SWALL pics

I have created a group on Flickr for SWALL. If you're a member of Flickr already, you can share your pictures in the group. If you don't have a Flickr account and don't want to start one, feel free to email me your pictures, and I will be happy to add them to my account with your copyright on them.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/swall/

Business Meeting

During the annual business meeting, presided over by outgoing president Anna Teller, we heard reports from SWALL committee chairs and found out "What's Happening Nationally in AALL?" from Anne Fessenden, AALL President. Also, the 2008-2009 SWALL Officers were unanimously elected during the meeting. They are as follows:

President – Katherine Greene, Automation and Acquisitions Librarian, University of Kansas

Vice-President/President Elect – Terri Wilson, Law Librarian, Underwood, Wilson, Berry, Stein & Johnson PC

Treasurer – Kris Helge, Reference Librarian, Baylor University

Secretary – Michelle Rigual, Associate Director, University of New Mexico

SWALL History and Future

Sharon Blackburn of the Texas Tech University School of Law gave an entertaining presentation about the last 50 years of SWALL. Given in 5 year increments, we reminisced about previous officers and meeting presentations, corrected people's recollections of events (well, mostly Amy did), and realized that we always seem to be studying electronic brains and trying to relieve stress.

The more things change, the more things stay the same. :-P

The Challenge of Virtual Reference

Blythe McCoy, a Thomson West Librarian Relations Manager, gave a detailed presentation on virtual reference. She pointed out the differences between virtual patrons and in-person patrons and the skills it takes to serve both kinds. She also covered various kinds of virtual reference, from phone and email questions to multiple virtual reference software programs. She encouraged the audience to share their own experiences with different types of virtual reference which gave a real-world twist to her talk.

Tech Tools and Tips

Today's hot topic was presented by Katherine Greene of the University of Kansas School of Law. She attended a recent ABA Techshow and learned about lots of new gadgets that lawyers are taking advantage of. Some of the things she covered involved software and websites that allow you to create virtual office-type access, tools to enhance security, digital signatures, and much more.

PowerPoint Presentation

When Nature Strikes: Weather Disasters and the Law

Marsha Baum of UNM spoke about the ways in which the weather affects the law, from using weather to cover up a crime, using weather as an excuse for crime, the effects of weather on contracts, and much more. All of this information and more is available in her book, When Nature Strikes: Weather Disasters and the Law.

Library Portals

Our first hot topic of the conference was Library Portals, presented by Susan Spillman, the portal manager for the South Texas College of Law. Susan demoed the College of Law's portal, explaining the process they went through creating it and what features are available for students, faculty and librarians.

Cruise Ship Law

UNM's Michelle Rigual gave an informative talk on cruise ship contracts, jurisdiction, and various other aspects of the world of tourism at sea. If presentations get posted to the SWALL website, I would highly recommend giving hers a read. I'll come back and edit posts to link to any presentations that get uploaded.

Bon Voyage!

We're off and running! Or floating. We began to pull away from Galaveston about 4:15pm, and the SWALL conference began in earnest at 6pm with guest speaker Mary Flood of the Houston Chronicle. I follow Mary's blog, so it was great fun to hear her in person. Funny, entertaining, and a lot of truth spoken about how the internet has changed the way journalists report the news.

Afterwards, Anna Teller led us off on a champagne toast in beautifully monogrammed flutes (thanks, Thomson-West!) to celebrate SWALL's 50th anniversary.

A great kickoff!

Edit 4/11/08
Anna's great quote from her champagne toast:
"I could not do what I do without the kindness, consideration, resourcefulness and work of librarians." ~~ Pulitzer prize winning author David McCullough

(Dammit, Joan! ;-P)

Muumuus or formal wear?

I have never been on a cruise and I am at a loss as to what to wear.

Someone said to bring a nice dress for dinner. Do we have to dress up for this cruise? I thought it would be a shorts and flip-flop affair. Perhaps a lovely tropical muumuu or two. No matter what, I am not bringing any pantyhose. No way, no how.

Is business casual appropriate? Someone else mentioned wearing layers as the session room can be cold. Any ideas anyone?

Program and Business Meeting

If you would like to view/print a couple of conference documents early, click on the following links:

Final Program

Business Meeting Agenda

Roundtable topics

President-Elect and Program Committee Chair Katherine Greene is looking for suggestions for round table topics. Round table discussions are scheduled for Friday, April 11 from 4:30pm to 5:30pm. You can post suggestions in the comments here or feel free to contact Katherine or one of moderators with your ideas for topics.

Academic Law Libraries - Mon Yin Lung, Moderator
County, Court, and Government Libraries - Peggy Martindale, Moderator
Law Firm and Solo Practice Libraries - Terri Wilson, Moderator
Library Students - Yvonne Chandler, Moderator

Parking at the pier

Pay for parking in advance and save $5.

http://www.portofgalveston.com/cruiseinformation/parking.shtml

Cozumel weather

The 10 day forecast for Cozumel:

http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/tenday/MXQR0074?from=36hr_topnav_business

Ahhhhh! :-)

Cruising tips

Catherine Whitney, my cruising roomie, has been surfing the web and found lots of great tips from former Carnival voyagers that all of us may find handy.

1. Bring a big covered mug to fill with your favorite beverage while at the pool.
2. Bring a collapsible, hanging shoe shelf to store, sandals, shoes, even socks and underwear.
3. Put a change of clothes and bathing suit in your carry-on bag because you may not see the rest of luggage for several hours when you first board the ship.
4. Make sure you leave out a change of clothes and your medication the might before returning home because your luggage will be taken that night.
5. Bring extra hangers because you don't get many in the cabin.
6. Print additional luggage tags to put inside your luggage "just in case."
7. Print an extra full set of your documents and put in a large envelope inside your carry-on bag.
8. Bring a power strip; there are only two outlets in the whole cabin.

Surprises in store

From the lovely Monica M. Ortale:

I hope everyone is getting as excited as I am about the 50th Annual Meeting. We have a great slate of speakers and perfect weather has been requested ;-)

Registration is currently at 56 with overall 90 people attending! We have representatives from almost all the SWALL states (Will someone from Colorado and Arkansas join us at the last minute?) I'll include a list of the attendees in your registration bag.

Cozumel will be a free day for everyone, so explore the island or check out one of the amazing excursions that Carnival has provided. I suggest that you book now, if you wait until you are on board, chances are the excursion will be sold out.

BTW! There will be a surprise placed in everyone's cabin on Thursday and on Friday. PLUS the champagne toast on Thursday night comes with a little something extra. AND there's something planned for the Sunday cocktail party. AND there's more!

Conference registration information

From Monica Ortale:

Registration will be held Thursday, April 10th from 1p.m. - 6p.m., ONLY, in Conference Room, Promenade deck, Starboard side, aft.

Please pick up your badges and registration bags thenn (lots of great stuff!)

Volunteers staffing registration:
1:00pm - 1:30pm Monica Ortale
1:30pm - 2:30pm Mimi Greenwood
2:30pm - 3:30pm Joan Stringfellow
3:30pm - 4:30pm Kris Helge
4:30pm - 5:30pm Michelle Rigual
5:30pm - 6:00pm Caren & Sara Luckie, Peggy Martindale

Swimming with the dolphins

Here's a question from Mimi Greenwood. She has found from various excursion websites that you are supposed "to use a certain kind of sunscreen if you're swimming with the dolphins. Does anyone know of any particular brands that are required? And where do you get them?"

If you know the answer to this question, feel free to post here or send Mimi an email at MIMIG@modrall.com.

FYI on printing your boarding pass

ALL guests in a cabin must complete the FunPass information before the Guest Summary screen displays the Print FunPass button.

Not a problem for significant others, but those of you who are rooming with friends, be sure both of you complete the mandatory preregistration or you will not be able to print your boarding pass, which is required in order to get on the big boat.

Volunteers needed

From our intrepid Local Arrangements Chair:

Hi Everyone,

For those of you attending the 50th Annual SWALL meeting, I need help staffing the registration cabana, er desk. If you can help out for half hour or so on thursday afternoon, 1pm - 6pm (except for mustering drill) or Friday morning, 7:30am - 12:30p.m., that would be great!

Since everyone has to be on board thursday afternoon, I'm hoping folks will pick up their materials (and we have some neat stuff!) before our great Key Note speaker, Mary Flood, begins. Please email me if you can help!

If you have any other questions about arrangements, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thanks,
Monica Ortale
mortale@STCL.EDU

Trip Excursions

There seem to be quite a number of exciting day trip excursions when we reach Cozumel. Which one should I pick? Since I would like to keep my "library tan" and not get too much sun, I thought about skipping the beach and visiting the Mayan ruins instead.

Swimming with the dolphins sounds good too, although I am not sure I want to swim with a mammal that is potentially smarter than me. If any of you have picked your excursion already and want some company, let me know. Or write to me and tell me why you picked the excursion you did and maybe I'll post some of the comments anonymously.

Welcome to the blog!

Welcome to the official blog for SWALL's 2008 Annual Meeting onboard the good ship Carnival Ecstasy!

If you are interested in being a contributing author to the blog, send an email to me at terri.wilson@uwlaw.com so that I can get you added.