Articles Posted in News from Organizations

The Metropolitan New York Library Council (METRO), the New York State reference and research library resource system serving New York City and its metropolitan area, has just released its Strategic Plan 2009-2014. This stragetic plan which was developed through a broad consultative and inclusive process (including input from law libraries), addresses the needs of its member libraries, the demands of a changing library/information world, and the course METRO should take. As for disclosure, I participated in the planning and development of this Stragetic Plan as a member of the METRO Professional Planning Group. In the past I have also served as a member of the Board of Directors of METRO.

In view of the importance and urgency of issues addressed I am posting the entire Strategic Plan here with the hope that it will be distributed widely among libraries, their parent organizations, and other organizations concerned about libraries and librarianship. We would also appreciate comments.

David Badertscher

Shortlist Announced:

The International Law Office (ILO) is delighted to announce the shortlist for the second annual European Counsel Awards in association with the Association of Corporate Counsel Europe (ACC Europe).

With the help of the ACC, we have conducted in-depth analysis of in-house lawyers and legal departments worldwide. Over 3,000 individual nominations from corporate counsel and law firm partners make the awards unique in clearly identifying those in-house counsel, both teams and individuals, who excel in their specific roles.

From: News Release-March 3, 2009:

Des Moines, IA – March 3, 2009 – In an editorial in the January-February 2009 issue of its journal, Judicature, the American Judicature Society has called on the new administration to make the restoration and reinvigoration of the Department of Justice a major priority.

The editorial notes that the Department’s reputation for political impartiality and the morale of its personnel are at their lowest ebb since the Department’s nadir in the wake of the Watergate scandal. Recent events, the editorial says, have done serious damage to public confidence in the even-handed administration of justice.

The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) Research Committee is accepting applications for research grants from the AALL Research Fund: An Endowment Established by LexisNexis®. A single grant of up to $1,425, or multiple grants totaling $1,425, may be awarded. The committee will award one or more grants to library professionals who wish to conduct research that supports the research and scholarly agenda of the profession of law librarianship. The deadline for applications is Friday, March 27, 2009.

For more information, consult the Research and Publications Committee website at http://www.aallnet.org/committee/respub/.

RICHARD ZORZA

As you may know, the economic crisis is having a major impact upon courts, self-help programs, and indeed litigants.

A major focus of selfhelpsupport in the next year will be working to make sure that courts and their access partners continue to innovate in access to justice, even when times are tough and resources are tight.

“The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance, in partnership with the National Institute of Justice, is pleased to announce it is seeking applications for funding under the Adult Drug Court Research to Practice Initiative. This program furthers the Department’s efforts to assist communities to develop effective drug court strategies for nonviolent substance-abusing offenders.”:

Here is a link to the Announcement:

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/09DrugCourtResearchSol.pdf

Special Libraries Association (SLA) has announced the slate of candidates for the 2010 Board of Directors. Two of the board candidates are members of the Legal Division Their names appear in bold type in list below:

2010 Board of Directors Candidates Announced

Alexandria, Virginia, February 18, 2009 – SLA has nominated eight candidates to run for election to the 2010 SLA Board of Directors. The candidates were identified by the SLA Nominating Committee, which annually solicits names of potential candidates from the membership, and is responsible for putting together a slate of candidates that has exceptional talent, is professionally diverse, and provides regionally balanced representation.

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