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October 2009 E-Newsletter |
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October Library Closures
All branches of the Law Library will be CLOSED on Monday, October 12th in observance of Columbus Day. Normal hours of operation will resume on Tuesday, October 13th.
According to the Library of Congress, a sailor on board the Pinta sighted land early in the morning of October 12, 1492. The 90 crew members ended their ten-week voyage from Spain when they stepped onto the island the next day.
The first recorded celebration of Columbus Day in the United States took place on October 12, 1792, commemorating the 300th anniversary of Columbus's landing. Later, the Knights of Columbus society lobbied state legislatures to declare October 12 a legal holiday. Colorado was the first state to do so on April 1, 1907, followed by New York in 1909. Since 1971 Columbus Day, designated as the second Monday in October, has been celebrated as a federal holiday.
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Our Site is Getting a Face Lift!
The Library is embarking on a massive web site redesign and we want to hear from you.
Is there a feature you've been waiting for? Content you want to see? Let us know. We want to make our site easy to use. Tell us what drives you crazy with websites, as well as what makes you smile. Share with us other sites you like and tell us why you like them.
All your ideas are welcome.
Please email them, without attachments, to web-redesign@sdcpll.org.
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Recent Web Site Changes
Yes, we're undergoing a website redesign, but we just couldn't wait to make some quick improvements. Effective immediately, you'll notice new sections, new content, and an improved site search feature. These will help you navigate our site more easily and efficiently than ever before.
Our most popular link, Useful Links, has been split in two to make it easier to find information. Look for Web Resources (useful websites), and E-Resources (links to our subscription data bases). Bookmark our E-Resources page so when you use your laptop in our library you can quickly navigate to HeinOnline, OnLaw, and our other databases.
Our new Site Search feature makes it easier to find information on our site.
We also created Services, a section of pages containing information about all of our services.
Of course we are always available by phone to help you. Don't hesitate to call us for help navigating the site.
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Attorney Deadline:
Provide E-mail to State Bar by Februrary 1
by Tina J.
As of February 1, 2010, all California attorneys must provide a valid e-mail address to the State Bar to keep in their personal profile. The state Supreme Court approved a new rule of court, 9.7, that requires all State Bar members to "create an online profile through the bar's secure membership system" and provide an email address.
These "private" e-mail addresses will only be recorded in the Bar's secure database and "will be used only for official communications." Any disciplinary or regulatory proceeding notices that could potentially cost a lawyer her professional license "will continue to be sent through regular mail." Attorneys may also opt to provide a separate email address visible to the general public through the Bar's website.
Exemptions will be given for inactive attorneys over 70 years of age and possibly for those lawyers who do not have an email address, based solely upon the State Bar's administrative policy, since the new rule doesn't address the issue. To be exempt, you will have to fill out a State Bar form and submit it for approval.
To cut down on having to manually process address and phone number changes, the State Bar is also only permitting these changes to be made through the attorney's online profile. Lawyers are required by statute to provide updated address information within 30 days after they move, so as of February 1st, their only option to do so will be through the Bar's website.
Review the Bar's member services center or call 888-800-3400 for more details.
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Upcoming Classes for October & November
Pre-registration is required for all classes, as seating is limited. Please sign up by calling the appropriate branch location.
For a complete description of the classes and the most up-to-date information, visit our Class Calendar.
The following classes are free to Law Library members and $5 for non-members.
OCTOBER
North County Branch (760) 940-4386
- Using Westlaw*
by Westlaw Representative Trevor Covington, Esq.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
12:00 - 1:00 pm
South Bay Branch (619) 691-4929
- Using Lexis*
Thursday, October 22, 2009
12:00 - 1:00 pm
Main Branch (619) 531-3900
NOVEMBER
Main Branch (619) 531-3900
*MCLE Participatory Credit hour(s) available for these classes.
The San Diego County Public Law Library
is a State Bar approved MCLE provider.
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New Resource & Materials Added to the Collection
by Isabel E.
This month's featured resource:
O'Connor's Federal Civil Forms (2009)
Author Michol O'Connor provides over 500 sample forms for federal civil litigation practice, from plaintiff's lawsuit to post judgment motions. The forms are written without legalese and have been shortened by having the common elements (e.g. caption, certificate of service, signature) in chapter 1 instead of in each form. Each form is numbered to correspond to the relevant chapter and section in O'Connor's Federal Rules - Civil Trials (2009), which the library has in its collection, as well. And I saved the best for last: the forms are available in CD, housed inside the book.
New Materials Added to the Collection
The Law Library regularly adds new materials to its collection. To see new books added to the collection in the last month, click here.
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First Monday in October
by Debra M.
Here are some fun facts about the United States Supreme Court, which reconvenes each year on the first Monday in October to begin reviewing the year's cases:- Of all the presidents to date, George Washington appointed the most justices: eleven.
- The Court first convened in 1790, when it was still tradition to wear wigs. Thomas Jefferson opined: "For heaven's sake, discard the monstrous wig which makes the English judges took like rats peeping through bunches of oakum."
- In that first term, the Chief Justice's salary was $4,000 and associate justices made $3,500. During that term, the Court had no docket and made no decisions.
- William Howard Taft, 27th President of the United States, later served as the 10th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, nominated by President Warren Harding; the only person to have led both the Executive and Judicial offices.
Check out the Court's 2009-2010 docket, along with some summaries of the issues.
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Want Free Traffic Info: Call 511!
by Tina J.
If you need the most up-to-date information on traffic, transit, and commute-information services, call 511 or log on to www.511sd.com. You'll be able to get 24/7 "real-time reports on traffic conditions and incidents, driving times, public-transit schedules, router and fare information, carpool and vanpool referrals, and bicycling information." The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and its partners launched this free service in 2007.
If you get stranded on any San Diego County freeway, you can also call 511 for roadside assistance through the San Diego Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies mobile call-box program. Calling 511 from any freeway call-box will connect you to the SANDAG Freeway Service Patrol, the CHP, the Auto Club, or a number of other agencies that will help you get off the freeway safely.
Just remember to use your wireless headset, since it's against the law to talk or text while driving now!
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From the Director
by Robert R.
Renovation Update
I am happy to report that we are finally emerging from our negotiation stalemate on the downtown facility renovation. We are heading into the last phases of negotiations that should result in concrete plans for making the project a reality. Conversations are underway regarding Project Management and the role of the County. Meanwhile, specific design plans and facility updates to better meet the needs of our users will be discussed in October. Stay tuned for more information.
2010 Witkin Event
The Events Committee is scheduled to announce this year's Witkin Award winners this month. Look for the names of the winners in our next issue of this newsletter. The 2010 event is set for Thursday, March 4th and the Committee is currently seeking event sponsors. Lead sponsors are needed to assist us with purchasing Adaptive Technology to provide sufficient access to our Library resources for the visually impaired. If you are interested in becoming an event sponsor, please contact me at rriger@sdcpll.org, and I will forward your communication to the appropriate committee members.
Council of California County Law Libraries (CCCLL)
The Council, representing County Law Libraries throughout the state, held its Fall meeting in San Diego on September 11, in conjunction with the California Judicial and State Bar meetings. Trustees from the various counties held a breakfast meeting at the Marriott Marina Hotel, and then our Library hosted a separate lunch meeting for the County Law Library Directors at our downtown facility. I would like to thank Richard May and Suzanne Smith of the Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) for their ongoing generous support of the CCCLL meetings.
Two important discussion areas involved the status of California SB113, the Local Government Omnibus Act of 2009, impacting County Law Libraries. The Council also discussed ideas for alternative funding opportunities, since there is a moratorium on requests for filing fee increases until 2012. SB113 is designed to modernize and update the language in sections of the Business & Professions Code of the California Statutes governing County Law Libraries. The House and Senate unanimously concurred on all amendments, enrolled the bill to the Governor's office on September 25th, and are awaiting his signature.
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Cartoon by Stu Rees
Stu's Views are "Cartoons About Law and Lawyers." Stu Rees is a local entertainment lawyer who represents mostly visual arts creators.
This particular cartoon is actually about "real estate brokers [who] must disclose prospective purchasers and not engage in self-dealing as fiduciaries, act in good faith, and disclose all information that is or may be material to their clients rights and interests," based on the case Licari v. Blackwelder, 539 A.2d 609 (1988).
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We hope you've enjoyed our newsletter! If you are a guest and would like to subscribe, please CLICK HERE.
We're hard at work on the next edition. In the meantime, please visit us online at www.sdcpll.org or stop by one of our four locations.
For more information or to send comments about this newsletter, contact Tina Jagerson, Media Coordinator and South Bay Branch Manager.
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