Alabama Chapter Special Libraries Association

Day Two -- Montgomery Tours

February 11, 2000

[State Law Library] - [Judicial Building] - [The Capitol] - [State House] - [Lunch and Leaving]
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Tim Lewis, Donna Scheeder, and Ginny Allen on the Capitol steps

Friday started out bright and early. I was very surprised to see how many people were checking out of the hotel at 6:00 in the morning, but we eventually pulled out of the parking lot to begin another day of adventure. After stopping back at Southern Progress to pick up Ginny Allen, the three of us drove to Montgomery to meet with Tim Lewis, Alabama's State Law Librarian.

When the Chapter was planning for Donna's visit, we learned that she had a special hobby or interest. It turns out that Donna likes to visit the State Capitol of each state she travels through, so of course we wanted her to see our State Capitol as well. Alabama Chapter member Tim Lewis graciously offered to give Donna a tour of the Capitol, so about 8:00 Friday morning we pulled into Montgomery and found our way to the State Judicial Building where Tim said we would be met by the "Marshals." (This was one of the few times that I thought it wasn't scary to be met by any kind of Marshal.)

The State Law Library

The Judicial Building is fairly new and very impressive from my point of view. Our first stop was the security desk--similar to going through airport security. We were then escorted into the main part of the building and shown to the State Law Library (http://www.alalinc.net/library/index.cfm). Passing through a short corridor with the Library's checkout counter on the right, the first thing one sees inside the main doors is a large reference desk and work area. Just behind the reference desk is a glass-enclosed conference room. The conference room reminded me of a personal library with its built-in bookshelves with wood and glass doors. (The kind I would love to have at home.) Tim, a truly gracious host, had coffee and doughnuts waiting for us in the conference room.

About 8:45, the Library staff joined us in the conference room. Tim introduced the staff and Donna shared some of her related work experience. It was nice getting to listen in on the discussions. Following our time with the Library staff, Tim led us on a tour of the Library itself. I must say that the Library was impressive, but then I happen to like libraries. J

The Library is elongated with the reference desk and entrance approximately in the center of the first level. Besides the bookshelves, there is a large windowed area with tables for patrons to gather and work. The second level includes archives and a large computer training room. Here, Tim brought up the Library's webpage and demonstrated ALALINC, the Library's electronic information network. Among other things, subscribers to ALALINC can access Alabama Supreme Court, Criminal Court and Appellate Court decisions online (full-text from October 1994). Lawyers across the state use this service.

The Judicial Building

After touring the Library, Tim and staff member Mary Horton took us through the Judicial building filling our eyes and minds with interesting architecture, facts, stories and history. We explored the building from bottom to top and back again. Tim showed us the secret to the door that the judges use to enter the courtroom, as well as the view from the room where they deliberate their judgements.

Many of the halls are lined with pictures of past judges and legal memorabilia. Several areas in the building are set aside as mini-museums. Upstairs is the Webb desk (below left), which was used by a traveling circuit court judge. The Wooton desk (below right), crammed full of compartments and storage bins, was located in the lower level museum.

It is interesting to note that the courtrooms for the Criminal Court and the Civil Court of Appeals are identical in style, yet are on the exact opposite sides of the building.

After touring the Judicial Building, we rested for a few minutes in Tim's office before continuing our adventure up to the State Capitol. (Note: If you can't make a trip to visit the Judicial Building, you can take a virtual tour from the following site: http://www.alalinc.net/library/tour_master.cfm)

The Capitol

Having grown up in Alabama, the site of the state Capitol inspired me with a sense of history and belonging. Our state history and state governmental decisions have not always been what I would prefer, but that is what government is about--making decisions (hopefully right more than wrong).

Tim, Donna, Ginny and I were taken to the top of "Goat Hill"--the nickname for Capitol Hill--to climb the marble stairs at the front entrance of the building. I'm not sure why many law buildings have these flights of stairs, but a long flight of wide, open stairs gives the impression of importance, or the sense of "rising above." Maybe the architects felt that by getting the decision-makers closer to heaven, their decisions might be more "heavenly" in nature. Or, maybe they just wanted to intimidate the heck out of people, and make sure those who dared to climb the stairs would loose most of their "hot air" by the time they entered the building. In any case, we made it to the top of the stairs and entered the building.

Just inside the entrance is a foyer with curving staircases on either side of the room. The volunteer in charge that day gave a demonstration of the room's acoustics with Donna as his test subject. Donna was more than a little skeptical when she was told to stand facing the wall under one of the staircases but Tim assured her that she wasn't the object of a prank. The guard then crossed the room to stand under the lowest part of the staircase on the opposite wall. When he whispered at the wall, Donna was able to clearly hear him from across the room. The room had been designed so that people could hear what was being spoken anywhere in the room. At that point, I decided it would be best to be especially careful what I said and how I phrased it. J

Capitol Dome decoration

Looking up in the rotunda revealed large pictures and intricate patterns all the way to the stained glass window at the top of the dome. (My pictures just don't do it justice.) The area beneath the Capitol dome is embellished with a series of large murals depicting incidents in Alabama History.

Murals on Capitol Dome

Most of the rooms on the side corridors were closed for renovations, but we did get to see where the House and Senate hold joint meetings. I don't know if it is still used today, but the room had a large silver "pot-bellied" stove. The intricate designs on the stove were pretty, but I'd hate to have been the one in charge of keeping it clean and shiny.

The State House

After a quick look through the Capitol we explored the underground tunnel system in an attempt to cross the street to the Alabama State House where we visited the Senate and House Chambers. (Donna is pictured standing alone at the front of the Senate Chamber.)

A quick walk (above ground) back to the Capitol took us past the Eternal Flame, back through the Capitol and out the front entrance. The view down Dexter Avenue from the top of the Capitol steps was interesting (see picture) and, since the weather was nice, we decided to walk the three blocks back to the Judicial Building. On the way, we passed by the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church (on the left)--Dr. Martin Luther King Junior's first church.

Lunch and Leaving

By the time we got back to the Judicial Building, we were all rather hungry and somewhat tired. Tim graciously took us to the historical Union Station where we enjoyed a leisurely lunch and fellowship ("networking") at a Thai restaurant. The food was good and the company was even better.

As with all things, though, the good food and fellowship had to come to an end. Tim returned us to the Judicial Building to get our car. After our good-byes and many thanks for a memorably wonderful day, we headed back to Birmingham.

The rest of the trip seemed anti-climactic to the adventures we had experienced that day, but we got back to Birmingham safe and sound. Ginny was dropped off at Southern Progress to pick up her car and Donna was taken back to the airport in time to catch her plane to Washington. Me? I went home to Hartselle.

Acknowledgments

Our Winter meeting, reception and the Friday tours could not have taken place without the work and efforts of many people, especially the Chapter Board. Special thanks go again to Ann Nathews for coordinating the reception on Thursday and to Tim Lewis for coordinating the tours on Friday. Thanks should also go to SLA for allowing Donna to visit with us. By making provisions for their leaders to visit the Chapters, SLA demonstrates their commitment to keep in touch with their membership on a one-on-one basis. It is hoped that this visit was as beneficial to SLA as it was (in my opinion) to us.

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