think about what the teacher was doing or why she was doing it.  I was focused on the amount of ink on my paper and whether or not my ideas would be original or even interesting when compared with others.  I gazed at my content classmates, who looked as though they thought the teacher had just told them to take a nap for seven minutes, who likely weren’t experiencing inner turmoil, as I thought I was.  I spent the initial two minutes in every class in a panic, or my version of a panic, as I went through figurative drawers and tossed ideas about as though I was making a final selection of my outfit for the first day of school, knowing full well that my mother was going to memorialize my portrait for years to come and that I had always regretted those balloon pants I had worn one year (obviously, a truly minor concern in retrospect).  Eventually, I would come up with an idea, and I’d share it with the class.  Looking back on the experience, I learned a lot from my classmates, and after seven minutes, the teacher was back in action, moderating our conversation.  I still remember some of the discussions we had about ideas that students had come up with, in just seven minutes.  The teacher had given the assignment, frightened most of us enough so that we tried our best, but was supportive enough to allow a free exchange of ideas in the classroom, and that’s what is resonating with me even years later.  It was an environment that panicked some, inspired others, and did very little for a few, who were simply there to fulfill a required class.  As librarians, we might have the opportunity to teach a class, but there is also a built in instructional component to our work even if we’re not in the front of a classroom.  So, my question for the blogosphere is this, what makes a good teacher?  You’ll have seven minutes to provide a response; ready, set, go.

Family Experience

Disclaimer: The following blog post consists of a personal account of my family’s recent experience welcoming my son, Connor, into the larger post-womb world. The post references nothing untoward, but I am quite certain that most readers will find it a tedious, boring exposition. I vow to discuss a legally relevant (hopefully exciting) topic next time.

My family and I welcomed my son, Connor Bradley Owens (7lbs 12 oz., 20 and ¼ inches) on December 16, 2011. We elected to induce labor due to concerns regarding Cephalopelvic Disproportion (we consulted several doctors regarding this issue, including a friend of mine who practices family medicine in Boise, Idaho). However, we probably would have elected to induce labor even in the absence of concerns regarding CPD due to concerns regarding our daughter’s ability to adapt to unfamiliar circumstances and surroundings.

My 2 year old daughter, Alani, has been evaluated by a team of psychologists at Mailman Segal Institute, and while we do not have an official diagnosis yet, we are relatively certain that she has an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Due to the fact that we have no family residing in the vicinity, we were concerned about Alani’s care during the delivery. I, of course, wanted to be in attendance during my wife’s (Davina) labor and Connor’s birth event. Unfortunately, at that time, Alani had never been alone with anyone other than Davina or me. Furthermore, she typically demonstrated apprehension and even anxiety around strangers. In fact, we have had certified behavior analysts visiting our home for a few months now, and (although she has made wonderful progress) it is obvious that she still experiences anxiety around them; she typically runs the other direction and cries (sometimes, “bloody murder”) when they enter our home. As you can imagine, we did not want just anyone caring for Alani during the birth event.

Fortunately, we contacted Davina’s mother and my parents to schedule a time to induce labor that would be convenient for everyone. Her mother flew in from New York, New York, the morning of the 15^th and my parents drove in from Sarasota, Florida the evening of the same day. Unfortunately, although Alani has met and interacted with our parents on a few occasions, her exposure to them has been limited due to multiple logistical issues. So, even though we were able to secure our most trusted relatives for our daughter’s care, Davina and I were still pretty nervous about how Alani would react to our combined absences as well as to grandparents with whom she has had little contact. We imagined that she might react so negatively to our absence or to her grandparents that I might have to miss Connor’s birth to care for her; I was both prepared and wholly devoted to that eventuality. In our estimation, Alani’s emotional wellbeing outweighed my interest in experiencing the birth event including my son’s initial entrance into the world; after all, Alani and I would have been permitted entry sometime shortly following Connor’s birth. So, even recruiting our parents to watch Alani during labor and the subsequent birth event did not offer any substantial hope that I would be able to attend Davina during labor and delivery. In fact, based on Alani’s intensely negative reactions to her behavior analysts, we were prepared for a very unhappy Alani who would probably require her father’s calming presence.

Miraculously (in the very “improbable,” rather than in a religious or contrary to physical laws sense), Alani, not only fared well, but seemed quite content while in her grandparents’ care. Fortuitously, we were quartered in the room situated closest to the delivery area entrance, while our parents and Alani lounged in the waiting room, which was the first room to the right upon exiting the delivery area. So, even though, I had to be buzzed in and out of the delivery area on each occasion, I was able to travel back and forth between the delivery and the waiting rooms up until I was sure that Alani would not have a negative reaction to her parents’ absence or to her grandparents; she actually fell asleep about an hour before Connor’s birth, which permitted (at Davina’s request) the grandmothers to be present during the delivery.  My father kept both eyes on Alani as she slept soundly; Alani is typically a late riser, but she had been up since around 6:00 A.M. that morning as we prepared to leave for the hospital.

Other than two issues I shall discuss following this paragraph, our labor, delivery and recovery experience at the unnamed facility went rather well; Connor entered the world healthy (he scored a 9.9 on the Apgar) and without incident and Alani never appeared to become distressed. We were also very happy that we were able to share the experience with our parents. Davina’s mother was actually able to stay for the next two weeks; we were amazed at how close she and Alani got during that period. Alani went to her grandmother for assistance and comfort quite often during those two weeks, which is something she had never done previously with anyone but her parents.

Issues:

1.

We arrived at our assigned room just prior to 7:30 A.M. accompanied by Alani and her maternal grandmother. Just moments after entering the room, a nurse informed us in a rather authoritative manner that Alani could not be present in the room (a fact of which we already quite well aware, but we had just arrived). I asked the nurse when Alani had to leave and she responded by stating NOW in a manner whose tone brooked no argument. Now, we knew that Alani could not be present  during labor or delivery, but we had just arrived and a “good morning,” “how are you,” or some other pleasantry might have been more conducive to providing a good start to what should be a beautiful experience for an expectant family.

Davina, who was already somewhat anxious, was quite put off by the nurse’s attitude. I informed the nurse and her second, rather politely (in my view), that while she may have participated in more birth events than she cares to recount, most of those under her care have not, and as such still hold the experience to be somewhat magical and special. We had just arrived and I would have escorted my mother-in-law and Alani to the waiting room once Davina was properly situated. The nurse’s insensitive attitude had a negative effect on my psychological state; I can only imagine how my uncomfortable, 39 weeks pregnant, wife felt. Thankfully, the nurse was quite pleasant following our discussion.

2.

The anesthesiologist on duty at that time was able to perform an epidural, but was unfamiliar with a new delivery device. As such, while Davina received an initial dosage, which sufficiently numbed the lower half of her body, the device was not set to provide a continuous flow.  Consequently, the medication wore off about an hour prior to delivery at which point Davina began to experience extremely intense, frequent contractions whose severity was as visible in her facial expressions as they were on the monitor. As ill fortune would have it, the anesthesiologist actually left for the day (I suppose after completing her shift) without returning to check Davina’s condition. Only after informing the nursing staff of the situation was another anesthesiologist dispatched; it took approximately 30 minutes for him to arrive. He noted that the device was not set properly and began to administer medication manually; he continued to administer the medication manually for at least 20 minutes until he was certain that it had taken effect. He apologized profusely and congratulated us in advance regarding our son’s impending arrival.

Generally, the epidural does not (and is not intended to) completely eradicate pain or feeling, but in our case, after multiple manual injections, Davina felt absolutely nothing below her xiphoid process. My understanding is that it is best if the pregnant woman has at least some feeling so that she is able to time her pushes with the onset of each contraction. Davina did not offer any complaints in this regard.

Final Thoughts:

Regardless of the above mentioned issues, we had a beautiful experience. I was able to be an active participant during Connor’s birth (I cut the cord), my daughter fared well and our parents were included as well; it was quite a wondrous experience.

I would like to extend my incalculable gratitude to my coworkers at the LLTC who took the time to offer their sentiments via a beautiful card as well as to bless us with a considerable monetary gift. Thank you. You are all wonderful human beings!

Final Exam Tips from the Circulation Staff

It’s during this time of the year that law students around the country are stressing out over finals, and for first year students it is the toughest. In your first year you have no clue what to expect or how to gauge how well you’ve done on an exam. At the library circulation desk we see all the stress and pressure that everyone is going through and here are some tips on handling it all:

1. Make sure to sleep! All the studying you do isn’t worth anything if your brain hasn’t had the time to sleep and digest it.
2. Eat healthy! During finals we all forget about nutrition and the value of getting daily vitamins (to prevent getting sick!)
3. Take a break! Exercise or take a walk. The breaks you take and breathe some fresh air or just study outdoors. You get to avoid clogging your body with all the germs in the air conditioned study spaces and it helps you digest all that knowledge.
4. When you don’t get something, just move on! Sitting and starring at a rule or concept that is just not clicking won’t help you get in everything you need to know for that final, keep going onto something new and then look at it again.
5. If the stressed out energy at the law school gets to you, leave. Constantly stressing out won’t help you learn what you need. If you find the energy at the law school too much just go to a local public library or coffee shop to actually study and stop stressing.
6. And lastly, don’t talk about the exam after the exam. Talking to everyone and wondering how you did will only stress you out more. Just let it be over and take a look at how you actually did after grades are out.

These are just a few tips to keep you going strong to conquer those finals! Good luck it’s almost half way over!

“Pardoning the Turkey”

Since 1947, the National Turkey Federation and the Poultry and Egg National Board (yes there is a “National Turkey Federation and a Poultry and Egg National Board) have given a turkey to the President of the United States for use in the White House’s “National Thanksgiving Turkey Celebration.” Since 1947, an unsuspecting turkey has found its way into the White House oven on Thanksgiving Day more often than not. However, since 1989, during then President George H.W. Bush’s first year in office, presidents have “officially” pardoned the chosen turkey and its understudy (an understudy is chosen just in case, for whatever reason, the star is not able to perform its culinary duties; after all, the show must go on). After receiving their pardons (possibly for the crime of engaging in incessant gobbling), the turkeys must then suffer through a symbolic turkey “roast” consisting of every humorous (and not so humorous) poultry joke imaginable. Finally, the turkeys are then relocated to their new homes at “exotic” turkey ranches, where they are able to live out their days without fear of being stuffed, roasted or consumed.

Although, it is unclear exactly how this tradition got started, it appears that President George H.W. Bush granted the first “official pardon” of a Thanksgiving turkey during the first year of his presidency (I am not sure if an executive order was actually issued). While one story suggests that President Harry Truman pardoned a turkey in 1947, the Truman library has not been able substantiate that claim. After receiving a turkey in 1963, President Kennedy unofficially pardoned it when he said, “[l]et’s just keep him.” There is still another story which contends that the tradition goes all the way back to Abraham Lincoln, who allegedly pardoned his son Tad’s pet turkey (like the Truman story, the Lincoln story remains unsubstantiated).

Provided below are the statistics regarding presidential pardons since 1945 per the “Office of the Pardon Attorney” (I am not sure if the turkeys are included in the official statistics.):

• Harry S. Truman – 1913
• Dwight Eisenhower – 1110
• John Kennedy – 472
• Lyndon Johnson – 960
• Richard Nixon – 863
• Gerald Ford – 382
• Jimmy Carter – 534
• Ronald Reagan – 393
• George H.W. Bush – 74
• Bill Clinton – 396
• George W. Bush – 189

Thus far, President Barack Obama has pardoned 9 people and 4 turkeys (unless the First Family develops an especially irresistible craving this year, 2 more turkeys should be added to that number this Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 24, 2011.

Does the turkey receive a “pardon” in your household during the holiday season? Generally, “it’s curtains” for the turkey in my household, but this year a member of that species will be spared since we have elected to serve ham instead.

Book Reviews: Forensic Oratory

Bradshaw, Brad. The science of persuasion: a litigator’s guide to juror decision-making. Chicago, Ill.: American Bar Association, 2011. ISBN 978-1-61632-989-1

Mathis, Laura. Acting skills for lawyers. Chicago, Ill.: American Bar Association, 2011. ISBN 978-1-61632-932-7

Both of these recent ABA publications address the subject of forensic oratory, and while they stress many of the same points, their approaches are very different.

Mathis is an actor, not an attorney (although she is married to one!) In her preface, she draws a parallel between actors and attorneys: “Both actors and attorney are expected to entertain, to inspire us to look at life a bit differently, and to share a story that has not been told” (p. xi). Her book offers an amusing and instructive overview of the tools attorneys need to meet these expectations, and thus to best represent their clients. Her focus is on physical presence, demeanor and appearance, with advice on relaxation, breathing, diction and body movements. Mathis likens taking depositions to being a talk show host (p. 57), and preparing witnesses to being an acting coach (p. 97). Quick tips (e.g., “Depose your coffee maker or potted plant”) and exercises, both physical and mental, are presented in text boxes throughout the book.  She even devotes a chapter to advice on the perfect photo shoot.

Bradshaw is a trial consultant with a Ph.D. in experimental psychology, and the emphasis of his book is on the psychological aspects of oratory.  It has a more serious tenor than Mathis’s book, but it is not at all a dry scholarly tome. He says in the preface that he wants to reach as broad an audience as possible: “… law students, experienced litigators, and everyone in between” (p. xiii). The book’s opening chapter presents the basic elements of persuasion: credibility vs. likeability, “reading” an audience, and framing an argument to fit that audience’s beliefs. The following chapters work through a linear progression from trial preparation through jury deliberations. Text boxes throughout highlight practical advice; e.g. “Make sure your witness is comfortable with silence” (p. 64). The final chapter of Bradshaw’s work is an extended exercise, entitled “Putting it into practice”. It presents a fact pattern, and then suggested lists of questions covering depositions and voir dire, plus opening and closing statements for both plaintiff and defendant.

These two books make an outstanding combination, and all but the most seasoned litigators are sure to find something useful in each of them.

Student Workers Rule!

You might not realize how heavily academic libraries rely upon student workers.  Without student workers, most academic libraries would not operate efficiently, and many would not operate at all.  The LLTC is no different.  The LLTC employs approximately 20 student workers every semester.  Some work in Technical Services, ensuring that pocket parts are inserted, loose-leafs filed, and periodicals processed and placed appropriately on the shelves.  Other students work in Audio Visual setting up laptops, projectors, and other classroom equipment.  Still, others work in the administrative suite answering phone calls, filing documents, and running errands.  And, still, others work at the Circulation Desk.  Indeed, without student workers at the Circulation Desk, the LLTC would probably need to reduce its operating hours by at least 25%. 

In the past several months, the LLTC has changed some long-standing policies regarding student workers.

The LLTC, at least over the past 5 or so years, has not employed Law Center students at Circulation.  The policy changed during the Winter 2011 term.  Now, the LLTC attempts to hire only law students if possible.  We find law students are great student workers.  They know the layout of the LLTC, are able to better direct patrons to reference librarians when needed, and are extremely reliable.  Plus, why not give needed jobs (money) to our own students?  Additionally, the LLTC now employs student reference assistants.  This term we have two reference assistants – Ayelet Faerman and Sylvia Cano.  Each works approximately 5-10 hours a week at the reference desk.  We look for students who did well in LSV (the Law Center’s first-year legal writing and research course) as well as students who have either already taken or are enrolled in Advanced Legal Research.  This has worked out tremendously. 

Possibly the law librarians will be able to convince one of reference assistants that being a law librarian is a great career choice!

Next time your in the LLTC, thank the student workers.  Each student worker works hard.  And, as noted above, without them the LLTC could not function as efficiently as it does.  I’m going to take this opportunity to now thank all of our student workers.  You are awesome and we highly value you!