Oregon Veterans Services and Resources

Multnomah County Library has created a web-guide to Veteran’s Resources.

Other Oregon counties also have local Veteran Services offices, e.g. Washington County.

“Free and Online” is not Quite the Same as “Equal Access to Justice”

Lewis & Clark Law School Library’s “Law in the News” roundup, brings us this story:

"Law Libraries Struggle with More Patrons, Less Funding," by Jose Pagliery, Daily Business Review, December 15, 2010

'... Pro se litigants, who often can't afford attorneys and instead choose to represent themselves, are quickly becoming the largest share of users of public law libraries, according to a statewide law library nonprofit. As lawyers more frequently choose to study case law from their desktop computers, common folk are shuffling into brick-and-mortar institutions.

With that switch, a few overwhelmed librarians find themselves spending more time teaching research tips to novices as opposed to pointing experienced attorneys in the right direction, said Linda Sims, director of the Palm Beach County Law Library.

"We used to spend more time filing and updating materials. Now we're spending a lot more time with non-attorneys, having to walk them through the process and teach them how to do research. It's a lot more difficult and time-consuming," she said. "The people making decisions for funding of law libraries aren't realizing we're spending more time helping those people."...
…

An overwhelming number of library directors agree the current funding scheme -- one that replaced a reliable system drawing on a portion of circuit filing fees -- is inadequate, according to a survey conducted last year by the nonprofit Florida State Court and County Law Libraries.

The organization held a three-day meeting last month in Jacksonville, where directors addressed what they consider a two-pronged threat to their institutions: a lack of funding coupled with the perception that online resources serve as an adequate replacement for books.

Anyone with computer access can tap into free resources like FindLaw or public encyclopedias like Wikipedia to learn about courtroom procedures, historical cases and legal tools. But unlike paid subscription programs like Westlaw and LexisNexis, free online content is not always updated.

Paying for those services is rarely an option for pro se litigants and sometimes even out of reach for solo attorneys, said Fort Lauderdale commercial litigator and land use attorney Brian Seymour. The Gunster shareholder said lawyers like himself benefit from in-house law libraries….' (Link to full story.)

Verdict $5.2 million: Law Professor vs Legal Publisher (with a side of free legal research and Fastcase)

For my regular readers who might want a break from the holiday madness and might (ho ho ho) be wondering about that $5.2m verdict win in the lawsuit filed by 2 law professors against "West publishing" (now a family member of theThomson Reuters corporation) here are a some links:

1) Jonathan Turley blog post

The funniest Comment: "Regardless of such appeals, these two professors should be given credit for finally finding a way to become millionaires from a state law treatise. That alone will make them living Gods among legal academics."

2) The law librarian view of events will come as no surprise: 3 Geeks and the Law Librarian Blog

3) On a more cheerful note, though I suspect those 2 professors are having a very good holiday weekend, here is some Free, Legal Research database news that will please – from Bob Ambrogi’s Law Sites, “Public Domain Group to Begin Weekly Release of all Federal and State Appellate Cases”

4) The more interesting side of this “free” view of the online legal research world is this 12/19/10 Law Sites post, where the conversation begins…:

“Ever wonder why someone who is in the business of selling court opinions would want to support a project that is devoted to giving them away for free? I have the answer to that question from Ed Walters, CEO of Fastcase….” (Link to full post.)

Blogging and Comments: Comments on Blogs

Every blogger has a “Comment” policy, written or unwritten. As “public sector” bloggers, we have responsibilities (to readers and employers) beyond our own narrow personal preferences.

I really like the Rules for Commenting that are posted at the Multnomah Law Library’s Social Software Policy for Multnomah County Library Users, and generally adhere to them myself:

Excerpt: “Rules for commenting

Protect your privacy. Do not post personally identifying information. Young people under age 18, especially, should not post information such as last name, school, age, phone number, address.

Posts containing the following are against library rules and will be deleted before posting or removed by library staff:

Copyright violations
Off topic comments
Commercial material/spam
Duplicated posts from the same individual
Obscene posts
Specific and imminent threats
Libelous comments
Images

By choosing to comment you agree to these rules.” … (Link to full Social Software Policy.)

More about Multnomah County Social Media policies in the public library and the public sector:

1) Example of an employee Social Software Policy.

2) Program materials from the excellent “Panic in the Blogosphere: The Library, Social Software and the First Amendment” presented at the Oregon Library Association April 3, 2009, by librarians Cindy Gibbon and Arlene Keller and Multnomah County attorney Bernadette Nunley

Read the Tax Bill (almost Law): “Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010”

Better late than never, I think. If you want to read the tax bill that just passed the House and is now on the way to, if not already on, the President’s desk:

“Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010” (Yes, that is what it’s called. Just sayin’)

Bill Summary & Status, 111th Congress (2009 - 2010), H.R.4853

More about what Congress does on the Hill. (You’re on your own to figure out what they do when they are not in their respective Chambers.)

Bibliophile Alert: Excellent Holiday Book Events (Portland, Oregon)

As if bibliophiles didn’t have enough to do in December, here are more things to do FOR or WITH the bibliophiles in your life:

1) Museum of Contemporary Craft, exhibit: Object Focus: The Book (through Feb 26, 2011)

2) Holiday Author Event, Oregon Humanities, December 20, 2010: Ursula LeGuin, Brian Doyle, Guy Maynard, Live Wire, etc., etc., etc.

U.S. Supreme Court Justices Go Green: iPad & Kindle Appellate Court Briefs

This shouldn’t really be “news,” but it is! And it may be really big news when it can be said of all appellate court judges, not just federal court judges.

From the Law Librarian Blog:

Justice Scalia Uses an iPad, Justice Kagan a Kindle to Read Briefs

Of course, federal court judges and litigants have PACER, which makes all things litigious easier to manage than courts that don't have e-filing.

PSU (and Library) Temporary Closure Due to Budget Cuts

Portland State University (PSU) and the PSU Millar Library will be closed from Saturday December 18 through Sunday December 26, 2010, due to budget reductions.

PSU affiliates will continue to have access to the Library's extensive online resources and to 24/7 online chat assistance through the Oregon Libraries Network (L-Net) (a service funded by the Oregon State Library and staffed by Oregon librarians, and others around the U.S.).

If you want to speak out to your elected officials about budget priorities:

Use the Oregon Legislature’s Find Your Legislator tool to locate contact information for your state and federal elected representatives.

U.S. Congress: Free, Online House Staff Directory

The Sunlight Foundation releases a beta version of a House (Congressional) Staff Directory.

(Note: Clicking on the Members List (at bottom of the search screen) seems to work better right now, at least for me.)

The have a lot of additional news on government transparency at their blog.

Free Online Database of Supreme Court of California Cases, Annotated

Online, FREE, access to cases from the Supreme Court of California (annotated).

Read many more great legal research tips at Legal Research Plus.

Oregon Electronic Portal Advisory Board

Governor Kulongoski and the 2009 Oregon Legislature created an Electronic Portal Advisory Board (EPAB) (see ORS 182.126 et seq).

The Board includes state agency staff, legislators and members of the public. The Board will advise the Governor on how the State of Oregon manages and operates its web portal services. For a number of years the State has provided the Oregon.gov portal site.

You can read more about the EPAB and the Portal at Data Oregon dot Gov, Open-Oregon (and the 11/10/10 post), EISPD (and their e-Gov website), and the Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) (including their acronym guide at their Publications webpages).

Oregon Supreme Court Defines "Arthritis"

On December 9, 2010, the Oregon Supreme Court decided:

Barbara L. Hopkins v. SAIF Corp., et al., (WCB 0407794) (CA A138825) (SC S058081)

"... On review from the Court of Appeals in a judicial review from an order of the Workers' Compensation Board. Hopkins v. SAIF, 232 Or App 439, 222 P3d 1140 (2009)....

Today, the Oregon Supreme Court held that, for the purpose of defining pre-existing conditions for workers' compensation claims, the term "arthritis" means (1) the inflammation of one or more joints, (2) due to infectious, metabolic, or constitutional causes, and (3) resulting in breakdown, degeneration, or structural change....

Karjalainen held that the standard dictionary definition of "arthritis" as an "inflammation of one or more joints due to infectious, metabolic, or constitutional causes" was the legal meaning of the term "arthritis" in ORS 656.005(24)(a)(A). On remand, the board held that petitioner had pre-existing arthritis under that definition. Petitioner appealed and the Court of Appeals affirmed without opinion...." (Link to full case.)

Where Do Your Federal Tax Dollars Go?

(If you want to call your federal and/or state Legislator(s), use the Find Your Legislator tool at the Oregon Legislature’s website.)

I always wince a bit when I hear people say that someone in "Washington D.C." steals their tax dollars. Yes, sometimes it’s true that a crime against us taxpayers has been committed, but sometimes our communities get a lot of those dollars back, though only after Congress takes out money for fighting wars, national security, diplomatic missions, economic development, social security, medicare, corporation subsidies, international medical aid, etc., etc., etc.

If you’re at all curious about which states get how much “return” on the federal tax dollars sent to federal coffers, here are a few places to start off your research. More serious and thorough research will take more work:

1) Federal tax dollar to D.C. and federal tax dollar back to Oregon: The Tax Foundation has this chart that shows Oregon, in 2005, received back $.93 of the federal tax dollars they paid in federal taxes.

2) They have a lot of other reports that you might find interesting.

3) For additional views of money sent back and forth from state and local governments to the federal government:

4) Visual Economics

5) National Priorities Project (including the Cost of War)

6) Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

7) Brookings Institution

8) U.S. Treasury and the Budget

Librarians on Traveling and Leaking (Information)

Librarians tend not to get their whatsits in a twist when it comes to information leaks. Maybe because leaks, censorship, privacy, and related issues are things we think about and deal with every week, every year, decade, century, in our libraries, our databases with patrons' personal information, with literature, with book-buying, with library boards, parents, etc.

1) Unshelved Librarians (from 12/7/10)

2) You can also find a link to a Gallagher Law Librarian blog post on:

“What laws did Wikileaks break?”

3) Maybe another reason we stay relatively calm around "leak situations" because a lot of librarians are more worldly or open-minded (nothing much stays in there, anyway?) than the average person through reading and traveling widely: Speaking of which, here is some good travel advice: "Mick Visits the Holy Lands"

Vote on your Favorite Legal Blogs: 2010 ABA Annual Blawg List

ABA Journal's annual Blawg 100 list is ready for you. You can vote for one in each these 12 categories. (This is also an excellent opportunity to visit some new blawgs, for your own edification, of course.)

Court Watch
Law Biz
News
Law Prof Plus
Torts
In Labor
IP Law
Criminal Justice
IMHO
Niche
For Fun
Legal Tech

Doctrine of First Sale and the U.S. Supreme Court

The Willamette Law School’s “United States Supreme Court News: Willamette Law Online” service, with case summaries and law updates, tells us about this latest U.S. Supreme Court decision:

"On December 13th, 2010 the United States Supreme Court issued a decision in the case sumarized below:

Copyright Law (The first sale doctrine of 17 U.S.C. §109(a) does not apply to goods manufactured abroad and later imported into the United States).

From Willamette Sup Ct Report, 11/8/10:

Costco Wholesale v. Omega S.A. (08-1423)
Argued: 11/08/10
Court Below: 541 F. 3d 982 (9th Cir. 2008) Full Text

COPYRIGHT (Whether the first-sale doctrine, which allows the owner of a copyrighted good to sell the item without permission of the copyright owner, applies to imported goods manufactured abroad).

The dispute arises out of Omega’s efforts to prevent Costco from reselling watches originally sold by Omega to authorized foreign distributors. These distributors imported the watches and sold them to Costco, who then sold the watches to consumers at well below Omega’s suggested retail price. The Ninth Circuit held that the Copyright Act grants the copyright holder complete control over the resale, redistribution, and importation of any work they manufacture abroad, even after those works are sold to others.

Costco argues that the Ninth Circuit’s holding is inconsistent with both the plain language of the Copyright Act and the Supreme Court’s interpretation of it in Quality King. The plain language of the statute codifying the first-sale doctrine, 17 U.S.C. § 109(a), does not distinguish between goods manufactured domestically or foreign, so long as they are “lawfully made under this title”. Omega itself made and sold the watches to distributors, which qualifies as lawfully made. Omega argues that Costco violated 17 U.S.C. § 602(a), which prohibits the importation of a foreign work without the authority of the copyright owner. However, Quality King ruled that the first-sale doctrine was an exception to this general rule. [Summarized by: Thomas Martin]"

See also OYEZ and the SCOTUS blog for more information and news about the U.S. Supreme Court.

Oregon 2011 Legislative Session

Starting in January 2011 Oregon Legislature will meet annually:

In 2011, opening ceremonies will take place Monday, January 10th. The Legislature will be in session for three days (until January 13th) to organize committees and adopt rules. The full-session begins on February 1st and expects to adjourn by June 30, 2011.

The November 2010 ballot measure 71 changed the biennial sessions (not to be confused with the word biannual) to annual sessions.

Excerpt: “Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:

PARAGRAPH 1. Section 3, Article III, sections 6 and 10, Article IV, and sections 5 and 14, Article IX of the Constitution of the State of Oregon, are amended to read:

Sec. 10. [The sessions of the Legislative Assembly shall be held biennially at the Capitol of the State commencing on the second Monday of September, in the year eighteen hundred and fifty eight, and on the same day of every second year thereafter, unless a different day shall have been appointed by law.-]

(1) The Legislative Assembly shall hold annual sessions at the Capitol of the State. Each session must begin on the day designated by law as the first day of the session. Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section:

(a) A session beginning in an odd-numbered year may not exceed 160 calendar days in duration; and

(b) A session beginning in an even-numbered year may not exceed 35 calendar days in duration.

(2) The Legislative Assembly may hold an organizational session that is not subject to the limits of subsection (1) of this section for the purposes of introducing measures and performing the duties and effecting the organization described in sections 11 and 12 of this Article. The Legislative Assembly may not undertake final consideration of a measure or reconsideration of a measure following a gubernatorial veto when convened in an organizational session.

(3) A regular session, as described in subsection (1) of this section, may be extended for a period of five calendar days by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of each house. A session may be extended more than once. An extension must begin on the first calendar day after the end of the immediately preceding session or extension except that if the first calendar day is a Sunday, the extension may begin on the next Monday....” (Link to full ballot measure 71.)

(Don’t forget, this is a redistricting year, too.)

Wikipedia and Ballotpedia have some useful Oregon legislative information pages.

National Inventory of Legal Materials Bug Tracker

If you’re not keeping up with the National Inventory of Legal Materials, then you’re not keeping up with the effort to make all online U.S. laws easily accessible to everyone. (But you are forgiven. It’s definitely a project for the government or law wonk – at least until you need to do some legal research of your own.)

1) National Inventory of Oregon Legal Materials

2) National Inventory of Legal Materials Bug Tracker

3) Previous posts on the National Inventory of Legal Materials (and Law dot Gov)

How to Find Legal Information and Lawyers in the United States

Do you need to find a lawyer in another state? Do you need to find the laws of another state?

Think about it. If you’re looking for reliable legal information, a law library is one good place to begin, online or on the phone or in person.

I posted previously about other state’s law libraries:

State and County Law Libraries and Legal Information to the People

If you’re looking for legal information about a state’s laws or a state’s lawyers, why not go to that state’s law libraries?

For example, if you need to find a lawyer licensed and in good standing in another state and want to know if that state has a referral service, you are a mere web search away from finding that information. However, if you use an online referral service, how do you know if the lawyer on that referral service is licensed and in good standing?

Back in 2009, I posted this: Hiring a Lawyer: Clients and Lawyer Fees (and the related Are you a licensed Oregon attorney?” is a Yes or No Question) and included a link to this excellent guide: A Compilation of State Lawyer Licensing Databases, by Andrew Zimmerman and Trevor Rosen.

You can see why visiting the website or even phoning a state’s law library can save you no small amount of time and trouble.

Oregon Foreclosure Assistance under Homeownership Stabilization Initiative

Oregon’s Department of Housing and Community Services Oregon Homeownership Stabilization Initiative:

Homeowners can apply online for the Mortgage Payment Assistance program at oregonhomeownerhelp.org. Applications for the program will be accepted until Jan. 14, 2011.

Homeowners who need help immediately should call 1-800-SAFE NET (1-800-723-3638).

“What If” in Law and Literature … and “Lives Like Loaded Guns”

Life, which is not Black or White or On or Off, and that may or may not be “as it is written,” gives us much to think about if we are so inclined.

In Law: Anyone who teaches law, thinks about law, or is faced with the law has to think about the “What Ifs” in life.

Here is a simplified example of “What if” dialogues – and anyone who has taken a criminal law class or thought about crime and punishment in the face of actual crimes committed by actual people is familiar with this mental gyration:

1) Sure I killed that person. What if I tell you that I’m not guilty of murder because he broke into my house and tried to attack my children?

2) Sure I killed that person. What if I tell you that I’m not guilty of murder because I was aiming at someone else?

3) Sure I killed that person. What if I tell you that I’m not guilty of murder because it was during the war?

4) Sure I killed that person. What if I tell you that I’m not guilty of murder because I’m 13 years old and my stepfather threatened me if I didn’t fire that gun.

In Literature and History: I saw this beautiful review of the biography by Lyndall Gordon of Emily Dickinson, “Lives Like Loaded Guns,” and immediately thought about all those crime and punishment conversations I have ever had with children, colleagues, students, professors, etc.

"Ardor and the Abyss," by James Longenbach, in the Nation, June 16, 2010

"... A friend of your brother sends you a gift, a painting of Indian Pipes, which is your favorite flower. You write a thank-you note: "I know not how to thank you." Because your brother's wife is your closest friend, you have refused to meet the bearer of the gift: you know, as most people do not, that your brother's friend is in fact his mistress. You know this because their assignations have taken place in your own house, in the dining room, on a black horse-hair sofa in front of the fire. The assignations have been facilitated by your sister, with whom you share the house your grandfather built. Your brother, his wife and their three children live next door in a house your father built for them.

Another gift arrives: a yellow jug painted with red trumpet-vine flowers. You are being wooed by your brother's mistress, but unlike your sister, whose primary allegiance is to your brother, you remain steadfastly devoted to your brother's wife and children, from whom your brother has withdrawn his daily affection; there will be "no treason," you tell the oldest child. To the mistress you write a second note..." (Link to full review.)

Legislative Redistricting in Oregon

If you’re interested in redistricting, among other places to learn about the process, attend the Oregon Legislature’s December 14, 2010, hearing:

SENATE INTERIM COMMITTEE ON RULES

AGENDA: ISSUED 12-02-2010
December 14, 2010
1:00 P.M., Room: HR C
900 Court Street NE, Room 453, Salem, Oregon 97301

1:00 PM Overview on Redistricting

- National Standards & Law
Peter Wattson, Senate Counsel, State of Minnesota

- Redistricting Law in Oregon
Gina Zejdlik, Office of Legislative Counsel

- Population in Oregon
Charles Rynerson, Population Research Center, Portland State University (PSU)
Sheila Martin, Ph.D, Director, Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies, PSU

- Implementation of Redistricting Plan
Barry Pack, Deputy Secretary of State
Tim Scott, Elections Director, Multnomah County

You can find Oregon Legislative Agendas and other Committee information at their website.

Oregon Library Job: Content Librarian

I’ve written before about the difference between the public perception of “library work” and the reality of working in a library.

One needs to do little more than read library job descriptions to get the point. Here is a recent job posting for a Content Librarian in Washington County (Oregon).

JOB #2010-141

Under the general supervision of the Library Automation Systems Supervisor, the Content Librarian creates, gathers, rewrites, plans, manages, and implements content for Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS). This unique position also writes and maintains WCCLS branding and content using current technology and communication tools such as social media and the WCCLS intranet and extranet.

Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) provides central support and outreach services for the libraries that serve the people of Washington County, Oregon.

Additionally, the Content Librarian establishes, maintains, enhances, and expands WCCLS’ web presence and use of technology tools; provides application and network support to member library staff, WCCLS staff, and patrons; collaborates with the WCCLS public relations staff, Web Services Team, member library staff and outside vendors to achieve established goals.

Finding Local Newspaper Articles in Oregon

I picked up the paper Multnomah County Library brochure on Finding Local Newspaper Articles and thought the information might be useful to my readers here at the OLR blog.

1) You can see their online list of newspaper and other media web resources.

2) A similar list is at the University of Oregon website, Finding Articles in Oregon Newspapers

3) Your own public library will have its own lists and guides of local and online resources.

4) Or, send your search request to the Oregon Libraries Network, aka L-net where a network of Oregon librarians await your reference questions.

Justice Bedsworth and Trial Continuences: Sometime a Great Motion

Justice Bedsworth, in his Criminal Waste of Space column in the OC Lawyer Magazine, gives litigants some advice from the bench (and the stadium sidelines):

December 2010: "Take Me Out to the Pre-Trial,” by Justice William W. Bedsworth:

Excerpt: “…I have a particular interest in continuances. I’ve gone all over the world urging lawyers to devote less time to their practice and more time to their family. My remarks on this topic have been cited to me more than once in continuance requests. It’s difficult—though, I should warn you, not impossible—to turn down a continuance when you are the primary authority cited in support of the request.

And I’ve seen some unusual ones. When I was in Superior Court, we had an attorney phone in a continuance request from his sailboat. It was suggested to him that, “I’m busy sailing” was not going to get him a continuance. At which point, he explained he was stuck on a tiny island near Guam with a broken mast. Continuance granted….” (Link to full column.)

Bibliography for Attorneys (Lawyers) Setting Up a Solo Practice

The Multnomah Law Librarian has graciously allowed me to post her Solo Lawyers bibliography here (and in PDF format, from my Law Library’s website):

HOW TO START AND BUILD A LAW PRACTICE. Platinum 5th ed. by Jay Foonberg. [KF 300 F65 2004]

FLYING SOLO: A survival guide for the solo and small firm lawyer 4th ed. by K. William Gibson. [KF 300 E59 2005]

ESTABLISHING A LAW PRACTICE by James R. Richardson [KF 300 R52 ]

THE SUCCESSFUL LAWYER: Powerful strategies of transforming your practice by Gerald A. Riskin. [KF 300 R67 2005]

THE BUSY LAWYER'S GUIDE TO SUCCESS: ESSENTIAL TIPS TO POWER YOUR PRACTICE, by Reid F. Trautz and Dan Pinnington. [KF 318 T37 2009]

RUNNING A LAW PRACTICE ON A SHOESTRING by Theda Snyder. [KF 300 S64 1997]

ATTORNEY AND LAW FIRM GUIDE TO THE BUSINESS OF LAW: Planning and operating for survival and growth, 2d ed. by Edward Poll. [KF 3215 P64 2002]

THE LAWYER’S FIELD GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT by William J. Flannery. [KF 300 F53 2007]

VIRTUAL LAW PRACTICE: How to deliver legal services online by Stephanie L. Kimbro. [KF 320 A9 K56 2010]

THE LAW TELECOMMUNICATING by Nicole Belson Goluboff. [KF 300 G66 2001]

HOW TO CAPTURE AND KEEP CLIENTS: Marketing strategies for lawyers by Jennifer J. Rose. [KF 316.5 H68 2005]

THE LAWYER’S GUIDE TO MARKETING YOUR PRACTICE by James A. Durham and Deborah McMurry. [KF 316.5 C65 2004]

THE LAWYER’S GUIDE TO MARKETING ON THE INTERNET by
Gregory H. Siskind, Deborah McMurry, and Richard P. Klau. [KF 316.5 S57 2007]

THE LAWYER’S GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE YELLOW PAGES ADVERTISING: The complete guide to creating winning ads, 2d ed. by Kerry Randall. [KF 310 A3 R35 2005]

COLLECTING YOUR FEE: Getting paid from intake to invoice by Edward Poll. [KF 316 P65 2002]

WINNING ALTERNATIVES TO THE BILLABLE HOUR: Strategies that work, 3d ed. by James A. Calloway and Mark A. Robertson. [KF 316 R63 2008]

IMPROVING ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE COLLECTION: A practical system by Arthur F. Nacht. [KF 300 N33 1990]

THE LAWYER'S GUIDE TO CONCORDANCE by Liz M. Weiman. [KF 300 W45 2008]

FOCUSING ON CLIENTS: A DETAILED GUIDE TO PLANNING, POSITIONING, CROSS-SELLING, NETWORKING, ENGAGING NEW CLIENTS, AND OTHER STRATEGIES FOR ENSURING THE GROWTH OF YOUR LEGAL PRACTICE by Frank Brennan. [KF 300 B74 1990]

EVERY RELATIONSHIP MATTERS: Using the power of relationships to transform your business, your firm, and yourself by Peter E. Rouse. [KF 300 R68 2007]

GROWING YOUR PRACTICE THROUGH BETTER CLIENT RELATIONS by Jay G. Foonberg. [KF 300 O7O74 F65g 1993]

THE LAWYER'S GUIDE TO CREATING A BUSINESS PLAN[electronic resource]: A step-to-step software package, 2006 ed. by Linda Pinson. [KF 315 Z9 P55 2006]

SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR PRACTISING LAWYERS: Best articles from the Law Practice Management magazine edited by Theodore P. Orestein. [KF 300 S87 1994]

THE OF COUNSEL AGREEMENT: A GUIDE FOR LAW FIRM AND PRACTITIONER, 3d ed. by Harold G. Wren and Beverly J. Glascock. [KF 310 O3 W74 2005]

THE LAWYER’S RETIREMENT PLANNING GUIDE by Susan A Berson. [KF 297 B47 2010]

“Bad Behavior” in the Law Library

A lot of people think those of us who choose to work in libraries do so because we “like to read” and “don’t like noise very much.”

Give us a moment to stop laughing, deposit those beer cans in the recycle bins, return from making a statement to the police about that “incident in the stacks,” and wipe our brows after successfully and peacefully removing that badly behaving patron from the library to the relief of our other library patrons.

It is only 10:30 a.m. and way too early to crank up the Closing Time rendition of “Hit the Road, Jack,” so let’s instead talk about Library Work. In a nutshell:

1) It’s rarely quiet – at least not the kind of library-quiet you might remember from days of yore.
2) We rarely get time to read anything more exciting than official memos and emails, unless you count the latest behavior policy.
3) Most of what we have to read is digital and official (e.g. memos, procedures, policies, law, budgets, etc.)
4) Most, 99.99 %, of library patrons are wonderful.
5) A few library patrons should be banned for life from … the planet.
6) Library people know what RFID, Dublin Core, metadata, and digital asset management are.

We also know about Behavior Policies like this one, which is not unlike other Oregon public library behavior policies out there. There are reasons we have these policies:

1) Committing or attempting to commit any activity that would constitute a violation of any federal, state or local criminal statute or ordinance.

2) Being under the influence of any controlled substance, as defined in ORS 475.005, or intoxicating liquor.

3) Possessing, selling, distributing or consuming any alcoholic beverage, except as allowed at a library-approved event.

4) Engaging in sexual conduct, as defined in ORS 167.060, including but not limited to the physical manipulation or touching of a person’s sex organs through a person’s clothing in an act of apparent sexual stimulation or gratification.