What is a Solo Law Librarian?

I do it all! Research, open library mail, file updates, file pocket parts, pay bills, track costs, order books, develop and weed the collection, catalog, keep track of passwords for attorneys, evaluate online resources, check out and return books to our local county law library. Additional, non-traditional chores include tracking attorney CLE credits for our state, and any other state they practice. As well as applying for CLE credits for any seminar our firm offers other attorneys. And of course the bain of my existence, marketing.
And I am part time.
I cannot really take too much credit for collection development. Attorneys know what they want or need, and I order it for them. I will evaluate online resources for attorney sections, but they will also "test drive" every new service before we purchase.
And I like all of it.
Some may look at this list and think so much of it is boring, and it is sometimes. But my work is different everyday, and I never know what or who will come into my office with something new and challenging for me to do.
I described marketing as the bain of my existence. The real problem is that I seem to have to get attorneys to bring me research to do. Our firm is very set in its ways, and most research is given to the newest associates. And while that narrows the amount of research I do, much of the research should be done by these associates, I believe. I do not have a law degree, and only have a basic understanding of 'legalese' and could not offer the amount of analysis that new lawyers possess.
As a typical Librarian, I am underestimating myself, and not being out going enouogh. However I feel my focus is on obtaining the information, in the fastest, most cost efficient way.
As a Librarian in the 21st century, I feel even stronger that I should know the places where information can be obtained, and direct patrons to the best places. A step in that direction finally happened this week, where I was able to put together an electronic folder of free legal research websites, and with the help of our IT Staff, make it available for all attorneys and paralegals. Since our firm does not have an intranet, which I have been waiting for a very long time, this was the next best thing.
Therefore, I have used my time recently to tap into the blogisphere, and Web 2.0 and all the other catch phrase 'hot' online places, to see how I can best serve my library patrons now and in the future. This blog is part of that.
But, I guess checking with attorneys in the office if they need any help with a project would be good too.

Back again

I started this blog two years ago as I followed an online, self study on Web 2.0. It opened me up to Twitter, and Facebook, and Maps, and a bunch of other stuff, including having a blog.
Looking a the old posts, and deleting most of them, I realized it was very hard for me to open up to the new technology and have a presence on the world wide web.
With the Internet celebrating 20 years this month, and a need to try and keep up with technology as it pertains to the Law Library world, I return again to by Library Blog.
I will do some searching, and add my experiences in our small Law Library, and post things here.

Do I need to Tweet? Really?

Thing 27, Twitter.
I read the thing, and a couple of articles, and saw the video, and still ask myself do I really need to Tweet? The guy on the video said he is on Twitter about 4 hours a day! I think this is what is wrong with technology today. Four hours on the computer could be spent with some face to face contact. He has 5000 friends online, but when was the last time he went out for coffee with a friend, his brother, or on a date? Really?
I had one follower, and I read her messages, and none of them were of interest to me. NASCAR and American Idol/Idiot is what she was commenting about. Big deal, I don't care. Maybe if I found some pages with things that interest me...but I don't want to spend the time, checking messages, responding.
I read one of my favorite blog pages, and she felt the same way. She didn't see the point and didn't want to spend the time.
She had already done the first 23 Things, and liked them. But this second set seemed less helpful for work applications. So far I agree, though I did not work on the first 23 things. Maybe I should go back to that list and work on it on my own.
Two things I want to explore since I have work applications for them already are: a) A delicious page and B) Googledocs. I will work on these on my own, and blog about them later.

Sorry about the rant. It is good to know what Twitter is, since people are talking about it. And if you get a group going on a project, or have similar interests, it would be helpful, so I guess I will keep my account for now. But I'm not sure how to use it at work yet. It kind of feels like junior high school all over again, trying to get in with the "it" crowd. Oh goody, to be awkward and 13 again!