Sometimes a task is not completed on time. We've all been there. We all know the many reasons for an incomplete result when one's allotted time for the task has expired; and there are consequences, naturally! Sometimes there simply isn't enough time to complete a given task—or intervening events or competing priorities make completion of the task unattainable. In this issue of the International Journal of Legal Information (IJLI), we have four pieces that were intended for the previous issue of the IJLI; instead, some of those intervening events and competing priorities made completing by the previous deadline impossible. That previous issue was the proceedings issue from the 2017 International Association of Law Libraries Annual Course here in Atlanta. The four articles comprise two multi-part segments of that 2017 Annual Course: a preconference workshop on Special Collections, and a panel presentation on fake news.
As editor, I make no complaints: I am more than thrilled that the authors consented to publish in this issue! Each of the pieces are solid contributions to the literature in their respective subjects, and each deals with critical issues in law librarianship. I believe that, regardless of their place – or absence thereof – in the proceedings issue, they are deserving of placement in the IJLI entirely on their own merits. So, they were included in this issue.
The first of these articles is authored by Vanessa King, Law Librarian for Special Collections here at Emory's Hugh F. MacMillan Law Library. Ms. King provides an overview of special collections and why they are important in law librarianship. She also reviews considerations libraries and librarians should make when deciding to build or augment these types of collections. Hers is an overview, and fits naturally with Jason LeMay’s article in issue 46.1 of the IJLI.
The three other “proceedings” articles were produced by three law library director colleagues. Each of them presented a panel at the 2017 Annual Meeting on the issue of fake news. First, Carol Watson provides a definition and an overview of fake news. Professor Watson places it in historical context, making it clear through several well-known examples that fake news has been with us for much longer than one might think!
Kristina Niedringhaus writes about the cultural detriments of fake news and presents reasons why continuing the ongoing fight against it matters. She discusses how the recent rise of fake news, particularly via social media outlets, correlates with a change in how society views expertise. Further, Professor Niedringhaus shares recently released results of an enormous research project examining how fake news spreads.
The final view of fake news comes from Caroline Osborne. Professor Osborne's article looks at information literacy as a countermeasure to fake news. She highlights some of the main reasons for cultural resistance to existing information literacy efforts and suggests components for information literacy programming with a focus on fake news.
Two additional, excellent articles join the four mentioned previously. The first is by Amanda Watson, who takes a new look at the perennial issue of the relative value and/or use of print resources in a world that is increasingly online. Her article reviews the potential benefits and detriments of different types of legal sources in both print and online formats. The author examines whether external pressures that increasingly favor electronic formats should outweigh the benefits of print.
The second article is by Oludayo John Bamgbose, a law librarian colleague from Nigeria. The author takes a comparative look at prison libraries in both Nigeria and the United States. He analyzes the national policy decisions of the two countries relative to the establishment of these important libraries within penal institutions. His work includes an overview of the best features of prison libraries (and prison law libraries), as well as many important recommendations for those advocating for the establishment or those managing penal libraries, especially in his native Nigeria.
Of course, the issue contains our usual popular features of Book Reviews, edited by Thomas Mills, and the International Calendar, edited by Amy Flick. This is a great issue of the IJLI, and I hope our readers will enjoy it. Please consider contributing your own piece to the IJLI, share your views, inform and even change minds, influence the profession, and see your name in print!
