INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LAW LIBRARIES
34th Annual Course on International Law and Legal Information
Within and in Between: German Legal Tradition in Times of Internationalization and Beyond.
Berlin State Library, 20–24 September, 2015
Willkommen in Berlin!
Colleagues and friends,
We are delighted to welcome you to Berlin on behalf of the Local Planning Committee and the Board of the International Association of Law Libraries for the 34th Annual Course on International Law and Legal Information. We hope that you will enjoy the stimulating academic programme and exciting cultural events that have been planned for us over the next few days in this vibrant and friendly European city.
IALL is most grateful to its host, the Berlin State Library, for their kindness in making their wonderful conference facilities available and for making us feel so welcome. Their generosity has made this conference possible.
The theme of this year's conference is Within and in Between: German Legal Tradition in Times of Internationalization and Beyond. The academic sessions will reflect Germany's interesting and sometimes controversial legal history and will provide unique perspectives on international and domestic law issues as well as on common legal information concerns. Conference speakers will include highly-regarded German legal scholars, legal practitioners and law librarians.
The Conference will open on Sunday afternoon with a welcome ceremony at the stylish and modern Microsoft Atrium in central Berlin which in many ways exemplifies the techno future of the city. A presentation on the intellectual and institutional challenges of the transnationalization of law and legal scholarship will be given by Professor Dr Thomas Duve.
Other highlights from the programme, which will take place in the Otto Braun Conference Hall at the Berlin State Library, include sessions on reassessing the Nuremberg trials, civil rights protection in Germany and Europe, the German Mediation Committee, the role of Germany in EU decision-making, crime research in Germany and Europe, the legal history of women's rights in Germany, accessing cultural heritage, legal blogs and accessible libraries. Of equal importance is the diverse social and cultural programme which includes an evening Berlin City tour and visits to the German Bundesrat, the Berlin State Library and the splendidly ornate Sanssouci Palaces and Gardens.
For the Optional Day on Thursday, we have decided to stay in Berlin as there is still so much to see and do. The educational focus will be on the Research Services of the German Bundestag, the national Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany. After the lectures we will have a special guided tour of the Library which is in the magnificent Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders-Haus. The German Parliament and Library are not normally open to the public, so this will be a rare chance to see inside and learn about their activities first-hand. Additionally, the day will provide an informal scenic boating tour and buffet lunch on the river Spree to discover the city of Berlin by river.
It has taken an enormous amount of time to plan the conference and, on behalf of us all, we wish to thank the Local Planning Committee, chaired by Ivo Vogel, for their creativity, care and sheer hard work in putting together such a stimulating event. We hope very much that you enjoy the rich programme of academic sessions, networking opportunities and cultural activities that have been organized for us.
Dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
800 years ago, the Magna Carta, probably the most important legal document in English history, was sealed – an event that numerous exhibitions, publications and events have commemorated all over the world. Regardless of the crucial significance of this legal act for English constitutional history, this major anniversary such as this one could be considered reason enough for cultural and intellectual heritage institutions to celebrate. In other words: what would be the long-term fate of coins from classical antiquity, of medieval documents and manuscripts, of early modern printed books, without archives, libraries and museums?
For more than 350 years, it has been one of the foremost tasks of the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin to guarantee the long-term preservation and availability of documents by developing and enlarging its collections based on consistent principles. And from the beginning on it was the legal history collection in particular that benefitted from the far-sighted acquisition policy that the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin has always pursued. After all, up until World War One, the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin was not only an outlet for royal representation but also a very practical instrument for governing the Prussian administration. Since the library's collection of international and foreign law sources and research literature in many different languages grew at an astonishing rate, it was hardly much of a surprise that the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin soon began to receive a fair number of generous and important donations – among them a selection of the rarest and most important items from the library of Friedrich Carl von Savigny, the founder of the German Historical School of Jurisprudence.
Even when one considers the revolutionary dynamics of the digital age, and despite all the upheavals and disasters of the 20th century, the collections of the Staatsbibliothek – held in two different locations in what used to be, respectively, the Western and Eastern part of Berlin – are thus somewhat emblematic of post-war German history and surely have lost none of their significance. This is especially true for the collection of legal literature and media – a fact which is highlighted by the library's functions for international document supply and delivery. For instance, the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin is a deposit library for the European Union as well as the United Nations, and the library is also home to the Scientific Information Service for International and Interdisciplinary Legal Research (FID Recht), with funding by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation).
With these aspects in mind, it is my great honour and pleasure to open the 34th Annual Course on International Law and Legal Information, organized by the International Association of Law Libraries. Let me give you all a very warm welcome to the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin on its site Potsdamer Strasse. This spectacular building, designed by Hans Scharoun and completed by Edgar Wisniewski, is widely regarded as an icon of the “organic” school of 20th century architecture and will make an appropriate and inspiring setting for your conference. For the professional and flawless local organization of the event, I would like to thank Ivo Vogel and his team – including Katrin Spitzer, Angela Pohl and Christian Mathieu –, who will be happy to give you any kind of support and assistance you might require.
During the next few days, a number of experts with excellent scholarly credentials and reputations will give you an overview of the German legal system and German legal history. I wish you all a productive conference, stimulating coffee break talks and, generally, an eventful time in Berlin.
As Director General of the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, it is my pleasure to announce the official opening of the 34th Annual Course on International Law and Legal Information of the International.
Association of Law Libraries: “Within and in Between: German Legal Tradition in Times of Internationalization and Beyond”.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Opening at Microsoft Atrium Berlin
(Address: Unter den Linden 17, 10117 Berlin (Entrance Charlottenstraße 46) / No buses to the Event!)
Monday, September 21, 2015
Academic Sessions at Berlin State Library
and Visit to the German Bundesrat and Berlin City Tour
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Academic Sessions at Berlin State Library
and Visit to the Potsdam Sanssouci Palaces & Gardens
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Academic Sessions at Berlin State Library, AGM and IALL Annual Dinner
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Optional Day – Berlin-(+)-Tour, Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders-Haus, Boating Tour
Speakers
SESSION 1 // Sunday, September 20–17:00 – Microsoft Atrium
SESSION 2 // Monday, September 21–10:15 – Otto-Braun-Saal
SESSION 3 // Monday, September 21–11:30 – Otto-Braun-Saal
SESSION 4 // Monday, September 21–12:15 – Otto-Braun-Saal
SESSION 5 // Tuesday, September 22–9:30 – Otto-Braun-Saal
SESSION 6 // Tuesday, September 22 – 10:15 – Otto-Braun-Saal
SESSION 7 // Tuesday, September 22 – 11:30 – Otto-Braun-Saal
SESSION 8 // Tuesday, September 22 – 12:15 – Otto-Braun-Saal
SESSION 9 // Wednesday, September 23 – 10:15 – Otto-Braun-Saal
SESSION 10 // Wednesday, September 23 – 11:30 – Otto-Braun-Saal
SESSION 11 // Wednesday, September 23 – 12:15 – Otto-Braun-Saal
SESSION 12 // Wednesday, September 23 – 14:15 – Otto-Braun-Saal
SESSION 13 // Wednesday, September 23 – 15:00 – Otto-Braun-Saal
Venues & Visits
Sunday, September 20–15.30 – Unter den Linden 17, 10117 Berlin
Microsoft Atrium & Microsoft Eatery / Opening Session
https://www.microsoft.com/de-de/berlin/atrium/
The historic building Unter den Linden 17, at the corner of Charlottenstraße 46 is one of the few well-preserved houses from the previous turn of the century. What once used to be a high-class hotel, now attracts visitors today as an exclusive meeting place. The 340-square-meter atrium with its Atrium, Foyer (lobby) and Meeting Room accomodates up to 200 guests. The Digital Eatery and Café with live cooking stations has a relaxed lounge atmosphere, accentuated by a contemporary and warm design.
Monday to Wednesday, September 21–23, Potsdamer Straße 33, 10785 Berlin
Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin / Main Conference Venue
http://staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/
With over 23.5 million media units, the Berlin State Library is Germany's largest general academic research library. The site Haus Potsdamer Straße (Potsdamer Strasse 33 / near Potsdamer Platz / Kulturforum) is the main conference venue. It opened in 1978, built after the plans of the famous architect Hans Scharoun and Edgar Wisniewski.
The building is internationally renowned for its impressive architectural reading room landscape with a total of 810 study desks and carrels in the General and Special Reading Rooms.
Apart from the opening session, all conference lectures, vendor exhibits, and the IALL Annual General Meeting will take place in or in front of the Otto-Braun-Saal at the Berlin State Library's modern building on Potsdamer Strasse.
Monday, September 21–15.15 – Leipziger Straße 3–4, 10117 Berlin
The Bundesrat
The Bundesrat is one of the five constitutional bodies in Germany. The federal states participate through the Bundesrat in the legislation and administration of the Federation. As they go about fulfilling their respective remits, the Federation and the Länder work within a checks-and-balances system but also cooperate and show consideration for each other's concerns. There is one important difference between the German form of federalism and other federative systems in the underlying structure of responsibilities and the practical implementation of this cooperation: the individual federal state governments participate directly in the decisions taken by the national state, i.e. the Federation. This is done through the Bundesrat.
The history of the Bundesrat building in Berlin's Leipziger Straße spans over a hundred years: it was completed in 1904 under the aegis of architect Friedrich Schulze-Kolbitz for the Preußisches Herrenhaus, the upper chamber of the Prussian parliament.
„Berlin - 0040 - 13052015 - Bundesrat” by Pierre-Selim Huard – Self photographed. Licensed under CC-BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Berlin_-_0040_-_13052015_-_Bundesrat.jpg#/media/File:Berlin_-_0040_-_13052015_-_Bundesrat.jpg
Tuesday, September 22, 14.15 – Potsdam
Sanssouci Palaces & Gardens
http://www.spsg.de/schloesser-gaerten/objekt/schloss-sanssouci/
The Sanssouci Palace is the former summer palace of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, in Potsdam, near Berlin. It is often counted among the German rivals of Versailles. The palace was built between 1745 and 1747 to fulfill King Frederick's need for a private residence where he could relax away from the pomp and ceremony of the Berlin court. The palace's name emphasises this; it is a French phrase (sans souci), which translates as “without concerns”, meaning “no worries” or “carefree”, symbolising that the palace was a place for relaxation rather than a seat of power.
Sanssouci Park is a large park surrounding the Sanssouci Palace with a baroque flower garden with lawns, flower beds, hedges and trees. In the hedge quarter 3,000 fruit trees were planted. With the expansion of the site after the creation of more buildings, a 2.5 km long straight main avenue was built. It began in the east at the 1748 obelisk and over the years was extended all the way to the New Palace which marks its end in the west.
“Potsdam - Schloss Sanssouci mit Weinberg 2005”. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Potsdam_-_Schloss_Sanssouci_mit_Weinberg_2005.jpg#/media/File:Potsdam_-_Schloss_Sanssouci_mit_Weinberg_2005.jpg
Wednesday, September 23–19.30 - John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10, 10557 Berlin
Haus der Kulturen der Welt / Restaurant Auster / Annual Dinner
The building is located in the Tiergarten park and a direct neighbor of the new German Chancellery. It was formerly known as the Kongresshalle conference hall, a gift from the United States, designed in 1957 by the American architect Hugh Stubbins as a part of the International Building Exhibition. John F. Kennedy spoke here during his June 1963 visit to West Berlin. To Berliners it is also known as the Schwangere Auster (“pregnant oyster”). On the riverside is the wonderful restaurant and beer garden where the Annual Dinner will take place.
„Haus der Kulturen der Welt Berlin2007” by VollwertBIT– Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Haus_der_Kulturen_der_Welt_Berlin2007.jpg#/media/File:Haus_der_Kulturen_der_Welt_Berlin2007.jpg
