Thompson To Refund Over $1.2 Million In Florida for Automatic Updates

The Tampa Bay Business Journal reports that Thompson Publishing Group Inc. will pay over $1.2 million in refunds to Florida customers for unsolicited products they were receiving as part of Thompson's "Automated Update Program" that periodically distributed and billed customers for publications without their prior notice. The Florida Attorney General's office began this investigation after Thompson billed the office's law librarian for a publication that she never requested.

Although the settlement only involves Florida customers, it would be wise for any library administrator to review its records and make sure that the library is only being billed for publications that it needs or wants.

Baish of AALL Testifies In Support Of GPO Budget

"On May 7, Mary Alice Baish of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) gave testimony before the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, Legislative Branch Subcommittee, in support of the fiscal year (FY) 2009 budget request of the U.S. Government Printing Office. She testified on behalf of AALL, the American Library Association, and the Special Libraries Association." [via ALA District Dispatch] (as summarized here)

For the complete text of Ms. Baish's testimony click here.

Cape May County Celebrates Opening Of New Law Library

The Cape May County Herald reports that a newly renovated and relocated law library has opened in the Cape May County Courthouse. The new library not only offers its visitors greater access to its books, but also provides Lexis/Nexis access to the public.

West Virginia Library To Get New Law Librarian

We reported last week that the Berkeley County Law Judicial Center in Martinsburg, West Virgina has had to close its doors to the public for the past year because it does not currently have a law librarian. In response to publicity about this situation, the chief justice of the West Virginia Court of Appeals has directed the state court system's executive director to hire a librarian for this library as soon as possible.

For more on this development, click here.

Vermont Passes Library Confidentiality Law

The Vermont House and Senate have both passed a bill that specifies that only a court order could force the release of library patrons' records. For more about this legislation, click here.

New York Times Discusses JD Supra

This New York Times Article discusses JD Supra, a new database that encourages attorneys to post samples of their work for other attorneys to use, no strings attached. The article also goes on to discuss some of the other free resources that are available to attorneys on the Internet.

West Virginia Bars Users From Law Library Due To Lack Of Librarian

Eastern West Virginians in need of valuable legal resources and research assistance literally have been locked out of a publicly funded regional law library for more than a year, according to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals' top librarian.

"Since we are without a librarian at the moment, I am reluctant to leave the library open," Kaye L. Maerz said Thursday at the library in the Berkeley County Judicial Center in Martinsburg.

For more on this story, Click Here.