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12 PLL Persp. 1 (2000-2001)

handle is hein.lbr/aaplper0012 and id is 1 raw text is: SPLL THE QUARTERLY OF THE PRIVATE LAW LIBRARIES SIS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF LAW LIBRARIES Volume 12 Issue CONELL 2K: FIRST IMPRESSIONS FROM A WET-BEHIND-THE-EARS LAW LIBRARIAN by Andrew Martin, Baker & Hostetler LLP, Washington, D.C. W hen I staggered into Salon A of the Marriott Hotel in ~Philadelphia looking for the Conference on Newer Law Librarians, I was bleary eyed and still trying to think through the several layers of cotton wrapped around my cerebral cortex. I had missed the deadline for pre-registering for CONELL, and I was hoping that someone would drop out of the program at the last minute and I could sneak in. Consequently I was there at the crack of dawn, after having driven five hours the previous night through a thunderstorm that had shut down the East Coast. The first thing that swam into focus through the murkiness of my vision was, predictably enough, the coffee. I lunged at it, brushing aside some of the other attendees trying to get to the continental breakfast. After bludgeoning a fellow CONELL attendee with what I believe was a scone, I stepped up to the registration table. Fortunately for me, the same storm that had made my drive up from DC the previous evening into an epic journey not unlike The Old Man and the Sea or Moby Dick had also delayed quite a few people flying into Philadelphia, and there was plenty of room in the conference. I was handed a program and a playing card and warned of dire consequences should I lose the playing card. I had faith that this would make sense after a couple more cups of coffee. CONELL is meant for people who are new to the field of Law Librarianship. Since I had been a law librarian for only two months I was completely new to the field and figured that this would be a good place to get my feet under me and get acquainted with the jargon and intricacies of the field. (Earlier that day I had told someone to Go Shepardize yourself.) Impressively, the entire AALL Executive Board was in attendance. Not only that, they looked relatively human for such an early hour. Robert Hu, the head of the Mentoring Committee, spoke in welcome, as did Margie Axtmann and Anne Matthewman. This could be interesting, I thought. Anything that was attended by the complete Executive Board should be taken very seriously. Then a tall, white haired gentleman wearing a blue baseball cap came running down the aisle, shouting like a cheerleader at a pep rally. My sleep- fogged brain wondered what sort of witches' brew of prescription pharmaceuticals he must be on to be so upbeat and energetic this early in the morning, and more important, where I could get the recipe. Later I determined that this Tony Robbins on speed was in fact Al Podboy, Director of Libraries for Baker and Hostetler LLP, based in Cleveland. Coincidentally enough, I work for Baker and Hostetler in Washington DC, which made him my ultimate boss. I fervently hoped that he wouldn't hold me to his own high standard for energy and sprightliness early in the morning. I stepped out and got some more coffee. The playing card we had all received turned out to be the key to a Get to Know Your Fellow CONELL Attendees exercise. Everyone with the same card grouped up and met with a member of the AALL Executive Board. Each group was supposed to come up with a list of potential candidates for the next face to be carved on Mt. Rushmore. Our candidate was supposed to embody leadership in keeping with the conference theme of Gateways to Leadership The group I was in settled on Underdog, but our choice was disqualified when a sharp-eyed member of our group pointed out that cartoon superheros were ineligible. My arguments that Underdog displayed the most sterling qualities of leadership to which Law Librarians should aspire went unheeded. As corny as this exercise sounds, it was very useful as a get-to-know-you game. I met several people in my CONELL section with whom I spent time throughout the rest of the convention, and we not only took in the Hall 0' Vendors and the sessions, but also had fin traipsing all over the city and exploring South Street, Antiques Row, etc. together. After this exercise, we split up and tramped into the next room to explore the Marketplace section, where the various Special Interest Sections and Committees had set up shop. People behind cryptic acronyms like CS-SIS and RIPS dispensed information and goodies. Pens! I got tons of PENS! And MOUSEPADS!! This was my first conference, and I didn't know that the army of wares being foisted upon us here would pale in comparison to the orgy oflogo- emblazoned goodies that awaited us in the Vendor Hall across the street. In addition to amassing a collection of gold foil-wmpped chocolate coins impressive continued on page 14 I I-m PERSPEI VES Il l IFA l 2i 1 e I FALL 2000

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