Category: Blog

NJLLA Book Club – October 18 🗓

The selection for NJLLA’s October Book Club is How Can I Help You by Laura Sims. Recently published, this page turner takes place in a small public library with a quirky cast of characters. The author, Laura Sims, is a friend of NJLLA member Zoraida (Zoe) Michaud, who has kindly arranged for the author to join us on our Zoom call. Zoe will serve as the moderator.

The Program Committee was able to locate copies locally in a number of libraries so hopefully you can do the same.


Please join us!
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
5:30 – 6:30 pm

RSVP to Kathy Taggart (ktaggart@lowenstein.com) to receive the Zoom link

NJLLA Brownbag Series: Pressing Issues Your Library Is Facing (Other Than AI) 🗓

SAVE THE DATE: September 28th from 12pm-12:45pm (via Zoom)

The NJLLA Program Committee is hosting a brownbag lunch-and-learn topic series this year! The inaugural meeting will focus on the topic of: Pressing Issues Your Library Is Facing (Other Than AI).

We are experimenting with a new structure. We would like for a few members (up to 5) to share their thoughts on the topic in 5-minute time slots, to be followed by 20 minutes of Q&A. We think this will provide a forum for members to share and for all of us to hear from several voices.

If you would like to RSVP to listen in, please email Kathy Taggart at ktaggart@lowenstein.com by Monday, September 25th for a Zoom invitation.

If you have ideas to share as a speaker and would like to sign up for one of the five 5-minute slots to discuss this topic, please email Kathy Taggart at ktaggart@lowenstein.com AND Amber Cain at amber.cain@shu.edu by Wednesday, September 20th to secure your speaking spot.

We look forward to connecting with members in new ways this year!

NJLLA Grant Winner Recap of AALL

NJLLA’s Founders Grant Award winner for 2023 was Roberta L. Matalon, the law librarian at Connell Foley LLP. Roberta attended AALL in Boston and has provided a recap of her time there. Read her essay about the terrific experience she had, the panels she attended, and the people she met. Roberta took some great photos of the event, which you can see in her essay. Of course AI was a major topic at the conference, so read to the end to find ChatGPT’s summary of the AALL Conference as well!

NJLLA 2023 Annual Business Meeting (Virtual) 🗓

Join us for NJLLA’s 2023 Annual Business Meeting!

DATE:                        Tuesday, May 11, 2023

TIME:                         12:30 noon – 1:30 pm

LOCATION:               Zoom

RSVP:   Email your RSVP to Kathy Taggart (ktaggart@lowenstein.com). You will then receive a calendar invite with Zoom details.

NEW JERSEY LAW LIBRARIANS ASSOCIATION
2023-2024 NOMINEES FOR OFFICE

In accordance with Article IX, Section 1 (b) of the bylaws, the Nominating Committee is pleased to present its candidates for the following offices:

PRESIDENT
(Appointed automatically by succession.)
Judith Simms
Rutgers Law Library
Newark, NJ

VICE-PRESIDENT/PRESIDENT-ELECT
Magalie Desince
McCarter & English LLP
Newark, NJ

PAST PRESIDENT
(Appointed automatically by succession.)
Johanna Bizub
Morris County Real Estate Law
Morristown, NJ

TREASURER
Kathy Taggart
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Roseland, NJ

SECRETARY
Amber Cain
Seton Hall Law Library
Newark, NJ

MEMBERS-AT-LARGE
Carolyn Brown
Seton Hall University
Newark, NJ

Aimee Sachs
Gibbons PC
Newark, NJ

ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS:
The Nominating Committee solicits the membership for input during the selection process and it is deemed that the nominees presented are the candidates of the membership. However, any member in good standing in the Association may make additional nominations by petition. The member must contact the President at least 15* days prior to the annual meeting, submitting the petition in writing, endorsed with the signatures of at least 10 other members, as specified in Article IX, Section 1 (c) of the Association’s bylaws. (*normally 30 days)

ELECTIONS:
Election of officers will occur at the Association’s annual business meeting (virtual) on May 11, 2023.

Apply Now for NJLLA Annual Meeting Grants

NJLLA has two grants available this year to send our chapter members to the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) conference in Boston this summer from July 15-18, 2023.

One grant is our annual Founders Grant. The purpose of this Grant is to financially assist a member of NJLLA to attend the AALL Annual Meeting. This NJLLA Grant covers the cost of registration, transportation, and hotel accommodations up to $1,500. Receipts for these costs must be submitted to the NJLLA Treasurer. Applications are due April 17, 2023.

The other grant comes to us from AALL. Each Annual Meeting, AALL underwrites one free full conference registration for a number of chapters on a rotating basis.  NJLLA members are eligible for the grant this year.  AALL’s goal is to provide an enriching experience as the member learns and networks with colleagues from across the country. The applicant must be a member of the New Jersey Law Librarians Association and a newer member of the American Association of Law Libraries (joined AALL in 2013 or later.) Applications for this grant are also due April 17, 2023.

For both of these grants, applicants must have been NJLLA members for at least 3 months prior to application. Prior grant recipients (within the last five years) and current members of the Grants & Awards Committee are not eligible to apply.

Full application information and details are available on the applications below.

2023 NJLLA Founders Grant Application available here.

2023 AALL Chapter Registration Award for NJLLA Members available here.

Questions may be directed to the Chair of our Grants & Awards Committee, Carrie Hayter, at chayter@lowenstein.com or 862-926-2053.

NJLLA’s 35th Anniversary Celebration 🗓

We hope you can join us!
Cocktail Attire
Attendees are encouraged to submit photos for a slideshow.

Click Here for RSVP and Payment

Community Service Project: JBWS, a Morris County-based nonprofit that provides assistance and resources for those affected by domestic violence. Bring donations to the event (see their wishlist here) or donate through their website.

NJLLA Annual Holiday Party (Virtual!) 🗓

Come gather for a fun holiday celebration
featuring an online version of a classic party game, holiday mocktails/cocktails, and good conversation!

Festive outfits are encouraged!!

DATE:Tuesday, December 13th, 2022
LOCATION:Zoom (RSVP for log-in info)
TIME:5:30 pm
RSVP:RSVP using this form to get Zoom info.
RSVP deadline: Friday, December 9th

Thank you to Thomson Reuters for generously sponsoring this holiday party every year!

Community Service Project:
We will be doing our traditional collection of children’s pajamas and books for the Pajama Program. You can purchase and ship directly using this link. Be sure to include NJLLA in the comment section. Alternatively, you can Venmo Johanna Bizub at @johanna-bizub, and she can purchase books and pajamas to send and will share photos at the party.

NJLLA Holiday Party 2022 flyerDownload