Category Archives: Spring 2015

Issue 235

Anticipating User Needs within a Firm Environment

Meeting user needs extends far beyond the reference desk. As librarians, one of our main goals is to assist the user in making their day easier. We can do this by anticipating needs or determining the best use of our services.

Within a law firm setting, attorneys spend time on business development and client research. This is a major area of opportunity for the library. We, as librarians, have the skills and research tools needed to help attorneys in this endeavor, so why not get involved?

Attorneys probably do not realize the resources the library has access to, some of which are not billed back to the client. Another bonus!

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Raise Your Profile and Communicate Your Value Through LinkedIn

Nathan Rosen
Nathan Rosen

January 29, 2015 marked a first for the CALL Continuing Education Committee. For the very first time, a CALL Continuing Education program was broadcast to attendees through a webinar.  Lawyer, librarian, and LinkedIn guru, Nathan Rosen presented  “Raise Your Profile and Communicate Value through LinkedIn: A CALL Personal Enrichment Webinar” from New York City to the CALL community.

The webinar was made possible through the generosity of the law firm of Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, which agreed to tech host the program. For future educational programs, the use of webinars will allow the Continuing Education Committee to tap into a deeper pool of prospective speakers and reach a larger CALL membership audience.

For those who were unable to access or attend the webinar, the recording of Nathan Rosen’s program is available through the CALL website.

The presentation topic touched on a subject important to many CALL members: how to get the most out of your LinkedIn profile. The speaker, Nathan Rosen, began his presentation by discussing how to use LinkedIn as a professional marketing brochure.  His top 5 tips for developing powerful LinkedIn profiles were:

  1. create a compelling profile
  2. craft settings
  3. connect to people you know
  4. contribute
  5. congratulate others.

Nathan also discussed using LinkedIn as a search tool to research possible new connections and companies. Once possible new connections were identified, he described best practices for reaching out to them.  I especially found his advice for obtaining recommendations and endorsements to be invaluable.

The impression I came away with at the end of Nathan’s presentation was that powerful, successful LinkedIn profiles are not built in a day. Slow and steady progress through connecting with others, sharing content, and careful editing of one’s profile will lead to LinkedIn success. I felt motivated and excited after hearing Nathan’s presentation to get working on my Linked-In profile, as I’m sure other CALL members did too!

ABA TECHSHOW 2015

The ABA Techshow, www.techshow.com , will be held here in Chicago at the Hilton Chicago on Michigan Avenue from April 16-18, 2015. As they have in the past, the American Bar Association (ABA) is offering discounted registration to CALL members. Registration is $750/$950 for ABA members; CALL members may register at the paralegal rate, which is  $550.  Marisol Massini of the ABA advises that CALL members  may “…go ahead and register online, call ABA customer service to register over the form, or download a form from the website and mail it in.”

MAALL Annual Meeting 2015

Kansas City Skyline, Copyright Zach Werner under Creative Commons
Kansas City Skyline, Copyright Zach Werner under Creative Commons

Mark your calendars for the 2015 Mid-America Association of Law Libraries (MAALL) Annual Meeting. This meeting will take place at the Holiday Inn Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, MO on October 22-24.  This year’s theme is “Everything’s Up to Date in Kansas City.” The details for this Annual Meeting are forthcoming.

For future updates, check the MAALL 2015 website, follow MAALL on Twitter ( @MAALLibraries), or monitor the conference hashtag:   #MAALL15

If you would like to submit a program proposal, you can do so until April 3, 2015. If you have any questions about the process or have any suggestions, you can send these to the Education Committee at : maall.education@gmail.com. You can find out more about MAALL and how to become a member here.

CALL Member Activity at the AALL 2015 Conference in Philly

The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) holds its 108th Annual Meeting & Conference (Twitter hashtag #AALL15) in Philadelphia, July 18-21, 2015. The theme is “The Power of Connection”. Many CALL members will attend, with several participating as speakers, moderators, or coordinators of educational programs. CALL members will chair or attend meetings of councils, committees, caucuses, and special interest sections (SISes), while others will attend meetings for CALL and AALL officers.

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