Category Archives: Member News

What’s New with LLAM Members

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Honorary New LLAM Member

Congratulations to Kirstin Nelson and her husband Mike. We are thrilled to welcome Vivienne Amy Small to the LLAM family. She was born March 15th and was brought home May 2nd. She weighed 71bs 2oz at birth and is now over the 13lb mark. According to Mom Vivienne is a good sleeper, is smiling up a storm and as you can see already on her way to being an avid reader.


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New LISP-SIS Chair-elect

Mary Rice from Charles County Circuit Court Law Library has been nominated as Vice Chair/Chair-elect to the Legal Information Services to the Public (LISP) – Special Interest Section (SIS) of AALL.
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Teaching Research in Private Law Libraries (TRIPLL)

Carol Mundorf from the law firm Ballard Spahr was selected to attend the TRIPLL Conference last April in Dallas, which is sponsored by Lexis. Selection was limited to 30 attendees and the 2012 mission was “Rethink Research Training: A Practical Approach to Creating High Impact Programs.” More information can be found here.
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Proud Grandmother

Kevin Rubenstein and Matthew Jennings, grandsons of Beverly Rubenstein, graduated from High School in June. Kevin, who was vice-president of his class, graduated from Boys Latin School. He is a member of the National Honor Society and received the alumni award for leadership and character. He will be attending Dickinson College. Matthew, through a combination of AP and college courses, graduated at the end of junior year and at the age of 16, from Broadneck High School, where he received an honors diploma. He will be attending the University of Vermont.

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Andy Zimmerman’s New Gig

Many well wishes go out to Andy Zimmerman. He is leaving his current post at Gordon Feinblatt in Baltimore to take a position as the Manager of Library Service for the DC office of Morgan Lewis & Bockius.

What’s New with LLAM Members

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Goodbye, Janet…

Janet Sinder is leaving the Thurgood Marshall Law Library at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. Janet has been the Associate Director for Research Services at TMLL since 2004. She is leaving to become the Director of the Library and Associate Professor of Law at Brooklyn Law School on May 1.

Janet became the editor of Law Library Journal in July 2007 and will continue in that role as she moves to her new job.

Janet is “sorry to be leaving the LLAM community, with all its great law librarians, but looking forward to living and working in New York City.”

Congratulations and good luck!

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AALL/LLAM Grants for Annual Meeting/Conference

Each year, on a rotating basis, AALL provides grants to members of local chapters to cover registration for the Annual Meeting.  In 2011 it is LLAM’s turn to have a member receive a AALL grant for the Annual Meeting, to be held in Philadelphia from July 23-26.  To make the grant even more appealing, LLAM is adding $500 to AALL’s registration grant to help cover the cost of transportation/hotel/meals at the conference.

To apply for the grant, you must fill out an application and return it to the LLAM Grants & Awards Committee by Wednesday, April 4, 2012.  Applicants must be members of AALL and LLAM at the time of their application.  A committee consisting of Jean Hessenauer, Mark Desierto, and Jim Gernert will review all of the applications, and let the grant recipient know of his/her selection by April 8, 2011.

For more information, or to request a copy of the application, contact Jim Gernert at jgernert@yahoo.com, or (410) 965-6107.  You can also find a copy of the application on LLAM’s website at http://www.aallnet.org/chapter/llam/llamgrantapplication2011.doc.

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2011-2012 LLAM Directory

The LLAM 2011-2012 Directory is now available in PDF and online format. To request a PDF version of the directory or to obtain a password to access the directory on the LLAM website, please contact Mary Jo Lazun at mjlazun@mdcourts.gov.

People’s Law Library Wins Herbert S. Garten Public Citizen Award

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On December 5, 2011, the Maryland Legal Services Corporation awarded the Herbert S. Garten Public Citizen Award to the State Law Library for the People’s Law Library website.

From the MLSC website:  “The Herbert S. Garten Public Citizen Award is presented to an entity or organization (not regularly engaged in the delivery of legal services to low-income persons) that has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to increase access to justice for the poor in Maryland.”

Congratulations to all the people who put their time and effort into the useful site.

LLAM’s Own Steve Anderson Elected AALL President

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Long-time LLAM member and former LLAM president Steve Anderson was elected Vice-President/President Elect of the American Association of Law Libraries and will be sworn-in at the AALL Conference in July 2012.  This is the first time a Marylander and LLAM member has been elected to this position.  Steve is currently Director of the Maryland State Law Library where he has made his mark as a talented manager and thoughtful leader.

Chief Judge Bell of the Maryland Court of Appeals was delighted when he heard the news of Steve’s election.  So was his staff of eighteen, who sent a big bunch of balloons to Steve to celebrate his election.  Predictably, Steve said that his election would not be possible without the hard work and support of his staff.

One of Steve’s first outings as our incoming Vice-President/President Elect will be to share the stage with fellow Marylander and incoming ALA Vice-President/President Elect Maureen Sullivan at the LLAM’s Full Disclosure conference this coming March.

One thing we know for sure, AALL could not be in better hands.

What’s New with LLAM Members?

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  1. AALL Un-Run
  2. Baby News
  3. AALL Committee Membership
  4. Maryland State Law Library Adds New Staff
  5. Member Earns Paralegal Certificate
  6. New Librarian at Thurgood Marshall Law Library
  7. New Co-webmasters of the LLAM Website

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2nd Annual Law Librarian “Un-Run”

This year’s AALL Un-Run (unsponsored fun run) was organized by fellow LLAM member John Cannan. Both runners and walkers enjoyed the route from the convention center to Philadelphia Museum of Art. The run culminated with a run up the Art Museum steps…just like Rocky!  Several LLAM members participated including Janet Camillo (and Larry), Jean Hessenauer and Joanne Colvin.

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Congratulation Sara Thomas

Sara Thomas welcomed Ashlynn Brooke Thomas on February 8, 2011. She weighed 7lbs 11oz and measured 21 inches. 

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AALL Committee Appointment

Kirstin Nelson has been appointed to the AALL Recruitment to Law Librarianship Committee for a 2 year term. The Recruitment Committee works to encourage qualified candidates to enter the profession of law librarianship. Efforts include outreach to library and law school career centers, publishing pamphlets, speaking at open houses and more.

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MSLL Welcomes New Staff

Maryland State Law Library recently welcomed two new staff members. Pam Luby is the library’s new part-time Research Librarian. Sara Marks is the Fiscal Services Coordinator and is taking over many of the duties handled by Bernice Bernstein.

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Lazun Earns Paralegal Certification

Mary Jo Lazun completed her paralegal certification at Anne Arundel Community College. She will be teaching two continuing educational classes for attorneys and paralegals this fall.

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Hawkins Joins TMLL as Research Librarian

Jason Hawkins started August 15  as Research Librarian at University of Maryland, Thurgood Marshall Law Library.  Jason was formerly at George Washington University Law School’s Jacob Burns Law Library.  We welcome Jason as a new LLAM member.

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New Co-webmasters of LLAM Website

Jenny Rensler has joined Mary Jo Lazun as co-webmaster of the LLAM website this year, and she has added navigation links from the LLAM website to the LLAM newsletter pages for improved access to “LLAM-formation.” Since earning her J.D. in the spring, this fall she is enjoying teaching 30 students in her first course of Advanced Legal Research at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. She survived Irene: a 30-foot tree in front of her Riva townhome fell, but fortunately did not damage any property during the hurricane. She and her husband Matt are preparing to move from downtown Baltimore to the Annapolis area this fall in order to be near their families and to ease his commute to work. Now that she will have a commute to work, she is looking forward to catching up on her “reading” with “books on CD” from the library!

Two Members Receive AALL Awards

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Janet Camillo, Joan Bellistri

Longtime LLAM members Janet Camillo and Joan Bellistri received national law library association awards this year, which will be presented during the 2011 AALL Annual Meeting and Conference in Philadelphia. Janet received the Bethany J. Ochal Award for Distinguished Service to the Profession from the SCCLL-SIS. “This award goes to a State, Court and County Law Libraries Special Interest Section member who has made a significant contribution to law librarianship and who is nearing the end of his or her library career or who has recently retired. Criteria for receiving this award include service to the profession of law librarianship, contributions to legal research, teaching and outreach efforts and recognition by members of the legal or government community.” Janet is the only recipient of the Ochal Award this year. She retired in January of this year from the Montgomery County Circuit Court Law Library, where she served as Director since 2006. The award will be presented at the SCCLL breakfast meeting on Sunday morning, July 24, at 7:00 a.m. in the Marriott-Liberty Ballroom Salon AB.

Joan Bellistri, director of the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library, was selected as the 2011 recipient of the American Association of Law Libraries Robert L. Oakley Advocacy Award, which recognizes “an AALL member or group who has contributed significantly to the AALL advocacy agenda at the federal, state, local, or international level.” The judges also consider “the extent to which the individual or group has been an active advocate for law libraries and legal information at the federal, state or local level.” Joanie will receive this award at the AALL Public Policy Update program (D-2) on Monday, July 25, at 8:45 a.m. in the Pennsylvania Convention Center Room 201 (A).

Joan Bellistri Awarded the Access to Justice Commission’s Maryland Access to Justice Award

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By Mary Rice
Charles County Public Law Library
 

Joanie Bellistri received an important Maryland state award this year. She was one of the inaugural recipients of the Maryland Access to Justice Commission’s Maryland Access to Justice Awards. “These awards recognize individuals, programs and entities in the State that improve the ability of all Marylanders to access the courts or to get legal help in civil legal matters so they can benefit from the rights, protections, services and opportunities that the law provides,” said retired Maryland Court of Appeals Judge Irma S. Raker, chair of the Commission. Joanie was awarded the Judicial Branch Excellence Award “for her ongoing efforts to make legal information more accessible through publications, training and programs such as the creation of a self-help corner in the court’s law library. [She] also created the ‘Ask a Lawyer in the Library’ program in Anne Arundel County, organizing attorney volunteers to staff regular clinics at local public libraries.” Joanie received her award at the 2011 Judicial Conference on May 13 in Annapolis. She was in good company. Other honorees included Gov. Martin O’Malley, winner of the Executive Branch Award, and Chief Judge Ben C. Clyburn of the District Court of Maryland, winner of the Judge of the Year Award.

People’s Law Library Web Site Wins AALL Award

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Congratulations to the Maryland State Law Library for being the 2011 recipient of the AALL Innovations in Technology Award for The People’s Law Library (http://www.peoples-law.org).  The Innovations in Technology Award was established in 2009 “to recognize an AALL member, SIS, chapter, or library for their innovative use of technology in the development of an application or resource for law librarians or legal professionals.”  The award will be presented during the AALL Opening Reception on Saturday, July 23rd, from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Kudos to the State Law Library and all its staff who have been involved in this project!

What’s New with LLAM Members? Awards, Graduations and more…

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1. Joan Bellistri Wins Access to Justice Award
2. Two Members Receive AALL Awards
3. Jenny Rensler Graduates from University of Maryland School of Law
4. Kurt Meyer Accepts New Job
5. Evan Levasseur Graduates
6. People’s Law Library Web Site Wins AALL Award

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1. Joan Bellistri Wins Access to Justice Award

Joan Bellistri, Judge Irma S. Raker, Judge Robert Bell

Joanie Bellistri received an important Maryland state award this year. She was one of the inaugural recipients of the Maryland Access to Justice Commission’s Maryland Access to Justice Awards. “These awards recognize individuals, programs and entities in the State that improve the ability of all Marylanders to access the courts or to get legal help in civil legal matters so they can benefit from the rights, protections, services and opportunities that the law provides,” said retired Maryland Court of Appeals Judge Irma S. Raker, chair of the Commission. Joanie was awarded the Judicial Branch Excellence Award “for her ongoing efforts to make legal information more accessible through publications, training and programs such as the creation of a self-help corner in the court’s law library. [She] also created the ‘Ask a Lawyer in the Library’ program in Anne Arundel County, organizing attorney volunteers to staff regular clinics at local public libraries.” Joanie received her award at the 2011 Judicial Conference on May 13 in Annapolis. She was in good company. Other honorees included Gov. Martin O’Malley, winner of the Executive Branch Award, and Chief Judge Ben C. Clyburn of the District Court of Maryland, winner of the Judge of the Year Award.

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2. Two Members Receive AALL Awards

Janet Camillo, Joan Bellistri

Longtime LLAM members Janet Camillo and Joan Bellistri received national law library association awards this year, which will be presented during the 2011 AALL Annual Meeting and Conference in Philadelphia. Janet received the Bethany J. Ochal Award for Distinguished Service to the Profession from the SCCLL-SIS. “This award goes to a State, Court and County Law Libraries Special Interest Section member who has made a significant contribution to law librarianship and who is nearing the end of his or her library career or who has recently retired. Criteria for receiving this award include service to the profession of law librarianship, contributions to legal research, teaching and outreach efforts and recognition by members of the legal or government community.” Janet is the only recipient of the Ochal Award this year. She retired in January of this year from the Montgomery County Circuit Court Law Library, where she served as Director since 2006. The award will be presented at the SCCLL breakfast meeting on Sunday morning, July 24, at 7:00 a.m. in the Marriott-Liberty Ballroom Salon AB.

Joan Bellistri, director of the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library, was selected as the 2011 recipient of the American Association of Law Libraries Robert L. Oakley Advocacy Award, which recognizes “an AALL member or group who has contributed significantly to the AALL advocacy agenda at the federal, state, local, or international level.” The judges also consider “the extent to which the individual or group has been an active advocate for law libraries and legal information at the federal, state or local level.” Joanie will receive this award at the AALL Public Policy Update program (D-2) on Monday, July 25, at 8:45 a.m. in the Pennsylvania Convention Center Room 201 (A).

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3. Jenny Rensler Graduates

Jenny Rensler

Jenny Rensler graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree on May 20, 2011. While in law school since 2007, Jenny continued working at the Thurgood Marshall Law Library as Research Librarian. Jenny will join her esteemed colleagues on the library faculty who teach legal research at Maryland School of Law and teach her first legal research course in Fall 2011.

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4. Kurt Meyer Accepts New Job

Kurt Meyer

Kurt Meyer, Research Librarian at Thurgood Marshal Law Library, has accepted a new job at Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Washington. Kurt’s new position will be Reference Librarian and Assistant Professor of Law.  Good luck, Kurt!

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5. Levasseur Graduates

Evan Levasseur

On May 26, 2011 Stephanie Levasseur’s son, Evan, graduated from kindergarten at the Immaculate Conception School. Congratulations, Evan!

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6. People’s Law Library Web Site Wins AALL Award

Congratulations to the Maryland State Law Library for being the 2011 recipient of the AALL Innovations in Technology Award for The People’s Law Library (http://www.peoples-law.org).  The Innovations in Technology Award was established in 2009 “to recognize an AALL member, SIS, chapter, or library for their innovative use of technology in the development of an application or resource for law librarians or legal professionals.”  The award will be presented during the AALL Opening Reception on Saturday, July 23rd, from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Kudos to the State Law Library and all its staff who have been involved in this project!

2011 Spring Fling

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On May 2nd, over 20 members of LLAM enjoyed a dinner buffet and desserts at Teavolve at Harbor East in Baltimore. Susan Herrick thanked the 2010-2011 Board Members, committee chairs, and volunteers in her final speech as LLAM President. Sara Witman was greeted as the incoming chapter president for the 2011-2012. Thanks for a great year!

What’s New with LLAM Members?

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Joanne Colvin Participates in USPTO Program

On February 15 Joanne Colvin participated in a Roundtable hosted by Director of the Patent and Trademark Office David Kappos. The purpose of the Roundtable was to consider the future direction and expansion of the Patent and Trademark Depository Library Program. The University of Baltimore Law Library is one of 80 PTDLs in the country, and the only law library. PTDLs offer access to PTO databases and reference support to independent inventors and others doing patent and trademark research.

In related news, Joanne and Pat Behles will be attending a week-long training conference at the Patent and Trademark Office in April.

Holiday Party

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On December 9th over 35 LLAM members, friends and family started the season with a holiday party at The Waterfront Hotel on Thames Street in Fells Point.

The restaurant, located just across the street from the Homicide: Life in the Street building, was the perfect setting for holiday fun and cheer. The festivities included a delicious buffet dinner, an open bar and the traditional silent auction.

The auction raised $550 that will be split between the Maryland Food Bank and the LLAM Scholarship Fund. Auction bidding was active and the items included a chocolate basket, spa kit, a ceramic lamb, several books, a watercolor print, wine, a Sheep “Baddd Girl (ewe know it)” T-shirt, a Flip Video Camera (donated by Todd Henderson of West) and many other items.

Janet Camillo was awarded the Service to LLAM award. Susan Herrick expressed the appreciation of all LLAM members for Janet’s many years of service, which included nearly every possible LLAM office and committee chairmanship, as well as participation in AALL,numerous Special Interest Section committees and many other library related groups. Janet was joined at the party by her husband, Larry Johnson.

Member News

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Law on the Frontlines: Dealing with Law Questions from Public Patrons

Catherine McGuire, Outreach Services Law Librarian at the Maryland State Law Library, and Joan Bellistri, Law Library Director at the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library, presented two back-to-back training sessions, Law on the Frontlines: Dealing with Law Questions from Public Patrons, at the Anne Arundel County Public Library, West County Branch, on September 30, 2010.

Librarians Attend Law School

Errin Roby, associate law librarian at the Baltimore County Circuit Court Law Library, and  Scott Stevens both are attending University of Baltimore School of Law.