Southern Currents: Australian and New Zealand Law Librarians Conference 2006

Southern Currents Conference Blog

ATO e Library Project - David Feighan

David discussed this project, how it had come about, how it was implemented. The e library created a one stop shop for the ATO staff to access materials that they needed, it was a migration and realignment of their services.

The e- library is a resource based on their own intranet and a compendium of resources that the ATO staff need to access, both commercial and internal. Notably, they use a federated search to look at various resources. This federated search searches a range of third party databases with one search field, and is available to thousands of their staff.

I think one of the most interesting things about this was the use of the federated search engine. Also interesting was the fact they picked a simple name that simply descibes what it is - e library - rather than some convaluted fancy name that doesn't describe the service.

Taking training to the next step: Gail Boelens

This was a great talk. Gail highlighted some of the problems Law Librarians deal with in the law firm environment and her way of dealing with them. Her methods were very successful, so she had probably more than a few librarians listening to see how she had done it.

This was a really valuable practical example of applying a training regime to a law firm, that got concrete results. The potential for use here would be to find a â€œchampionâ€ as Gail has done, and leverage off them to get a more dedicated attendance.

The champion effect did have an associated â€œenforcerâ€ element. The Partner was very hands on, and very proactive in getting the clerks to answer questions and show up to the training.

The results they achieved was good, and it sounds like the clerks at Phillips Fox certainly have now got some good legal research skills.

Peter Moon's talk - The shifting Landscape : New Technologies and Future Directions

This was a great talk - quite inspiring, and pretty well recieved by the attendees. Peter did remind us that we should be using certain technology that many of us were aware of, as well as indicated to me there is new technology out there that could be used. It was quite amazing how few librarians there are using a lot of this technology.

While he did discuss technology and its uses, his examples were lawyer based, and not always directly transferable to the role of the librarian. Even using podcasting, which shows how advanced his practice is , I think. I the law firm environment, Wikis could be used to solicit feedback from the lawyers for what they think of our services, as well as a forum for library staff to put their various thoughts on issues.

RSS is really the technology that Peter mentioned that I think we could get the most use out of. Using RSS to deliver information to the solicitors is something that we could all benefit from.

Snapshots of Southern Currents

Socially Speaking

The conference was a great opportunity for networking and the carefully planned social events worked wonderfully. The Opening Drinks at ACMI set the scene and there was a definite buzz in the air as old colleagues caught up and introductions were made. The special conference themed 'Southern Currents cocktail' added to the excitement. The conference dinner at the Regent Theatre was an opportunity to dress up and also to recap on the first day's sessions. Delegates met for champagne in a chamber and then were ushered into a cavernous dining room lit with what seemed like hundreds of candelabras. Our dinner speaker, Melbourne crime writer Shane Moloney was able to tie law librarianship in with crime fiction and was most entertaining, but perhaps even more entertaining was the sight of librarians limbo-ing on the dance floor.

First-time delegate

As a librarian new to the law, the Australian and New Zealand Law Librarian Conference provided an insight to developments both within the profession and the potential that is available through technology. Of particular interest was the Law Library Microform Consortium speaker Jerry Dupont from Hawaii who discussed preservation in digital publishing and the libraries participating in the preservation of legal information. Further details about this can be read at http://www.llmc.com/.

As well, Southern Currents provided not only a great opportunity to meet with other law librarians but also to work alongside one of the Pacific Scholarship winners, Susana Macanawai from the Fijian Institute of Judicial and Legal Education in Suva.

Presentation highlights The Shifting Landscape

The first paper of the Conference was delivered by Peter Moon. Titled "The Shifting landscape: new technologies and future directions" it certainly introduced some exciting new concepts about technology and information access and challenged long held beliefs in the hierarchical and evaluated sources of information favoured by librarians and lawyers alike!

Peter introduced us to, and explained, concepts like 'unworthy knowledge', IPv6 and 'fortress knowledge'. He provided us with concrete examples of how current technologies such as podcasting and wikis can be effectively implemented to create and add value to the knowledge store of our business organisations, and quite cost-effectively!

This was a paper which challenged and excited us with possibilities both available now and heading our way in the not too distant future: exactly the scene-setting required to get the conference off to a welcome and stimulating start.

Electronic Interface and Boundaries

James Robertson from Step Two Designs challenged delegates to take a new look at search â€“ from how we design our search engine screens to the layout of search results. James emphasised the importance of usability and suggested that a move towards simplicity is long overdue. While librarians may be adept at using advanced search engines, the majority of our users only want to access a simple search engine and be presented with clear and easy-to-read search results.

This presentation offered a refreshing and though provoking perspective which resulted in ongoing discussion.

Technology and the Courts

Justice Simon Whelan from the Supreme Court of Victoria provided a frank overview of the technology and the courts project, currently underway in Victoria. Justice Whelan spoke about the progress of electronic case management, electronic presentation of evidence and the many challenges inherent in this project.

The ultimate aim of the project is seamless use of technology in the courtroom and the establishment of a single electronic registry for all the Courts in Victoria. The hurdles faced by the project are quite significant â€“ ranging from usability of the technology and change management within the courts and tribunals.

The Southern Currents Cocktail

Fresh Mint "julienne" please note this is not to be chopped as this causes leaf bruising and will affect the flavour. Now this believe it or not is TRUE! Freshly squeezed Lime30mls VodkaRuby Red Grapefruit JuiceSplash of white cranberry juice.

Shake with ice and serve in chilled martini glass. Do not double shake the mint and ice - once used discard!!Created and mixed especially for this inaugural event by: Samantha Surrey, Foodoo Catering, Melbourne: 0431 812 009 0431 812 009 .

Thursday photos including Dinner

Eyewitness Account of Welcome Drinks

The Law Librarians' Welcome Reception was officially kicked off with a welcome from co-convenors Amanda Surrey (Aus) and Anne Paton (NZ). Speeches followed from Joy Murphy representing the Wurrundjeri people (or Manna Gum people) and the reception sponsor, AAP's Michael Wilbow.

Then as the networking continued, there was a fantastic buzz in the air as old acquaintances caught up and introductions were made. Topics of conversation included accounts of lost bags in transit, the conference programme (of course) as well as thoughts on Steve Irwin's memorial and whether anyone had visited Australia Zoo.

The Southern Currents Cocktail was an inspired idea with several people confessing that they had consumed at least four whilst others wondered whether they could in fact taste Southern Comfort. Jane Yeardon from the Law Society of England and Wales commented that the cocktail was a hit, adding that they would never think of having a themed cocktail at the BIALL conference.

This conference has indeed attracted many interstate and overseas visitors and it appears that the most organised delegates are staying at the fully booked Victoria Hotel.

Pacific Scholarship winner, Susannah Macanawai from Fiji was seen wearing a manna gum leaf behind her ear indicating that she was truly embracing the experience.

As the drinks party drew to a close, visiting delegates moved off in search of Lygon street or city eateries. I opted for a night of quiet reflection as I boarded Tram 75 headed for Camberwell (formerly Burwood).

Catherine Vardy

Australian Scoop

NZ Impressions

Despite waking and getting up before dawn, it was great to meet colleagues at the airport. it was even more fun to keep on bumping into them in the middle of Melbourne. The discussions ranged widely from government policy quality evaluation to shoes and ball gowns! it is wonderful what you learn at conferences and in discussions with colleagues. There are comments on the opening drinks, so none from me.

The theme so far is RSS! it has been mentioned in nearly all of the sessions and is obviously the process du jour. Peter Moon's session was absolutely wonderful and inspiring. I hope my boss knows about podcasts as I will be recommending them to him. James Robertson was great too in the way he stripped out the frills from search results and presented an unvarnished view of how our users search. More unvarnished truths from Justice Whelan were interesting too. And I would like to thank Peter Murgatroyd for adding context back into the leagl databases. I suspect this is part of what peter Moon called "unworthy knowledge" - unworthy maybe, but definitely vital.

So far (afternoon tea on the first day) this has been a very very good conference.

Friday morning and I have just come from the first two presentations on Human Rights. Julian Burnside makes me pleased to be both a New Zealander and someone who lives in New Zealand. We do things differently on the other side of the Tasman it seems. The WTO and human rights presentation was great as an introduction to an area of law that does not often enter the law society library too. The conference continues to be greatly stimulating!