2019 International Library Automation Perceptions Survey

Every year since 2007, Library Technology Guides has conducted an International Library Automation Perceptions Survey.

Responses are now being invited for the 2019 edition:

"The survey measures the levels of satisfaction that libraries have in their strategic technology products and their perceptions of the quality of service and support that they receive. The results of this survey provide valuable information to libraries as they formulate technology strategies and to vendors as they refine their support services and product development."

It is possible to view the results of all previous surveys on the Library Technology Guides website.

The website is is maintained by Marshall Breeding, a well-known library automation expert.

New Law Librarians' Institute 2020

The Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL) is hosting the 2020 New Law Librarians’ Institute (NLLI) at the the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton from June 16–19, 2020.

NLLI is an intensive four-day program aimed at developing librarians’ skills in the key competencies of law librarianship.

Registration will be opening very soon so keep an eye out.

You can find the programs from past NLLIs at the bottom of the NLLI page on the CALL website.

CanLII Publishes Instructional Materials from CALL Members

The Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII) has published a series of instructional materials produced by members of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL). They show how to use the CanLII website for legal research.

There are materials on:

• How to Browse Legislation
• How to Limit Search Results Using Filters
• How to Browse Commentary
• How to Search Commentary
• Using Commentary

As this CanLII blog posts explains:

"This time last year, the CanLII team asked Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL) members to produce instructional materials to assist users on how to use CanLII."

"We were pleased to learn that there was immediate interest from CALL members when a call for volunteers was announced. Since then, a motivated working group was formed and we have received content in the form of visual aids and handouts."

Article: Diversity Initiatives to Recruit and Retain Academic Librarians

The most recent issue of College & Research Libraries features an article on Diversity Initiatives to Recruit and Retain Academic Librarians: A Systematic Review.

It is written by 3 Canadian academic librarians.

"The aim of this study is to determine the strategic approaches that academic libraries are using in their efforts to recruit and retain diverse librarians. Systematic review methodology involved searching Library & Information Science Abstracts, Library & Information Science Source, Gender Studies Database, Race Relations Abstracts, Google, and grey literature composed primarily of information from library associations’ and organizations’ websites. The primary search terms (and their variations) include diversity, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomics, academic library, librarians, recruitment, and retention. Publications were included if they were about the recruitment and/or retention strategies used by academic libraries to improve diversity among librarians. Nineteen publications and one ALA website were included in the review. All 20 publications were based in a North American context, and the interventions included targeted recruitment strategies, internship or residency programs, mentor- ship, and professional development opportunities. Using a modified version of the CASP Qualitative Checklist, the publications were critically appraised to evaluate the validity of the findings. Fifty percent of the publications included an assessment component to determine the value of the intervention. Although a number of programs exist to recruit minorities to academic librarianship, the number of visible minorities in the field has remained stagnant for decades."

January 2020 Issue of Governance and Recordkeeping Around the World

The Governance and Recordkeeping Around the World newsletter, published by Library and Archives Canada (LAC), highlights issues pertaining to government and recordkeeping practices in the public and private sectors around the world.

The January 2020 issue has just been published.

It includes:

• news items from Canada and around the world
• announcements of upcoming Canadian and international events (meetings, conferences, seminars)
• project and product news in areas such as digitization, archives, open source, e-government, access to information etc.
• listings of papers and readings (white papers, presentations, reports)

Supreme Court of Canada: New Library Titles

The list of new library titles added to the Supreme Court of Canada collection from January 1-15, 2020 is now available on the Court website.

It is possible to subscribe via e-mail to receive the list.

Uniform Law Conference of Canada Consultation on Crowdfunding

The Uniform Law Conference of Canada (ULCC) has published a consultation document on what it is proposing as a Uniform Informal Public Appeals and Crowdfunding Act:

"The proposed uniform Act is a revised version of the Uniform Informal Public Appeals Act which was issued by the Conference in 2011. The recent growth of public appeals conducted through the internet, popularly known as 'crowdfunding' has prompted the Conference to revisit this topic (...)"

"These informal public appeals were the subject of a project launched in 2009 by the Civil Section of the Uniform Law Conference of Canada. The Conference [hereafter ULCC] has operated continuously since its formation in 1918. Its Civil Section brings together government policy lawyers and analysts, lawyers in private practice, law teachers and representatives of Canada’s law reform bodies, all of whom serve on a volunteer basis. They consider areas in which provincial and territorial laws would benefit from harmonization . The main work of the Section is reflected in “uniform statutes”, which the Section develops and recommends for enactment by all relevant governments in Canada (...)"

"The response of the ULCC was, in 2011, to develop and promulgate the Uniform Informal Public Appeals Act [UIPAA] ..."

"Saskatchewan was the first jurisdiction to implement the Uniform Act and, as it turns out, its IPAA was in place where and when it was most needed. The disastrous highway accident involving a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team resulted in significant loss of life and injuries. An appeal, with extremely general objects, carried out through an internet platform (GoFundMe), raised approximately $15 million and how it should be distributed constituted a major test of Saskatchewan’s IPAA. Fortunately, the provisions of the Act gave the organizers and the court all the tools they needed to craft a distribution scheme that commanded almost unanimous support of the victims and their families. The existence of the Act averted what had the potential to be an extremely divisive issue within the community."

"Although the Act in its present form proved its worth in the Humboldt case, it cannot be safely assumed that its application will be equally straightforward in other cases involving appeals conducted using an internet platform. "

IFLA Launches Trend Report Update 2019

IFLA, the International Federation of Library Associations, has published a 2019 update to its Trend Report.

The initial report in 2013 brought together perspectives from experts around the world to support the library field in its thinking about the future.

The 2019 edition identifies 5 high-level trends:

• New Technologies will both expand and limit who has access to information.
  
• Online Education will democratise and disrupt global learning.
  
• The boundaries of privacy and data protection will be redefined..
  
• Hyper-connected societies will listen to and empower new voices and groups.
  
• The global information environment will be transformed by new technologies.
  

Nominations for the Next Hugh Lawford Award for Excellence in Legal Publishing

The Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL) is accepting nominations for the next Hugh Lawford Award for Excellence in Legal Publishing.

It honours a publisher (whether for-profit or not-for profit, corporate or non-corporate) that has demonstrated excellence by publishing a work, series, website or e-product that makes a significant contribution to legal research and scholarship.

Members as well as non-members of CALL can make nominations. Nominations from the author or publisher of a work are welcomed. Nominations can be submitted to Ann Marie Melvie [amelvie AT sasklawcourts.ca], Past President of CALL/ACBD, before February 15, 2020.

The award honours Hugh Lawford (1933-2009), Professor of Law at Queens’ University and the founder of Quicklaw.

Newest Issue of Partnership Available Online

The most recent issue of the journal Partnership: The Canadian Journal of Library & Information Practice & Research is now available.

The journal is published by “Partnership”, Canada's national network of provincial and territorial library associations.

There are sections on Theory & Practice, Innovations in Practice, Features and Book Reviews.

Supreme Court of Canada Calendar of January 2020 Hearings

The Supreme Court of Canada has published its calendar of upcoming appeals that will be heard this month.

To find out more about any particular case, click on the docket number in parentheses next to each case name to find docket information, case summaries as well as facta from the parties.

January 2020 Issue of In Session - E-Newsletter of Canadian Association of Law Libraries

The January 2020  issue of In Session is available online.

It is the monthly e-newsletter of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL) and contains news from CALL committees and special interest groups, member updates and events.

Winners of 2019 Canadian Law Blog Awards

The winners of the 2019 Canadian Law Blog Awards (known as the Clawbies) were announced a few days ago.

The Fodden Award 2019 for the very best in Canadian legal commentary went to the Supreme Advocacy Newsletter:

"A veritable institution in the Canadian legal community, readers come for the Supreme Court of Canada case news and stay for the Last Word. Eugene Meehan and his team have been generously sharing their expertise with an enjoyable side of miscellany since the mid ‘90s. The newsletter represents an impressive commitment to free and open sharing of legal knowledge—the true hallmark of any Fodden Award winner."

Two sites were recognized as the Best Law Library Resource:

"O’Faolain
There’s really only one word—stellar—to describe David Whelan’s blog, where he writes first-person reflections on law libraries and technology. From the nominations: “One of the most useful sites where I learn things to move forward with my work.”
CALL for Innovation Podcast
Colin Lachance recorded this series of interviews at the 2019 CALL/ACBD conference in partnership with vLex—we think this is probably the first-ever Canadian law library podcast! More please!"

There were awards in many other categories.

The Clawbies are organized by Stem Legal, a B.C.-based strategy firm.

45th Annual List of Banished Words

One of my favourite holiday things is Lake Superior State University's annual List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness.

This is the 45th year that the institution based in Sault Ste.Marie, Michigan has lovingly compiled and widely disseminated the list.

Apparently the tradition started in late 1975 when "faculty and staff came up with the first list of words and phrases that people love to hate at a New Year’s Eve party in 1975" (sounds plausible).

The Most Nominated Word or Phrase for 2020 has a legal/political dimension to it: "quid pro quo".

And "OK, Boomer" made this year's list.

Groovy.