Emerging technologies have become an important tool for enhancing staff productivity and patron services in law libraries. Because they often represent a substantial investment of staff and resources, making an informed decision on what technologies are appropriate for your library is critical. This program will provide some practical guidelines for participants to use to make the most knowledgeable decisions, such as who to involve in evaluating new tools; how to balance project costs, staff time, and user benefits; and when/how much/with whom to communicate throughout the process.
Recently, there have been calls in several states for constitutional conventions. A proposal in California was ultimately dropped because of funding, but proposals elsewhere -- including Pennsylvania -- remain under consideration. A state constitutional convention creates many issues, including delegate selection, funding, and possible limitations on the power of the convention. This program will examine the proposed constitutional convention in Pennsylvania, and compare it with proposals in other states.
New technologies and the recent availability of bulk downloads of federal government information allow for the creation of new ways to visualize and understand the underlying information. This program looks at technology-based tools used to create new products or "mashups" from government data. Once participants gain an understanding of current and developing mashups, our speakers will explore the copyright questions involved with these products and tools.
