LLOPSCited

by Kate Stockert

Five years ago my company, Knowledge Mosaic, reviewed and purchased our first web conferencing product. Since that time GoToMeeting has served our training and sales needs well. However, a recent renewal notice prompted me to reconsider the options. Boy, was I surprised to find the significant price drops since our initial purchase. Suddenly WebEx Meeting Center and Microsoft Live Meeting’s sexy features and high screen resolution were within reach!

One thing has not changed: there are still numerous factors to consider when purchasing a web conferencing product, and none of the products match up feature-for-feature. Below I highlight my findings, including this Feature Comparison Chart. My review covers GoToMeeting, WebEx Meeting Center, Microsoft Live Meeting, and Fuze. Other players my research did not cover include DimDim, ooVoo and  Eye Network. My findings are by no means exhaustive, but will hopefully offer a starting point for your next review process. I invite you to share your own suggestions, ideas, or findings.

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There’s a lot of movin’ and shakin’ going on at LLOPS these days. At our January Business Meeting, President Robyn Hagle officially unveiled LLOPS 2.0. In addition to our blog and website, we now have a group presence on LinkedIn and Facebook. Ever the chapter to be on the cutting (not bleeding) edge of technology, we are once again leading the way, along with other AALL chapters like NOCALL and SANDALL.

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Do you like to open mystery boxes? This job is for you! The remainder of the Heller Ehrman library is stored in boxes on floor 62 of the BOAT. We’d like to inventory the boxes, create a list from that inventory, and donate the books to our County Law Libraries or Public Defender offices around the state. Please contact Jill Allyn if you are interested in volunteering to assist with the inventory.

by Kristine Lloyd

Have you noticed the subtle nips and tucks updating both Lexis and Westlaw over the past few years? First, they freed us from the shackles of six measly tabs. No more redecorating your 6-tab limit to fit your current research need. Now you can have loads of tabs, and you can even customize your very own tab. You can select multiple databases and search across them. No need to walk into each room to see if what you’re looking for is there. No, now it’s like one big, beautiful, high-ceilinged loft where you can take it all in at once. The question is: will you still be able to find your slippers?

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What could be more challenging than asking loquacious lawyers to sum up their greatness in 140 words or less?

You may recall mention of an interesting RFP, conducted via Legal OnRamp, in Brenna’s  October review of social networking sites.  Turns out that law firms were asked to Tweet about why they felt they should be hired to provide legal counsel for FMC. As reported in this Legal Blog Watch story, 8 of the 50 firms that submitted an RFP tweeted their way to Round II. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that there’s no bathing-suit competition.

Get a Free Year of AALL Membership with Nonmember Annual Meeting Registration

New this year AALL is offering nonmembers a complimentary one-year membership when they register for the AALL Annual Meeting and Conference, held July 10-13 in Denver. The membership includes:

• Career resources, such as the online AALL Career Center and continuing education to help you learn new skills to advance in your career
• Access to specialized information created just for law librarians, such as the AALL Biennial Salary Survey and the AALL Price Index for Legal Publications
• Subscriptions to the monthly magazine, AALL Spectrum, and quarterly journal, Law Library Journal, to help you keep up on the latest trends in law librarianship
• The opportunity to network and connect with other law librarians from across the country who share similar interests and are facing the same challenges
• Discounted rates on all AALL products and services, such as publications, webinars, and online job postings

Annual Meeting registration opens February 17. Be sure to take advantage of this special offer for nonmembers.

by Kristine Lloyd

From time to time, I find things that I immediately want to share with all of you, but I usually tell myself that you are all so on top of it, you’re probably already miles ahead of me. Well, these recent posts are too interesting not to share, and if you have already seen them, what are your thoughts?

Half of Westlaw’s Library Relations Team to get the Axe: This new post from 3 Geeks and a Law Blog speculates on West’s decreased commitment to their Librarian Relations Team, including rumored layoffs of half of these specialist positions in late January.

Check out This Groovy Chart: myCorporateResources.com conducted a social media survey of AmLaw 100 firms. This chart speaks volumes about how pervasive Social Media is becoming in the legal world. Firms are even Twittering. About what, I wonder?  ”We rocked during oral argument today!” or “Today’s cafeteria offerings may cause intestinal distress.” Note that many of the firms have signed up for a Twitter account but have yet to tweet.

by Kristine Lloyd

Happy New Year, LLOPS members! Are we all still nibbling on the remnants of holiday goodies? The office remains a wonderful dumping ground for all those chocolate-covered cherries and fruitcakes that you want to excorcise your home of, which, of course, makes New Year’s resolutions such a challenge. Speaking of New Year’s resolve, your own LLOPSCited Blog has made a few resolutions for 2010: 

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Even though we did not sing Total Eclipse of the Heart, as suggested by Stina McClintock for a festive holiday carol, LLOPSters celebrated merrily  at the annual holiday party last Thursday evening at Tulio’s. Best photo opp goes to Al Dermody for taking me up on a dare to stick out his tongue. The slideshow view is small, so just click on a photo to enlarge. A big thank you to West for sponsoring another wonderful holiday party.  Happy Holidays!

Send Large Files or panic attacks

‘Cause these blogs are dead or dying! I wanted to mention a really interesting post from one of my favorite law blogs, 3 Geeks and a Law Blog. This recent post lists 73 out of 200 law firm blogs that have not been updated in more than a month. Some of our very own firms are on the list. Check out a few of the “dead” blogs on the list, and you’ll see why some just needed to be put to rest. The guys running Suits in the Workplace likely had the most fun coming up with their colorful post titles, that is, when they weren’t planting whoopee cushions on their secretary’s seat or taping Kick Me signs on the backs of new associates. Other firm blogs are just snoozers: Semiconductor Law Blog’s final post begins with the word “mathematics.” I know some people are turned on by math, but it doesn’t make for the most riveting of reading material. Ranks right up there with a blog about orthodontia. What’s your favorite “living” law blog?