Dear colleagues,
The impending arrival of fall brings about a time to reflect on the summer that has passed. Most notably, in July, the American Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting and Conference gave us the opportunity to share our great city of Chicago with law librarians from around the country and even as far away as Australia. CALL members played integral roles in the conference from serving on the Annual Meeting Planning Committee to speaking on panels to hosting a fun and very well-attended trivia night at Timothy O’Toole’s! Now it’s time for CALL to keep this momentum going into the 2016-17 year with more great programs and events.
All the positive attributes CALL members demonstrated at the Annual Meeting will be on full display during the year with networking opportunities and great speakers at our four business meetings, as well as compelling and relevant continuing education programs and social events. As our profession continues to change at a rapid pace, it’s more important than ever for the organization to provide support and education to help members grow and thrive in their careers.
Of course, one great way to educate yourself and communicate knowledge to others is through writing. As CALL members, we’re fortunate to have a great platform in the CALL Bulletin, and I encourage everyone to suggest an article if you have a great idea you want to share with the rest of the organization and others. The Public Relations and Continuing Education committees are also great vehicles for communicating and demonstrating the value that librarians provide to the legal community. Whether it’s writing an article or utilizing social media or giving a presentation, I hope that everyone with ideas finds a way within CALL to share them with the rest of us.
While we have so much we can learn from each other, it’s also beneficial to seek out other learning opportunities elsewhere. To that end, I want to remind you all that CALL provides grants for our members to attend various educational programs and conferences, and by enabling people to seek out those experiences, we all benefit when that knowledge is brought back home to the Chicago area.
Before I conclude my first President’s Letter, I would be remiss to not acknowledge that none of what CALL does is possible without a great deal of hard work by all the committee chairs and members, the CALL Board members, and everyone else who volunteers their time and talents for CALL. It is my sincere hope that every CALL member feels welcome in the organization and feels empowered to participate in the many activities in which CALL is involved. If anyone has any suggestions, questions, or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or one of the other Board members. I’m looking forward to another great year for CALL!
Best,
Todd