The meeting was called to order at 12:25 pm.
The first order of business was approval of the minutes of the July, 2013 meeting. Cheryl Niemeier moved to approve the minutes and Scott Bailey seconded.
Emily Florio presented a brief Treasurer's Report.
Jean O'Grady thanked the PLL Volunteers (listed in the Program materials), the Committee, and the Sponsors by name: Bloomberg BNA, LexisNexis, Wolters Kluwer, Thomson Reuters, and Fastcase. Jean also extended special thanks to Marcia Burris and Cheryl Niemeier for co-chairing this year's PLL Summit.
Jean then highlighted some of the year's accomplishments. She discussed the PLL name change initiative and the intent to continue the efforts this year. She commended the success of the fifth annual PLL Summit and reflected on the marketplace changes since the original Summit. Lastly, she credited Cameron Gowan with significantly expanding the PLL Awards program, noting that ten more awards were presented this year.
The next order of business was the presentation of the awards and grants. Cameron presented the following awards:
Innovative Professional of the Year
Ralph Monaco, Executive Director, New York Law Institute
Steve Lastres, Director of Knowledge Management Services, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Saskia Mehlhorn, Manager of Library & Research Services, Norton Rose Fulbright
Aliro Gomez, Director of Library and Information Services, Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP
Best Blogger/Writer of the Year
Jean O'Grady, Director of Research Services, DLA Piper
Hall of Fame
Barbara Holt, Retired
Anne Ellis, Retired
Joan Jarosek, Retired
Advocate of the Year
Bess Reynolds, Electronic Resources Manager, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Scott Bailey, Global Director of Research Services, Squire Patton Boggs LLP
Distinguished Librarian
Robert Oaks, Chief Library and Records Officer, Latham & Watkins LLP
Emerging Leader
Ellyssa Kroski, Director of Information Technology, New York Law Institute
The following grant recipients were recognized next:
PLL Summit Registration Grants
Patricia Barbone, Director of Library Services, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP
Mark Desierto, Systems Librarian, Venable LLP
PLL Travel Grants
Patricia Barbone, Director of Library Services, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP
Mark Desierto, Systems Librarian, Venable LLP
Heather Williams, Web Services Librarian, Paul Hastings LLP
Jean then thanked the outgoing board members, Linda-Jean Schneider, Kristine Lloyd, and Cameron Gowan, and she introduced the new board members. Scott Bailey is the incoming Chair-Elect, Nancy Rine is the incoming Secretary, and Marcia Burris is the incoming Board Member. Jean concluded by handing the gavel to incoming Chair, Cheryl Niemeier.
Cheryl began her remarks by thanking the group. She shared her thoughts on the challenges and opportunities facing our profession: "If we aren't challenged, then we become complacent. If we become complacent, then we fail to see changes that need to be made until it is too late. If we fail to see changes that need to be made, then we become obsolete. If we become obsolete, then our customers lose their best guide to knowledge. Don't let our customers lose their best guide to knowledge... Get rid of old ideas and become the catalyst for change in your organizations!" Cheryl encouraged the group to be strategic; to be a change agent; to be a team player; to be informed of the mission and goals of one's firm; to be in alignment with the mission and goals; to be patient but persistent and bold; to keep asking; and to stay focused on the 20% of information that really matters. She described her success in changing the name of her department to Knowledge & Research Services, illustrating how knowledge is key to the profession with the following acrostic:
Know what you want
Never quit growing and changing
Opportunity - take advantage of it
Work hard
Let go of fear
Experiment - failures can lead to successes because we learn frm them
Devote more time to value-added tasks
Go for it
Excellence in all you do - something worth doing is worth doing well
Cheryl then outlined her goals for the year. These include: increasing educational opportunities in a variety of venues and formats; enhancing public relations/communications; working closely with the Strategic Directions Committee; increasing PLL committee and group involvement in the work of the SIS; reviewing and updating the PLL bylaws; and continuing the PLL name change initiative. She concluded by thanking Bloomberg Law for sponsoring the Summit Opening Reception and the PLL Annual Business Meeting Luncheon, and thanking Jean for her services this past year.
Cheryl then invited Elaine Knecht to speak about the Content Area Teams created by the Annual Meeting Program Committee (AMPC). Elaine described the Content Teams and the six categories of "must have" programs that they have identified for the 2015 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. The categories include: Management/Leadership; Technology; Raising the Profile of the Library/Librarian; Collaboration; Content Management; and Legal Research/Reference. Elaine noted that these categories will be included in the Call for Programs which is being sent in mid-August and she encouraged all to share their program ideas with members of the Content Area Teams.
The meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
