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29 SCCLL News 1 (2003)

handle is hein.lbr/alsclnws0029 and id is 1 raw text is: Newsletter of the State, Court & County SIS of the American Association of Law Libraries ..... _ ..State, Court & County Law Libraries _NEWS Volume 29, Number I Winter 2003 View from the Chair Mid-winter Musings from Mike Michael S. Miller, SCCLL Chair Maryland State Law Library Here it is, December 29th, that no man's land between Christmas and New Year's when most of us have fallen off that treadmill of workday routines. We now bow down to the gods of shopping mall sales, anticipate visits and partying with family and friends, root for our favorite collegiate or NFL football team who have found themselves in one of those endless post-season quests for gridiron immortality. Add to this fun mix the apocalyptic thundering hooves of government fiscal analysts screaming that the sky (revenue) is falling and that big time belt tightening is in the offing even for our libraries meager budgets. (does your collection development policy have a contingency clause addressing falling skies?) Thank the stars that my library's (MSLL) recruitment for a head cataloger and a new outreach services librarian was completed one day before the Chief's Dear Mike memo announcing a rigid hiring freeze made its way to my desk. Then there are those cost containment action memos for the remainder of FY 2003. We can all learn from the current fiscal crisis being experienced by state and local governments (can the feds be far behind?) all across the U.S. It has happened before and it will happen again - most of us remember the early 1990's. It forces us to look carefully at our operating budgets and rethink strategies, initiatives and priorities. It highlights the importance of having in place a set of realistic and up-to-date standards for resources and competencies we must offer our customers. It is a time that cries out for astute marketing practices promoting the value of law librarians and the services we can bring to our community of users. Although your SIS chair has never claimed to be a visionary, my theme this year, uniting behind a clear vision, is more critical today then just a few short months ago. To be a relevant SIS for all of our membership (529 as of 9/30/02) the Executive Board, SIS Committee chairs and their working stiffs are committed to implementing the charges and upcoming revitalized strategic plan that will address our goal of uniting behind that clear vision. The recital of a status report on committee efforts this time of the year can be described as lean. There are, you see, procrastinators among us and as many of us can attest to, we do our best work at the last minute. We have our first Resource Guide (How to Hire...) in hand and three more in the mill (thanks to Anita Anderson, Lisa Mecklenberg-Jackson, et al); the SIS web site has been re-designed and promises significant new and practical content (send your offerings to Joelle Grisham); we have great program offerings for Seattle compliments of the Education (View from the Chair Continued on page 4) Inside this issue: Editor's Etchings Charley's Corner SCCLL Announcements Scholarships and Grants Minnesota Library Partnership West Group Reception The current fiscal crisis ... forces us to look carefully at our operating budgets and rethink strategies, initiatives and priorities. It highlights the importance of having in place a set of realistic and up-to- date standards for resources and competencies we must offer our customers.

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