LLOPSCited

by Brenna Louzin

Reviewing the current array of social networking tools for professionals is kind of like attending “mixers”. You act cool and grip a cocktail while trying to meet new people, remember the names of former colleagues, hoping all the while that you will connect with just the “right ones”.

Each social networking service touts its unique profile, promises that membership makes one “findable”, increases chances of improved business contacts, promotes expertise, and offers more ways to communicate via private networks. During this past recessionary year, our attorneys and organizations have all been under tremendous pressure to market and bring in new clients while doing their utmost to maintain the ones they already have. However, are these social networking tools useful or just more noise and distraction?

Let’s take a quick look at some of the most popular players in social networking:

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Once again, the LLOPS Outreach Committee will be supporting a local charity by collecting gift cards at our holiday party on December 10. We are gathering information about charity programs right now and would like your help. Last year’s recipient was Family Services and our members donated over $500 in assorted gift cards. If you would like to nominate a particular charity, please send their name and web site address to Rick Stroup by November 9. Ideally, it should be a charity that accepts donations of generic gift cards, like the ones you can buy over the counter at Safeway or QFC, but the Committee will consider all suggestions. If you have any questions about the Drive, feel free to contact Rick for more information.

Please join us at the October LLOPS meeting where our presenters will discuss:

The Cancellation Conundrum

Moderator: Kara Phillips, Seattle University Law Library
Speakers:  Rita Dermody, King County Law Library; Karen Helde, Lane Powell

With budget reductions and pressure to cut costs, libraries are cancelling materials in all formats (online, print, audio-visual). Join us for a presentation by Rita Dermody, Collection Access Services Librarian at King County Law Library and Karen Helde, Director of Library and Research Services at Lane Powell on cancellations including how to select materials for cancellation, tips and procedures for dealing with vendors, and tracking budgetary impacts.

The program will be held on October 28th at Stokes Lawrence 800 Fifth Avenue – Suite 4000 from noon to 1pm.  We hope to see you there.

by Kristine Lloyd

Even with the most delectable culinary enticements, it’s tough to lure people to training classes when the billable hour is ticking or a law school assignment deadline looms. And how do we find the time to plan and teach a class, especially if despite our efforts, people don’t have time for training?

Teaching and training are activities that we rarely have time for, yet are vital to both ensuring our patrons are using the resources we subscribe to and using them effectively, and for positioning ourselves as research and information services experts.  At our September meeting, Warner Miller and Catherine Horan talked about the training programs in place at their respective firms.

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October 9th, 2009 will forever be known as Black Friday in the annals of LLOPS, for we are saying goodbye to two wonderful colleagues today, Rita Kaiser and Ann Hemmens: two past-Presidents, two reference divas, two people dedicated to our profession.

Goodbyes can easily descend into desperate and maudlin affairs, so let’s instead part with laughter rather than tears. Here are a few fond memories from fellow LLOPS members and colleagues.                              

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Attendees: Robyn Hagle, Mort Brinchmann, Christy Leith, Rita Kaiser, and Tina Ching.
Location: Perkins Coie, Seattle WA
Time: The meeting was called to order at 3:02pm by President Hagle.

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by Marcus Hochstetler

Many of us find ourselves struggling this year with budget cuts. Consequently, we are being asked to review or even eliminate key services. The King County Law Library is now facing such a challenge. We’re trying to alert people to a possible reduction of services in our Kent branch and still tout our existing services. Reaching out through our blog and e-mail list is the primary way we disseminate information. Another way to argue for maintaining your services is to publicize your cause. If you find yourself in the position of having to justify staff or services, you will benefit from synthesizing your most marketable points and sharing them with superiors or decision makers.

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