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55 Law Libr. Lights 1 (2011-2012)

handle is hein.journals/lll55 and id is 1 raw text is: Scott Craft, Reference Librarian, Howard University Law Library, scraft@law.howard.edu Professor Rhea Ballard-Thrower, Director, Howard University Law Library, RBallard@law.howard.edu Orientation-the mere sound of the word can revive dreadful memories in one's psyche. For some, the word reminds them of hours spent learning the latest tasks. For others, the recall can be weeks and weeks upon end of learning new policies and procedures. Orientation has been defined as an introduction to some subject or particular situation. Successful organizations, whether they be commercial or educational in- stitutions, have often developed extensive orien- tation programs to assist new employees (and/or students) in learning facts or principles known to those already a part of the organization. Each fall semester, academic librarians across the country participate in welcoming new classes of law students. Generally, first-year law students begin classes a few days or even a week before the second, third, or part-time fourth-year students return. These orientation programs afford law librarians the opportunity to introduce the students to the law library. Thus, orientation is often the first public rela- tions or marketing tool for the academic law library. The task of providing some type of ori- entation program for new law students has been implemented by law schools across the country for a number of years. Traditionally, orientation programs in the law school environment have primarily centered around three categories: per- sonal contact, teaching, and tools. Over the years, academic law librarians have demonstrated that one of the best ways to reach new students is to engage the students on a personal level. Generally, this type of orienta- tion begins with the law library tour. Most aca- demic law libraries provide some type of tour for first-year students. Due to the overwhelming amount of information that the students obtain during the law school's orientation, these tours can range from a brief walk through certain parts of the library to a self-guided tour. The primary goals of the tours are to welcome the new students and make them aware that law library personnel are there to assist them in their academic pursuits. Often the tours include a welcome session during which library and information technology policies and services are discussed. In addition, the library tour has been used to provide a view of the law library's building, collection, and location of impor- tant areas to students. Thus, the library tour, as a public relations tool, is an excellent way to initiate communication between the library and new students. Law librarians understand that every question from a library patron is a teachable moment. Academic law librarians have the unique oppor- tunity to not only educate new students about legal research, but also imprint in their minds that the law librarian can be a phenomenal re- source. Teaching beyond the reference interview is one of the best public relations tools available to the law librarian. For some law librarians, teaching includes formal classroom instruction. Librarians who are members of the faculty have been known to participate in what has typically been called the law school's basic Introduction continued on page 3

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