Blog

  • 15 Jul 2018 3:01 PM | Michel-Adrien Sheppard (Administrator)

    Here are just a few examples of what members and "friends" of CALL have been up to in recent weeks on social media. I describe friends as non-members of CALL who either follow us on the CALL listserv or who have attended a CALL event. 

    Vous trouverez ci-dessous quelques exemples de ce que font les membres et "amis" de l'ACBD depuis quelques semaines sur les réseaux sociaux. Les amis sont des non-membres qui nous suivent sur la liste de discussion CALL-L ou qui ont déjà assisté à une activité de l'association.

  • 14 Jun 2018 11:19 AM | Alan Kilpatrick (Administrator)

    This talk was presented at the 2018 Canadian Association of Law Libraries Conference as part of a breakout panel presentation: Taking the ‘Work’ Out of Networking: Build Relationships, Not a Stack of Business Cards.

    It’s never too early to start networking.  It’s been valuable at every stage of my career.

    Networking helped me identify my professional interests and led me to law librarianship.  During my MLIS degree at Western, I wasn’t sure which area of librarianship to pursue.  I gained career insight by joining a variety of student groups, such as the Progressive Librarians’ Guild (PLG) and Canadian Library Association (CLA) student chapters.  I also took advantage of conference student rates and attended diverse conferences such as the Ontario Library Association (OLA) conference and the Association of Records Managers and Administrators (ARMA) conference, and by connecting with the wide range of librarians I met at Western.  For example, through the PLG I discovered an interest in the law and its intersection with librarianship.  Through a student position at a campus library where I had a supportive supervisor, I found I enjoyed providing reference services.  

    During my career as a law librarian, networking has become even more valuable.  Through the Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL), I’ve connected with like minded professionals.  I regularly contact colleagues met through CALL to ask for advice, help answering reference and research questions, and about professional development.  Entering my fifth year of law librarianship, I’ve begun looking at other law librarians in the profession to see how they’ve developed their careers and what paths they’ve taken to get where they are.  This has motivated me in my own professional development.

    Recently, I’ve begun to notice that many of the professional opportunities I’ve been fortunate to participate in arose through networking.  It’s never too early to start networking.  Don’t put it off.  It’s worth it.

    Get Active.  Joining a professional association is a great way to network.  As a new law librarian, joining CALL and the Saskatchewan Library Association (SLA) connected me with similar professionals and provided networking opportunities at conferences and social events.

    Do more than join.  Volunteer for an association.  Attending conferences where you don’t know anyone can feel awkward.  I certainly felt so.  Volunteering eliminates that awkwardness and enhances your networking.  I found that volunteering, with social media during the CALL conference and as a technology volunteer during the SLA conference provided me with plenty of opportunities to speak with other attendees, presenters, and vendors.

    Join a committee to get the most out of professional association networking.  I’ve participated in the CALL Vendor Liaison Committee and currently chair the Website Editorial Board.  I’ve sat on the SLA board for the past two years.  Participating in committees gave me the opportunity to connect with association members on a smaller scale, provided a safe and welcoming environment to practice my networking skills, and has resulted in some of the most gratifying professional experiences I’ve had.

    Here’s an important point.  Don’t commit yourself to every volunteer or committee opportunity you’re approached about.  Don’t be afraid to say no and don’t spread yourself too thin.  As a profession, we’re too keen to take on more than we should.  This can lead to burn out which can only harm your professional reputation.  In all your professional endeavors, networking or otherwise, strive to maintain work life balance.

    Network widely and wisely.  Don’t limit your networking horizons.

    I’ve endeavored to practice networking every day since becoming a law librarian.  I decided to join the Saskatchewan Library Association (SLA) for the opportunity to practice networking.  As a law librarian, I wasn’t sure if I had much in common with the public librarians that largely make up SLA.  What I’ve found is that networking widely among the information profession, even among non-law librarians, has led to some unexpected and fruitful partnerships I hadn’t anticipated.

    Attending SLA events connected me with a diverse group of librarians and allowed me to form several mutually beneficial relationships.  For example, I often call on the unique expertise of the Legislative Library for help answering complex legislative questions.  Joining forces in this way has enabled me to serve my users more effectively. Chatting with public librarians in SLA led to the recognition that unmet legal needs exist among the public.  This, in part, inspired one of our library’s most promising partnerships, the Saskatchewan Access to Legal Information Project.

    Networking isn’t limited to something you do with librarians.  We know that in-person contact with our users is decreasing as the services we provide increasingly occur online.  We need to get out of the library, become visible, and network with our stakeholders to remain successful in the future.

    Attend stakeholder conferences in addition to library conferences.  We’ve hosted a booth, and occasionally presented, at the Canadian Bar Association Saskatchewan Branch Mid-Winter Meeting for the past five years.  Attending has allowed us to learn more about our user’s information needs and how to better serve them.  It’s been an opportunity to educate our stakeholders about the library’s value and potential.  Attending has increased my visibility as a law librarian and the relationships I have with lawyers.  Most importantly, it’s increased the visibility and reputation of our library.

    Share your story.  We’re all doing interesting things in our libraries and as library professionals.  Tell people about it!  Fellow librarians can learn from your experiences, ideas, and lessons learned.  This can lead to new connections and partnerships.  Sharing your story among stakeholders will educate them about your library’s value.

    There are many ways to share your story.  I’ve found Twitter and blogs to be among the most effective.  Twitter allowed me to begin reaching out and sharing my story.  I strategically used Twitter to identify law librarians and stakeholders I wanted to learn from and connect with.  For example, I recall following Michel-Adrien Sheppard and Connie Crosby long before I met them in-person.  I knew they were people I wanted to connect with.

    Twitter’s character count does limit the ability to tell a story.  I found that connecting Twitter to a blog results in a great way to tell, and then broadcast, your story.  Write a blog post that tells an aspect of your story: a professional accomplishment, a new workplace initiative, or a library project.  Then, tweet it strategically.  Include a link to your post and the Twitter handles of those you want to share the story with.  It takes time.  Eventually, it does pay off and results in real world connections.

    This is what we’ve done with Legal Sourcery, our Law Society Library blog.  For example, I’ve written dozens of blog posts about the potential of law libraries to improve access to legal information and then shared them via my Twitter account.  I strategically targeted other libraries and legal stakeholders throughout the province.  Eventually, someone from the University of Saskatchewan’s Law School read the posts and approached our library to learn more about how libraries could help with regards to access to legal information.  This, in part, has grown into some of the most exiting partnerships my library participates in today.

    Embrace new situations.  Networking can be intimidating.  Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone.  Networking confidence is something that will naturally develop over time.  This has been my approach for many of my professional firsts: the first shift on the reference desk, the first networking event, the first conference presentation, the first time chairing a committee, and so on.  Embrace new situations that come your way despite any fears you may have.  You never know where they’ll lead to.

    To recap, my five networking points are: It’s never to early to start networking, get active, network widely and wisely, share your story, and embrace new situations.

    Thank you.  Please feel free to contact me at alan.kilpatrick@lawsociety.sk.ca or on Twitter if you have any questions.

  • 17 Apr 2018 3:28 PM | Martha Murphy (Administrator)

    Kate Greene Stanhope, ‎Manager, Information Services | ‎McInnes Cooper 

    Chair, Conference Planning Committee, Halifax 2018


    Tell us a little about your educational background and how you entered the legal information industry.

    I have an LLB from Dalhousie Law School and an MLIS from Dalhousie School of Information Management. I pursued a career that combined the skills and knowledge I had acquired. Law librarianship and legal information management were a natural fit

    How has being involved in CALL helped you professionally (e.g. scholarships & grants, continuing education, networking)?

    I was fortunate to receive the Diana M Priestly scholarship while attending library school, and attended my first CALL conference in Victoria to collect it.

    I continue to be grateful for the knowledge sharing that occurs daily amongst CALL members. I have benefitted from the advice of CALL-eagues on many occasions over the years, on topics ranging from navigating law firm mergers to sole sourcing to legal research services

    What’s one blog, website, or Twitter account that you can’t go one day without checking?

    Jordan Furlong’s twitter feed: @jordan_law21 and his blog: law21.ca. His insight into the current state of and challenges facing the legal market are invaluable. The 2018 Conference Planning Committee is thrilled he will participate in CALL 2018.

    What’s one change in the profession or industry that has been a challenge for you?

    The consolidation of the legal publishing industry presents challenges on an ongoing basis.

    What was your first job or your first library-related job?

    My first job was in retail when I was a teenager. The value of experience dealing with the public is underestimated, in my opinion. My first library job(s) were at U of T’s Bora Laskin Law Library and with the library at the Toronto office of Osler’s. I split my time between both during my practicum placements.

    What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone looking to break into the legal information industry?

    Be a problem solver and a shameless self-promoter.


  • 19 Mar 2018 2:02 PM | Martha Murphy (Administrator)

    Our second blog post on member projects is on library space planning from weeding and moving the collection to renovating and designing. You can follow Jennifer Walker on Twitter to see the pictures and updates! @JenWalker613

    Project Profile: Library Space Renovation at County of Carleton Law Association

    Jennifer Walker
    Head Librarian, County of Carleton Law Association

    The County of Carleton Law Association (CCLA) has provided a library for Ottawa’s lawyers since 1888. Over the years, the CCLA has grown to also provide a lounge, CPD programing, social events, and advocacy for the legal community. All of this takes place from their location within the Ottawa Courthouse.

    The CCLA space hadn’t seen any significant renovations since the current courthouse opened in 1986, despite increasing numbers of staff and services, and a wildly changing legal research landscape. To renovate, the CCLA needed to mostly self-fund the project. Approximately eight years from when planning started, renovations finally began in January 2018.

    The newly renovated space will have 40% less print materials than before. What it lacks in books, however, it makes up for in what lawyers want: space. With two training rooms, two meeting rooms, a lounge, work space, more public computers, and a fully accessible washroom, the renovations should address the work, study, education, and collaboration needs of its clients. It also provides improved staff facilities, and a better work flow for all library users.

    Clearing out a library after 30 years was a challenge. Library operations were shut down in December 2017 for staff to organize, weed the collection, and then see everything but a handful of books off to storage.  Library staff remain on site during this phased project; in the summer, they’ll move to the newly renovated half of the space, while the current lounge (and future lounge / multi-purpose rooms) is renovated. It’s been an interesting experience to “camp out” in a temporary combination library and lounge, but more so it’s been exciting to see progress after so long in the planning stages.

    Renovations are expected to be completed later this year. The new space should be bright, modern, and fit for purpose for a library in 2018 and beyond.

    Notre deuxième billet sur les projets de membres porte sur l’aménagement d’une bibliothèque — de l’épuration et le déplacement de la collection, à la conception jusqu’aux rénovations. Suivez Jennifer Walker sur Twitter pour voir les photos et connaître les dernières nouvelles!  @JenWalker613

    Profil de projet : La rénovation de l’espace de la bibliothèque de l’Association du Barreau du Comté de Carleton

    Jennifer Walker
    Bibliothécaire en chef, Association du Barreau du Comté de Carleton

    Depuis 1888, l’Association du Barreau du Comté de Carleton (ABCC) met une bibliothèque à la disposition des avocats d’Ottawa. Au fil des ans, l’ABCC a pris de l’ampleur afin d’offrir un salon, des programmes de formation continue, des activités sociales et des services de représentation à la communauté juridique. Tout cela est regroupé sous un même toit au palais de justice d’Ottawa.

    Les locaux qu’occupe l’ABCC n’ont subi aucune rénovation importante depuis l’ouverture du palais de justice en 1986, malgré l’augmentation du nombre d’employés et de services, et l’évolution incroyable de la recherche juridique. Toutefois, pour faire des rénovations, l’ABCC devait financer elle-même le projet. Les travaux de rénovation ont finalement été amorcés en janvier 2018, près de huit ans après avoir commencé la planification.

    Une fois que les locaux auront été rénovés, la bibliothèque comptera moins de documents imprimés qu’avant, soit une réduction de 40 %. Ce qui manquera en livres sera largement compensé par ce que veulent les avocats : des locaux. Le nouvel aménagement comprendra deux salles de formation, deux salles de réunion, un salon, un espace de travail, un plus grand nombre d’ordinateurs publics et une toilette accessible aux fauteuils roulants afin de répondre aux besoins de la clientèle en matière de travail, d’étude, de formation et de collaboration. Les installations destinées au personnel et l’efficacité du déroulement du travail des utilisateurs de la bibliothèque seront également améliorées.

    Évidemment, vider une bibliothèque après 30 ans de service a été un défi de taille. Les activités de la bibliothèque ont été fermées en décembre 2017 afin que le personnel puisse s’organiser, épurer la collection et voir à l’entreposage des livres, à l’exception de quelques-uns. Le personnel de la bibliothèque est sur les lieux pendant les phases de ce projet. Au cours de l’été, les employés déménageront dans la moitié de l’espace nouvellement rénové, alors que le salon actuel sera rénové pour accueillir un nouveau salon et des salles polyvalentes. Bien que cette expérience de « camping », qui conjugue temporairement une bibliothèque et un salon, se révèle plutôt intéressante, ce qui est encore plus excitant c’est de voir l’avancement du projet après ces longues étapes de planification.

    Les rénovations devraient se terminer plus tard cette année. Les nouveaux locaux seront lumineux, modernes et adaptés aux besoins d’une bibliothèque en 2018 et pour les années à venir.



  • 27 Feb 2018 12:25 PM | Martha Murphy (Administrator)

    version française ci-dessous.

    As part of the member profiles theme ~ we are extending to include member projects as a way to inspire others who are contemplating similar projects.  For the inaugural post Alan Kilpatrick will highlight the very successful Legal Sourcery blog. The blog started out as a way to market and connect with library users and is now a 3 time National Clawbies winner!

    Legal Sourcery: Four Years On

    By Alan Kilpatrick, Reference Librarian, 

    Law Society of Saskatchewan

    Can you provide some background on Legal Sourcery? 

    On March 12, 2014, the Law Society of Saskatchewan Library launched the Legal Sourcery blog.  The blog was an effort to better promote the library, market the library’s services and resources, and develop stronger connections with lawyers and the public.  Four years later, Legal Sourcery has exceeded our expectations.  With almost 1500 posts and 240,000 views, the blog has been awarded three Canadian Law Blog Awards (Clawbies) in 2014, 2015, and 2017.  It has helped raise the profile of the library both within the Law Society and throughout Saskatchewan’s legal community, shape a visible and reenergised library brand, and position the library at the centre of legal information initiatives in the province.  

    How did you choose the name Legal Sourcery?

    Coming up with the name was a collaborative endeavour.  Our entire library team participated in brainstorming blog names.  Our goal was to create a clever name that represented who we are, what we do, and the value we offer.  The names we considered included Collawboration, Lawstronauts, Gopher Law, and Wind Chill.  Ken Fox, our Saskatoon librarian, aptly suggested Legal Sourcery during the discussion.  The team voted and decided on Ken’s suggestion.  While legal resources are what the library provides, legal sourcery is the expertise, capability, and value we bring to legal information services.  It’s the esoteric skill we use to help lawyers and the public navigate the depths of the legal resources jungle.    

    Why did you choose Wordpress?

    We decided on using WordPress after investigating the various blogging platforms available.  WordPress is an excellent option for blogging.  It requires little knowledge of coding, features professional templates, and is simple to use.  It’s free and allows the user to join the blogosphere within minutes. 

    How do you monitor the number of posts and the content by contributors?

    Our aim has always been to publish at least one new post daily in order to attract and retain readers.  To meet this output, we designated one library team member, Kelly Chiu, to become the blog’s coordinator.  Kelly ensures the blog is discussed at staff meetings, maintains a blog queue with content for the upcoming week, and prompts us when additional posts are required.  Without a coordinator, Legal Sourcery would not have succeeded. 

    Our Director of Legal Resources, Melanie Hodges Neufeld, maintains oversight and approves all posts before they are published.  She works hard to attract guest contributors for the blog from the Law Society, the Saskatchewan legal community, and external organizations 

    Since first launching Legal Sourcery, the entire library team has committed to writing regular posts on top of our assigned duties.  Traditionally, library staff have written the majority of posts that appear on the blog.  However, this is now changing as the number of guest contributors has increased in recent years. 

    What challenges have you encountered?

    Creating and maintaining quality content with a limited pool of writers is inevitably challenging.  Attracting guest contributors is key to combating blog burnout and fatigue.  Initially, we found it difficult to attract guest contributors or to convince people it was worth their time to write for a blog.  As Legal Sourcery has achieved more popularity and recognition, it has become easier to attract guest contributors.  Thankfully, this has reduced the burden on library staff to produce daily posts. 

    What are your most popular posts?

    A few facts and figures from Legal Sourcery:

    What are your future plans for Legal Sourcery?

    At first, our goal with Legal Sourcery was to advertise the resources, projects, and expertise the library offered, in one central place, to Saskatchewan’s legal community.  However, over the past four years Legal Sourcery has evolved into the central hub for all legal news relevant to the Law Society, lawyers, and the public in Saskatchewan.  The 2017 Clawbies panel explained:

    The pride of the Law Society of Saskatchewan, Legal Sourcery continued its top-quality blogging in 2017 with a steady stream of useful content … While strictly speaking a library blog, this really could be seen as the go-to source for Saskatchewan legal news. 

    The blog now regularly disseminates information about the Law Society, legislative updates, news and events relevant to lawyers, free legal clinics, and content from external organizations like CanLII.  For the past two years, Legal Sourcery has been proud to serve as the official blog of Saskatchewan’s annual Access to Justice Week.

    We intend to continue this evolution and to promote Legal Sourcery as the premier source of legal information in Saskatchewan.  Stay tuned for future developments.

    Do you have any advice for aspiring bloggers?

    Here are some tips for aspiring legal information bloggers:

    • Think about your goals and audience.  Understanding your goals and who you are attempting to reach will shape your blog’s development.  
    • Coming up with content for posts is not difficult.  Follow lawyers and legal information professionals on social media, the blogosphere, and listservs.  What you learn can be repurposed into blog posts.  Take the time to write about the interesting things you are working on. 
    • Promote your blog on social media and via word of mouth.  I often let our users know about the blog during conversations at the reference desk and refer to it while responding to research enquiries.                
    • Common sense is key.  Keep posts professional, pay attention to spelling, and be cautious when writing about controversial issues.  Always consider how a blog post will reflect on your larger organization. 

    Dans le cadre de la rubrique Portrait d’un de nos membres, nous avons élargi le thème afin d’y inclure des projets de membres qui pourraient inspirer d’autres membres qui envisagent de lancer des projets similaires. À l’occasion du premier article, Alan Kilpatrick met en lumière l’excellent blogue nommé Legal Sourcery. Ce qui a commencé comme un blogue afin de promouvoir la bibliothèque et d’établir un lien avec les usagers a depuis remporté le prix Clawbies à trois reprises! 

    Legal Sourcery : quatre ans après

    Par Alan Kilpatrick, bibliothécaire de référence, Barreau de la Saskatchewan

    Pouvez-vous nous donner quelques renseignements généraux sur Legal Sourcery?

    La bibliothèque du Barreau de la Saskatchewan a lancé le blogue Legal Sourcery le 12 mars 2014. Le blogue visait à mieux promouvoir la bibliothèque, à commercialiser ses services et ses ressources et à tisser des liens plus solides avec les avocats et le public. Quatre ans plus tard, le blogue a dépassé nos attentes. Il compte près de 1 500 billets et 240 000 visites, et a été lauréat d’un prix Clawbies (Canadian Law Blog Awards) en 2014, 2015 et 2017. Ces prix sont décernés annuellement aux blogues juridiques canadiens qui se sont démarqués. Le blogue a permis de rehausser l’image de la bibliothèque tant au sein du Barreau que de la communauté juridique de toute la Saskatchewan, de redynamiser la marque de la bibliothèque et la rendre visible, et de positionner la bibliothèque au cœur des initiatives en matière d’information juridique dans la province. 

    Comment avez-vous choisi le nom Legal Sourcery?

    Trouver le nom a été le fruit d’un effort de collaboration. Toute l’équipe de la bibliothèque a participé à une séance de remue-méninges. Nous voulions créer un nom original qui représentait à la fois qui nous sommes, ce que nous faisons et la valeur que nous offrons. Parmi les  noms envisagés, il y a eu Collawboration, Lawstronauts, Gopher Law et Wind Chill. Au cours d’une discussion, Ken Fox, notre bibliothécaire de Saskatoon, a astucieusement proposé Legal Sourcery. L’équipe a voté et a choisi la proposition de Ken. Alors que la bibliothèque offre des ressources juridiques, le blogue représente l’expertise, la capacité et la valeur que nous apportons aux services de l’information juridique. Le nom reflète la compétence ésotérique que nous employons pour aider les avocats et le grand public à naviguer dans l’épaisse jungle des ressources juridiques.

    Pourquoi avez-vous choisi Wordpress?

    Nous avons décidé d'utiliser WordPress après avoir examiné diverses plateformes sur le marché. WordPress est une excellente solution pour bloguer. La plateforme nécessite peu de connaissances de codage, offre de nombreux modèles professionnels et est simple à utiliser. Elle est aussi gratuite et permet à l’utilisateur de joindre la blogosphère en quelques minutes.

    Comment contrôlez-vous le nombre de billets et le contenu des collaborateurs?

    Nous avons toujours eu comme objectif de publier au moins un nouveau billet par jour afin d'attirer et de fidéliser les lecteurs. Pour ce faire, nous avons nommé un membre de l’équipe de la bibliothèque, Kelly Chiu, à titre de coordonnatrice du blogue. Kelly s'assure de mettre toute question liée au blogue à l’ordre du jour des réunions du personnel, elle maintient une file d’attente de billets pour la semaine à venir, et nous avise lorsqu’elle a besoin de billets supplémentaires. Nous n’aurions pas réussi à maintenir Legal Sourcery sans ce poste de coordonnatrice.

    Notre directrice des ressources juridiques, Melanie Hodges Neufeld, assure la supervision et approuve tous les billets avant leur publication. Elle travaille fort pour attirer des auteurs invités du Barreau, de la communauté juridique de la Saskatchewan et d’organismes externes.

    Depuis le lancement du blogue, toute l’équipe de la bibliothèque s’est engagée à rédiger régulièrement des billets, en plus de nos tâches régulières. Traditionnellement, la majorité des billets qui apparaissent sur le blogue ont été rédigés par le personnel de la bibliothèque. Cependant, la situation est en train de changer puisque le nombre d’auteurs invités s’est accru depuis les dernières années.

    Quels sont les défis que vous avez eu à relever?

    La création et le maintien de contenus de qualité avec un bassin limité d'auteurs constituent inévitablement des défis. C’est pourquoi il est indispensable d’attirer des auteurs invités pour contrer l’épuisement et la fatigue attribuables au blogue. Au début, nous avions de la difficulté à attirer des auteurs invités ou de convaincre les gens que le temps consacré à la rédaction d’un billet en valait la peine. À mesure que le blogue gagnait en popularité et reconnaissance, il est devenu plus facile d’attirer des auteurs. Heureusement, cela a permis d’alléger le fardeau imposé au personnel de la bibliothèque pour produire des billets quotidiennement.

    Quels sont vos billets les plus populaires?

    Voici quelques faits et chiffres sur le blogue Legal Sourcery :

    Quels sont vos plans pour l’avenir de Legal Sourcery?

    Initialement, nous voulions que le blogue devienne un guichet unique pour la promotion des ressources, de l’expertise et des projets offerts par la bibliothèque auprès de la communauté juridique de la Saskatchewan. Cependant, au cours des quatre dernières années, le blogue est devenu le noyau central pour tous les renseignements juridiques pertinents du Barreau, des avocats et des gens de la Saskatchewan. Voici ce que le jury des prix Clawbies 2017 a dit à propos de notre blogue :

    Faisant la fierté du Barreau de la Saskatchewan, Legal Sourcery a continué de publier des billets de grande qualité en 2017 avec un flux constant de contenu utile... Même s’il s’agit essentiellement d’un blogue de bibliothèque, il pourrait vraiment être perçu comme la source incontournable de nouvelles juridiques en Saskatchewan. 

    À présent, le blogue diffuse régulièrement des informations sur le Barreau, des mises à jour législatives, des nouvelles et des événements pertinents pour les avocats et les cliniques d’aide juridique gratuites ainsi que du contenu d'organismes externes comme CanLII. Depuis deux ans, Legal Sourcery est fier d’agir comme le blogue officiel de la Semaine de l’accès à la justice, un événement annuel en Saskatchewan.

    Nous avons l'intention de poursuivre cette évolution et de promouvoir Legal Sourcery en tant que principale source d'information juridique en Saskatchewan. Surveillez les projets à venir!

    Quels conseils donneriez-vous aux blogueurs en herbe?

    Voici quelques conseils pour les nouveaux blogueurs en matière d’information juridique :

    • Réfléchissez à vos objectifs et votre public. Le fait de comprendre vos objectifs et votre public cible vous guidera dans l’élaboration de votre blogue.
    • Il n’est pas difficile de trouver du contenu pour rédiger des billets. Suivez les avocats et les professionnels de l'information juridique sur les médias sociaux, dans la blogosphère et par l’entremise de serveurs de listes. Ce que vous apprenez pourrait être réutilisé et adapté dans un billet de blogue. Prenez le temps d'écrire à propos de sujets intéressants de votre travail. 
    • Faites la promotion de votre blogue sur les médias sociaux et par le bouche-à-oreille. Je parle souvent de notre blogue aux usagers qui viennent au bureau de référence et je le mentionne en répondant à leurs demandes de renseignements.
    • Le gros bon sens est essentiel. Assurez-vous que les billets sont professionnels, faites attention à l'orthographe, et soyez prudent lorsque vous écrivez sur des sujets controversés. Prenez toujours en compte l’impact que pourrait avoir un billet sur l’ensemble de votre organisation.


  • 23 Feb 2018 3:19 PM | Martha Murphy (Administrator)

    version française ci-dessous.

    Meg Carruth, Research Librarian | Legislative Assembly of Ontario


    Tell us a little about your educational background and how you entered the legal information industry.

    When I completed my MLIS at the University of Western Ontario I began a summer student position with the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC). During that time, l learned a great deal, met a number of interesting people in the legal profession and was inspired by how this community holds specialized knowledge yet has such varied opportunities to pursue.  Recently, I joined the Ontario Legislative Assembly Library and Research Services team as a Finance and Public Administration Librarian. I have an entirely different role that has been challenging and rewarding and I’m very excited to be a part of this team!

    How has being involved in CALL helped you professionally (e.g. scholarships & grants, continuing education, networking)?

    I am fairly new to CALL but so far have been grateful for the learning and networking opportunities it has afforded me. My first introduction to CALL was at the New Law Librarians Institute (NLLI) at uOttawa. My NLLI experience gave me the chance to dabble, ask questions, and better understand the specialized skills required of legal information professionals.

    Additionally, so many CALL members have been generous to me in the early years of my career. It’s a very inviting network, be it my NLLI peers or industry veterans. I am currently participating in the Mentor/Mentee program and have benefited greatly from the guidance and encouragement I’ve received.

    Who is your favourite library professional—living or dead, real or fictional?             

    Irma Pince of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry ~ 

    I like to imagine that Irma Pince has seriously advocated for the retention and preservation of the Forbidden Books section. Under her stewardship, the collection even survived the Umbridge administration. There are countless times when Hermione, Harry and Ron have relied on text to unravel mysteries and save the day. Irma is possibly the true hero of Hogwarts!

    What was your first job or your first library-related job?                                     

    While completing my MLIS at the University of Western Ontario, I had the opportunity to co-op with the Global Affairs Canada library. In addition to providing research services to diplomats and ambassadors, the library offered services to a staff comprised of policy experts and lawyers.

    What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone looking to break into the legal information industry     

    It’s important to stay on top of current affairs. Political developments inform the work of legal professionals regardless of role in all sectors be it the public service, firms, or academia. Additionally, being an informed person is a helpful attribute when networking or interviewing. It sets you apart as someone who can engage on many topics with demonstrable interests that are outside but relevant to work.  Admittedly, I’ve struggled with this but have found that listening to the radio/podcasts, such as the Agenda and NPR Politics, while doing chores or commuting helps.

    Meg Carruth, bibliothécaire de recherche | Assemblée législative de l’Ontario

    Parlez-nous un peu de vos antécédents scolaires et de la manière dont vous êtes intégrée au secteur de l'information juridique.

    Lorsque j'ai terminé ma maîtrise en bibliothéconomie à l'Université de Western Ontario, j'ai travaillé comme étudiante pendant l’été à la Commission des valeurs mobilières de l'Ontario (CVMO). Au cours de cet emploi, j'ai appris beaucoup de choses, j’ai rencontré des gens très intéressants au sein de la profession juridique, et j’ai été inspirée par la façon dont cette communauté détenait des connaissances spécialisées, mais que le domaine comprenait une grande diversité d’emplois. Récemment, j'ai joint l'équipe des services de bibliothèque et de recherche de l'Assemblée législative de l'Ontario en tant que bibliothécaire des finances et de l'administration publique. J’occupe un rôle entièrement différent qui est à la fois stimulant et gratifiant, et je suis ravie de faire partie de cette équipe!

    En quoi votre adhésion à l’ACBD/CALL vous a-t-elle été utile sur le plan professionnel (p. ex. bourses et subventions, formation continue, réseautage)?

    Cela ne fait longtemps que je suis membre de l’ACBD, mais jusqu'à présent j’ai bien apprécié les possibilités d'apprentissage et de réseautage qui m’ont été offertes.

    Mon premier contact avec l’ACBD s’est fait dans le cadre de l’Institut pour les nouveaux bibliothécaires de droit (NLLI) à l’Université d'Ottawa. Cette expérience m'a donné la chance d’aborder le domaine, de poser des questions et de mieux comprendre les compétences spécialisées requises par les professionnels de l'information juridique.

    De plus, beaucoup de membres de l’ACBD ont été généreux envers moi dans les premières années de ma carrière. C’est un réseau très ouvert, que ce soient les pairs du NLLI ou les vétérans de l'industrie. Je participe actuellement au programme de mentorat et je profite grandement des conseils et des encouragements donnés.

    Qui est votre professionnel de la bibliothéconomie favori, qu’il soit vivant ou décédé, réel ou fictif?

    Irma Pince, la bibliothécaire de l'école de sorcellerie de Poudlard. 

    J'aime m’imaginer qu'elle a sérieusement plaidé en faveur de la conservation et la préservation de la section des livres interdits. Sous sa gouverne, la collection a même survécu au joug d’Ombrage. Hermione, Harry et Ron ont dû consulter maintes fois des ouvrages pour percer les mystères et sauver la situation. Irma est probablement la véritable héroïne de Poudlard!

    Quel a été votre premier emploi ou votre premier emploi lié à la bibliothéconomie?

    Lors de mes études de maîtrise en bibliothéconomie à l'Université de Western Ontario, j'ai eu l'occasion de faire un stage à la bibliothèque du ministère Affaires mondiales Canada. En plus de fournir des services de recherche aux diplomates et aux ambassadeurs, la bibliothèque offre des services au personnel qui est composé d'experts en politique et d’avocats.

    Quel conseil donneriez-vous à quelqu'un qui cherche à percer dans l'industrie de l'information juridique?

    Il est important de se tenir au fait de l'actualité. Les événements politiques éclairent le travail des professionnels du domaine juridique, quel que soit leur rôle dans tous les secteurs qu'il s'agisse de la fonction publique, des entreprises privées ou des universités. Par ailleurs, être une personne informée est une qualité utile pour établir des contacts ou passer des entrevues. Cela permet de vous démarquer comme une personne qui peut échanger sur divers sujets en démontrant des intérêts qui sont en dehors du travail, mais pertinents. Je dois avouer que j’ai eu de la difficulté avec cela, mais j'ai trouvé qu’écouter la radio ou un balado en vaquant aux tâches domestiques ou en me rendant au travail m’aidait à rester à l’affût de l’actualité.



  • 19 Jan 2018 1:41 PM | Martha Murphy (Administrator)

    Nathalie BélangerChief of Law library at Université de Montréal

    Le texte français suit ci-dessous. 


    Tell us a little about your educational background and how you entered the legal information industry?

    I took a different career path than most of my colleagues. I started as a jurist working in insurance and professional liability law.

    I received a Bachelor of Law and then a Master of Notarial Law from Université de Montréal before becoming a member of the Chambre des notaires du Québec. For my colleagues from the rest of Canada, note that under Quebec’s civil law tradition, we have two legal professions (lawyer and notary). Students take the same academic path at the undergraduate level (Bachelor of Law), after which future lawyers go to Bar school (École du Barreau) and then do an internship, while future notaries obtain their Master of Notarial Law and then do an internship.

    As a young notary, I had the opportunity to manage an office’s mini documentation centre and organize the internal documents. I then accepted a job as knowledge manager in a law firm. This was before knowledge management was well known in Canada. I was working in close collaboration with research lawyers, paralegals, law librarians and library technicians. This inspired me to pursue a Master of Information Studies, which I did from 1999 to 2004 at McGill University while continuing to work at the law firm full time.

    The path was laid to become a law librarian, especially in a law firm. I climbed the ladder in three national firms, becoming Director of Information and Library Services at Stikeman Elliot’s Montréal office, then Director of Digital Content at the Centre d’accès à l’information juridique.

    Then, under the mistaken impression that there was nothing left to learn in the legal world, I spent two years as chief librarian in two of Montréal’s public libraries. I learned a great deal and enjoyed the experience, but I missed the legal field.

    So, I went back. For nearly two years now, I have been chief of the Université de Montréal’s law library, a position that lets me apply my library experience as well as my legal knowledge.

    In short, I started my career in law and then entered the world of law libraries. It was not the path I had expected, but it suits me very well. If I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing! 

    How has being involved in CALL helped you professionally?

    My CALL membership has been very useful since early on in my career, namely the ongoing training, annual conferences and some of the webinars. Networking is also an undeniable advantage, because it helps me get to know colleagues from all across Canada. My local law library association (MALL) provides the same advantages, but in a more limited scope, within the Montréal area. CALL has a broader reach, which can be great for finding resources or sharing good practices. I recommend that all new law librarians join CALL and get actively involved.

    What are the three skills/attributes you think legal information professionals need to have?

    I would say they need to be 1) adaptable/flexible, 2) proactive and 3) versatile.

    Adaptable, because we live in a changing world. The librarian profession is among those that have changed the most in the last 20 years and there are still many changes to come. We have to adapt to how these changes affect our tasks as well as our service and work environment. Also, since our service is often seen more as a cost centre than an income generator, we are often hit with budget cuts. We have to constantly use our creativity and imagination to adapt and remain flexible in our service offer, while making do with often limited means.

    Legal information professionals have to be proactive because in our profession, much more than others, we always need to position ourselves strategically in the organizations we serve. Sadly, we are often overlooked or underutilized. We need to be proactive to promote ourselves and our skills. Because our entourage is not likely to think of us first for a project or new initiative, we should volunteer for projects our skills will benefit. IT teams are always automatically involved in new projects. That’s not the case for our profession, even though our contribution, knowledge and expertise can be significant assets. We need to learn how to position ourselves as participants and key players in new initiatives (knowledge management, business intelligence, research data management, open access publishing, project management, document management, etc.).

    Finally, it is important to be versatile, especially when working in small organizations or small teams. We have to carry out all sorts of different tasks: management, research, reference work, marketing, promotion of our services, technical work, technological work, project planning and more. Librarians have to be able to diversify their skills to do well in various aspects of their work.

    For those who still think our work is boring and lacking in challenges, I invite you to spend a week in our shoes!

    What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

    There are two things people would be surprised to know about me, but they are personal, not professional:

    First, I’ve always had a passion for Poland, even though I don’t have any Polish roots. This interest even led me to learn Polish.

    I am also a skilled canner. Fall is my favourite season because I get to preserve the best of the harvest by canning, pickling and stewing fruits and vegetables, making sauces and more. On weekends, my kitchen looks like a canning factory!

    Nathalie Belanger, Chef de bibliothèque Bibliothèque de droitt Université de Montréal

    Parlez-nous un peu de votre formation et comment vous êtes entré dans l'industrie de l'information juridique?

    Personnellement, j’ai procédé à l’inverse de la plupart de mes collègues. J’ai d’abord débuté ma carrière en tant que juriste par la pratique du droit en droit des assurances et de de la responsabilité professionnelle.

    J’ai fait des études de baccalauréat en droit à l’Université de Montréal puis j’ai fait la maitrise en droit notarial à la même université pour ensuite devenir membre de la Chambre des notaires du Québec. Pour mes collègues du reste du Canada, je tiens à préciser qu’au Québec en raison de la tradition de droit civil, nous avons deux professions juridiques soit les avocats et les notaires qui partagent le même cheminement académique pour le premier cycle universitaire soit le baccalauréat en droit. Les futurs avocats font ensuite l’école du Barreau puis le stage et les futurs notaires font la maitrise en droit notarial puis un stage.

    Dans le cadre de mon travail de jeune notaire, j’ai eu l’opportunité de gérer le mini centre de documentation du bureau et de procéder à l’organisation de la documentation interne puis j’ai obtenu un poste de gestionnaire du savoir dans un cabinet d’avocats. Il s’agissait en fait d’un poste de gestionnaire du savoir alors que ce terme était encore peu reconnu au Canada. À ce moment, je travaillais en étroite collaboration avec les avocats recherchistes, les para juristes et les bibliothécaires ou techniciens en documentation. Cela m’a incité à entreprendre ma maitrise en sciences de l’information. Je l’ai effectuée de 1999 à 2004 à l’Université McGill tout en continuant à travailler à temps complet au cabinet.

    Ma voie était déjà toute tracée pour occuper un poste de bibliothécaire dans le milieu juridique et plus spécialement dans un cabinet d’avocats. J’ai travaillé dans 3 différents cabinets nationaux dans lesquels j’ai gravi les échelons pour finalement me retrouver directrice des services de l’information et bibliothèque au bureau de Montréal de Stikeman Elliott puis finalement au Centre d’accès à l’information juridique à titre de directrice des contenus numériques.

    Puis, ayant la fausse impression que j’avais fait le tour du jardin dans le monde juridique, j’ai occupé pendant 2 ans un poste de chef de bibliothèque dans deux bibliothèques publiques de la Ville de Montréal. J’ai bien appris et aimé mon expérience, mais cela m’a permis de constater que le domaine juridique me manquait.

    Donc, depuis près de deux ans, je suis revenue dans le domaine juridique en tant que chef de la Bibliothèque de droit à l’Université de Montréal. Ainsi, je suis à même de mettre à profit mon expérience dans les bibliothèques et mes connaissances en droit.

    En résumé, j’ai commencé ma carrière en  droit et puis j’y ai intégré le monde des bibliothèques juridiques. Il s’agit d’un parcours un peu accidentel, mais qui me convient tout à fait. Si c’était à refaire, je ferais le même parcours!

    Comment est-ce que le fait d'être impliqué dans CALL vous a aidé professionnellement?

    Mon membership à CALL m’a apporté beaucoup dès le début de ma carrière au niveau de la formation continue notamment par ma participation aux conférences annuelles, puis par ma participation à certains webinaires. Le réseautage constitue aussi un avantage indéniable, car cela me permet de connaitre des collègues de partout au Canada. Mon association locale de bibliothèques de droit (MALL) me permet de maintenir les mêmes avantages mais dans le cercle plus restreint de Montréal. CALL m’offre une ouverture plus large, ce qui peut être parfois fort utile pour l’obtention de ressources ou pour le partage de bonnes pratiques. Je recommanderais à tout nouveau bibliothécaire œuvrant dans le domaine juridique de devenir membre de CALL et de s’y impliquer activement.

    Quelles sont les trois compétences / attributs que les professionnels de l'information juridique doivent posséder?

    Je dirais 1) l’adaptabilité / flexibilité, 2) la proactivité et 3) la polyvalence.

    L’adaptabilité, car le monde est changeant. La profession de bibliothécaire est certainement une des professions qui a le plus évolué depuis les 20 dernières années et les changements à venir seront encore nombreux. Il faut savoir nous adapter à ces changements de nos tâches mais aussi du milieu que nous desservons et dans lequel nous évoluons. Par ailleurs, notre service étant bien souvent perçu davantage comme un centre de couts que comme une unité génératrice de revenus, nous sommes souvent les victimes de coupures et nous avons constamment à faire preuve de créativité ou d’imagination pour nous adapter et être flexible dans notre offre de services et ce, tout en tenant compte de nos moyens souvent limités.

    La proactivité, car notre profession a, plus que bien d’autres, le besoin constant de bien se positionner au sein des organisations dans lesquelles nous évoluons. Nous sommes malheureusement bien souvent méconnus ou sous-utilisés. Il faut donc développer une proactivité nous menant à faire notre autopromotion. Il ne faut pas hésiter à lever notre main pour nous impliquer dans un projet pour lequel notre apport peut être plus que bénéfique. Notre entourage pensera bien peu souvent à nous d’emblée pour une implication dans un projet ou nouvelle initiative. Je peux juste vous parler en comparaison de l’équipe des TI qui est d’emblée partie prenante de tout projet. Tel n’est pas le cas pour notre profession, alors que notre apport, nos connaissances et notre expertise  peuvent être riches à plusieurs égards dans un projet. Il faut donc apprendre à savoir se positionner comme partie prenante et joueur clé dans les nouvelles initiatives (gestion du savoir, intelligence d’affaires, gestion des données de recherche, publication en libre accès, gestion de projet, gestion documentaire, etc.)

    La polyvalence parce que bien souvent, surtout lorsque nous travaillons au sein de petites organisations ou de petites équipes, nous avons à effectuer des tâches de diverses natures : de la gestion, de la recherche et du travail de référence, du marketing et autopromotion de nos services, du travail technique, du travail à saveur technologique, de la planification de projets, etc. Ainsi, le bibliothécaire doit être en mesure de diversifier ses habiletés afin de pouvoir bien performer dans divers aspects de  sa tâche. Pour ceux qui pensent encore que notre travail est ennuyant et dépourvu de défis, il faudrait venir passer une semaine dans nos souliers!

    Qu'est-ce que les gens seraient surpris de savoir de vous?

    Il y a véritablement deux choses assez surprenantes à mon sujet, mais il s’agit d’aspects personnels et non professionnels :

    D’abord, depuis toujours, j’ai une passion pour la Pologne et ce, sans avoir de racines familiales polonaises. Je pousse même la passion jusqu’à tenter d’apprendre à parler le polonais.

    Aussi, je suis une adepte de la mise en conserve. Pour moi, l’automne est ma saison favorite, car je peux profiter des récoltes et faire de la mise en conserve de légumes, fruits, marinades, compotes, sauces, etc. Les fins de semaine, ma cuisine ressemble à une usine de mise en conserve.

  • 08 Jan 2018 11:13 AM | Michel-Adrien Sheppard (Administrator)

    The winners of the 2017 Canadian Law Blog Awards (known as the Clawbies) were announced just before New Year's Day.

    The Best Law Library Blog award went to Legal Sourcery maintained by the Law Society of Saskatchewan. Three (3) CALL members regularly contribute post to the site: Ken Fox, Melanie Hodges Neufeld, and Alan Kilpatrick. Congratulations!

    The prize for Best Canadian Law Blog went to Cowling Legal, which the organizers describe as a blog that "combines sharp insights into the Canadian litigation landscape and timely commentary on vital social issues with terrific writing and a unique personal style".

    There were awards in many other categories.

    The Clawbies are organized by Stem Legal, a B.C.-based strategy firm. 

  • 19 Dec 2017 11:05 AM | Martha Murphy (Administrator)

    Anne C. Matthewman, Chief Law Librarian & Assoc. University Librarian | Sir James Dunn Law Library, University of Dalhousie


    Tell us a little about your educational background and how you entered the legal information industry

    I attended the University of Windsor, (Hons B.A. in English and History), and the University of Western Ontario, (MLS).  As I was finishing my undergraduate degree I was not sure what to do next but I did know I did not want to go to teachers’ college which my parents had suggested.  A friend mentioned library school and that seemed like an feasible idea.  When I graduated I got a part-time job at the Essex law Association in Windsor.  They had never had a librarian before and I talked myself into a fulltime job. While I was there, I did an M.A. in English at the University of Windsor.  I had a brief stint in the public library system and then returned to law libraries with the Toronto Lawyers Association and then the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University

    How has being involved in CALL helped you professionally (e.g. scholarships & grants, continuing education, networking)?

    I think it was mostly the continuing education opportunities which led to networking which then led to being asked to serve on committees and the Executive Board.  I learned a lot about the profession and being a professional from the examples of others.  The Annual Conferences and workshops (both for CALL/ACBD and AALL) increased my knowledge level considerably.  As the profession has evolved, being involved with Associations helped me move along with all the new developments and changes.  I would never have accomplished these things on my own.

    What was your first job or your first library-related job? 

    It was both my first job and my first library-related job.  I worked as a page at the John Richardson Children’s Library in Windsor, Ontario during high school.  Another page at the same library was Gail Brown, a fellow CALL/ACBD member.  We also lived across the street from one another but went to different schools.  What I remember most about that job was the endless mending of children’s books.

    What are three skills/attributes you think legal information professionals need to have?

    An ability and desire for continuous learning - often on the fly - as we are frequently asked research questions about things we know very little about.  Fortunately, we know how to find out!  When I first started out in a one-person library I learned a lot about the law from loose-leaf filing

    Diplomacy – We deal with people in all aspects of legal education and practice.  Many of them are in a stressful situation and you have to judge how best to approach the interaction with them. 

    Organizational and prioritization skills – There are often several projects going on at once and we are continually interacting with people (see above).  We must be able to triage reference and research questions along with administrative work and other obligations.  Sometimes you need to drop everything to help someone find an answer and other times you can judge that the question is not so urgent and deal with it later.

    What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

    I am a terrible cook and left to my own devices I just throw something together so I do not starve.  Fortunately, I am surrounded by family and friends who know their way around a kitchen.  Whenever my husband goes away he leaves the freezer full of things I can defrost and reheat.  



  • 24 Nov 2017 3:13 PM | Martha Murphy (Administrator)

    Danielle Brosseau, Library Manager| Harper Grey LLP, Vancouver BC


    Tell us a little about your educational background and how you entered the legal information industry.

    I completed a Bachelor of Arts in French and History at McMaster University in Hamilton, then travelled to France for a year to study French at CILEC (Centre International de Langue et Civilisation), and participate in the au-pair program. When it was time to get a job after my European adventure I quickly realized I needed to go back to school, and so made my way to the Burlington Public Library to do some research! While sitting next to the Reference collection, wondering how all the materials got there, and thinking how interesting it would be to collect and organize all this stuff, I realized I was a librarian-to-be! I applied to the Faculty of Information Studies (FIS) at the University of Toronto and haven’t looked back since.

    How has being involved in CALL helped you professionally (e.g. scholarships & grants, continuing education, networking)?

    At FIS, it wasn’t long before I was introduced to a vast network of peers and mentors from diverse areas of expertise, interest, and practice. Many generous volunteers came forward, helping me navigate a route to career success while introducing me to the value of networking. Being involved in a professional association like CALL is like being part of a huge support network where there’s always someone to talk to from Vancouver to Halifax, and all the places in-between, not to mention all the fun to be had with an amazingly talented group of professionals!

    What’s one blog, website, or Twitter account that you can’t go one day without checking?

    Our neighbours to the south also benefit from a vibrant, sharing community, and I have also enjoyed and benefited from my membership in the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) throughout my career. These days, I love getting my daily dose of KnowItAALL!, an eNewsletter, delivered straight to my inbox every weekday morning highlighting legal information, industry trends, law, technology, library, and career development topics. It’s now available to non-members, sign up now!

    Where do you see our industry and/or profession in 10 years?

    It’s difficult to look 10 years into the future when change and innovation is happening so fast every day, but I think a lot about the future of libraries in the digital age. Especially in law where people so often identify libraries with physical books, the proliferation of digital information and communication technologies has many speculating whether libraries are obsolete. What is our role and responsibility as we continue to expand our online services and adopt new legal technology to add value to our collections and services? Information access has always been a core value of the library profession, and will continue to force libraries to both take on new roles and perform traditional roles in new ways.

    Who is your favourite library professional—living or dead, real or fictional?

    I don’t get out to the movies as much as I used to with young children at home, but when a bad cold hit a few weeks ago I turned to Netflix to catch up on a few movies I had missed. I stumbled upon the 2016 film based on the Marvel Comics superhero Doctor Strange, and of course loved the scene where Strange visits the library for a book, only to be warned by the librarian about what happens if he steals the book: be killed before leaving the building. I always enjoy encountering fictional libraries and librarians in movies and books. We are currently reading the Harry Potter books with the kids at bedtime, and I especially look forward to reliving moments at Hogwarts Library with Madam Irma Pince. What’s your favourite fictional library and who’s your favourite fictional librarian?


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