LISNews: Librarian News

We're going to be talking to a group of firm librarians about what resources are being used in law firms today.

The future of Michigan’s State Law Library has become uncertain in light of a July 13, 2009 executive order issued by the state’s governor. Executive Order 2009-36, which takes effect October 1, 2009 absent legislative action, provides for the elimination of the law library’s “circulation and document delivery” services. Details and prospects for the future of the state law library and an analysis of the executive order on Law Librarian Blog

Posted to a law librarian listserv:

We crafted a very short petition directed at the Administrative Office of the US Courts to improve PACER.

The petition is online here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/improve-PACER.

It reads:

We ask the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to improve PACER by enhancing the authenticity, usability and availability of the system.
We the undersigned, urge the Administrative Office of the US Courts (AO) to make the following changes to the PACER system:

For verification and reliability, the AO should digitally sign every document put into PACER using readily available technology.

PACER needs to be much more readily accessible if it is to be usable for research, education, and the practice of law. Improved accessibility includes both lowering the costs for using PACER and enhancing the web interfaces.

Depository libraries should also have free access to PACER.

Please sign the petition, comment on the ideas and share the petition with your friends and colleagues!

NPR has learned that Supreme Court Justice David Souter is planning to retire at the end of the current court term.

The vacancy will give President Obama his first chance to name a member of the high court and begin to shape its future direction.

Full story here.