Committees

SWALL Standing Committees

Archives Committee
Heather Kushnerick (Chair), South Texas College of Law Library

Constitution and Bylaws Committee
Wendy Law, Texas A&M University Dee J. Kelly Law Library
Kevin Miles, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
Ashley Arrington, Texas Tech School of Law Library
Rob Brownell, University of Houston Law Library

Legal Information Services to the Public Committee
Deborah Hamilton Chair, Pike Peak Library District
Amy Small, Texas State Law Library
Casi Lewis, University of New Mexico Law Library
Dajiang Nie, Texas Tech School of Law Library

Life Membership/Memorials and Grants Committee
Joan Stringfellow, Chair, Texas A&M University Dee J. Kelly Law Library
Alyson Drake, University of Houston Law Library
Diana Dulek, University of Houston Law Library

Local Arrangements Committee 
Teresa Miguel-Stearns (Chair), University of Arizona Law Library
Cas Laskowski, University of Arizona Law Library
Sarah Gotschall, University of Arizona Law Library
David Gay, SWALL Lifetime member, Arizona State (retired)

Membership and Recruitment Committee
Edward Hart (Chair), UNT College of Law Library

Nominations Committee
Alyson Drake (Chair), University of Houston Law Library
Aamir Abdullah, University of Colorado, Boulder William A. Wise Law Library
Stewart Caton, UNT College of Law Library

Private and Government Law Libraries Committee
Caren Luckie, Jackson Walker

Program Committee
Cas Laskowski (Chair), University of Arizona Law Library
Michell Rigual, UNM Law Library
Madeline Cohen, University of Denver Law Library
Brittany Morris, Texas Tech Law Library
Andrew Bennett, Fort Bend County Law Library
Katy Stein, University of Houston Law Library

Public Relations and Publications Committee
Amanda Watson (Chair), University of Houston Law Library

Webmaster
Sean Harrington, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law (Arizona State)

To volunteer for service on a committee, please contact Chris Dykes, SWALL President 2022-2023.

Committee Descriptions and Charges

Constitution and Bylaws Committee

Purpose: The Committee reviews and revises where necessary the SWALL Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.

• The Committee must submit proposed revisions to the Board of Directors at least 60 days prior to the next business meeting to allow the Board time to consider the proposal and distribute it to the membership. With Board approval of the wording, the proposal should then be submitted to the AALL Constitution and Bylaws Committee to make certain the proposal does not conflict with AALL policy. With AALL’s approval, the proposal should preferably appear in the SWALL Bulletin, if the publication schedule permits. Otherwise, the Board will need to notify the membership through the SWALL Listserv. Notification to members must be made 30 days prior to the vote. The President may direct the Secretary and/or the Constitution and Bylaws Chair to conduct the mailing.
• The Committee makes sure that a current version of the Bylaws is posted on the Chapter’s website.
• The Chair submits files to the Archives according to the Archives guidelines.
• The Chair submits any proposed publications to the Publications Committee.

 

Legal Information Services to the Public

Purpose: The Committee works with local AALL chapters and within SWALL to present programs and prepare materials designed to educate the public on legal issues.

• The Committee proposes special interest programs and consults with the Chair of the Program Committee regarding their presentation at the annual meeting.
• The Chair submits files to the Archives according to the Archives guidelines.

 

Life Memberships/Memorials & Grants Committee

Purpose: The Committee coordinates life memberships, memorials, and grants for SWALL.

Life Memberships

• Through the SWALL Listserv, the Committee solicits suggestions for nominees for life membership from Chapter members.
• The Committee may nominate to life membership those who qualify under By-law 2.2(d).
• The Committee submits the list of recommended life members to the Board of Directors prior to the SWALL annual business meeting. The Secretary will verify that each nominee has achieved the five-year membership requirement.
• For a list of recipients of Life Membership, see the SWALL website “Life Membership Award Qualifications and Recipients.”

Memorials

• As to memorials, the Committee notifies the Board of Directors of the death of a SWALL member. The President will call upon the Committee Chair during the next SWALL annual meeting to deliver a brief memorial and moment of silence in honor of the deceased.
• The Committee may also choose to write a memorial to be published in the SWALL Bulletin.

Grants

• As to grants, the Committee develops an annual grants plan including a statement of purpose for a grants program, the method of selection of recipient(s), and the criteria for selection for the approval by the Board of Directors.
• The Committee should set a grants application deadline, which allows sufficient time to select and notify grant recipients before the SWALL annual meeting.
• The Committee submits the annual grants plan to the Treasurer. The Treasurer will then make recommendations to the Board on the number and amount of grants to be awarded in that year.
• Upon Board approval of the Committee’s plan and the Treasurer’s recommendations, the Committee prepares the grants guidelines and application form. The Committee distributes grants application email through the SWALL Listserv.
• As soon as the grant winners are selected, the Committee notifies all grant applicants as to the results and forwards the names of grant recipients to the Treasurer. The winners should be shared over the SWALL Listserv and forward to the SWALL Public Relations & Publication Committee for inclusion in the SWALL Bulletin.
• After the SWALL annual meeting, the Committee will work with grant winners to ensure that they submit (1) a narrative of their conference experience, (2) all receipts documenting attendance expenses, and (3) any unused grant funds.
• For further information on past grants winners and the current SWALL grants guidelines, see the relevant portion of the SWALL Procedures Manual.

The Chair submits files to the Archives according to the Archives guidelines.

 

Local Arrangements Committee

Purpose: This Committee makes hotel, meal, and all operational arrangements for the annual or other membership meetings. For more details, see the Guidelines in Appendix D of “The Annual Meeting Procedures” in this Procedures Manual.

• This Committee also assists the Legal Information Services to the Public Committee with arrangements for the pre-conference program. For more details, see Appendix I, “Pre-Conference Program Procedures.”
• The Chair coordinates all aspects of Committee work with the Vice President who acts as Chair of the Program Com
• It is strongly suggested that the Committee submit articles promoting the host city of the annual meeting to the SWALL Bulletin as early as the fall issue with follow-up articles in the spring issue. The Committee might even submit a notice for inclusion in the AALL E-Newsletter.
• Preparation of a budget for the expenses of local activities related to scheduled meetings must be completed early in the planning for approval of the Vice President and the
• The Committee should prepare and distribute meeting and hotel registration materials so that they reach the membership at least 2 months prior to the annual meeting. If the Committee so chooses, annual registration materials can even be distributed in the spring issue of the SWALL Bulletin.
• The Chair submits files to the Archives, according to the Archives guidelines.
• The Chair submits any proposed publications to the Publications Committee.

 

Membership & Recruitment Committee

Purpose: This Committee maintains the official SWALL membership database, distributes membership renewal forms, plans and implements recruitment programs for the Chapter, and serves as a source of information and assistance with recruitment programs and projects conducted by Chapter members.

Membership

• The Committee is responsible for posting membership renewal forms to the SWALL listserv at the end of every membership year (May 31) and notifying members that it is time to renew. The Committee should post at least two follow-up emails over the course of the summer.
  • The membership forms must include a provision for members to opt out of having their contact information published in the SWALL Directory.
  • Membership forms and dues payments are sent to the SWALL Treasurer, who will send the membership information to the Committee.
  • The Committee is responsible for communicating with the SWALL Treasurer to ensure that the Treasurer sends the Committee copies of any membership or renewal forms received. Once received, the information in these forms should be entered into the SWALL membership database.
  • The Committee maintains an electronic database of SWALL membership information. This information should include, where applicable, the following: name; institutional affiliation; institutional address, phone number, and email address; membership type; and membership expiration date. In the case of life members, the membership database may include the member’s home address, home or cell phone number, and/or personal email address.
  • The Committee compiles an electronic Membership Directory from the information in the database and makes it available to the SWALL webmaster, who shall post it on the Chapter’s website. Unless members have selected the “opt out” option on their membership form, their institutional contact information will be published in the Directory. However, home or private addresses and phone numbers will never be published in the Directory, regardless of opt out status.
    • Upon request, the Committee will send a copy of the Directory to the President or the Publications Committee, which may make copies and distribute them in print or electronically.
    • The Directory may be sold to appropriate individuals and companies with Board approval.
  • The Committee investigates and responds to any questions about SWALL membership, membership renewals, or the membership status of specific individuals and institutions.
  • The Committee provides a copy of the membership database to the Board, the Editor of the SWALL Bulletin, and committee chairs upon request.
  • The Committee notifies the Editor of the SWALL Bulletin of new members or changes of address, so that this information may appear in the Bulletin.
  • The Chair submits files to the Archives according to the Archives guidelines.
  • The Chair submits any proposed publications to the Publications Committee.

Recruitment

• The Committee coordinates SWALL’s participation in recruitment programs conducted by the AALL Recruitment to Law Librarianship Committee, including the selection of liaisons for the library schools located within Chapter boundaries. A liaison maintains contact with the dean or director of the library school and offers the Chapter’s help and expertise for such events as career day, special librarianship programs or courses, etc.
• The Committee develops and revises brochures or other publications for use in recruiting activities for the Chapter, then submits them to the Publications Committee or the Chapter webmaster for final production and distribution.
• The Committee designs, publicizes, and manages a mentor program to match new or prospective law librarians with veteran law librarians.
• The Chair submits files to the Archives according to the Archives guidelines.

 

Nominations Committee

Purpose: The Committee solicits nominations for candidates for the offices of Vice President/President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer.

• The Committee prepares a notice for the fall issue of the SWALL Bulletin soliciting nominations for candidates for the offices of Vice President/President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer.
  • Traditionally, the candidate slate consists of one nominee for each office.
  • The Committee reviews the qualifications of nominees on the basis of previous Chapter and professional service, professional experience, type-of-library experience, geographical location, and leadership and time requirements to fulfill the responsibilities of the office. (Note: due to the requirements of the Articles of Incorporation, the Treasurer must reside in Texas.)
  • If there are multiple nominees, the Committee ranks the nominees for each office. The top-ranked nominee for each office is contacted first. The Committee must wait for the nominee’s answer before contacting the Committee’s second choice.
  • If a nominee is willing to stand for office, his or her consent must be made in writing to the Committee before formal nomination can take place.
• The Committee submits the names of all nominees to the President at least 60 days in advance of the annual meeting. The President shall provide notice of candidates to all members no later than 45 days in advance of the annual meeting, including submitting the candidates’ names to the Editor of the SWALL Bulletin and the Webmaster for communication to the membership.
  • Additional nominations may also be made in the manner and time frame designated in Article 5 of the Bylaws. The final election slate should consist of one or more nominees for the offices of Vice President/President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer.
• Voting shall take place in the manner proscribed in Article 4 of the Bylaws.
• If voting is to occur at the annual meeting and a contest develops, the Committee must provide written ballots for members and carry out a more formal election. In the event of a tie, the successful candidate shall be determined by lot conducted by the Nominations Committee.
• The Committee also identifies and submits the names of candidates for national office in AALL. Early in his or her tenure, the Chair contacts the AALL Nominations Committee Chair (found on the AALL website) for the nomination schedule.
• The Chair submits files to the Archives according to the Archives guidelines.

 

Private & Government Law Libraries Committee

• The Committee encourages and promotes SWALL membership to state, court, county, and private law librarians in order to provide a forum for collaboration, continuing education, and advocacy opportunities for members and their libraries.
• The Committee will consist of the Chair and three members, ideally with two members each from government and private libraries.
• The Committee proposes programs promoting the roles and benefits of government and private law libraries to the Program Committee for the annual SWALL meeting.
• The Committee submits articles of interest from government and private law libraries to the Editor of the SWALL Bulletin for communication to the membership.
• The Committee works with the AALL Government Law Libraries Special Interest Section and the AALL Private Law Libraries Special Interest Section to develop program proposals for the AALL Annual Meeting and to further communications on matters of interest.
• The Chair submits files to the Archives according to the Archives guidelines.

 

Program Committee

Purpose: The Vice President serves as Chair of the Committee and coordinates plans and activities of the annual meeting with the Chair of the Local Arrangements Committee.

• The Chair selects the theme of the SWALL annual meeting and traditionally announces it at the SWALL meeting during AALL.
• The Program Committee plans the educational portion of the annual meeting program. This usually entails around 10 to 11 hours of programming. The Program Chair solicits ideas from the members of the Committee and seeks to address the educational interests and changing issues of the membership as a whole.
  • In particular, the Program Committee seeks input from other SWALL committees.
  • The Program Committee, in conjunction with the Local Arrangements Committee, makes arrangements for speakers, panels, facilities, etc., for the annual meeting. The Program Chair also selects the speaker from AALL.
  • Because many members of SWALL need time to seek funding from their institutions in order to attend the annual meeting and need a program agenda in order to justify their attendance, the Program Committee should publish a tentative program agenda as early as possible.
  • For guidance in planning the program, the Program Committee Chair should review “The Annual Meeting Procedures” in Appendix D of this Procedures Manual.
• The Chair submits files to the Archives according to the Archives guidelines.
• The Chair submits any proposed publications to the Publications Committee.

 

Public Relations & Publications Committee

Purpose: The Committee coordinates the public relations and publications efforts of SWALL, including producing the SWALL Bulletin and updating the chapter website.

• The Committee publicizes individual law library’s public relations activities to SWALL members through an ongoing column in the SWALL Bulletin.
  • Receives information from the AALL Public Relations Committee.
  • Distributes AALL information to SWALL members through ongoing column in the SWALL Bulletin and through postings on the SWALL Listserv.
  • Provides feedback to the AALL Public Relations Committee regarding chapter concerns and interests.
• The Chair of the Committee serves as the Editor of the SWALL Bulletin and the SWALL website.
• Website
  • At the conclusion of each SWALL annual meeting, the website should be updated to reflect new committee membership and updated for additional content, as needed.
• Bulletin
  • The Committee publishes three (3) issues per year of the SWALL Bulletin and distributes them to the membership. Each issue should be advertised through the SWALL Listserv.
  • The Editor asks members of the Committee to suggest ideas, write articles, and/or compile bibliographies for the SWALL Bulletin.
• The Committee edits, produces, and distributes all other SWALL Committees’ formal publications in order to ensure publishing uniformity and professional appearance.
• The Chair acts as Chapter liaison to the Council of Chapter Newsletter Editors (CONE) of AALL, attends the CONE workshop and meeting during the AALL annual meeting, and maintains relations with the editors of the newsletters of other professional associations or with commercial publishing agencies as appropriate.
• The Chair submits Chapter publications and other files to the Archives according to the Archives guidelines.