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CALLeagues,

Forgive me for making my remarks this month about generative AI. As overdone and tiresome a topic it may be to some of you, it has become the biggest subject of preoccupation for me this past month.

Among other things, while I was attending a local gathering of science and engineering librarians, I was heartened to hear that our counterparts are also grappling with similar genAI-related issues as we are. What’s more, as the shortcomings of genAI become more apparent and as people become increasingly fed up with “AI slop,” we have a window of opportunity to engage with our stakeholders on our terms and in our role as longtime experts in information literacy, effective searching, and information stewardship. To this end, if you need some talking points about being cautious with genAI, allow me to recommend the “AI is very bad, actually: A manifesto" (and it even conveniently folds into a wallet-sized leaflet).

Back in our world, our colleagues on the CALL/ACBD AI Working Group have unveiled their AI in Legal Research & Writing Applications Assessment Guide after months of hard work and careful deliberation. As an open access publication, allow me to amplify the AI Working Group’s call to circulate the guide far and wide to your stakeholders, with the reminder that CALL/ACBD is on their side in helping them to procure, evaluate, compare, and manage AI as the technology and discourse around it evolves.

Remember: “don't just adopt AI - take control of it.”

Jason Wong

Bonjour à tous les membres de la CALL/ACBD !

Pardonnez-moi de revenir sur l’IA générative ce mois-ci. Même si ce sujet peut sembler exagéré et lassant pour un certain nombre d’entre vous, il est devenu ma plus grande préoccupation le mois dernier.

Entre autres, lors d’une réunion régionale réunissant des bibliothécaires en sciences et en génie, j’ai été réconforté d’entendre que nos homologues étaient aussi aux prises avec des problèmes similaires aux nôtres en matière d’IA générative. En outre, à mesure que les lacunes de l’IA générative deviennent plus apparentes et que les gens en ont de plus en plus ras-le-bol du « contenu dégénératif » (AI slop), nous disposons d’un créneau pour dialoguer avec nos acteurs à notre manière et à titre de spécialistes de longue date en matière de littératie informationnelle, de recherche efficace et de gestion de l’information. À cette fin, si vous avez besoin de points de discussion pour aborder la prudence avec l’IA générative, permettez-moi de vous recommander l’infographie "AI is very bad, actually: A manifesto" (offerte en format de poche, ce qui est très pratique).

De notre côté, nos collègues du groupe de travail sur l’IA de la CALL/ACBD ont dévoilé leur Guide d’évaluation des applications d’IA dans la recherche et la rédaction juridiques après plusieurs mois de travail intense et de mûre réflexion. Comme il s’agit d’une publication en accès libre, permettez-moi de promouvoir l’appel du groupe de travail sur l’IA pour que ce guide soit largement diffusé auprès des acteurs, en leur rappelant que la CALL/ACBD est là pour les aider à faire l’achat, l’évaluation, la comparaison et la gestion des applications d’IA au fil de l’évolution de cette technologie et du discours qui l’entoure.

Et rappelez-vous : « Ne vous contentez pas d’adopter l’IA, prenez-en le contrôle. »

Jason Wong

The University of Victoria (UVic) has recently developed the Navigating Legal Research with GenAI: An Open Tutorial Series.

This is a collection of four concise, interactive modules designed to introduce legal researchers to the evolving role of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in legal research, and to guide them in using GenAI ethically, responsibly, and critically.

At UVic this has been integrated into the Legal Research and Writing course for 1Ls.

The modules are created using Articulate 360 and are intended as an open educational resource (OER) that can be used and adapted by others.

All four modules are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Please get in touch with lawref@uvic.ca for access to the web or SCORM files which can be integrated into your website or LMS environments.

The Artificial Intelligence Working Group of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries has released AI in Legal Research and Writing Applications: Assessment Guide.

A French version of this assessment guide is coming soon.

As artificial intelligence transforms legal research and writing (LRW), legal professionals face new ethical and practical responsibilities. This open access guide is your essential companion for navigating the evolving landscape of AI-powered LRW tools.

Designed for lawyers, judges, law librarians, faculty, students, and other legal professionals, this Guide helps you become an informed consumer - one who sets the standards vendors must meet.

Whether you're procuring, evaluating, comparing, or using an AI LRW system, or managing AI-related risks, this Guide equips you with the right questions to ask and the criteria to evaluate.

Key Features:

• A process for evaluating AI LRW systems
• Scoring boxes and a summary table to facilitate assessments
• An Excel tool for ease of comparison
• Guidance aligned with ethical and professional obligations

Chers collègues,

Veuillez vous joindre à moi pour pleurer le décès de Denis Le May le 23 août 2025 à Québec. 

Figure éminente du monde juridique québécois, il était également l'un de nos membres de longue durée (c'est le moins qu'on puisse dire), apportant de nombreuses contributions à notre association, dont une partie est capturée dans ce profil:

Denis Le May was a law librarian and a professor at the University of Laval in Quebec.

In 1989, Denis chaired the conference planning committee for that year’s conference in Quebec City.

Denis is well known for authoring published works such as La recherche documentaire en droit, The Civil Code of Québec in Chart Form, and Le code civil du Québec en tableaux synoptiques.

He also wrote in French a definitive treatise on legal research, as well as the chapter on Quebec research in Douglass T. MacEllvan’s Legal Research Handbook.

Together with John Eaton, Denis is the co-author of Essential Sources of Canadian Law / Les références essentielles en droit canadien.

During his presidency of CALL/ACBD, Denis created the executive board manual, signed the first contract to have a national office in Kingston, Ontario, and designed the new logo/letterhead for CALL/ACBD.

In 2003, Denis received the Denis Marshall Award for Excellence in Law Librarianship and, in 2010, he was named an Honoured Member of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries.

[Hilary Stamper, "CALL/ACBD 50th Anniversary: Reflections | A Parade of Past Presidents" (2013) 38:1 RCBD 8 à la p 11]

L'avis de décès peut-être trouvée ici: https://coopfuneraire2rives.com/avis-de-deces/denis-le-may-26129, et un hommage de l'Université de Laval: https://www.fd.ulaval.ca/actualites/deces-de-denis-lemay-bibliothecaire-de-droit-juriste-et-charge-de-cours-a-la-faculte-de-droit-de-luniversite-laval

Jason Wong
Président de CALL/ACBD

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CALLeagues,

Please join me in mourning the passing of Denis Le May on August 23, 2025 in Quebec City.

A distinguished figure in the Quebec legal world, he was also one of our longstanding members (to say the least), making numerous contributions to our association, a portion of which is captured in this profile:

Denis Le May was a law librarian and a professor at the University of Laval in Quebec.

In 1989, Denis chaired the conference planning committee for that year’s conference in Quebec City.

Denis is well known for authoring published works such as La recherche documentaire en droit, The Civil Code of Québec in Chart Form, and Le code civil du Québec en tableaux synoptiques.

He also wrote in French a definitive treatise on legal research, as well as the chapter on Quebec research in Douglass T. MacEllvan’s Legal Research Handbook.

Together with John Eaton, Denis is the co-author of Essential Sources of Canadian Law / Les références essentielles en droit canadien.

During his presidency of CALL/ACBD, Denis created the executive board manual, signed the first contract to have a national office in Kingston, Ontario, and designed the new logo/letterhead for CALL/ACBD.

In 2003, Denis received the Denis Marshall Award for Excellence in Law Librarianship and, in 2010, he was named an Honoured Member of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries.

[Hilary Stamper, "CALL/ACBD 50th Anniversary: Reflections | A Parade of Past Presidents" (2013) 38:1 CLLR 8 at 11]

His obituary can be found here: https://coopfuneraire2rives.com/avis-de-deces/denis-le-may-26129, along with a tribute by the Université Laval: https://www.fd.ulaval.ca/actualites/deces-de-denis-lemay-bibliothecaire-de-droit-juriste-et-charge-de-cours-a-la-faculte-de-droit-de-luniversite-laval

Jason Wong, President

Le texte français suit.

CALLeagues,

As you all mark the change of the season from summer to autumn (I have already had to make the transition from short-sleeve to long-sleeve shirts), and start to look further in your professional day planners, do consider the volunteer and community building opportunities that are available by contacting a committee or SIG Chair with your expression of interest – our capable Chairs would love to hear from you!

In mentioning our committees, I would be remiss if I did not mention that we are still recruiting for the Chair of the Canadian Abridgment Editorial Advisory Board. As one of the longest standing and formalized relationships with one of our key external partners, this committee has a storied past (see this captivating 2012 write-up about the impact that our CALL/ACBD forebearers had in leading a “riot”!), and it is now in need of leadership to ensure that the resource remains grounded in usability and reliability in the 2020s and beyond. To discuss this opportunity further, please contact our Past President Mary-Jo Petsche.

For those of you who are looking for more structure and one-on-one engagement, our flagship Mentorship Program is open for applications for both mentors and mentees, and still for those of you wanting to build your international profile, our colleagues at the International Journal of Legal Information have an interesting opportunity that is further outlined below.

All the best for a smooth and productive transition to autumn,

Jason Wong

Bonjour à tous les membres de la CALL/ACBD !

Alors que vous vous apprêtez à passer de l’été à l’automne (j’ai déjà dû troquer mes chemises à manches courtes contre celles à manches longues) et que vous commencez à planifier vos activités professionnelles, je vous invite à songer aux possibilités de bénévolat et de promotion de notre communauté offertes en contactant un.e président.e d’un comité ou d’un Groupe d'intérêt spécial (GIS) pour lui faire part de votre intérêt. Ces personnes chevronnées seront ravies de faire votre connaissance !

En parlant de nos comités, je m’en voudrais de ne pas mentionner que nous sommes toujours à la recherche d’un.e président.e pour le comité consultatif de rédaction du Canadian Abridgment. Ce comité, qui entretient l’une des plus longues relations avec l’un de nos principaux partenaires externes, jouit d’une histoire riche (lisez l’article captivant de 2012 sur l’impact qu’ont eu nos prédécesseurs de la CALL/ACBD en menant une « révolte »). Le comité a maintenant besoin d’un leadership pour s’assurer que cette ressource reste utile et fiable dans les années 2020 et après. Pour discuter davantage de cette possibilité, n’hésitez pas à contacter la présidente sortante, Mary-Jo Petsche.

Pour les personnes qui recherchent davantage de structure et d’engagement individuel, notre important Programme de mentorat est ouvert aux candidatures tant pour les mentor.e.s que pour les mentoré.e.s. Enfin, pour les personnes qui souhaitent se forger une réputation internationale, nos collègues de l’International Journal of Legal Information offrent une possibilité intéressante, dont les détails sont présentés ci-dessous.

Je vous souhaite une transition harmonieuse et productive vers l’automne.

Jason Wong

Le texte français suit.

The CALL/ACBD Membership Development Committee (MDC) is excited to announce that registration for the CALL/ACBD Mentorship Program is now open.

The Mentorship Program is an initiative intended to connect law library professionals by fostering positive relationships between members that will promote growth, leadership, and commitment to the profession.

The program is open to all CALL/ACBD Members and all types of library professionals including library technicians and library assistants.

We are continuing the Peer-to-Peer Matching, which allows members to be matched with another member in a similar role or place in their careers to connect, exchange ideas and provide peer support.

If you are interested in being involved in the Mentorship Program, please fill out the online registration form. Once we have received registrations we can begin matching people together.

We will also be hosting mentor and mentee information sessions to provide information for all members of the program on how to set up a successful mentorship connection.

Link to registration form HERE.

Please complete the registration form by September 12, 2025.

If you have any questions about the Mentorship Program or this form, please contact the Membership Development Committee Co-Chairs, Amanda Irvine or Alexia Loumankis at membership-committee@callacbd.ca.

Le Comité de recrutement des membres de la CALL/ACBD est heureux d’annoncer que l’inscription au programme de mentorat CALL/ACBD est maintenant ouverte.

Ce programme est une initiative visant à rapprocher les professionnel.le.s des bibliothèques de droit en favorisant la création de liens positifs entre les membres afin de promouvoir la croissance, le leadership et l’engagement à l’égard de la profession.

Il s’adresse à tous les membres de la CALL/ACBD et aux professionnel.le.s de la bibliothéconomie, dont les bibliotechnicien.ne.s et les assistant.e.s de bibliothèque. Nous poursuivons encore le jumelage entre pairs.

Il permet aux membres d’être jumelé.e.s avec un autre membre occupant un poste semblable au leur ou se situant à la même étape de leur carrière dans le but d’établir des liens, d’échanger des idées et de s’entraider.

Si vous souhaitez participer au Programme de mentorat, veuillez remplir le formulaire d’inscription en ligne. Une fois que nous aurons reçu les inscriptions, nous commencerons à jumeler les personnes.

Nous organiserons également des séances d’information pour les mentor.e.s et les mentoré.e.s afin d’informer les participant.e.s sur la façon d’établir une relation de mentorat efficace.

Pour vous inscrire, cliquez sur le formulaire d’inscription ICI.

Veuillez remplir le formulaire d’inscription avant le 12 septembre 2025.

Pour toute question, veuillez contacter les coprésidentes du Comité de recrutement des membres, Amanda Irvine ou Alexia Loumankis à membership-committee@callacbd.ca.

The most recent issue of the Canadian Law Library Review has been published.

It is the official journal of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries and appears in open access format three times per year (March, July, November).

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Le numéro le plus récent de la Revue canadienne des bibliothèques de droit vient d'être publié.

Il s'agit de la revue officielle de l’Association canadienne des bibliothèques de droit. Elle est publiée en accès libre trois fois par année (mars, juillet, novembre).

Annette Demers, Yemisi Dina and Gian Medves have just published Reinvigorating Academic Law Library Standards Survey, Part Two as part of the  CanLII Authors Program:

"This article is the second article written by the authors about academic law librarianship in Canada (...) We begin by explaining the impetus for this article. We explore the necessary components for success of a specialized profession generally and then detail selected results of the Reinvigorating Academic Law Library Standards which was conducted in winter 2023. We conclude this article with some general observations about the current trajectory of academic law librarianship in Canada, with an eye to our next article which will suggest relevant changes to academic law library standards in the future."

Annette Demers, BA, LLB, MLIS, is a reference librarian at the Don and Gail Rodzik Law Library at the University of Windsor and has been an academic law librarian for over twenty years. She headed the law library at U Windsor for 10 years. Yemisi Dina BA, MA, LLB, MLIS, MPPAL, is Chief Law Librarian at the Osgoode Hall Law School, York University and has worked in academic law libraries for over 30 years. Gian Medves, BA, MLS, is Chief Law Librarian at the Bora Laskin Law Library at the University of Toronto and has been an academic law librarian for 35 years.

A revised first edition of the Canadian Open Access Legal (COAL) Citation Guide/Guide canadien de la référence juridique en accès libre (RJAL) is now available. 

The guide’s editors have incorporated reader feedback and corrections into a revised edition.

Some of the changes include moving the general rules to their own section and revising rules on citing regularly updated books, regulations, administrative decisions, and generative AI for greater clarity and increased consistency across the guide.

Additions to the guide include guidance on creating a bibliography/table of authorities and on citing reports, dissertations, municipal by-laws, court materials, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit - Crown Treaties, amongst other sources. A more detailed list is in the guide’s introduction.

Since the publication of the guide in June 2024, the editors have led multiple online training sessions and conference workshops. We are now working on training materials that reflect the revised edition.

The francophone editors continue to work on the French version of the guide, with the aim to publish it in 2026.

Once the French version is published, we will be able to better focus our efforts to have the courts, tribunals, and the government adopt the guide and to add the guide to citation management tools.

Reaction to the guide has been overwhelmingly positive. In fact, the guide was a recipient of a Clawbie for Best Legal Papers, Reports, or eBooks of 2024 and the CALL/ACBD Hugh Lawford Award for Excellence in Legal Publishing.

The guide’s editors remain committed to feedback and encourage users to get in touch at coal.rjal@ubc.ca.

Le texte français suit.

The Canadian Association of Law Libraries/Association Canadienne Des Bibliothèques de Droit(CALL/ACBD), the Toronto Association of Law Libraries (TALL), and the Vancouver Association of Law Libraries (VALL) are conducting a joint salary survey.

We need you to complete the survey to ensure that members of our profession have access to current and relevant compensation data. Information on salary and benefits is instrumental in helping both employees and employers, including individuals seeking employment and organizations trying to set a competitive salary.

The survey should take around 15 minutes to complete. Your responses will be anonymized and confidential, and the tabulated results will be available in the Fall of 2025. The survey will remain open for two weeks from 25 June through 9 July 2025.

Bonus! All participants have the option of entering a draw for ten $25 gift certificates from giftcertificates.ca. To enter the draw, you will be prompted to provide your email address via a link to a second survey. This will ensure that your contact information is not linked to your other responses.

Please go to the following web address to respond to the survey in English: https://surveys.dal.ca/opinio/s?s=79860

Thank you for your participation!

The CALL/ACBD–TALL–VALL Salary Survey Committee 2025.

L'Association canadienne des bibliothèques de droit (CALL/ACBD), de la Toronto Association of Law Libraries (TALL) et de la Vancouver Association of Law Libraries (VALL) vous invitent â bien vouloir répondre au sondage afin que les membres de notre profession puissent avoir accès à des données actuelles et pertinentes sur la rémunération.

Les renseignements sur les salaires et les avantages sont indispensables pour aider les employés et les employeurs, ainsi que les personnes à la recherche d’un emploi et les organisations cherchant à établir des salaires concurrentiels.

Le sondage prendra environ 15 minutes à remplir. Vos réponses demeureront anonymes et confidentielles, et les résultats compilés seront disponibles à l’automne 2025. Le sondage restera ouvert du 25 juin au 9 juillet 2025.

Tirage! Tous les participants ont la possibilité de participer au tirage pour gagner l’une des dix cartes-cadeaux de 25 $ chez giftcertificates.ca. Pour participer au tirage, vous serez invité à fournir votre adresse électronique pour qu’un lien vous soit envoyé vers un deuxième sondage. Cela permet de garantir que vos coordonnées ne seront pas liées à vos réponses.

Veuillez vous rendre à l’adresse web suivante pour répondre au sondage en français: https://surveys.dal.ca/opinio/s?s=79860&lang=fr_CA

Merci de votre participation!

Le comité du sondage salarial de CALL/ACBD–TALL–VALL 2025