Category: Uncategorized

Fall Service Project Wrap-Up

by Nicole Belbin, Service Committee Chair

The Fall Service Project marks the Service Committee’s first service project with our newest committee member, Rebecca Valentine, Associate Librarian at UMass Law. She has proven herself an invaluable member of our committee already and John, Stephanie, and I are so happy she joined us. For the Fall 2023 Service Project, the Service Committee chose to highlight the International Institute of New England (IINE) in Boston. They do amazing work supporting refugees and immigrants and have recently seen an unprecedented influx of Haitians into the Boston area. We felt their mission complemented the theme of the Meeting, The Fog of War: International and Foreign Legal Research in Today’s World, nicely. We sponsored a goods drive for members to bring in or purchase items online via their Amazon Wishlist. LLNE members generously donated towels, sheets, toys, and hats, among other items.

We learned a lot about coordinating a goods drive with this project! As luck would have it, IINE had its annual full staff meeting on November 3, the same day as our Fall Meeting. This put a small monkey wrench into coordinating the drop off of donated items to IINE’s office, as none of the Service Committee members were available to deliver the goods another day. The Planning Committee was extremely helpful in storing the items and helping us figure out alternative means of getting the items where they needed to go. Ultimately, Katie Kerekes, Senior Law Library Intern at Northeastern, saved the day. She delivered the items to IINE on November 7.

If you didn’t get a chance to donate an item during the Fall Meeting but would like to support this great organization, they are still in need of winter coats or you can purchase other much-need items from their Amazon Wishlist.

As always, thank you to our members for your continued generosity. The Service Committee is looking forward to offering impactful service opportunities for LLNE members in the New Year.

Reflection on the LLNE Fall Meeting

by Rebecca Valentine, Associate Librarian, UMass Law

The fall meeting topic The Fog of War: International and Foreign Legal Research was certainly timely; I think more than anyone realized it would be at the time it was organized. The keynote and subsequent four sessions approached the topic differently, but still shared the common theme of the ways emerging technologies are impacting aspects of international law and information.

However, I must admit that my biggest take away was not just that we need to consider the impact of technology on information, disinformation, and the dissemination of both. But something more personal. About six months ago I transitioned from being a reference archivist to being a public services librarian at the UMass Law Library. While I loved the collections and the work I was doing at the archives, it was time to move on to learn new skills and better utilize the research skills I had already built up.

Entering the field of law librarianship has been both a challenge and a pleasure. The work can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to learning the vocabulary needed to help students and faculty. Sometimes I need to do an hour of research before I can even begin working on the reference question I received. Those situations can be a blow to my confidence in my reference and research abilities.

But one thing I have found comforting, is that the work of public services remains the same; and when I have had the chance to talk to other librarians about these public services, my legal vocabulary doesn’t matter.

One of the chances I recently received to have these discussions was the LLNE 2023 Fall Conference. What I found there was that law librarianship, more than almost any other field I’ve worked in, has been one of the most welcoming and supportive to newer librarians. While I had the privilege of being there with a colleague who facilitated introductions, I don’t think that would have changed the graciousness of the other librarians. Upon being introduced to many different people from all over New England, each librarian was willing to talk to me about the work I’m doing at UMass Law, and the work I would like to do in the future.

The experience made me realize that while I may not know all the buzzwords, keywords, or headnotes, all of that will come with time. But the skills I do have, mean that my work is still good and valuable. From participating in the Service Committee and helping to decide on and promote the fall service project, to attending the conference, being a part of LLNE has made me feel assured in my new career.

Registration Now Live For 2023 Fall LLNE Meeting!

Registration for LLNE’S Fall 2023 Meeting, The Fog of War: International and Foreign Legal Research in Today’s World, is now live! You can register here, on the meeting LibGuide! The registration fee is 70$ and the registration form will be open until October 20th.

Check out the LibGuide for additional information about the theme, schedule, speakers, and travel.

We hope to see you there!

Job Opening – Law Library Assistant – Essex Law Library

Salem, Massachusetts

Full-time
Closing on: September 11, 2023, at 23:55 EDT

Title: Law Library Assistant
Pay Grade: Grade 13
Starting Pay: $ 54,593.18

Departmental Mission Statement: The Court Services and Law Libraries Department is responsible for providing key court services to
support the administration of justice and advance access to justice in the Trial Court. These services include the Court Service Centers, the Trial
Court Law Libraries, and the Judicial Response System.

MISSION STATEMENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TRIAL COURT LAW LIBRARIES:
The Trial Court Law Library System provides timely, efficient access to current and historical law-related information in an impartial and
respectful manner to anyone needing legal information.

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE:
This circuit position requires travel and entails working in multiple locations, including the Lowell, Essex, and Middlesex Law Libraries,
and will be based in the Lawrence Law Library.
This position is designated as a union position and is covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement with O.P.E.I.U., Local 6.

Position Summary: Major duties are performed under the direction of the Head Law Librarian and include processing incoming library materials, preparing fiscal documents, providing general and legal information, and implementing circulation and interlibrary loan policies.  The Law Library Assistant assists the Head Law Librarian in system-wide activities such as long-range planning, electronic library services, and special projects, and may be assigned by the Law Library Department to perform Law Library Assistant duties in other libraries as needed.  In the absence of the Head Law Librarian and other law library staff, maintains the day-to-day operation of the law library.  

Major Duties: Law Library Assistant Duties:  

  • Processes incoming library materials for supplementation, maintains circulation records, including the database of borrowers, and processes overdue notices using an integrated library system;  
  • Files loose-leaf services, advance sheets, periodicals, and supplements; removes appropriate material and arranges disposition according to library policy; shelves materials;  
  • Processes invoices, communicates with vendors about account problems, and maintains accounting records, including budgetary spreadsheet  
  • Provides reference and information services to those seeking legal information by responding to questions in person, by telephone or through e-reference; locating and retrieving materials;
  • performing simple bibliographic searches; and filling interlibrary loan requests;   
  • Participates in basic e-reference services;  
  • Maintains and operates library equipment, including computer networks, microform machines, copiers, scanners, and fax machines;  
  • Prepares current and historical material for binding;  
  • In the absence of the Head Law Librarian or a Law Librarian, maintains the day-to-day operation of the law library;  
  • Performs related duties as required.  

Minimum Requirements: These are the minimum requirements necessary to apply for the position of Law Library Assistant:  

Law Library Assistant I Requirements: Bachelor’s degree AND one (1) year of full-time experience as a paid paralegal OR one (1) year of full-time paid clerical experience in a law library OR An equivalent combination of education and experience.  

  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to deal effectively and respectfully with people;  
  • Knowledge of procedures, interlibrary cooperation, and the types of resources and services available to librarians and library users;  
  • Ability to use computer applications, such as MS Office spreadsheets, text editing, and publisher programs;  
  • Ability to perform Trial Court fiscal procedures in accordance with the MMARS Accounting System;  
  • Ability to understand and implement all policies and procedures of the Trial Court Law Libraries;  
  • Ability to gather, analyze, and report information;  
  • Ability to reach with hands and arms, bend, crouch, lift materials weighing up to 30 pounds, and climb stairs;  
  • Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form;  
  • Ability to travel to multiple library locations.  

Interested persons should visit https://trialcourtjobs.mass.gov/jobs/2c79266c-b772-4dd6-9e44-30c7ef66ed3d to file an application.

LLNE Message from the President

Hello Members,

Welcome to our new members!  I wanted to start off by saying thank you to our committee chairs for all their work over the past year, and to all our members who are volunteering their time by serving on the LLNE committees. 

I’d like to give a special thank you to Michael VanderHeijden, who has rotated off the board after serving as immediate past-president.  Michael also served as chair to the Ad Hoc Strategic Planning Committee and as a member of the Bylaws Committee.  Another special thank you to Anna Lawless-Collins, who has served as president over the past year; because of Anna’s time as president we now have a strategic plan and have implemented a mission statement and goals.

I’d like to welcome Nicholas Mignanelli to the Education Committee this year, who will be serving with Jessica Panella.  Be on the lookout for emails about the Fall meeting coming to your inbox soon. Last, but certainly not least, I’d like to welcome Maureen Quinlan as Vice President/President-Elect!  I look forward to working with Marueen over the course of this year.

As I have taken time to reflect on my own time within LLNE, I’ll never forget the warm and kind welcome I received as a new member.  It was a chaotic time for me as I was gearing up for law school finals.  I walked into my first Access to Justice/Service Committee meeting not knowing anyone in the room.  We met at a member’s home (whom I also did not personally know).  The librarians I met that day welcomed me in a way I hadn’t experienced before.  I know I had found my place.

I hope that this next year brings you joyful reflection on the great work we are doing in LLNE to support each other and our communities.  Please consider volunteering for a committee or leadership role within LLNE. 

Be well,

Sara

LLNE Wrap-Up

LLNE’s 2022-2023 year wrapped up with a great Spring meeting on the NextGen Bar exam. New England School of Law Boston put on an excellent, informative program that raised money for three different scholarship funds to help students studying for the bar. 

The LLNE Strategic Planning committee is off and running to define our goals and objectives for the next few years. We will have a mission statement and goals defined in time for Sara’s year as president to begin. The Ethical Principles committee is also getting started and will implement the ethical principles LLNE agreed to last year. The Bylaws committee wrapped up its work this year and the updated bylaws were officially adopted at the Spring meeting. 

All the LLNE committees had a wonderful year; look for the upcoming Annual Report to summarize committee activities for the year. Thank you all for another productive year in LLNE! 

Anna Lawless Collins, BU Law, outgoing LLNE President

Sara Monalea McMahon, Hampshire Law Library, incoming LLNE President

Job Opening – Law Library Assistant – Essex Law Library

Salem, Massachusetts

Full-time
Closing on: September 11, 2023 at 23:55 EDT

Title: Law Library Assistant
Pay Grade: Grade 13
Starting Pay: $ 54,593.18

Departmental Mission Statement: The Court Services and Law Libraries Department is responsible for providing key court services to
support the administration of justice and advance access to justice in the Trial Court. These services include the Court Service Centers, the Trial
Court Law Libraries, and the Judicial Response System.

MISSION STATEMENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TRIAL COURT LAW LIBRARIES:
The Trial Court Law Library System provides timely, efficient access to current and historical law-related information in an impartial and
respectful manner to anyone in need of legal information.

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE:
This circuit position requires travel and entails working in multiple locations, including the Lowell, Essex, and Middlesex Law Libraries,
and will be based in the Lawrence Law Library.
This position is designated as a union position and is covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement with O.P.E.I.U., Local 6.

Position Summary: Major duties are performed under the direction of the Head Law Librarian and include processing incoming library materials, preparing fiscal documents, providing general and legal information, and implementing circulation and interlibrary loan policies.  The Law Library Assistant assists the Head Law Librarian in system-wide activities such as long range planning, electronic library services, and special projects, and may be assigned by the Law Library Department to perform Law Library Assistant duties in other libraries as needed.  In the absence of the Head Law Librarian and other law library staff, maintains the day-to- day operation of the law library.  

Major Duties: Law Library Assistant Duties:  

  • Processes incoming library materials for supplementation, maintains circulation records including the database of borrowers, and processes overdue notices using an integrated library system;  
  • Files loose-leaf services, advance sheets, periodicals, and supplements; removes appropriate material and arranges disposition according to library policy; shelves materials;  
  • Processes invoices, communicates with vendors about account problems, and maintains accounting records including budgetary spreadsheet  
  • Provides reference and information services to those seeking legal information by responding to questions in person, by telephone or through e-reference; locating and retrieving materials;
  • performing simple bibliographic searches; and filling interlibrary loan requests;   
  • Participates in basic e-reference services;  
  • Maintains and operates library equipment including computer networks, microform machines, copiers, scanners and fax machines;  
  • Prepares current and historical material for binding;  
  • In the absence of the Head Law Librarian or a Law Librarian, maintains the day-to-day operation of the law library;  
  • Performs related duties as required.  

Minimum Requirements: These are the minimum requirements necessary to apply for a position of Law Library Assistant:  

Law Library Assistant I Requirements:   Bachelor degree AND one (1) year of full-time experience as a paid paralegal OR one (1) year of full-time paid clerical experience in a law library OR An equivalent combination of education and experience.  

  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to deal effectively and respectfully with people;  
  • Knowledge of procedures, interlibrary cooperation, and the types of resources and services available to librarians and library users;  
  • Ability to use computer applications, such as MS Office spreadsheets, text editing and publisher programs;  
  • Ability to perform Trial Court fiscal procedures in accordance with MMARS accounting System;  
  • Ability to understand and implement all policies and procedures of the Trial Court Law Libraries;  
  • Ability to gather, analyze and report information;  
  • Ability to reach with hands and arms, bend, crouch, lift materials weighing up to 30 pounds and climb stairs;  
  • Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form;  
  • Ability to travel to multiple library locations.  

Interested persons should visit https://trialcourtjobs.mass.gov/jobs/2c79266c-b772-4dd6-9e44-30c7ef66ed3d to file an application.

Job Opening – Mass. Trial Court Law Libraries – Circuit Law Librarian/Northeast

Lawrence, Massachusetts,

Full-time
Closing at: May 31 2023 at 23:55 EDT

Title: Circuit Law Librarian – Northeast
Pay Grade: Grade 17
Starting Pay: $73,753.54

Departmental Mission Statement: The Court Services and Law Libraries Department is responsible for providing key court services to
support the administration of justice and advance access to justice in the Trial Court. These services include the Court Service Centers, the Trial
Court Law Libraries, and the Judicial Response System.

MISSION STATEMENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TRIAL COURT LAW LIBRARIES:
The Trial Court Law Library System provides timely, efficient access to current and historical law-related information in an impartial and
respectful manner to anyone in need of legal information.

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE:
This circuit position requires travel and entails working in multiple locations, including the Lowell, Essex, and Middlesex Law Libraries,
and will be based in the Lawrence Law Library.
This position is designated as a union position and is covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement with O.P.E.I.U., Local 6.

Position Summary: Working within the Trial Court Law Libraries, the Circuit Law Librarian – Northeast performs professional library duties
over a defined geographic area in the following areas: legal research and reference, cataloging, interlibrary loan, bibliographic services and
acquisitions. Assists Head Law Librarians in library operation; and may perform specific functions for the Trial Court Law Library system such
invoice processing, collection development and maintaining a federal depository collection; performs related work as required.
Supervision Received: Work is performed primarily under the direction of the Director of Court Services and Law Libraries and Manager of
Law Libraries, or their designee, and is evaluated for professional soundness and conformity to policy.

Duties: • Provides reference and information services to the clientele by responding to questions either in person or by telephone, locating and
retrieving materials and assisting in legal research, by developing a comprehensive knowledge of legal bibliography and general reference
sources.
• Utilizes full knowledge of electronic databases and interlibrary sources, both legal and non-legal, to assist clientele in retrieving information
needed.
• Instructs library users in the use of library materials and equipment.
• Adapts professional principles of cataloging, classification and indexing to the various components of the library’s collection.
• Manages and maintains automated cataloging and classification through a national database.
• Works with other librarians on system-wide projects.
• Performs necessary tasks for assuring security, proper protection, care and presentation of library’ materials, and presentation of library’
materials.
• In the absence of the Head Law Librarian, maintains the day-to-day library operations; and
• Performs related duties as required.

Job Competencies: All applicants must be able, through the interview process, to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the following
areas:
Ethics and Values: Communicates and demonstrates the ethics and values of the Trial Court and Trial Court Law Libraries as demonstrated in
the American Association of Law Libraries.
Mission: Understands, upholds, and communicates the missions of the Trial Court and the Trial Court Law Libraries.
Applied Knowledge: Demonstrates the core competencies and specialized competencies in the areas of library management; reference, research
and client services; information technology; collection development, cataloging and teaching as outlined in the AALL Competencies of Law Librarianship.
Customer Service: Conducts oneself in a courteous and professional manner towards both Trial Court employees and the public whether in
person, on the telephone or in an electronic environment.
Commitment to Diversity: Promotes an environment of diversity through understanding, respect, and positive communication with persons
of varied racial, ethnic, economic, and cultural backgrounds.
Continuous Learning: Demonstrates a commitment to continuously improving himself or herself through professional development and
actively pursues continuing education.

Minimum Requirements: These are the minimum requirements necessary to apply for a position of Circuit Law
Librarian:
• Master’s Degree in Library Science or Law Degree from an accredited library school and 1 full year of full-time experience in a professional
capacity in a law library; equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered for meeting the minimum qualifications.
• Preferred Qualifications: MLS, MLIS, or JD and some library and legal research experience;
• Knowledge of theory, principles and practices of library science and law library administration, including current methods and procedures in
such areas as collection development, cataloging and legal research and reference;
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to deal effectively and respectfully with people;
• Ability to work with judges, attorneys, court personnel;
• Ability to use computer applications such as MS Office spreadsheets, text editing and publisher programs;
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in both oral and written form;
• Ability to reach with hands and arms, bend, crouch, lift materials weighing up to 30 pounds, and climb stairs; and
• Ability to travel within the Commonwealth and work at other Trial Court Law Library locations when necessary.
https://trialcourtjobs.mass.gov/jobs/circuit-law-librarian-northeast-lawrence-massachusetts-united-states