2016 Year in Review

I created a a list of the notable tasks I accomplished as a librarian in 2016:

Saskatchewan Court of Appeal Sentencing Digest Tutorial Videos (January 2016)
I am creating a series of tutorial videos demonstrating the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal Sentencing Digest.  This is one of the library’s most popular databases.  You can find the draft videos online here.

Lunch & Learn Sessions (March 2016)
I developed a new instruction format for the Law Society Library in 2016.  Lunch & Learn sessions provide legal research training tailored to lawyer’s specific needs.  Phil Gallet, a partner at McDougall Gauley, provided this feedback after the first session:  “There were 27 attendees…Alan, you did an excellent job. Your power point was great and you were well prepared.  A number of people – even those much more technically capable than me – remarked that they learned new things.”

Regina Public Library Legal Resources Fair (April 2016)
I facilitated the library’s involvement in the Regina Public Library’s Legal Resources Fair.  At the fair, I presented a one-hour session on CanLII and Basic Legal Research Skills for the Public.  The session was well attended by the public.

LegalTrac Webinar Announcement (April 2016)
In April, the Saskatchewan Provincial Library announced that my LegalTrac webinar was one of the most visited pages in the Library Toolshed in Spring 2016.

Saskatchewan Library Association Conference Session (May 2016)
I presented a session on Legal Resources for Public Libraries at SLA 2016.  The session was attended by public, university, and special librarians.  During the session, I gathered survey feedback for Brea Lowenberger, Access to Justice Coordinator at the University of Saskatchewan.  The feedback encouraged her to proceed with a province wide access to justice project.

Canadian Association of Law Libraries Conference Lightening Talk (May 2016)
I presented a lightening talk at the 2016 CALL conference describing my role as the association’s social media coordinator.

Research Question for Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan (June 2016)
I completed a complex legal research question for Kara-Dawn Jordan in June 2016.  On completion of the research, Kara-Dawn wrote: “Exactly what I was looking for Alan.  You saved me a lot of time. Thank you!”

Increased Board and Committee Responsibilities (June 2016)
I have agreed to represent the Law Society Library as a Member-at-Large on the Saskatchewan Library Association Board and as a member of the CALL Vendor Liaison Committee.

Legal Resources for Librarians Webinar (October 2016)
I was asked to present an access to justice themed webinar for librarians across Canada by the Education Institute, a continuing education initiative developed by The Partnership of Provincial and Territorial Library Associations of Canada.  My hope is that by connecting with public librarians, they will be able to better assist members of the public coming to the library with legal questions.

Instruction Sessions in 2016
I presented fourteen instruction sessions in 2016, double the amount of instruction sessions presented in 2015.