Hearsay | Spring 2014

HEARSAY News from KU’s Wheat Law Library | Spring 2014

IN THIS

ISSUE Wheat Law Library’s Global Reach National Library Week Brown v. Board Commemoration Bluebook Relays

Visit Us Green Hall 1535 W. 15th St. Lawrence, KS 66045 lawref@ku.edu law.ku.edu/library

DIRECTOR’S CORNER Law schools across the U.S. are driven by numbers.

They count students, faculty, monographs, databases, square footage, scholarship dollars, tuition dollars, donated funds, expenditures of all sorts. These metrics are important to students as consumers, administrators and others concerned about recruitment and the status of its institutions. William Bruce Cameron once stated, “Not everything that can be counted counts.

Not everything that counts can be counted.” To be clear, he did not say that numbers do not matter. But I think he was on to something.

How do you count high-quality service? How do you measure social capital gained when patrons have a gratifying experience in the library? How do you quantify faculty appreciation for excellent research and information provided by librarians and staff? I suppose we could request a survey immediately upon receipt of the information and data. Using 10 for excellent service, 9 for very good service, and so on, we could quantify and measure this activity.

Then, we could add up the numbers and come up with an “output” measure.

This is not unusual, and many service entities do this regularly. But how often do you base your responses to those questions on a single experience, positive or negative, rather than the cumulative experiences over time?

“We are defined by the quality of service we provide, the way we interact with constituents and patrons, and the things we ‘do’ for people.”

Head of Public Services Librarian Pam Crawford gave written surveys to students during National Library Week. She shares her questions and results in this newsletter. You will not be surprised by her findings.

2

Wheat Law Library | Hearsay

The feedback is important to us. We are judged daily not by the dollars we spend on databases, monographs and storage. Or the number of items we hold in our collection. Those things nonetheless can be and are counted for numerous entities whose goal is to rank institutions based on dollars spent and things counted.

Instead, we are defined by the quality of service we provide, the way we interact with constituents and patrons, and the things we “do” for people.

How do we rate? Give us some feedback. Next time you have the opportunity to respond to a survey or write a comment in a suggestion book, please do. We want to know how we are doing! And believe it or not, our overall goal is to attain, whether we do or not, a perfect 10.

See you in the library.

Joyce McCray Pearson Library Director

Team Duck Dynasty named 2013 Bluebook Relays champions Another raucous edition of the Barber Emerson Bluebook Relays enlivened Green Hall over the lunch hour on Oct. 25, 2013. Organized by the library’s own Jeff Montgomery and sponsored by the Lawrence law firm Barber Emerson LC, the 24th annual Bluebook Relays were a smashing success. The 2013 title was ultimately captured by Kate Marples’ Duck Dynasty team, which joins a long line of proud Bluebook Relays champions.

The Relays are a special tradition for KU Law that provides 1Ls with a brief respite from memo writing and puts their newly acquired legal citation skills to the test.

Each small section competes with a team of 10 members, including one Bluebook “expert.” Usually held around Halloween, the Relays also feature outrageous costumes and spirited but friendly competition. Jason Harmon’s Wild Wild Westlaws won the 2013 Spirit Award.

Above: Kate Marples’ Duck Dynasty Team clinched the title at the 2013 Bluebook Relays.

Left: Jason Harmon’s Wild Wild Westlaws won the 2013 Spirit Award.

Wheat Law Library | Hearsay

3

The global reach of Wheat Law Library

By Allison Reeve As part of KU Law’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) established in 2012 with the International University of Central Asia (IUCA) Law Program in Kyrgyzstan, the Wheat Law Library donated books to support the IUCA library. Over the summer months of 2013, this donation was realized with great success.

Wheat Law Library identified more than 80 titles that had not previously been owned by any library. They were all in excellent to new condition and ranged in topic from introductions to the law of the United States, to

oil and gas law and more. A plaque commemorated the gift, permanently etching the collaboration between the two universities.

After shipping the books more than 6,000 miles, we anxiously awaited confirmation of receipt, which arrived in October 2013 along with photos of IUCA faculty perusing the collection with pleased smiles. A donation of this type not only contributes to the general congeniality evoked through the IUCA and KU Law partnership, but also allows for the exchange of knowledge and access to information.

Through such efforts, we support legal

education beyond Green Hall and encourage study and understanding of the American legal system.

One might think that after the initial delivery the exchange would be forgotten, but former Lawrence Public Librarian Sandra Wiechert’s experience proves otherwise. Read her story on the following page to see just what a small world it is after all.

This is not the first donation of its kind for Wheat Law Library. In 2007, the library shipped books to United Arab Emirates University College of Sharia and Law.

Wheat Law Library Cataloguing and Technical Services Librarian Allison Reeve displays the materials and plaque presented to the International University of Central Asia Law Program.

4

Wheat Law Library | Hearsay

Sandra Wiechert, a Lawrence resident and former Lawrence Public Library librarian visited the International University of Central Asia in October 2013.

On the silk road in Central Asia

By Sandra Wiechert Among my greatest joys ever was to be part of a Road Scholar trip to Central Asia last fall. Of the 20 participants, all were from either the East Coast or West Coast, except me, from Kansas.

an old Soviet Union medical facility.

Although of many ethnic heritages, I immediately noticed these few hundred students dressed and acted just like KU and college students everywhere.

From Kazakhstan, we crossed the border into Kyrgyzstan to visit the International University of Central Asia, founded in 2000 by the Aga Khan with worldwide financial assistance. A student showed us the tiny campus, now housed in

Suddenly one of the joyous shocks of my life happened when we entered the one-room law library! There on the shelves was a plaque that read, “American Legal Collection presented to the International University of Central Asia School of Law by the

University of Kansas and the Wheat Law Library, 2013.� How? What was this all about? The librarian spoke no English, and our guide had no explanation. I joyfully passed out my KU Jayhawk stickers to the bewildered librarian and students anyway!

Only when I returned to Lawrence and talked with Joyce Pearson did I find out how the KU law books had ended up in this Kyrgyzstan university. If only books could talk!

Wheat Law Library | Hearsay

5

Lasting impact: Brown v. Board at 60

By Joyce McCray Pearson The University of Kansas commemorated the 60th Anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision with an exhibition and symposium considering its legacy and future societal and legal implications.

Professor Lua Kamal Yuille, an inaugural speaker for the Libraries Lecture Series, kicked off the commemoration with a presentation on how the decision failed to change the hearts of many while acting as a catalyst for change in public school pedagogy.

On April 11, the Library Gallery Exhibition opened with a reception and viewing of monographs, legal documents, photographs and other items pertaining to the decision from the collections of various libraries at KU. The Wheat Law Library donated materials for two exhibit cases, one containing items from its collection focusing on the decision, and the other on Professor Paul E. Wilson.

Professor Wilson was the attorney for the state of Kansas, the losing side in the case. Rarely seen photographs, clever articles written by Wilson about his infamous student Frank Zappa, and the official reporter for the decision are on exhibit.

Photographs of lawyers for the plaintiffs, KU alumni and activists hang from the ceilings and kiosks, creating an impressive multi-dimensional display.

Lorraine Haricombe welcomed guests, and Sarah Goodwin Thiel introduced the exhibit and speakers. Professor Quinton D. Lucas opened with remarks followed by a presentation by professors Shirley A. Hill and John L. Rury, “The African American Struggle for Secondary Schooling, 1940-1980: Closing the Graduation Gap.�

The commemoration continued Saturday with panels and speakers, including Virginia plaintiffs John Stokes and Joy Cabarrus and former KU students and activists Homer Floyd and John Spearman. Theodore M. Shaw, Professor of Professional Practice in Law, Columbia University, spoke on re-segregation and his legal experience as trial attorney on numerous post-Brown affirmative action and diversity decisions.

Deborah Dandridge, field archivist and curator of the African American Experience Collections, adjourned the commemoration weekend with final remarks.

KU Libraries commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision with lectures and a gallery exhibition.

6

Wheat Law Library | Hearsay

KU Law celebrates National Library Week

By Pam Crawford Clockwise, from top: One of our student assistants, Brian, welcomed patrons to our celebration of National Library Week, April 13-19. Refreshments with a side of library survey were offered on Monday morning. On Tuesday each staff member got a gold star for National Library Workers Day. Books weeded from our collection were offered for free on Thursday and Friday. No one appreciates freebies more than a law student at the end of the semester! The majority of student surveys showed interest in extended library hours or 24-hour access and additional research training.

upcoming events Class of 1964 Dinner | 50/50+ Reunion May 2-3, 2014 Board of Governors Spring Meeting Deans Club/Medallion Dinner May 10, 2014 Recent Developments in the Law CLE May 29-30, 2014 Wheat Law Library | Hearsay

7

Welcome and farewell KU Law faculty and staff bid a fond farewell to Michael Obermeier, L’12, in April. Obermeier left his position as Faculty Services Senior Researcher to work as a staff attorney with the 3rd Judicial District in Topeka. We wish him the best in his new role.

KU Law extends a warm welcome to our newest Wheat Law Library baby, William! He was born to Blake and Shari Wilson this past August.

Congratulations, Mom and Dad!

Wheat Law Library Staff Joyce A. McCray Pearson Jeff Montgomery Allison Reeve Christopher Steadham Pam Crawford W. Blake Wilson

Director & Associate Professor Circulation/Serials Department Manager Cataloging & Technical Services Librarian Associate Director Head of Public Services Head of Instructional & Research Services

LIBRARY HOURS Exam Hours (April 23 - May 8) Mon - Thur 7:30 am - 1 a.m Friday 7:30 am - 10 pm Saturday 8 am - 10 pm Sunday 10 am - 1 am Exception: May 9

7:30 am - 6 pm

Interim Hours (May 10 - 16) Mon - Fri 8 am - 5 pm Sat - Sun CLOSED

Commencement Hours Sat, May 17 11 am - 4 pm Sun, May 18 9 am - 2 pm Summer Hours (May 19 - June 15) Mon - Thurs 8 am - 8 pm Friday 8 am - 5 pm Saturday noon - 5 pm Sunday noon - 8 pm Exception: May 26

8 am - 3 pm

Database highlights Listed below are a few of the most recent additions to the collection of electronic resources available to researchers through the Wheat Law Library. We hope they will be valuable resources. Please contact the library faculty or staff with any questions or feedback.

Oxford Bibliographies Featuring a diverse array of disciplines including African Studies, American Literature, Anthropology, Art History, Cinema & Media Studies, Classics, Latino Studies and Sociology. Our collection now includes two new modules: International Law and International Relations.

Tax Analysts This database provides a broad range of detailed tax law information, including the popular Tax Notes series.

The organization has grown from a small nonprofit to a global publisher of tax information.

Trade Law Guide Calling itself “the standard for legal research in the area of WTO law,” this exciting new addition will open new doors for international trade law research at KU. The guide was designed “so that WTO law could be researched in a methodical, comprehensive and efficient manner.”

— Christopher Steadham

8 Wheat Law Library | Hearsay