Beyond The Spectrum: How Aall Has Benefited An International Member

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perspective

Beyond

the Spectrum

How AALL has benefited an international member by Shaikh Mohamed Noordin

hen I accepted the job as a librarian in a mediumsized law firm in Kuala Lumpur in 1996, little did I know what I was signing up for. I knew that I had been entrusted to manage a law firm library, but I had no clue whatsoever of the pitfalls ahead of me.

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© 2006 Shaikh Mohamed Noordin

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librarians in Malaysia is of limited help. Previously a corporate librarian in the The association itself is too small and ill shipping and banking industries, I had no prepared to cater to many facets and prior experience in law librarianship. There interests possible within the profession. was no specific job description, except for Many of my curiosities in law librarianship a brief introduction to the library. In were left unanswered. But I was determined Malaysia, law firm librarians are mainly not to have an outdated impression of the hired for generic tasks, such as purchasing profession while others are out there making and arranging books, updating statutes, their marks. and the general gopher role of locating books and resources for lawyers. It is often AALL Fills the Void the case in Malaysia that a law librarian’s This situation prompted me to look outside qualification is earned day-to-day in the the country for guidance and the possibility running of a law library. of emulating others in the hope of improving The image of a law librarian as a myself professionally. I found contacts for mere “keeper of the books” is a common several leading associations of law librarians impression among lawyers here. Few on the Internet, and one of these was AALL. attorneys recognize the value of an After some soul searching, I experienced librarian as an chose to join AALL, as it was astute custodian of knowledge the oldest and largest association. and, hence, fail to fully utilize AALL also seemed to have an this resource in their practices. abundance of educational Sadly, that perception has led resources in law librarianship. many law firms to hire poorly Though I may be too far trained or professionally away physically to enjoy the unqualified law librarians for splendid activities offered by the job. It does not help that the Association, much of the much of what is tasked to a information can still be accessed librarian generally is clerical in through its various publications. nature and that there may not Many of my questions were be a system in place to quantify answered when I received the services of a law librarian Shaikh Mohamed brochures from AALL outlining vis-à-vis revenue generation. the benefits of membership. I am When a law firm begins to Noordin still very excited to be associated recognize that some of a with an organization that is so trained librarian’s time can be relevant and pertinent to our common cause. billed to a client, the value of a librarian AALL has provided an alternative for me and starts to be properly realized and utilized. has helped to fill the void. The general segment of Malaysian Psychologically, AALL has boosted my lawyers do not understand the value a professional confidence. Just the thought of librarian brings, although they may be aware being accepted in the largest professional of the importance of having someone to organization of this kind has changed my take good care of their libraries. Despite attitude towards the profession itself. I no the growing need for the expertise of law longer feel alone and professionally isolated, librarians in Malaysia, the number of knowing that I can share my enthusiasm qualified librarians is rapidly shrinking. and learn a great deal from the best in the Many of our professional law librarians profession. I value all the information I are unable to sustain their interest, due to have received so far and have also started lucrative offers in other sectors or being to purchase more material for my own ill-equipped for the job. Even for those reference purposes. My presence in the who want to excel and develop themselves, firm is more visible now; my role and there are no formal training courses in law contributions to the firm have been steadily librarianship available in Malaysia. There is attracting attention. also a very limited circle of law librarians to turn to and from which to seek advice. Loss AALL Inspires Professional Growth of interest due to these reasons and many From the time I started at my firm, Tay other factors are commonplace among the and Partners, my traditional role has evolved professional law librarians here. into one with a multitude of roles to It is a continuing challenge for a meet current needs. I am more fulfilled librarian like me to create an impact on the professionally and accountable to the firm’s job without professional guidance. How well being. The guidance from more can one convince others if one is not even experienced members in AALL has inspired convinced oneself? Becoming a member of me to where I am today. I cannot imagine the one and only professional association of

doing the same thing I did 10 years ago. My perspective of the job has changed tremendously with multiple roles outside traditional practice. I have been fortunate to be able to work with lawyers who are receptive to new ideas and have an innovative approach to the practice of law. My firm was among the first in Malaysia to have a Web site, after the relaxation of the Publicity Rules of our Bar Council. This led to me being among the first few librarians here to act as a Web master. The Web site has recorded the highest hits for those seeking full-text statutes of Laws of Malaysia. It has also been linked to various popular legal research portals, including the Law Library of Congress (www.taypartners.com.my/v_link List.asp?catid=15). AALL has helped by offering tips on how to promote the Web site through its publications. It is also with much pride that I sit with other partners of the firm on the Editorial Board as co-coordinator of the firm newsletter. My role is to ensure that the newsletter meets its publication deadlines. I am developing my own interest in writing after some pointers from several articles in Spectrum. A few of my own articles, such as “Facing A New Reality: the Opportunities and Challenges of Law Librarians in Malaysia” (Journal of Malaysian Bar, INSAF (2004)), and “Legal Research Facilities in Malaysia” (Legal Information Management, the journal of the British and Irish Association of Law Librarians, BIALL (2005)), have seen print in both local and international journals. In my current projects, I am preparing articles for the Australian Law Librarian Journal on the accessibility of law in Commonwealth countries in Southeast Asia from the Malaysian, Singaporean, and Bruneian perspectives and for the Malaysian Journal of Library and Information Science on computer-assisted legal research in Malaysia. I am grateful for the relevant guidance that was available through the various publications of AALL, which has assisted me in no small way on my writing projects. I find many of the AALL articles on legal research to be very encouraging and an eye-opener in enhancing my knowledge of the subject. Teaching legal research is not a common practice for law firm librarians in Malaysia. I have begun giving legal research training during library orientations for our new lawyers and pupils (fresh graduates undergoing training prior to being called to the Bar). Some of our lawyers are foreign graduates who may be unfamiliar with Malaysian legal terms. These foreign-trained (continued on pg. 27)

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Go Fish!— continued from pg. 6

Award Box.” These little acknowledgments have proven effective.

3. Make Their Day “The playful way they do their work allows us to find creative ways to engage our customers,” say the fish market personnel in Fish! “That’s the key word: engage.” Try to find ways to engage your clients, customers, and patrons in your work. “Focusing your attention on ways to make another person’s day provides a constant flow of positive feelings,” advises Fish! In the law library, it is important we look approachable and not too busy to help our patrons.

4. Be Present Be present, fully engaged in your work. Make your customers or patrons wonder if you would ever want to be any place else. Be present and focus—focus on your patrons. In my library we opened a Faculty Reference Desk on another floor where most of our student carrels are located. Of course, Averett was the one behind this concept. Another way to implement some of these ideas is to divide up the staff in your departments for brainstorming sessions. Try to come up with different ways to incorporate your modules and goals. And remember, we can all do what we love for our life’s work … if we have the right attitude. ■ Linda C. Brown ([email protected]. edu) is circulation manager at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where she supervises 25 student employees.

Ad Index AALL Planned Giving . . . . . . . . . 21 BNA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Global Securities . . inside front cover LexisNexis . . . 7, inside back cover Purdue University . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Social Law Library. . . . . . . . . . . 29 10K Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 West . . . . . . . . . . 3, 24, back cover

Beyond the Spectrum— continued from pg. 13

lawyers appreciate my guidance on how Malaysian law is documented and published. I also provide instruction on how to access Malaysian legal databases and to find our law resources on the Internet. In the course of all this, I have realized that there is an absence of source reference outlining legal research in Malaysia, which has prompted me to begin writing a book on this subject for student reference.

A New Challenge Currently, I am involved in developing our documents/precedents management system. My understanding about knowledge management concepts through various articles in AALL’s publications has helped me tremendously to contribute input on the project. I am now responsible for managing internally-generated information, which I hope to model after the management of externally-generated information in the firm library. I am also helping the firm in its marketing efforts by ensuring that all materials about the firm and lawyers in various publications and Web sites are updated. Perhaps all these tasks are common among law librarians in America, but, for us in Malaysia, these experiences have taken our traditional role into a new dimension and have made the profession more challenging. The influence, motivation, and inspiration that came with the knowledge gained through my association with AALL has heightened my passion for my work. Even with my passive participation in the organization, I believe myself to be an example of how AALL has succeeded in reaching beyond its spectrum in pioneering the development of law librarianship worldwide. It is satisfying to me to have the full support and confidence of the partners of my firm, who fully sponsor my membership. They are confident that the benefits of AALL membership will manifest themselves in both tangible and intangible ways for the firm. Membership in AALL has provided me with a different perspective on law librarianship that I have in turn tried to project on our legal community here. I have no hesitation in recommending AALL to those wishing to expand their horizons in the profession. AALL has been a rewarding choice. ■ Shaikh Mohamed Noordin (nordin@ taypartners.com.my) is managing librarian for Tay and Partners in Kuala Lumpur. He is also an active member of the Librarians Association of Malaysia and was the first chairman of the association’s Committee for the Malaysian Law Librarian Group. He is the only Malaysian member of AALL. AALL Spectrum

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