HEARSAY News from KU’s Wheat Law Library | Spring 2019
THIS ISSUE KSCRP enjoys successful fall 2018
New third floor collections
National Library Week
Green Hall | 1535 W. 15th St. Lawrence, KS 66045-7608 law.ku.edu/library lawref@ku.edu
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DIRECTOR’S CORNER The 2018 annual meeting of the Mid-America Association of Law Libraries (MAALL) was held in Memphis, Tennessee last October. This location, steeped in history in so many ways, made for a memorable conference. From Beale Street to the National Civil Rights Museum, the Wheat Law Library contingent found inspiration at every turn. Touring the museum proved an especially moving experience. The chronologically arranged exhibits provide a unique perspective of the civil rights movement. Challenges and setbacks unfold at every turn, leaving the observer to marvel at those who persevered in the face of unfathomable adversity when the outcome was anything but certain. The powerful experience stood out as a highlight in a conference filled with noteworthy events. Law librarians believe in the power of information to effect positive change in society. An excellent example of this is the service project that MAALL undertook for the 2018 annual meeting: donating books in support of Project STAND (Student Transition Accelerations and NCRC [National Career Readiness Certificate] Demonstration). Project STAND works with students transitioning to school from juvenile justice facilities and operates in the library of the G.W. Carver College and Career Academy in Memphis. Individual MAALL members donated new copies of every single book on the carefully curated list of titles – 85 in total. Keynote speaker Professor Demetria Frank acknowledged the outpouring of support for this worthy initiative, while also encouraging continued service aimed at improving access to justice. Her thoughtful remarks reminded us that many people in this country largely encounter the law in negative contexts, and that law libraries are often uniquely positioned to connect people with the law in a more positive and proactive way. In another example of positive collaboration, I was pleased to join Assistant Director Blake Wilson in the presentation of a poster. The poster, entitled The Gamification of the Legal Research Classroom, aligned well with the theme of the conference (Develop a Winning Strategy). Drawing upon recent scholarship on flipped classrooms and gamification strategies, the poster offers practical approaches to engage
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students in legal research courses. The experience was both enjoyable and illuminating, as we shared our findings with other attendees and gained a few new ideas as well. Other posters and presentations ran the gamut of current issues relevant to legal information professionals, ranging from the latest developments in artificial intelligence to mindfulness solutions. Among Assistant Director Pam Crawford’s favorites were programs on the role of law libraries in training rural lawyers and the importance of accessibility to legal information for people who are visually impaired. So, in this latest edition of Hearsay, why do I think it is important to share information about the recent MAALL conference with a broader audience? Because it encapsulates so much of what we are trying to accomplish at the Wheat Law Library on a daily basis. The surface level impression of a quiet study environment belies a deep commitment to important principles that inform the profession of law librarianship. Principles like a belief in the value of meaningful access to information, the need for improved access to justice, and the inherent value of a vibrant marketplace of ideas. These are the things that inspire us and we hope you will join us in our varied efforts to advance these ideals. A few of these efforts are detailed in the pages that follow. We hope that you enjoy our latest newsletter and, until next time, hope to see you in the law library! Christopher L. Steadham, JD, MLIM Wheat Law Library Director
The historic Lorraine Motel, now home to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee.
Team New York Times Best Kellers crowned 2018 Bluebook Relays champions Jeff Montgomery Circulation/Serials Departments Manager Another raucous edition of the Barber Emerson Bluebook Relays enlivened Green Hall over the lunch hour on Oct. 26, 2018. Organized by the law library’s own Jeff Montgomery and sponsored by the Lawrence law firm Barber Emerson L.C., the 29th annual Bluebook Relays were a smashing success. The 2018 title was ultimately captured by third-year law student Erica Ash’s New York Times Best Kellers team, which joins a long line of proud Bluebook Relays champions. The Relays are a special and cherished tradition for KU Law that provides 1Ls with a brief respite from memo writing and puts their newly acquired legal citations 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. Kyle Klucas’ team, Every Rosenberg Has Its Thorns, won the 2018 Spirit Award.
Erica Ash’s New York Times Best Kellers team (top) won the 2018 Bluebook Relays, while Kyle Klucas’s team, Every Rosenberg Has Its Thorns, captured the coveted Spirit Award.
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National Library Week – April 7-13, 2019
Pam Crawford Assistant Director for Public and Technical Services First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is an annual observance by the American Library Association and libraries across the country each April. Nationwide celebrations include the release of the ALA’s 2019 “State of America’s Libraries Report,” April 8; National Library Workers Day, April 9; National Bookmobile Day, April 10; Take Action for Libraries Day, April 11; and School Library Month throughout April. Here at Wheat Law Library our celebration includes: • “Cake in the Commons” on April 8 • National Library Workers Day on April 9 • User surveys to gauge the usage of and satisfaction with law library services • A few surprises! Even when it’s not National Library Week we are here for you. In addition to serving our law students and faculty we, as a public institution, provide hardcopy and electronic resources 4
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that can be used on-site by anyone. Local legal professionals, students and faculty, and the general public can use our public computers to access many legal and non-legal databases as well as court websites, government information, and many other relevant resources. So give us a call (785-864-3025), send us an email (lawref@ku.edu) or visit in person. We’re always ready to help!
KSCRP enjoys successful fall 2018 Christopher L. Steadham Wheat Law Library Director The Kansas Supreme Court Research Practicum (KSCRP) enjoyed another successful iteration in the fall 2018 semester. In this unique course, students spend the semester researching topics provided by the Kansas Supreme Court and Office of Judicial Administration, writing informative papers based on that research, and then giving presentations that summarize those findings. The highlights of the semester are always two trips to Topeka. At the beginning of the course, students have an opportunity to observe oral arguments in session and then enjoy a lunch with the justices and judicial staff. Near the end of the course, students return to Topeka to provide presentations to the Court at the Kansas Judicial Center. In between those two events, students work hard to gather relevant research, draft and revise their papers, and rehearse their presentations. Taught by Wheat Law Library faculty Chris Steadham and Blake Wilson, this course is an amazing opportunity for students to gain valuable research,
(Top row) Kansas Supreme Court Justices Dan Biles, Eric S. Rosen, Marla J. Luckert, Chief Justice Lawton R. Nuss, Carol A. Beier, Lee A. Johnson and Caleb Stegall. (Bottom row) Andrew McGrew, Christopher Steadham, Rafael Ramos Aguirre, Blake Wilson, Lindsie Ford, Katie Baugh, Amelia Selph, Peter Semegen, Jeff Carmody and Diana Stanley.
writing, and presentation skills while also serving the State of Kansas. As has been the case every time the course has been offered, the KSCRP students rose to the occasion once again and represented KU Law well in the fall 2018
semester. For interested prospective students, the course can satisfy either the Professional Writing-Intensive or Experiential Course requirement, and will be offered again during the fall 2020 semester.
UPCOMING EVENTS Media & the Law Seminar May 2-3, 2019 University Commencement May 19, 2019 Recent Developments in the Law CLE May 22-23, 2019 Reunion/Homecoming Weekend Oct. 25-26, 2019 Wheat Law Library | Hearsay
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Adding to legacy: new third floor collections Ellen Olker Technical Services Manager While it may almost go unnoticed as you rush to print out assignments or make a beeline to leave Green Hall at the end of a long day, the third floor of the library is home to a few special collections. For a time, the shelves near the lounge area held our collection of mostly Spanish language, civil procedure materials donated by Professor Robert Casad and the collection of judicial biographies donated by Professor Frances Heller. In the past year, the library has added two new collections to the group: the George C. Coggins Collection and James K. Logan Collection.
speeches throughout his career. Though Judge Logan passed away in fall of 2018, I think this collection is a testament to his impressive career and a fine way to influence future generations of law students here at KU.
With a career at KU dating back to 1970, Professor George Cameron Coggins generously donated a collection of works to leave a lasting mark in the library and be shared with the KU law community. The collection contains many of his own publications and others pertaining to environmental law, wildlife management law, national energy policy law, and national public land and resources law.
The next time you are walking past the display shelves on the third floor, stop and take a look. These collections were donated so that you can read to your heart’s content.
Featured near the Coggins collection is a collection of books donated by the Honorable James K. Logan. Originally, these were donated with a collection of papers in 2017. On the shelves, you can find a number of works related to law and history, as well as some biographies and Judge Logan’s scholarly publications. If the career and life of Judge Logan piques your interest, students and patrons are welcome to view the collection of papers and archival material related to his post on the tenth circuit, his teaching career, and his time as dean of the KU law school. Among the records are opinion drafts, correspondence with judges, and
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The past year was full of donations to the Wheat Law Library and we were fortunate to have the technical services student assistant, Annie Brazil, here to help process and organize the new special collections. Beyond the additions to the third floor, she has assisted in processing the archival materials of the Logan collection, the new Optican International Trade Collection, and the assortment of legal poetry in the Legal History Collection. Thanks to her help and patience, we were able to get all of these new materials out in the library and ready for use.
The humans had an accident! Melissa Doebele Library Assistant Depending on your age, you may be old enough to remember a PSA featuring the cast of “Cats” saying, “An accident, an accident, the humans had an accident!” It was an admonishment to get us to wear our seatbelts. Safety measures aren’t just for when we’re spending time outside, they’re important when we’re indoors too and that includes when we’re in the library.
coffee spilled on it or a cloth item that’s had a bug infestation. Although you may not be able to do much to prevent a major disaster, you can make sure you’re taking care of items you check out and use outside of the library. If you’re inside the library and a staff member asks you not to have food or drink in a certain area, there is a good reason for that request. Everyone can do his or her part to ensure that the law library’s collections continue to remain available for the benefit of future students and staff.
I am a member of CERT – Collections Emergency Response Team – at KU. Each library has at least one representative, and the group meets once a year choosing a different library in which to meet each time. During the meetings, members discuss anything of note that happened in his or her library within the last year as it relates to damage or potential damage to collections. Examples of this would include things like roof leaks or construction projects. The team representative from the host library gives everyone a tour and points out the “problem areas” of the building. We also occasionally watch videos during meetings that help refresh our memories about what to do during major disasters like floods and fires. For the law library, I periodically update our pocket plan. This is a sheet of paper that lists contact information for the law library staff and members of CERT. It also provides the location for disaster supplies like paper towels and plastic sheeting. The plan briefly describes actions one can take to protect collections in a disaster and notes what areas of the library should be given priority. The purpose of the pocket plan is to give staff something to check quickly during an emergency. The law library also has access to the University Libraries’ disaster plan. This is a more extensive document that spells out how to treat different types of objects that have been affected by a disaster. Paper items, sound and video recordings, and microfilm all require various measures for their care if they’ve been damaged.
The Emergency Response and Salvage Wheel is a quick reference guide on how to treat damaged items commonly found in libraries and museums.
Disaster plans aren’t just helpful during a major event. They can be valuable for more minor problems like a book that’s had
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The importance of proper Bluebook citation in the age of big data Blake Wilson Assistant Director for Instructional & Faculty Services In my previous life, I was considered THE Bluebook expert for a rather large Kansas City firm. Many briefs crossed my desk before being sent to court and/or opposing counsel. And it was not because I had the Bluebook memorized or had photographic memory. Rather it came down to an understanding as to why we form some type of consistency in our citation format. At the obvious level, the citation provides the reader with the authority the author has relied on for making a statement. But what about the formatting itself ? Isn’t it enough to simply state the author, title of the article, and the journal? Do I really have to remember that the author and book title are always in small caps? My explanation is that the format of the citation tells the reader as much about the citation as do the actual words used. For example: • BLAKE WILSON, HIBBERTY GIBBISH (2004), with all small caps, tells me that this is a book. • Blake Wilson, Nonsensical Phrases, in HIBBERTY GIBBISH (2004), with author, italicized title, and small cap secondary title telling me that I’m looking at something written and placed within a larger work (called Hibberty Gibbish). • Blake Wilson, Nonsensical Phrases, 125 HIB. GIB. 15 (2004), just like above, tells me that I’m looking at something written and placed within a larger work that has at least 125 volumes and is on page 15, so likely a journal of some type. This makes sense to me, but it can still be hard for many to buy into the rigidity of The Bluebook. That is perhaps until algorithms and big data become powerful players in quickly harvesting legal content. In an article by Casetext’s co-founder and Chief Legal Research Officer Pablo D. Arredondo (Harvesting and Utilizing Explanatory Parentheticals, 69 S.C. L. Rev. 659 (2018)), it is explained how the rigidity of the system proved useful in harvesting data.
From the introduction: Explanatory parentheticals — the concise summaries neatly packaged alongside case citations — are ubiquitous, easily harvested, and grossly underutilized. This Paper describes what is believed to be the first instance of harvesting explanatory parentheticals and utilizing them on a mass scale. Specifically, this Paper describes how hundreds of thousands of parentheticals were identified, mined from case law, and then integrated into Casetext, a free legal research platform. The value that parentheticals add to research is explored, including enhancing the value of a citatory. The article provides, “[i]n sum, the common law is teeming with concise case law summaries, and leveraging The Bluebook-decreed consistency of the explanatory parenthetical format enables an immense set of these summaries to be harvested algorithmically.” So now not only do we have the eyes of the reader justifying our citation system, but we also have algorithms and data mining.
Library staff directory OUR MISSION
Christopher L. Steadham Director csteadham@ku.edu 785-864-9242
Pam Crawford Assistant Director, Public & Technical Services pcraw4d@ku.edu 785-864-9264
Melissa Doebele Library Assistant mdoebele@ku.edu 785-864-3360
Jeff Montgomery Circulation & Serials Department Manager jmontgom@ku.edu 785-864-9252
As the largest and oldest law library in Kansas, the Wheat Law Library is an integral part of the School of Law. It serves the law school and university community in legal and interdisciplinary scholarly pursuits and provides attorneys, judges, and the general public with access to legal information. Key components of this mission include collecting and preserving Kansas, national, and international legal documents, teaching legal information literacy, and serving as a legal information gateway by providing access to sources beyond the scope of the physical collection.
LIBRARY HOURS March 17 - April 23, 2019 Mon - Thur 7:30 am - 11 pm Friday 7:30 am - 5 pm Saturday 9 am - 5 pm Sunday 10 am - 11 pm
Ellen Olker Technical Services Manager eolker@ku.edu 785-864-3168
W. Blake Wilson Assistant Director Instructional & Faculty Services wilsonwb@ku.edu 785-864-9253
EXAM HOURS April 24 - May 10, 2019 Mon - Thur 7:30 am - 1 am Friday 7:30 am - 10 pm Saturday 9 am - 10 pm Sunday 10 am - 1 am Friday, May 10 7:30 am - 5 pm Wheat Law Library | Hearsay
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