The School Without Walls visit was a fun experience. I was able to share with the students how information technology has changed during the past 50 years and how those changes relate to their everyday lives, particularly in the way they communicate with each other and how they complete assignments and take notes. They were able to look at various types of obsolete storage media and learn how difficult it can be to access information stored in those formats. We also discussed the history of legal research and how recent advances in technology has led to dramatic changes in research methods and in the legal profession as a whole. The students were able to handle rare law books that were more than 500 years old and see handwritten court documents from the earliest years of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department. We also briefly discussed how to properly display and store photographs, using the court’s unique collection of portraits as a case study.
I was surprised by one student who did almost everything “the old fashioned way” from printing photographs to using paper phone books, whereas the other students used their cellphones and Wi-Fi exclusively.
The students seemed genuinely interested in the presentation. I am looking forward to the next class to visit and have some exciting ideas for additional things to share with them.
Our UPS guy is not happy about it, but the street closures for the Jazz Festival have begun. The complete list is below.
If you come to the library, you probably see signs saying, “PLEASE DO NOT RESHELVE OUR BOOKS.” These signs are not unique to us. We see them at the public library as well. The reason for this is two-fold.
One aspect of the tour that was particularly interesting for the students was the availability of free Lexis, private study rooms, and Wi-Fi. I told the students that many attorneys meet with clients in the private study rooms, while using the wireless connection to access email, Lexis and the Internet. It was clear they were already pondering the possibilities as I talked about it - one of them immediately commented, "We could use the library as our law office." The idea that they could start their own law practice without the expense of an office was something they hadn't thought possible. When combined with the library's massive print collection, the students acknowledged that our facility really does offer just about everything a young attorney would need to get started in the profession. In fact, one of them has already returned (a day later) to conduct research for her current law school assignment!
Next Sunday, March 23, at 3:00 P.M., the Little will present Forbidden Voices, a documentary profiling three dissident bloggers who've braved repression in their home countries, as part of its Women's History Month Film Series. The stories of Yoani Sanchez of Cuba, Zeng Jinyan of China, and Farnaz Seifi of Iran will no doubt make compelling viewing.
There is a wonderful balloon exhibit on display in the Sibley Building of Jack and the Beanstalk by Balloon Manor. The exhibit has every color of the rainbow and more. Every detail can be seen from a roaring fireplace to butterflies all a flutter. If you are looking for FREE family fun this exhibit is a must see.
Appellate Division, Fourth Department Justices Rose H. Sconiers and Joseph D. Valentino will be part of a panel of magistrates at an upcoming event hosted by the Rochester Black Bar Association (RBBA). The Continuing Legal Education session, entitled "Everything You Need to Know about Becoming a Judge," will be held Friday, January 17, 2014 at The Rubin Center for Education at 1 West Main Street.
