Creative ideas can come in many shapes and sizes. Some come in a spur of the moment and others come after long brainstorming sessions. When arriving at a new idea, the important task is to turn the new idea into reality. Leaning upon the regular resources such as primary cases, statutes and generally accepted legal theories will win the day in the end. However, it may also be time to consider a different way to stimulate thoughts about the law and how it fits into our culture.
In most cases, good ideas come from within an organization and not from the top. One such idea will turn into reality beginning in June for the law library and this is due in large part to one of our librarians on staff, Rita Dermody, who describes the new program below:
Coming Attractions: The Legal Eagle Collection:
A recent article in Library Journal, "Library 2.0: Service for the Next-Generation Library" (Sept. 1, 2006, p. 40), describes Library 2.0 as the new model for library service. It is described as user-centered change. It "encourages constant and purposeful change [and] attempts to reach new users and better serve current ones through improved customer-driven offerings." The article also states, "Library 2.0 will be a meeting place, online or in the physical world, where [library users'] needs will be fulfilled through entertainment, information, and the ability to create [their] own stuff to contribute to the ocean of content out there."
In the same issue, a letter to the editor states that "DVDs are a great lure to get young people and their families into the library. Having a good DVD collection has proven to increase library patronage and encourage the collateral reading of more books by patrons who were first attracted by DVDs."
King County Law Library constantly strives to find new ways to increase our services to our patrons. Library 2.0 clearly points out ways that libraries can be creative in bringing the library patron into the library, either in person or electronically. Over the past few years, we have implemented a few ways to do what Library 2.0 suggests must be done. The opening of the Library Research and Training Center, making our public computers available to access the Internet, and providing word processing software to create correspondence, court documents and complete standardized forms are all examples of providing access as suggested by Library 2.0.
What does this have to do with the King County Law Library? We are always trying to find new services. So, I started talking aloud, somewhat facetiously, about having a video collection. The more I talked, the more plausible it seemed. It morphed into a plan that included a small membership fee that would allow anyone over 18 to check out up to three videos a week for one week, similar to our book circulation policy. Unlike our primary subscriber service, only individuals will subscribe, not entire law firms.
We call it "Legal Eagle." The video collection is a combination of movies, television shows and documentaries written by lawyers, about lawyers, the law or the legal community. This includes classics, such as To Kill a Mockingbird, as well as contemporary movies or television shows, such as Angel. We have included actors that are old favorites, such as Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine, and contemporary actors like Johnny Depp and Reese Witherspoon. We are constantly looking for newly released movies.
On June 1, we will debut our new "Legal Eagle" video service with a collection of about 170 videos, adding new films as they become available. For more details, be sure to check our Web site, www.kcll.org, in the coming weeks. Our next edition of KCLL E-News will have all the details as well. If you would like to receive a copy of our E-News, send a note to kcll@metrokc.gov.n
Marcus Hochstetler is the King County Law Librarian. Please direct comments or questions to him at 206-296-0940 or marcus.hochstetler@metrokc.gov.
Collections Note
By Rita Dermody
Collection Access Services Librarian.
Successful lawyers often are the ones who approach the law and the practice of law creatively. Here are a few examples of books from the King County Law Library that take a creative approach:
Bioethical and Evolutionary Approaches to Medicine and the Law, by W. Noel Keyes. American Bar Association, 2007.
Creating Effective Parenting Plans: A Developmental Approach for Lawyers and Divorce Professionals, by John Hartson and Brenda Payne. American Bar Association, 2006.
Creating Winning Trial Strategies and Graphics, by G. Christopher Ritter. American Bar Association, 2004.
Creative Problem Solver's Handbook for Negotiators and Mediators: A Pracademic Approach: A Guide for Practitioners, Academics, and Students of Creative Problem Solving, by John W. Cooley. American Bar Association, 2005.
The Foundation of Success: Practical Business Management for Attorneys and Legal Administrators: Make Your Law Firm More Effective - as an Attorney, an Administrator, or Both. Washington State Bar Association, 2005.
Intellectual Property Law: Commercial, Creative, and Industrial Property, by Jay Dratler. Law Journal Press, 1991.
The Lawyer's Guide to Creating a Business Plan: A Step-by-Step Software Package, by Linda Pinson. American Bar Association, 2005. CD-ROM.
The Lawyer's Guide to Creating Persuasive Computer Presentations, by Ann E. Brenden and John D. Goodhue. American Bar Association, 2005.
Marketing Success Stories: Conversations with Leading Lawyers, 2nd ed., by Hollis Hatfield Weishar and Joyce K. Smiley. American Bar Association, 2004.
Thinking Outside the Cubicle. Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, 2004.
