Category: Blog

NJLLA Virtual Annual Business Meeting – June 19, 2020 🗓

The New Jersey Law Librarians Association invites our Membership to participate in our first ever Virtual Annual Business Meeting.

The teleconference will be held via WebEx on Friday, June 19, 2020 at 12:00 noon (EDT).

You can RSVP by emailing NJLLA Treasurer Kathy Taggart at ktaggart@lowenstein.com. You do not have to RSVP again if you have already done so. Attendees will receive a link and password prior to the meeting. The RSVP deadline is Thursday, June 18th at 5 pm.

If you’d like to submit a question ahead of time to be answered during the Open Discussion, enter it into Survey Monkey here. 

The Agenda for the Meeting:

  • Introduction and Housekeeping Rules
  • Call to Order
  • Approval of Minutes of the Last Annual Business Meeting
  • Approval of the 2019-2020 Treasurer’s Report
  • State of the Association (Summary of Committee Reports)
  • Outgoing President Remarks
  • Approval of Slate of Candidates for 2020-21 Executive Board
  • Incoming President’s Address
  • Open Discussion

We look forward to seeing you all there!

-NJLLA Executive Board 2019-2020

Executive Board Message about Diversity and Solidarity

NJLLA Members,

We are furious about the acts of violence and unjust deaths of black people that have been happening in our country over the last few days, weeks, and centuries. We denounce these actions, and stand in solidarity with the black community, with the activists, and with all allies who are lending their voice to demand change.

Together, we will make change happen.

Together, we will do better.

Be safe.  We are here for you.

The Executive Board
#BlackLivesMatter

NJLLA 2020-2021 Nominees for Office

NEW JERSEY LAW LIBRARIANS ASSOCIATION
2020-2021 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.)
Brittany Persson
Seton Hall Law Library
Newark, NJ

VICE-PRESIDENT/PRESIDENT-ELECT
Kathleen Agno
Greenberg Traurig
Florham Park, NJ

PAST PRESIDENT
(Appointed automatically by succession.)
Wei Fang
Rutgers Law Library
Newark, NJ

TREASURER
(Appointed to a 2 year term.)
Kathy Taggart
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Roseland, NJ

SECRETARY
Karen Botkin
Verizon
Basking Ridge, NJ

MEMBERS-AT –LARGE
Latoya Rosario
Prudential Insurance
Newark, NJ

Janice Schouten
Porzio, Bromberg & Newman
Morristown, 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 June 19, 2020.

PDF of Nomination Slate

NJLLA Annual Meeting and Future Plans

Dear Members of NJLLA,

We hope that all of you and your families, friends, and coworkers are doing OK during these tough and unprecedented times.

Prior to our lives being upended in March, NJLLA’s primary objective for 2019-2020 was to realign our bylaws and procedures manual to be more current, relevant, and to meet the changing needs of our members.  This objective is even more necessary now than when we first started the year due to the changes in our reality.  Now that we have settled into this new reality, we are ready and excited to continue with our objective, and to create more virtual programming for the upcoming year.  If you would like to be a part of this new chapter in our chapter, we could use your help!  Please continue reading to see how you can be an active member.

Annual Meeting

Unfortunately, we have had to delay our Annual Business Meeting to meet other obligations and priorities related to COVID-19.  The good news is that the planning for a our now virtual annual meeting is underway, so please save the date for Friday, June 19th from 12:00-1:00 and keep your eyes peeled for the forthcoming electronic invitation, as well as the Executive Board nominations list.  If you already know you will attend, email Kathy Taggart at ktaggart@lowenstein.com to receive the WebEx calendar invitation when it’s ready. 

Programming

In the upcoming year we will be shifting our programming to a virtual platform until safety guidelines  suggests we can shift back to in person programming.  If you are interested in virtual networking opportunities (e.g., happy hour, game night, baking night, movie night) and/or if you are interested in attending virtual substantive programs, please email Brittany Persson at brittany.persson@shu.edu with your programming suggestions and preferences (topics of interest and networking format preferences) as well as if you would consider being a speaker, or potential speaker suggestions and contact information.

Membership Renewals

Don’t miss out, renew!  Joanne Murphy, the NJLLA Membership Chair is amazing and has recently mailed Membership Renewal Forms to each member’s on file “Preferred Mailing Address.” Please be on the look out for these. 

 If you do not receive your renewal, click here for a blank renewal form. Joanne goes into the office regularly to pick up mail, to collect renewal forms and checks sent to her at Saiber in Florham Park. If you do not want to send it to Saiber, please contact Joanne directly at jmurphy@saiber.com so she can give you her home address. The Membership Committee is looking into setting up an electronic payment option but that is not something that cannot be done this year. Hopefully in 2021. Please contact Joanne if you have any questions.

Call for Volunteers

To volunteer to participate on one of our committees, please complete the following poll.  

I hope everyone stays safe and healthy!  Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Thanks!

Brittany Persson, NJLLA Vice President/President-Elect
and
Wei Fang, NJLLA President

2019 Annual Business Meeting & Program 🗓

“Transforming Workplace Culture in the #MeToo Era: How Laws on Sexual Harassment, Pay Equity & More are Influencing Workplace Experiences”

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
Natalya G. Johnson, Esq., Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland Perretti, LLP
and
Alnisa Bell, Esq., Seyfarth Shaw LLP   

Natalya Johnson is a Labor & Employment attorney at Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland Perretti, LLP.  Natalya’s practices focuses on the representation and counsel of management in employment-related matters. She counsels clients on matters including restrictive covenants, discrimination, and retaliation cases. Natalya is also a frequent speaker at various continuing legal education seminars. She earned her J.D. degree from Cornell Law School and her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Cornell University. 

Alnisa Bell is a Labor & Employment attorney at Seyfarth Shaw LLP. Alnisa represents employers in single-plaintiff and multi-plaintiff discrimination and retaliation cases, as well as has significant ERISA experience. Not only is she a skilled litigator, but Alnisa also counsels employers on compliance with state and federal laws. Alnisa serves as counsel in several high-profile litigations across the country relating to the #MeToo movement and speaks regularly on gender equity and diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Alnisa earned her J.D. from Rutgers School of Law and her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Bryn Mawr College.

DATE:                                   
Wednesday, May 15, 2019

LOCATION:                       
Spanish Pavillion
31 Harrison Ave., Harrison, NJ
http://spanishpavillion.com

TIME:                                   
11:00 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.

Agenda:
Networking                                                                           11:00 – 11:15 a.m.
Annual Business Meeting & Election                              11:15 – 12:00 p.m.
Lunch Buffet                                                                         12:00 – 12:40 p.m.                                                                Program                                                                                12:40 – 1:15 p.m.

Please arrive promptly so the Business Meeting can start on time. Please see our Nominations Slate which will be voted on at this Annual Meeting.

COST:             Members: $30.00        Students: $10:00        Non-Members: $38.00

RSVP  by Thursday, May 9, 2019  to Johanna Bizub, jbizub@prudential.com

Community Service Project: Ronald McDonald House of New Brunswick Wish List – VISA/MC/Amex, Staples, Target, Amazon, Stop & Shop, Bed Bath & Beyond & Costco gift cards in increments of $10; coffee pods, paper towels, heavy duty paper plates (no Styrofoam), masking tape, pudding cups, solid white albacore tuna, heavy duty plastic cutlery, double-sided tape, packages of individual cereal boxes; checks payable to Ronald McDonald House of New Brunswick.  Thank you!

Check payable to: New Jersey Law Librarians Association
Mail to: Johanna Bizub, Prudential Insurance, 3 Gateway Center-100 Mulberry St, NJ-05-03-15, Newark, NJ 07102

Meeting Flyer PDF

NJLLA Nomination Slate for the 2019-2020 Executive Board

PRESIDENT
(Appointed automatically by succession.)
Wei Fang
Rutgers Law Library
Newark, NJ

VICE-PRESIDENT/PRESIDENT-ELECT
Brittany Persson
Seton Hall Law Library
Newark, NJ

PAST PRESIDENT
(Appointed automatically by succession.)
Dennis Kim-Prieto
Rutgers Law Library
Newark, NJ

TREASURER
(Appointed to a 2-year term.)
Kathy Taggart
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Roseland, NJ

SECRETARY
Kathleen Agno
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Florham Park, NJ

MEMBERS-AT -LARGE
Sarah Connell
McElroy Deutsch Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP
Morristown, NJ

Jootaek Lee
Rutgers Law Library
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 30 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.
ELECTIONS:
Election of officers will occur at the Association’s annual business meeting. Meeting will be held May 15, 2019.


April Meeting: Identifying Fake News and Managing Its Effects with Dr. Asta Zelenkauskaite and Pablo Molina 🗓

Expert speakers specializing in Mass Communication and Information Security will discuss what fake news is, how it is created, and best practices for curbing its effects. This is a must-see program for anyone who has any responsibilities for curation, dissemination, or analysis of information.

Dr. Asta Zelenkauskaite

Asta Zelenkauskaite earned her PhD in Mass Communication from Indiana University, Bloomington with two minor specializations in Information Science and Linguistics. She is an Assistant Professor of Communication at Drexel University. Her research focuses upon the intersection between social media and mass media, analyzing the user-generated content contributions of social media users, their content selection practices, and the value extraction through theoretical frameworks of interactivity, gatekeeping, and Big Data. She has an extensive record of collaborations with computer scientists and information science scholars.

Pablo Molina

Pablo Molina serves as Drexel’s Chief Information Security Officer, charged with planning and implementing cybersecurity policy across the university. He has an extensive background in ethics of technology and information management and he regularly comments on stories about privacy, ethics of tech companies, and laws related to technology and information management. He has written extensively on technology and information management and is a regular speaker at conferences related to technology, education and policy, and has presented to the United Nations, the American Bar Association, the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute and others.

DATE and TIME: Tuesday, April 16, 2019, 12 noon to 1:30 PM
PLACE: McCarter & English LLP, Newark NJ. Directions
COST: $20 members / $25 nonmembers / $15 students
RSVP: By Wednesday, April 10th to Caroline Young, caroline.young.rutgers@gmail.com

Make check payable to: New Jersey Law Librarians Association
Mail to: Caroline Young, Rutgers Law Library, 123 Washington St, Newark, NJ 07102

Community Service Project: Collection for the Jersey Battered Women’s Service in Morris County. Current needs are girls and boys briefs, diapers, diaper wipes, pull ups, ziplock bags for freezer/refrigerator (all sizes!), aluminum foil, and plastic wrap. Travel mugs and refillable water bottles are also needed, as well as snacks, including animal crackers, pretzels, trail mix, fruit snacks, popcorn, nuts, cookies, juice boxes and bottles of water. Gift cards to discount stores and supermarkets are especially appreciated. Cash and checks made out to JBWS are also welcome. JBWS is a non-profit tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization.

Apply for NJLLA’s Founders Grant

AALL’s Annual Meeting & Conference is approaching fast. NJLLA offers a grant to assist one of our members to attend the conference. The grant covers the cost of registration, transportation, and hotel accommodations up to $1,500.

Click here for the instructions and application, available as a fillable PDF. Please be sure to adhere to all rules and deadlines. This is a wonderful opportunity for one of our members so we encourage all to apply.

NJLLA Annual Meeting, AALL Visit & Executive Board Election 🗓

2018 Annual Business Meeting & AALL Visit

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:  Ron Wheeler, Immediate Past President of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) and Director of Fineman & Pappas Law Libraries at Boston University.

“Greetings from AALL and Focus on Implicit Bias”

Ron is a dynamic speaker and a recognized leader in the areas of legal research/instruction and diversity/inclusion.  He will help us understand unconscious biases — social stereotypes about certain groups that individuals form outside of their conscious awareness — and the impact on perception and decision making.

DATE:   Thursday, May 10, 2018

LOCATION:
Iberia Tavern and Restaurant
80-84 Ferry St., Newark, NJ
Ample free parking available
Click here for Directions.

TIME:  12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Agenda
Lunch: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Program: 1:00 – 1:45 p.m.
Annual Business Meeting & Election:  1:45 – 2:30 p.m.

Please arrive promptly so that you can enjoy lunch & networking 

COST: Members: $20.00 —-  Students: $10:00 —- Non-Members: $30.00

RSVP: by Friday, May 4, 2018 to Johanna Bizub at jbizub@prudential.com

This program is generously sponsored by

Community Service Project:  Ronald McDonald House of New Brunswick Wish List –VISA/MC/Amex, Staples, Target, Amazon, Stop & Shop, Bed Bath & Beyond & Costco gift cards in increments of $10; coffee pods, paper towels, heavy duty paper plates (no Styrofoam), masking tape, pudding cups, solid white albacore tuna, heavy duty plastic cutlery, double-sided tape, packages of individual cereal boxes; checks payable to Ronald McDonald House of New Brunswick. Thank you!

Lunch and Meeting checks payable to: New Jersey Law Librarians Association

Mail to: Johanna Bizub, Prudential Insurance, 751 Broad St., NJ-01-04-13, Newark, NJ 07102

2018 Annual Meeting Flyer
2018-2019 Executive Board Nomination Slate

The Business Meeting will include electing the 2018-19 Executive Board. 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.)
Dennis Kim-Prieto
Rutgers Law Library
Newark, NJ

VICE-PRESIDENT/PRESIDENT-ELECT
Wei Fang
Rutgers Law Library
Newark, NJ

PAST PRESIDENT
(Appointed automatically by succession.)
Sheryll Rappaport

TREASURER
(Appointed to a 2 year term.)
Judith Simms
Rutgers Law Library
Newark, NJ

SECRETARY
Brittany Persson
Seton Hall Law Library
Newark, NJ

MEMBERS-AT -LARGE
Kimberly Jackson
Lindabury, McCormick Estabrook & Cooper, PC
Westfield, NJ

Dinah Minkoff
Seton Hall Law Library
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 30 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.
ELECTIONS: 
Election of officers will occur at the Association’s annual business meeting on May 10 2018.

Apply Now for NJLLA’s Founders Grant to Attend the 2018 AALL Conference

The AALL Conference in Baltimore is approaching fast! It’s time to apply for NJLLA’s annual Founders Grant. The purpose of this Grant is to financially assist a member of NJLLA to attend the AALL Annual Meeting. The NJLLA Grant covers the cost of registration, transportation, and hotel accommodations up to $1,500. Applications are due Monday, April 23, 2018.

Applicants must be members of the New Jersey Law Librarians Association. Prior grant recipients (within the last five years) and current members of the Grants & Awards Committee are not eligible to apply. The recipient must submit an article by August 31, 2018, describing his/her experience at the meeting for posting on the NJLLA website.

Full details are available on the application, available here in Word and fillable PDF.

Questions may be directed to the Chair of our Grants & Awards Committee, Kathy Taggart, at ktaggart@lowenstein.com or 973-422-6442.