Criminal Law Library Blog

January 10, 2008

Final Report: Library of Congress Working Group on Bibliographic Control

This posting includes the Executive Summary followed by a link to the full text of the Final Report:

“The Working Group hopes that this Report is viewed as a ‘call to action’ that informs and broadens participation in discussion and debate, conveys a sense of urgency, stimulates collaboration, and catalyzes thoughtful and deliberate action. We anticipate broad discussion of the Report’s recommendations and their implications, and look forward to the development of specific implementation plans, research agendas, and educational programs.”

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In November 2006, Deanna Marcum, Associate Librarian for Library Services at the Library of Congress, convened a Working Group to examine the future of bibliographic control in the 21st century. The formal charge to the Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control was to:

January 9, 2008

Q&A: Blog Policy

by David Badertscher

QUESTION:

If anyone has a blog policy they wish to share, we would appreciate it.

Thanks.

January 4, 2008

News from American Libraries Direct

by David Badertscher

Here are some highlights from the January 3, 2008 issue of American LibrariesDirect.

National Film Registry selections for 2007 Librarian of Congress James H. Billington on December 27 named 25 motion pictures-classics from every era of American filmmaking-to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, including Bullitt, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Grand Hotel, Oklahoma!, and 12 Angry Men. The selections were made as part of a program aimed at preserving the nation’s movie heritage. This year’s selections bring to 475 the number of motion pictures in the registry….

Library of Congress, Dec. 27

January 4, 2008

2007 End of Year Report on the Federal Judiciary

by David Badertscher

The following is an excerpt followed by a link to the actual document:

“…Americans should take enormous pride in our judicial system. But there is no cause for complacency. Our judicial system inspires the world because of the commitment of each new generation of judges who build upon the vision and accomplishments of those who came before. I am committed to continuing three of my predecessor’s important but unfinished initiatives to maintain the quality of our courts.

First, I will carry on the efforts to improve communications with the Executive and Legislative Branches of government. The Constitution’s provision for three separate but coordinate Branches envisions that the Branches will communicate through appropriate means on administrative matters of common concern. Each has a valuable perspective on the other. The Branches already engage in constructive dialogue through a number of familiar forums, including the Judicial Conference, congressional hearings, and advisory committee meetings. But the familiar avenues are not necessarily the only ones…”

January 4, 2008

The Prennial Issue: Library Funding

by David Badertscher

The following is a question regarding alternative approaches to library funding and a summary of responses to that question.

QUESTION

“The perennial issue – law library funding. Beyond civil filing fees, has any law library tried other avenues for funding, for example, a portion of the attorney registration fee, or other vehicle? I am interested whether or not the attempt was successful.”

January 4, 2008

ABA Journal Weekly Newsletter Highlights

by David Badertscher

Top Ten Stories in January 4, 2008 issue:

Lawyer Pay Good-Looking Lawyers Make More Money, Researcher Says Jan 2, 2008, 08:31 am CST

“A researcher studying the impact of beauty has found that good-looking lawyers–like other professionals–make more money than their colleagues with lesser looks. Economist Daniel Hamermesh of the University of Texas based his conclusion on the photographs of graduates of an unnamed law school. Those rated attractive in the photos went.” Click here to see this article.

December 21, 2007

ABA Journal Weekly Newsletter, December 21, 2007

by David Badertscher

Personal Lives

How a Reed Smith Partner Learned Wealth, Power Were the Wrong Priorities Dec 17, 2007, 01:51 pm CST

A. Scott Bolden, a partner at Reed Smith in Washington, D.C., didn’t listen to his lawyers’ advice after an ex-girlfriend called him about his long-rumored daughter. The ex told Bolden shortly before Thanksgiving in 2001 that his daughter, Shayla, was turning 18 and needed him, Bolden recalls in a Washington Post article..