The Accidental Law Librarian

237 Pages·2013·3.38 MB·English

by  Anthony Aycock

Anthony Aycock
Medford, New Jersey
First Printing, 2013
The Accidental Law Librarian
Copyright © 2013 by Anthony Aycock All rights reserved. No part of this book
may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means,
including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in
writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages
in a review. Published by Information Today, Inc., 143 Old Marlton Pike,
Medford, New Jersey 08055.
Publisher’s Note: The author and publisher have taken care in preparation of
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Aycock, Anthony, 1973-The accidental law librarian / Anthony Aycock.
pages cm
Includes index.
ISBN 978-1-57387-477-9
1. Law libraries--United States--Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Law libraries--
Reference services--United States. 3. Legal research--United States--Handbooks,
manuals, etc. I. Title.
Z675.L2A97 2013
026'.3400973--dc23
2013008051
Printed and bound in the United States of America President and CEO: Thomas
H. Hogan, Sr.
Editor-in-Chief and Publisher: John B. Bryans VP Graphics and Production: M.
Heide Dengler Managing Editor: Amy M. Reeve Editorial Assistant: Brandi
Scardilli Project Editor: Rachel Singer Gordon Cover Designer: Ashlee Caruolo
Copyeditor: Beverly Michaels Proofreader: Dorothy Pike Indexer: Beth Palmer
www.infotoday.com
To Regina, Jessica, and Michaela.
Thank you for, well, everything.
Contents
Copyright
About the Website
Introduction
Chapter 1: Legal Publishing, or What Are All Those Books on Law
and Order?
Primary Sources
Secondary Sources
History of Legal Publishing
Modern Legal Publishing
Law Journals
Public and Law Firm Libraries
Chapter 2: The Kolor-Koded, Turnkey-Shaped Streamline Basics of
Legal Research
The Librarian’s Role
Statutes
Cases
Administrative Law
Secondary Sources
Blaydon Graycastle: Reprise
Chapter 3: “How Do I Copyright My Name?”: Answering Legal
Reference Questions
Pro Se Patrons
The Reference Interview
Unauthorized Practice of Law
Extreme Patrons
Law Firm Reference
Listen to Your Patrons
Chapter 4: The Art of Hanging Loose(leaf) in an Uptight World
Looseleafs Defined
Varieties of Looseleafs
Looseleaf Filers
How to File Supplements
The Future of Looseleafs
Newsletters
Chapter 5: The Big Two: Westlaw and LexisNexis
Background
Print vs. Electronic
What Westlaw and LexisNexis Have in Common
Westlaw Basics
LexisNexis Basics
Contracts
Which Is Better?
Chapter 6: Beyond the Big Two: Other Legal Databases
Supplemental Databases
Low-Cost Alternatives
Free Legal Websites
Mobile Legal Research Apps
Chapter 7: Where’s Waldo?: Public Information Searches for Law
Librarians
Public Information
Company Information
Individual Persons
To Strive, to Seek, to Find
Finding Waldo
Laws Governing Personal Information
Courthouse Filings
Appellate Briefs
Chapter 8: The Anxiety of the Men (and Women) Inside the Board
Rooms
Law Firm Administrators
Library Boards
Marketing the Law Library
Writing a Business Proposal
Chapter 9: Education and Resources
Should You Get a JD?
How About an MBA?
Books on Law Librarianship
Books on Legal Research
Research Guides
Blawgs
Training and Support
Associations
Chapter 10: The Future of Law Libraries
Resources
Users
Appendix A: Patron Requests in Law Libraries
Appendix B: Library Business Case
About the Author
Index