The BIALL Blog

Twitter Goes Mainstream

noreply@blogger.com (Philip Cable) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:03:00 +0000

The progress of Twitter from edgy social networking tool into the mainstream continues apace.

Over the last two weeks as football manager Harry Redknapp was tried for tax evasion in Southwark Crown Court his case has been widely reported on the television and in the newspapers. For the keen football/HMRC fan however the most up to date source has been Twitter.

The coverage of the trial on Twitter started badly with a journalist naming a juror. This resulted in the Judge banning live tweeting and requiring tweeting to take place outside the courtroom. Undeterred by this setback a different journalist the BBC reporter James Pearce (@pearcesport) kept up his coverage keeping his followers informed with numerous factual updates.

Indeed on the day of the verdict the BBC Twitter coverage was more accurate than the television coverage which initially reported the verdict wrongly.

As Twitter goes mainstream everyone seems keen not be left behind. Even the UK Supreme Court has landed on Twitter. So far the Supreme Court (@uksupremecourt) has tweeted coverage of the swearing-in of Lord Reed, the availability of new judgments and has even shown true accessibility by entering into a conversation about their FOI policy!

BEWARE OF CLOUD LAW!

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Peat) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:58:00 +0000

Contributed by: Professor Charles Oppenheim

A cloud computing service is one that provides computing power without the installation of content, hardware or software application at the client or customer’s premises. Services such as Facebook, Rackspace, Hotmail, Twitter, Yahoo!, YouTube, Flickr, eBay, Google Apps (and all its subsidiary offerings such as Gmail and Google Docs), Amazon EC2, TripAdvisor and DropBox either employ or offer cloud services. Law firms are understandably getting increasingly interested in using them. Cloud services offer a cheap and efficient method of outsourcing computerised handling of all types of data to organisations that find such tasks burdensome, expensive or beyond their technical capabilities.

The contracts that most cloud services offer are in general non-negotiable. It’s a case of take it or leave it. Only very large or prestigious organisations will have the necessary influence to require a cloud supplier to accept amendments to its standard terms and conditions. However, many of the standard contracts are extremely one-sided in favour of the cloud supplier. If an individual or small organisation doesn’t like the terms offered, it has to make a decision whether to risk accepting the standard contract, try another cloud supplier, or give up on cloud services altogether.

Very few cloud service contracts offer guarantees of good service (e.g., 100% uptime), and those that offer refunds for poor service availability typically offer such refunds in terms of money off a future renewal of the subscription rather than a refund of the existing subscription. So if the cloud service client is so annoyed by poor availability it decides to not renew, or to cancel its current contract, it will get no refund. Some contracts give the service supplier the right to close the service at little or no notice. Presumably it would only do this if the service was unprofitable or if the cloud service supplier itself was in serious financial difficulty, but the danger is that the client who depends on the service for its day-to-day business activities may be left suddenly in great difficulty. Many cloud service suppliers include a clause by which they exclude all liability for any problems that arise in the service, whether or not it was caused by the service supplier’s incompetence or recklessness. It is really disappointing that cloud service suppliers include such clauses, which indicate an immaturity of, and lack of confidence in, the cloud service supply industry.

Almost by definition, data stored in the cloud will move from country to country, each with its own laws. In addition, the cloud service supplier may well be based in a different country to that of its clients. Even if there is no personal data present, three countries’ laws (the home base of the service supplier, the home base of the client and the country where the cloud happens to be residing at any given time) may apply to any actions taken with the data or any legal cases arising from the contract. If there is personal data present, things are even more complicated and legally treacherous. Furthermore, the data might well be backed up or replicated in multiple countries.

One particular area of concern is the US PATRIOT Act. This allows US authorities to compel, amongst others, cloud service providers to disclose information about their customers and/or the data stored or used by those customers - and without those customers knowing that such information has been requested. Because of its wide-ranging powers, this Act has led to some Governments (e.g., Canada and Netherlands) banning organisations under their control from passing any data to US-based organisations, and has allegedly led to Amazon delaying the launch of its new Kindle Fire within the EU because of the incompatibility of the PATRIOT Act with EU data protection legislation. The PATRIOT Act is not alone of course; there are similar pieces of legislation in other countries where cloud data might be held, but they are generally not as far-reaching or as well known as the PATRIOT Act.

Data protection and security of data are not the only legal issues that can arise. Questions might arise regarding who is responsible if the data offered by a client is somehow amended or released resulting in an illegality, such as defamation or breaking national security laws. It is not clear what country’s laws might apply in such cases. Whilst it is unrealistic to expect the cloud service supplier to monitor everything on its servers (and indeed, this could be problematic from a privacy point of view), it is reasonable to expect it to respond to complaints received regarding alleged defamatory comments. The contract or a Service Level Agreement between the client and the cloud service supplier will probably include warranties and instructions relating to alleged defamatory statements or other potentially illegal materials stored on the cloud’s servers. Software licences, copyright licences and database rights licences are also – and somewhat surprisingly - potentially problematic. If a client has permission to use a particular software or database “on site”, does that include “in the cloud”?

I suggest below questions that should be asked of any cloud service supplier before signing its contract:

Who (both within and outside the service supplier) will be able to see my information?
Who owns and controls your infrastructure? Is this outsourced to any third party?
In what countries might our data be held?
Can I see a copy of your reliability/availability/downtime reports (if any)?
What service levels are guaranteed, e.g., availability, time taken to resolve a problem, and what compensation do you offer if you fail to fulfil that? (Resist the practice of discounts on future subscriptions, but insist where possible to receive financial compensation there and then?
Have you ever had security breaches in the past? (If “yes”, ask for more details.)
What assurances can you give that data protection standards will be maintained even if the data we supply is stored in a country with weak, or no data protection laws, or where government inspection powers are very wide-ranging?
How easy would it be to migrate my data to a competitor service once this contract ends? Can you guarantee that it will be in a usable format?
What are the names of your employees responsible for handling our data?
What security policies, technology and systems do you employ? What national or international standards do they comply with?
Do I get any rights of refusal before you make changes to the service that affect my data? (Alternatively, can we cancel early and get money back if we cancel early because of unwanted service changes?)
Will you use my organisation’s name or type of data given to you on any of your advertising? (If need be, require that the cloud supplier has to ask for permission each time)
What special measures will you take regarding data we tag as confidential?
Could we have a free trial with some non-sensitive data before committing ourselves?
Are you willing to include clauses in the contract relating to ensuring there is no unauthorised loss or destruction of data?
Will you guarantee to inform us if you become aware of any data security breach that affects or involves our data?
Finally, and most important, is your contract negotiable?

The cloud offers many potential benefits. But one should enter into a cloud contract being aware of both the benefits and the risks and should make an informed risk assessment before committing to a cloud service.

I rest my case, m’lud.

To hear more from Professor Charles Oppenheim visit the UKeiG site for information regarding a one day seminar planned for later this year - The future of copyright in the digital age and what it means for you: Emily Goodhand and Professor Charles Oppenheim.

The Society for Computers and Law (SCL)

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Peat) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:51:00 +0000

Free access for UK academic institutions to www.scl.org through the UK Access Management Federation.

The Society for Computers and Law (SCL) website including its protected articles, is open to students and academics.

SCL is proud of its vast archive of quality articles, with authors including leading practitioners and academics. It is a resource that can now be exploited more fully for the benefit of students and academics. But it is not just about archived articles. IT law is constantly changing and that fact is reflected in approximately 100 new articles being posted to the site each year and over 60 news items. Add in topical blog posts, podcasts from SCL’s ground-breaking events and comments from SCL members in the interactive parts of the site and you have a useful package.

SCL takes its role as an educational charity very seriously and hopes that you will log-in and use its web site and encourage others to do likewise.

5 Ways Twitter Is Changing Media Law

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Peat) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:35:00 +0000

An interesting perspective from the US on how Twitter may be shaping changes in the media law from Mashable US & World.

Your Greatest Skill is Mastery of Language

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Peat) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:54:00 +0000

The most common method of thinking in the Western world is verbal thinking. We have a range of intelligences including numerical, musical, spatial, emotional, verbal and kinaesthetic intelligences yet it is verbal intelligence that we depend on most. We tend to think and express ourselves in words. Mastering the use of words is the most important skill we develop because acquiring further skills depends on our comprehension of language. A tremendous proportion of the early learning for an infant is in developing verbal skills - learning to speak, to understand speech, to read and to write. Whether a baby is brought up in Beijing, Sydney or Moscow it will surely spend thousands of hours acquiring expertise in its native language. He or she will become proficient with the amazing range, power, complexity and sophisticated subtleties of language. However, once a certain competence has been acquired most people stop developing verbal skills.

Studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between people's abilities with words and range of vocabulary and with success in their chosen fields. People who can express themselves clearly are perceived as more intelligent and of higher status. They are accorded greater respect. So why do we not continue to enhance our verbal skills? Why do we stop doing what we spent most of our early years doing? The trouble is that we take our verbal abilities for granted. Once we have mastered reading, writing and speaking we move on to other things. We have acquired the most important tool in our mental toolbox. We depend on it for all sorts of tasks but we rarely take time to sharpen it. It makes better sense to maintain, enhance and extend the tool. Here are some ways we can do that.

1. Get a good dictionary and thesaurus

Two of the most loyal companions on your desk should be a dictionary and a thesaurus. Use the dictionary to learn the meanings and derivations of new words you encounter. Also use it to check the exact meanings and spellings of words that you are unsure of. The thesaurus is very helpful whenever you are writing and need an alternative to a word in order to avoid repetition or to achieve a variation in meaning.

2. Read

In the modern world we are so busy with work and we are bombarded with so much information by TV broadcast, telephone and the internet that reading books and articles can be squeezed out of our agenda. Reading the works of really good writers is one of the best ways to develop our abilities with words.

3. Capture new words

There is a regular feature in the Reader's Digest magazine entitled, 'It pays to expand your Word Power'. It is sound advice. Whenever we bump into new words we should turn to the dictionary and spend a moment learning the meaning and derivation of the word. It is easy to skip new words and race on through the text so we need discipline if we are not to lose this opportunity.

4. Write, rewrite and edit

We all write, whether it is a text message on a cell phone, an email message or a novel, and we can all improve our writing. A good way to improve your writing is to read over what you have written and ask yourself these questions:

a) Does what I have written express exactly what I mean?

b) Will it be clear and comprehensible to the reader?

c) Can I make it more concise or more accurate?

5. Play with Words

Children learn language by playing with words, testing, experimenting, making mistakes and being gently corrected. We should adopt a playful attitude towards words and treat them as friends. Word games will increase your verbal dexterity and intelligence rating. Many standard IQ tests use word puzzles. Anagrams, cryptic crosswords, code-breakers, word searches, dingbats (also known as rebuses) and other verbal conundrums are excellent mental exercise.

6. Listen to Yourself

In just the same way that you critically review your draft writing in order to sharpen it you should try to do the same with your speech. If it is possible try to view some video clips of yourself speaking. This is particularly useful it you are rehearsing for an important talk or presentation.

Rudyard Kipling wrote, 'Words are the most powerful drug used by mankind.' They can paint amazing images, inspire and intoxicate. If you continually work on developing your range of words and skills with words then you will reap the rewards.

Contributed by: Paul Sloane, the author of How to be a Brilliant Thinker

Web: http://www.destination-innovation.com

BIALL Conference - Maximising the Benefit [4 ]

noreply@blogger.com (Philip Cable) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:19:00 +0000

The View from Scotland

First time

I was asked why I attended my first BIALL conference and I am ashamed to say that the answer that sprung to mind was "I was made to go". This isn't entirely true and looking back I know it should really be "I was given the amazing opportunity to attend", although my flight phobia did not approve. I had just started a new job and was in their head office getting induction training when the head of department said she was booking me in for BIALL conference in Cork. I had heard of management level colleagues at my previous job going and knew they were always talking about the conferences so knew it was a great opportunity, and it turned out to be just that. I've been most years since then and it has helped with my professional development and just as importantly with networking. My career path has really shown that "its not what you know its who you know". So get there and get talking would be my advice! The first time is a little un-nerving but it soon becomes obvious that Law Librarians are lovely people (obviously!) and its worth making that first step and saying hello, soon you will be enveloped into the BIALL family. Listening at sessions is also important obviously and even if you only come back to the library with one or two action points that are applicable to your working environment it was worth the time it took to attend.

Keeping in touch

My current job is not a truly Law Librarian post, although there is a library I'm in charge of I do a lot more general administration tasks. So I thought maybe it wouldn't be so necessary to continue my attendance at the BIALL conference every year. However a few years on, I am now convinced that my attendance is even more crucial: to keep in touch with what's going on for other librarians; to get ideas of how to develop our very old fashioned library; to see what new tools our solicitor members may have access to; and, to meet and talk to new and old friends. Straying from the path of true librarianship is not as scary if you keep a foot on the original path and stay true to what you are. As with any role it is important to keep your finger on the pulse and know what's going on, not just for your own corner but across the profession - who knows where you could end up in the future, or what enquiry you may be given tomorrow.

Contributed by Maria Robertson

BIALL Conference - Maximising the Benefit [3.]

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Peat) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:24:00 +0000

New at Newcastle: A first-timer’s view

Above all, the opportunity to form links with fellow new professionals as well as meeting, face-to-face, people I’d previously only known from a distribution list or email conversation. These connections are proving vital, six months on, not only in my current role with Harvey Ingram LLP, but for laying the foundations of my own career progression.

There’s also the frisson of excitement in discovering new places. Simply walking to the Sage Centre Gateshead centre I crossed the Tyne, saw the bridges and was opposite the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.

Having suppliers there as well meant I could speak to individuals more informally and learn about new products from the angle that was relevant to me. The seminar programme allowed me to choose sessions to suit my interests and the area of the legal market I’m working in – including personal development, social media, specific corporate legal information, new products and the progress of some personal projects.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Conference to first timers, not only for its content, but for the atmosphere, networking opportunities and, particularly the friendly and genuine interest of others to find out about you and your role and the opportunities this provides for peer learning in practice.

Oh and the sandwiches were pretty impressive too!

Contributed by: Helen Marshall

BIALL Conference - Maximising the Benefit [2.]

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Peat) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:16:00 +0000

BIALL Conference: I need to go!

Attending the BIALL Conference is all about opportunities.

There are so many it is difficult to know where to start but the main thing is that it contains something for everyone.

Probably the two most important reasons to attend are the opportunity to learn new things and the opportunity to meet people.

Put like that it sounds simple, but that one sentence covers so much.

The opportunity to learn may include:

learning more about what you are doing now and possible ways of improvement
learning how other people are approaching the same issues that you are facing
learning about future developments in legal information
learning about legal information sectors other than your own
learning about new products

The opportunity to meet people includes:

meeting people in a similar situation to yourself and exchanging experiences
meeting people from other sectors and other jurisdictions
meeting up with your existing suppliers and perhaps some new ones
meeting new friends and catching up with old

The conference is the one place where these strands are drawn together and all these opportunities are offered in the space of a few days.
I would urge anyone in the profession who hasn't made one yet, to either apply for a bursary or ask their manager about attending

So, if you can, please join us in Belfast.

Contributed by: Loyita Worley

BIALL Conference - Maximising the Benefit [1.]

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Peat) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:40:00 +0000

Every year the Awards & Bursaries Committee approve a number of bursary applications for members to attend the BIALL Annual Conference and we look forward to doing the same again this year for the Belfast Conference. If you’ve never considered applying for a bursary before, and have assumed that it’s going to be a long and complicated process, then let me disabuse you right now of that notion, because it isn’t! The only essential criteria for applying is that you are a personal member of BIALL. Once you have satisfied that point, you need to demonstrate how the conference programme will benefit you in your role and / or your employer – which sessions in particular are you looking forward to and why; are there any sessions that specifically relate to aspects of your job and whether you are going to feedback on the conference to other colleagues unable to attend. Evidence of professional involvement (either in BIALL or in the wider professional sphere) will help an application, but is not a “deal clincher”, so new professionals in particular shouldn’t be put off from applying on that score. Even if an application is initially considered to be weak, the Committee will contact the applicant with specific questions designed to draw out the kind of information mentioned here – so we really do all we can to help applicants succeed. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Contributed by: Angela Donaldson

Brain the Size of a Planet?

noreply@blogger.com (Philip Cable) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:37:00 +0000

All of us who work in law libraries are used to having colleagues who we suspect don't struggle as much as most when they settle down to watch University Challenge. But we also don't generally have library users who have been described on the BBC as having a "Brain the Size of a Planet".

Well that's the prospect that the staff at the Supreme Court library face now that Jonathan Sumption has been sworn in as a Supreme Court judge.

But they can rest easy. Because amidst all the coverage of his elevation to our highest court a crucial and in my mind pivotal piece of information has been missed. What information you say? Well as a Bencher at the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple the now Lord Sumption served as a valued and supportive member of the Library Committee for many years.

Lord Sumption hears his first case today sitting on a panel of five in a shipping dispute case.

19/1/2012 - Update - We now understand that Lord Sumption was not only a member of the Committee but was Master of the Library chairing the Committee for 12 years!

2012!

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Peat) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:41:00 +0000

Happy new year from The BIALL Bloggers!

This Years Calendar

noreply@blogger.com (Philip Cable) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:07:00 +0000

What do people want to see in the morning? According to Amazon UK at the moment the calendars selling most are boy bands One Direction and JLS, the ever popular Cliff Richard (he was at the top last year as well), the Top Gear Calendar and the Official Mark Wright Calendar. Mark Wright appears to be a "star" of The Only Way is Essex and is selling calendars largely on the basis of his admittedly impressive chest!

I know however that none of you BIALLers are worrying about what calendar to buy because you are waiting for the BIALL calendar which is on it's way this week!

When you get it turn straight to June and you will find the dates of this years Conference. Then why not take a moment to consider how great it would be to join your colleagues in Belfast this year!

Late Opening at IALS

noreply@blogger.com (Philip Cable) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 09:30:00 +0000

In the world of legal novels and movies in order to have any chance of a successful outcome in your case you must spend at least one very late night doing legal research. Ideally this should be done in a library and to maximise your chances you should probably fall asleep in a mildly alluring way surrounded by a pile of books.

Facilitating this is probably not the reason the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies is extending its opening hours.

Nevertheless from Monday 9th January they will be now opening later on weekdays and on Sundays.

Find the full details here.

7th Joint Study Institute (JSI) will be held at Melbourne Law School

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Peat) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:52:00 +0000

Wednesday February 13 - Saturday, February 16, 2013.

Joint Study Institutes are hosted by the:

· American Association of Law Libraries (AALL),

· Australian Law Librarians Association (ALLA),

· British & Irish Association of Law Libraries (BIALL),

· Canadian Association of Law Libraries/Association Canadienne des Bibliotheques de Droit (CALL/ACBD) and

· New Zealand Law Librarians' Association (NZLLA).

JSI programs provide unique opportunities to network and learn about the law, legal research and topical issues of the host jurisdiction that are of interest to law librarians and the legal profession. The last JSI held in Australia was held in Sydney in 2004. For information about past Joint Study Institute programs, see:

http://www.callacbd.ca/conferences/JSI/history/index.htm

Watch for announcements in 2012 about the next JSI program. We look forward to welcoming you to enjoy a stimulating educational program and Melbourne’s diverse cultural, culinary, historical and bibliographic attractions.

How full is your inbox?

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Peat) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:05:00 +0000

Too many emails? Struggling to keep on top of your spam? Trashing too often?
See how Atos a French information technology company is planning to ban emails!

Tech Firm Implements Employee ‘Zero Email’ - Yahoo News.

A cautionary tale about reserving books

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Peat) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:37:00 +0000

A must see video produced for The University of Huddersfield. We've all seen this happen at some point in our careers.

November BIALL Newsletter!

noreply@blogger.com (Philip Cable) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:01:00 +0000

The latest BIALL newsletter is now available to members at the BIALL website!

Highlights include;

Former BIALL Blogger and President Elect James Mullan give us an account of his time at the Annual Conference of the Australian Law Librarians Association (ALLA). I deduced from the article he had a good time at the conference but less so on the plane...

An account of A Day in the Life by Sarah Wheeler of the Supreme Court Library is a fascinating read. Find out what it is Sarah tries not to spill her tea on!

Stephen Wheeler from Pinsent Masons - editor of the BIALL newsletter - guides us through his career in his Library Routes.

Finally the Co-BIALL blogger Sally Peat answers questions in On The Spot. It gives us a revealing insight into what can go wrong when you go for a run...

So What Is It That You Do?

noreply@blogger.com (Philip Cable) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:55:00 +0000

Some issues regarding our profession it seems are transatlantic.

Follow the link below to the 3 Geeks and a Law Blog. You will read a familiar story...

So, What Do You Do? … What Is That??

My Umbrella - and other BIALL Freebies

noreply@blogger.com (Philip Cable) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:57:00 +0000

The BIALL conference has enriched my life in many ways.

Whenever I go on holiday I put my tickets, insurance documents and passport in my BIALL 2006 (Brighton - Face the Front) leather folder - it’s the perfect size.

I never found a use for the Lawtel Travel Mug I picked up possibly back as far as 2004 at the Edinburgh conference (Changing Times - New Challenges). When I married, however, my teacher wife found it perfect for carrying cups of tea whilst removing any danger of spilling on the children.

I’m not sure where I picked up the bespectacled Westlaw Bear that sits on my desk but if it didn’t come into my life through the conference it really could have.

I have pens from various legal publishers on which to jot thoughts down on notepads which they also thoughtfully provided.

When it rains I use my Wildy’s umbrella which I picked up free from this year’s Newcastle BIALL conference. Sadly it broke on Friday … but never mind I’ve got a Kluwer blue and white stripy one I picked up last year.

The next BIALL Conference is in Belfast in 2012. Who know what you might pick up.

Do lawyers need to be scholars?

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Peat) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:36:00 +0000

By: Natasha Choolhun

11 October 2011 - Sponsored by LexisNexis

This was an engaging debate touching on legal education, the legal market and the duty of the profession to support all parties, students, lawyers and consumers. Below are the key points made by the panel to illustrate how the debate evolved.

Speaker 1: Prof. Philippe Sands QC (UCL Faculty of Laws/ Matrix Chambers)

Philippe wished he hadn’t studied law as an undergraduate as law degrees “close the mind”. Lawyers need critical thinking skills which law degrees do not foster. He thinks current legal education is too employability driven, which is “a bad thing.”

The questions we should be asking are, “what is the social function of a lawyer?” and “how many lawyers do we need?”

Speaker 2: Rebecca Huxley-Binns (Law teacher of the year 2010, Nottingham Trent)

Rebecca proposed that law degrees should be “value driven” and suggested scrapping the 7 foundation subjects and introducing skills and ethics. However, students do want to know how to be employable.

Speaker 3: David Bickerton (managing partner, Clifford Chance)

CC are happy with the quality of trainees they receive, (it doesn’t appear there are problems with legal education to them).

Speaker 4: Prof. Richard Moorhead (Cardiff Law School)

Richard concluded that lawyers do not need to be scholars as much work is transactional/ routine, but lawyers do need scholars to write textbooks & teach.

Speaker 5: Prof. Stephen Mayson (Director of Legal Services Policy Institute, College of Law)

Stephen delivered the most controversial statement of the debate, that the current legal education on offer is “not fit for purpose”. He said the basic skills needed to underpin a new model are research, writing and reasoning. Market developments should also be taken into consideration e.g. how does legal process outsourcing & “Co-op” law affect job supply for law students?

Our Supplier of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (Philip Cable) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:22:00 +0000

Each year at the BIALL Conference dinner, the Association gives out a number of awards. The recipients are normally very pleased. They get given a bunch of flowers, give an emotional speech and sometimes shed a tear. We then all give them a big clap and depending on how much has been drunk by this point they may even get the odd woop.

Then is that it?

Not if you are Bloomsbury Professional. Having won Supplier of the Year they have gone home and realised that this is exactly the sort of endorsement that deserves to go in their Interim Results.

If you look here on London Stock Exchange website they are proudly telling shareholders and potential investors;

"The first six months have been exceptionally strong for Bloomsbury Professional, which is on course for its most successful year. In June, we were named "Supplier of the Year" by the British and Irish Association of Law Librarians."

Working on the Train...

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Peat) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:48:00 +0000

I wanted to share this article with you about the times when you are beavering away on your laptop on the way to and from work: It's criminal on the 07:43 from Woking. The posting mentions just how public your laptop screen maybe on a busy train and although the focus is on legal privilage, I think it's still worth a qucik read, perhaps on the train on your way home.

The Tweet Trademark

noreply@blogger.com (Philip Cable) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 07:40:00 +0000

Social Media website Mashable reports that Twitter has settled a lawsuit over the use of the word "Tweet".

"Twitter doesn’t currently own the trademark to the term. Instead, Des Moines-based Twittad controls the trademark. Twittad a provider of sponsored advertising on Twitter, has trademark its tagline, “Let your ad meet tweets.” It also has trademarked various variations of the word “tweet.”"

Until now that is, Mashable tells us they have come to a "resolution" that will transfer the trademark to Twitter and allow both sides to continue doing business.

The story is also covered in the Wall Street Journal who go into greater detail about the legal side of things.

Emerging Technologies

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Peat) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:42:00 +0000

In the past, James Mullan has introduced us to resources such as Wikis, Twitter and LinkedIn long before they went on to become household names. In this evening seminar, James will be discussing with us some of the latest technologies to emerge, and suggesting how they may become useful to us in the workplace.

James Mullan is the KM Systems Manager with Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP, and is a former winner of the Wildy’s Law Librarian of the Year award.

Thursday 20 October 2011 at 6:30pm - Finers Stephens Innocent, 180 Great Portland Street

This event costs £10 (+ VAT) for BIALL members or £15 (+ VAT) for non-members, and booking is advised. Booking details.

A Flare for Treaties?

noreply@blogger.com (Philip Cable) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 20:39:00 +0000

Two years ago the FLARE Index to Treaties was launched. A searchable database indexing and listing over 1,500 of the most significant multilateral treaties concluded from 1856 onwards it extends access to those without the original hard copy (and those who have it but would prefer not to take a stroll to the library shelves!).

When it launched two years ago it began with content from two key sources;

Multilateral Treaties: index and current status, compiled and annotated within the University of Nottingham Treaty Centre by M.J. Bowman and D.J. Harris (London: Butterworths, 1984, tenth supplement, 1994)
World Treaty Index, compiled by Peter H. Rohn (Santa Barbara, California, 1984)

Well now it has been extended! You can find all the information here in a detailed article by Steven Whittle and Peter Clinch. In summary the main (although not all) new sources that have been harvested are:

Index of British Treaties, 1101-1988, various compilers (London, HMSO, 1971-1992)
Index to Multilateral Treaties, edited by Vaclav Mostecky (Cambridge: Harvard Law School Library, 1965)
Catalogue of Treaties 1814-1918 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1919).

The Index may yet extend further and as Whittle and Clinch explain they have much they could add.

"The Index does not include any bilateral treaties concluded after 1815. Clearly it would be desirable to create a comprehensive database. However, the magnitude of the task may be illustrated by the fact that the World Treaty Index, compiled by Peter H. Rohn (Santa Barbara, California, 1984), which covers all types of treaty signed between only 1900 and 1980, comprises over 44,000 entries. The compilers estimate that during this period the number of bilateral treaties outnumbers multilaterals by a ratio of about 10 to 1.

As a starting point, the FLARE Group has considered creating a further extension to the Index to include bilateral treaties to which the UK is a party. The Group acknowledges that the task would be a considerable challenge requiring close cooperation and liaison with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This development remains only a proposal for the time being."