Law Library Annual Report 1991/92
SELF-STUDY To better understand the work, concerns and aspirations o f each Cornell law librarian and to set the ground work for future planning, the Cornell Law Librarians wrote a Self-study and Longrange planning document. Each librarian wrote at least one section and then joined in the staff meetings to discuss every section draft and redraft. The completed study can provide the basis for setting priorities in the years to come. A copy is attached.
BUILDING In the third year after construction, we can identify two welcome, if unexpected, benefits: (a) The Reading Room is much quieter, a true study space rather than a social hall, as students now have many other spaces to meet and greet each other, (b) The Open Reserve area guarantees access to recent journals so the Law Review staff no longer feel the need to check out and keep every cited issue. Therefore, these materials are much more readily available to others. Three first floor carrels have been connected to the Law School computer network, allowing students to access the network with their personal equipment.
STAFFING We had no turn-over in our professional staff this year and less than usual in the rest o f the staff. When Chris Standish resigned as Circulation/Reserve Supervisor, we were very fortunate to be able to replace him with Nancy Moore, a treasured former employee, back after a sojourn to Maine and in Olin's Interlibrary Loan Department. Nancy now handles all o f our interlibrary loan and provides reference back-up as necessary. A Syracuse library school student worked here as an intern for six weeks during the summer, assisting in both Acquisitions and Cataloging as he learned how libraries really work. As the year closed we prepared for reassignment o f duties in the A/V-Computer Lab. For a one-year trial, the line occupied by Leonardo Vargas Mendez (Multi-Media/Computer Assistant) and that o f the Law School Educational Technologies Media Technician will be merged into one full-time position within the Law School. Given the need for the technician leave the area to provide audio/video support in the classroom, student assistants will be scheduled in the Lab whenever that area is open. This joint arrangement will be reassessed at the end o f next year.