Date: 21/12/ 2023 & 22/12/2023
Supervisor: Rachel Summers (Electronic Resources Librarian Victoria Legal Aid Library)
Format: in person
Time: 6 hrs
Organisers: Victoria Legal Aid Library (VLA)
Level: Volunteer
Subject Area: Public law library collections, terminology, systems, processes and practices. Specialised classification schemes and use of thesauri. Research training. Introduction to intranet and legal databases.
Objective: Attainment of new skills in a specialist library environment
Reason for attending: Experience and networking with legal professional and the public in an unfamiliar LIS domain.
What was learnt: Through discussion with the Head of library at Frankston High School I was offered the opportunity to participate in professional development at the Victorian Legal Aid Library in Melbourne. The VLA provides legal education and resources and supports Law partnerships to “help build knowledge in the community about legal rights and responsibilities” (Legal Aid Victoria, 2022, para 1.) I was very interested in the prospect of an environment completely different to my previous practices and knew it would benefit my comprehension of diverse information contexts.
The VLA physical and digital collections introduced me to the value and history of law resources and their foundation in English Law systems, including legal textbooks, journals, law and government reform reports, legislation and government gazettes in Australia.
I was instructed on the use of databases, including the Australasian Legal information Institute (AustLii) available freely for the general community, alongside Lexis Advance, Westlaw Australia, CCH Intelliconnect and Lawlex Legislation for internal access procedures and official legislation requirements.
I received a comprehensive prologue into law resource description, database indexing, use of the Australian Legal/Law Thesaurus and comprehension of the MOYS classification scheme and incorporation into the Dewy Decimal system.
Relationship to work or study
My experience with the VLA library was fascinating and beyond my expectations. The VLA physical and digital collections provided context for the previously completed INF303: The Information Society in relation to social, political and legal aspects of information access for VLA public and professional patrons. Use of reference processes and search strategies from INF211: Information Sources and Services were clarified within discussions of databases, as well as ongoing client access practice. Familiarity with INF209:Describing and Analysing Information Resources was established via a prologue into law resource description, database indexing, use of The Australian Legal/Law Thesaurus and comprehension of the MOYS classification scheme and incorporation into the Dewy Decimal system. I was trusted to search, access, copy and mail legal terminology and case files for prison inmates needing support without internet entitlement. This role availed resource access for a previously unfamiliar client base.
Rachelle and her fellow staff welcomed my questions, set specific tasks to create learning opportunities, allocated time to discuss resources, legislation and databases in depth so I could take notes, and encouraged communication within the intranet to enhance my competence. I felt awe, inspiration and historic fascination with a visit to the Supreme Court Library established in 1853 to “enhance the administration of justice in Victoria” (Supreme Court of Victoria, 2024, para 3).
I am thankful for the two days I completed at the facility where I was enlightened by a vast array of new knowledge and potential skill.
References
Supreme Court of Victoria. (2024). About us. https://www.lawlibrary.vic.gov.au/about-us/library-history
Victorian Legal Aid. (2024). Community legal education and information.
https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/community-legal-education-and-information