My Favourite Tipples from a Solo UK Law Librarian
Jinfo Blog

By Clare Brown

Abstract

My Favourite Tipples are shared by Clare Brown, a library and information professional with 20 years' experience in the legal sector. She shares her favourite blogs, apps and sites in areas from current awareness to responsible media, and efficiency.

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Every legal information manager has a core set of legal and business databases, for example, Westlaw, Lexis, and Bailii.org, which are consulted on a daily basis. However current awareness is a large part of my role, and I am also involved with producing articles for the firm. I've included my two favourite blogs, as well as two apps which I couldn't do without!

• Netvibes: A social aggregation and dashboarding service, which I visit every day. It brings together all the news, press releases, legislation, cases and blogs, which make up my current awareness. I scan-read the RSS feed headlines so I can see what is going on in the morning. It is particularly helpful for government consultation papers.

• Thesaurus.com: I have to write articles and sometimes I find myself grappling to find the right word; or a better word for the job. I find Thesaurus.com really helpful, although there is often the danger of becoming distracted by interesting entries.

• Inforrm.com: The blog which I read most often is the International Forum for Responsible Media, (Inforrm), which was set up a couple of years ago as a forum to debate issues of media responsibility. In light of recent world events, it is more important than ever to balance the media's right to freedom of expression against the rights to privacy and reputation. My other most-read blog is 3 Geeks and a Law Blog which offers entertaining comment on legal information issues.

• Evernote: This is an indispensable cross-device app. I use it for all aspects of my professional and academic life, from making notes whilst reading, taking photographs at events, voice memos, clipping useful websites and articles, emailing information to myself, as well as taking notes at meetings and lectures. Notes can be sorted into folders, tagged, searched and exported. The most useful aspect of this is the online synchronisation and backup service, so you have access to notes on your phone, PC or tablet.

For fun... 

• miCoach: The other app I use regularly is miCoach. It's a free app essential for keeping fit and maintaining those New Year's Resolutions and I would heartily recommend it.

An article in FreePint which I found particularly interesting: 

• James Mullan on "What's the Point of Wearable Technologies?" Due to my interest in technology and social media I found this to be a fascinating crystal ball piece.

He explains how there are many different ways in which wearable technologies are being used by millions of different people, but wonders, ultimately, what is the point in them. Whether such cutting edge technology will become mainstream remains to be seen, but we live in very interesting legal information times.

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