Author: afzoel@mail.swem.wm.edu (Alan F. Zoellner) at -Internet
    Date: 3/13/0  03:06 PM
Priority: Normal
     BCC: citation at AO-OCPPO
      TO: citation@ao.uscourts.gov at -Internet
 Subject: ABA Citation Resolution

     I am a librarian who manages a federal depository library 
collection at the College of William and Mary. I am writing to urge 
the Judicial Conference to adopt the form of official citation for 
court decisions as recommended by the ABA resolution.

     As I understand the issues, the adoption of the standard 
citation system would be analogous to libraries adopting open systems 
architecture in their computer catalogs. Such open systems allow 
library catalogs to interact with each other and facilitate 
communication between users and sharing of resources. This is the 
major trend in all technology-related enterprises today. The system 
that would be replaced by the standard citation system is one 
dominated by a single vendor who charges high prices for access to 
that system. The adoption of the standard citation system would 
permit other vendors to enter the field of database development and 
permit them to market competing legal database products. This would 
lower costs and benefit all users of legal information.

     The comment period for this Federal Register notice seems 
extremely short (less than one month) and I understand that members 
of the public have not been permitted to see comments submitted to 
date. At a time when much publicity has focused on campaign 
contributions and the questionable methods used to raise the money as 
well as favors extended to those offering the money, it seems 
ethically questionable that much secrecy surrounds this process of 
soliciting public opinion. I understand that the vendor who benefits 
from the current system is working hard to preserve that system. One 
hopes that the Judicial Conference and its employees are maintaining 
an even-handed an impartial approach to this issue.

     Signature for identification purposes only. The views expressed 
in this message are those of the sender and not the institution.

                                   Alan Zoellner
                                   Documents Librarian
                                   Swem Library
                                   College of William and Mary
                                   Williamsburg, VA 23187-8794
                                   757-221-3064 
                                   afzoel@mail.swem.wm.edu