The Association of Boston Law Librarians (ABLL) is a diverse group with members from Boston area private law firms, law schools, federal and state agencies, as well as businesses. ABLL was founded in 1966 when the librarian of Choate, Hall & Stewart initiated informal luncheon meetings among Boston law firm librarians in order to get acquainted, exchange ideas and discuss common issues. The group focuses on providing educational and social opportunities for its members.
Sep 08
Communications
This committee oversees communications to and from the Association and is responsible for updating membership on activities of the Board and committees.
Contact: Carolyn Keery – ckeery@hinckleyallen.com
Sponsorship & Events
This committee is responsible for soliciting sponsorships, organizing social events, and collaborating with the Education Committee on venues.
Contact: Christine Spindler – christine.spindler@morganlewis.com
Technology
This committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of the Association’s Website and all technology-related programs and initiatives.
Contact: Jennifer Meger – jmeger@goulstonstorrs.com
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the appropriate committee chair.
Aug 24
Kick off the start of the new ABLL year at the Hard Rock Cafe.
Event begins at 5:30 pm.
RSVP by September 10: christine.spindler@morganlewis.com
Click the following link for more information:
2016 Fall Event Brochure
May 11
Hi all,
Attached is the ballot for the new slate of candidates for the 2016-2017 ABLL Board and the proposed Bylaw changes. The current Bylaws can be found here: http://www.abll.org/about-abll/bylaws/ The notice of the proposed Bylaw changes can be found here: http://www.abll.org/notice-of-proposed-changes-to-abll-bylaws/
All members entitled to vote (Individual and Shared Members) are requested to print out and present this ballot when checking in at the upcoming Business Meeting on Wednesday, May 18th. All other members entitled to vote but unable to attend are asked to submit their ballot to me by Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at 6 p.m. Be sure to clearly write or type your name on the form (this will only be used to verify your ABLL membership status). Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Kirsten Leary
ABLL Secretary
May 03
The purpose of this post is to provide notice, as required by Article XVI of the Bylaws of the Association of Boston Law Librarians (ABLL), as to proposed changes to be voted on by the membership at its upcoming Business Meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, May18th, from 12:00-2:00 p.m. at the Hampshire House, 84 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass.
It is proposed that the ABLL Bylaws be amended as follows:
- Amend Article III, Section 1(a) by adding a second sentence: “The Association may exclude individuals employed by any business selling products or services to or used by members or member libraries.”
- Delete Article III, Section 2, “Vendor Memberships,” and renumber remaining sections as necessary.
- Amend Article X, Section 2 by adding “sponsorships, advertising” immediately following “collected from.” Thus making the sentence read, “Funds may be collected from sponsorships, advertising, the sale of publications, mailing lists or other sources according to guidelines set forth by the Board of Directors and disclosed to the full membership of the Association.”
This Bylaw proposal will be included in an upcoming Ballot which will include the slate of candidates for open Board positions.
Mar 18
This is to announce that nominations for open Board seats are now being accepted by the Nomination Committee, chaired this year by Chris Laut, Director-at-Large.
Serving on the Board is a great way to get more involved in our organization, work with great people, and foster our mission. Along the way you may just have some fun, enhance your own professional development, and make new friends.
ABLL is an all-volunteer, self-governed organization, so member involvement at all levels is crucial. Please consider nominating yourself or someone else for any of the following open Board seats (each for a two-year term beginning 6/1/16):
- Treasuer
- Education
- Sponsorship/Events
- Communications
- VP/President-Elect (1 year term, followed by 1 year as President, then 1 year as Immediate Past President)
No experience is necessary and past Board members are also welcome. More information about the positions can by found in the Bylaws located on the ABLL website.
Not interested in a Board seat but want to be involved? Consider serving on the Nomination Committee.
All nominations should be forwarded to Chris Laut (Chris.Laut@Libertymutual.com) no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, April 22nd.
Bob DeFabrizio, President
“Engage, Involve, Collaborate”
Mar 17
Today, I came across a blog post by Michael Sampson (https://michaelsampson.net/2016/03/17/cooperation/), quoting Danny Mittleman, Associate Professor at DePaul University, posing an answer to the question about the difference between collaboration and cooperation.
Danny’s response:
“Collaboration is “working together toward a shared goal”. I don’t know the formal definition of cooperation but guess it means “working together”. People do not require a shared goal to cooperate.”
Over the past several months, ABLL members may have noticed my signature sign-off “Engage, Involve, Collaborate.” I believe that collaboration is an important part of maintaining the vitality of our organization, and is ever present, as we approach our annual business meeting and the election of board members.
I ask interested members to step forward. Do not just cooperate, collaborate. Remember our mission/goal is:
- To cultivate the science of law librarianship
- To develop and increase the usefulness of law libraries and other informational resources and services relating to the practice of law in the greater Boston area
- To provide a forum for professional discussion, communication and exchange of ideas
Bob DeFabrizio, President
“Engage, Involve, Collaborate”
Feb 22
Access to Government Information*
Friday, April 8, 2016
Northeastern University School of Law
We will be spending the day discussing the role of law libraries and the government in providing access to this information, and why it is so critically important.
Registration is $50 for LLNE members, and $40 for ABLL members**.
Space is Limited! Register today at http://lawlibraryguides.neu.edu/LLNE2016.
*Special thanks to Helen Vlachos, VP/President-Elect, for all her hard work in collaborating with LLNE on the event and putting together the closing panel.
**ABLL members who are not LLNE members are also welcome.
Jan 26
January 26th, 2016
Following is a message sent via email from the Mass. Appeals Court:
Please note the following update: In response to requests for extensions of time, the Trial Court Committee on Public Access to Court Records has extended the comment period for all comments to May 4, 2016. All comments received will be made available for the public on the committee’s web page.
The Committee appreciates your continuing interest in this topic.
ABLL members are encouraged to read the proposed rules and forward any comments to the Board for possible inclusion in any communications to the Committee.
Bob DeFabrizio, President
“Engage, Involve, Collaborate”
Nov 04
When: Friday, November 6, 2015 – 12-2pm
Location: Social Law Library, John Adams Courthouse, One Pemberton Square, Suite 4100, Boston
Speakers:
Anne Stemlar (MLIS, JD) Managing Director, Research and Knowledge Management at Goodwin Procter
Sarah Montgomery (MLIS, JD) Knowledge Management Analyst, Corporate Legal Department, Liberty Mutual
Please join us for a conversation about transitioning Library/Information Services into Knowledge Management Information Centers. Both speakers will share their experiences in leading/expanding their libraries into Information Resource/KM Centers
Discussion:
- Making the transition from the research/manager role to a combination with KM
- Reasons for incorporating KM into the Information Services Department, or making it its own department, and organizing the process
- Challenges KM presents from Corporate Legal Department perspective vs. Law Firm environment
Sep 22
ABLL’s “End of Summer Party” held last evening at the Downtown Harvard Club was a great success. Over 40 members attended the event, where views from the 38th floor were matched by the food, drink, and company.
Thanks go out to Roger Lemire, Chair of the Sponsorships-Events Committee, for locating and organizing the event and April Taylor, Vice President and Chair of the Standing Committee on Communications, for being our gracious hostess (not to mention printing out all the name tags). On behalf of ABLL I would also like to extend our gratitude to Thomson Reuters for partially sponsoring the event.
Look out for an announcement for an upcoming happy hour co-sponsored by ABLL and LLNE.
Being an all-volunteer organization, it is each member’s responsibility to keep the Association vibrant and relevant. Do your part and get involved.
“Engage, Involve, Collaborate”
Bob DeFabrizio, President
