Celebrating Patriot Day
By Jean Holcomb
After Congress and President Bush designated September 11 as Patriot Day, individuals, organizations and communities across the country began to plan special events to recognize common themes of citizenship, democracy and patriotism. One such nationwide effort, The September Project, involves public libraries as hosts for community events. The September Project focuses on the roles libraries have played in our society as a place where people gather to find free and open access to information. Each library that participates in the Project will be creating programming tailored to their unique community of users as a way to emphasize the special ties that exist between a public library and those who use that library’s services.
Our Library will be participating in The September Project activities in a variety of ways.
Because September 11 falls on a Saturday this year, and because it is likely that the Seattle Library may be moving back to the Courthouse that day, we plan to offer a variety of activities under the umbrella of The September Project. Rather than having one special event on the 11, we will offer a training session in our Library’s Legal Research and Training Center on Thursday, September 16 with a title “9/11 -- From Commission Report to the Patriot Act: Finding Government Sources.” We will have a special bulletin board that describes collection resources covering homeland security topics. A feature on our www.kcll.org web site will showcase a list of government sources with live links to the resources for people who can’t attend the September 16 training.
We invite you to join us in September in person or via our web site to engage in The September Project activities. To learn more about what other libraries in our area are doing about Patriot Day and the September Project, visit the Project web site at www. theseptember
project.org.
Seattle Library Returns to the Courthouse: After more than 18 months in the County Admini-stration Building, the Library looks forward to our return to the sixth floor of the Courthouse. The Seismic Project management team hasn’t given us the exact dates for the move yet, but we expect that our return will be scheduled in early September. The Seattle Library will be closed for a week to accomplish the move.
As soon as we have the dates, this information will be posted on the Library’s website www.kll.org and announced on a bulletin board in the Library. The Regional Justice Center library will remain open while the Seattle library is being relocated. During the time that the Seattle library is closed for the move back to the Courthouse, call the RJC library at (206) 205-2900 for reference assistance
85th Anniversary Campaign progress report: In April, the Library announced the start of a Capital Campaign drive under the leadership of Honorary Co-chairs King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng and Helsell Fetterman partner Llewelyn G. Pritchard. The goal of the Campaign is to raise the funds needed to remodel the Library’s sixth floor Courthouse space when we return in September. When you visit the Library after its return to the Courthouse, you will see how gifts to the Campaign have transformed the Library’s space and improved the research experience for all who use the Library.
Even though the Library’s back in its old home, it’s not too late to become a contributor! Items remain on our priority for purchase list that we’ve been unable to fund. Donors who make a gift at the $250.00 level and above will be recognized by having their names listed on a commemorative plaque that will be displayed in the Library. For more about the Campaign and how you can make a gift, visit www.kcll.org/fundraising. If you haven’t yet made a gift or pledge to the Campaign, you’ll find a downloadable copy of the Campaign pledge card on our web site.
Internet Class Topic: The Seattle Law Library Internet lunch-break class for web users will be held on the third Thursday of the month on the sixth floor of the County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue. On September 16, the discussion will focus on finding government sources of information about 9/11 from the Commission Report to the Patriot Act. The October 21 class will cover tips for finding resources on the web about voting, candidates, and election information. To register, contact Denise at KCBA at (206) 340-2578. For information about the training, contact Rita Kaiser at (206) 296-0940. For information about additional training opportunities, view the monthly training calendar on the library’s web page at www.kcll.org.
New Book List: for a monthly update of new books added to the collection, please check the library’s web site at www.kcll.org or pick up a copy at the reference desk of the listing arranged by subject.
Jean Holcomb is the King County Law Librarian. She welcomes your comments. Call her at (206) 296-0940,
or email her at jean.holcomb@metrokc.gov.
Collections Note
By Rita Dermody, Collection Access Services Librarian.
As federal and state election campaigns near the final stages, questions regarding election law may arise. Highlighted below are a few resources in the Law Library that may help answer those questions.
Campaign Reporting: A Guide to Election Records and Events, The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. 1996. “Do reporters have the right to attend a fundraiser, a debate, a party meeting, or a convention? Can they find out who is supporting and financing a campaign?” This pamphlet discusses a reporter’s access to campaign and election events; to private places and events; to semi-public events and places; and to public events and access to election records. It also includes a summary of laws for all 50 states.
The Election Law Primer for Corporations, 3rd ed. by Jan Witold Baran. American Bar Association Section of Business Law, 2002. This publication from the ABA discusses political action committees, use of corporate facilities for political purposes, political communications by a corporation, corporate relations with members of Congress, state and local elections and soft money, and tax consideration. The appendix also includes references to state laws, Federal Election Commission forms, and lobbying forms.
Election Law: Cases and Materials, 2d ed. by Daniel Hays Lowenstein and Richard L. Hasen. Carolina Academic Press, 2001. Historically election law has not been a topic covered in law school curriculum. However, it is beginning to be taught at some of the universities across the country. This text presents an overall picture of various aspects of election law. It begins with right to vote and its exercise, also discussing voting and representation, legislative districting, minority vote dilution, racial gerrymandering, ballot propositions, campaigns, bribery, campaign financing, public financing, and parties, soft money and issue advocacy. This text includes a discussion of the 2000 elections in Florida.
