It is summer here in Atlanta. The hot, humid climate is reflected in the locals' nickname of “Hotlanta.” That means it's almost too hot to be outside, at least not for very long. So what could be better than finding a comfortable chair and relaxing with the latest edition of the International Journal of Legal Information (IJLI). This issue contains the regular, always-popular International Calendar, edited by Aslihan Bulut, and Book Reviews, edited by Thomas Mills. There are also five excellent features to interest just about any reader.
The first feature article is by Heidi Kuehl, who argues persuasively for including cultural competency among the essential lawyering skills that should be taught in law schools. The author provides an overview of the importance of cultural competency skills for multijurisdictional practice and a comprehensive list of resources for international business law for G20 nations. Her article sketches the history of cultural competency and its inclusion as a skill that is taught in clinical legal education settings at some U.S. law schools. The author also includes a brief survey of current globalization offerings and initiatives at U.S. law schools. She rounds out her treatment with a comprehensive list of resources and an authoritative survey of international business resources for G20 countries. It is an excellent piece on an important topic and makes for very interesting reading as well.
Since the International Association of Law Libraries Annual Course was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2014, I have been particularly eager to include more works by and about jurisdictions in Latin America. Paul Moorman came through with his excellent annotated bibliography focused on pension reform in Chile. The bibliography is thoroughly researched and well-written, as one might expect. It is an excellent starting point for anyone doing comparative work with South American jurisdictions, or doing research in Chile in particular. Pension reform is a a hot topic in many jurisdictions around the world. Use Moorman's bibliography to help gain insight into how one Latin American jurisdiction is doing it.
The next piece is by Mehgan Gallagher who has researched and written on the right to refuse treatment in a psychiatric institution. Her work is a useful, yet sensitive examination of a difficult topic. Gallagher examines the law in three vastly different jurisdictions: The United States, Kenya and Brazil. The author did thorough research and provides a detailed analysis of her topic. She compares the prevailing law on the right to refuse treatment for people with mental disabilities in an institutional setting in her three jurisdictions from three very different continents. Highly recommended.
A law librarian colleague from China, Liu Ming, has written a shorter piece on one way to meet library user needs. She uses KANO theory to examine library user demands in Chinese Law Libraries. The Kano model was based on the assumption that customer needs are constantly changing and so it becomes a challenge to know how to meet library users' evolving demands. Liu Ming summarizes the demands of Chinese law library patrons under three levels: basic needs, performance, and excitement demands. She concludes that most Chinese academic law libraries meet users' basic needs, but they should further enhance user satisfaction and promote the law libraries' status as a legal information center instead of placing emphasis on the library as a place to collect and house books.
The issue concludes with a really interesting annotated bibliography by Robert Jarvis and Megan Chaney. Their bibliography is limited to law review articles while covering an unusual subject: the law of absentees and returnees. Among a host of other things, the authors include references to films, books and other items in popular culture as well as law review articles on famous cases involving missing or returned people. The piece makes for fun and truly interesting reading, which is saying something when one considers that the piece is a bibliography. Jarvis and Chaney's bibliography also shows how truly varied and individual bibliographies can be – and we love that.
As you can see, there is just about something for everyone in this issue of the IJLI. So sit back, turn the air conditioner up and the music down and enjoy the contents of this issue of the IJLI. Happy reading!
