Law Librarianship Commons^™

Gallagher Law Library, University Of Washington School Of Law, Jonathan A. Franklin

Librarians' Chapters in Books

There’s no denying that academic law libraries are a vital part of the legal profession. Since 1928, law schools have been required to have a library located in a building occupied by the law school. Traditionally, these libraries were characterized by direct reporting to the law school dean, budget allocation from the law school dean or the university’s central administration, and a law library mission with a law school-centered approach.

However, in today’s economic climate, financial and operational efficiency is more critical than ever before— which makes organizational structure vital for law libraries to consider, as demonstrated by the growing …

A Transition To Retirement, Mary Whisner

Librarians' Articles

Perhaps this article will start you thinking about your own retirement, whether it’s around the corner or many years in the future. You can talk to financial advisers about pensions and health insurance. It’s also important to think about intangibles, like changing your professional identity and what you will miss about your work. You plan your other career moves (job to job, city to city); this transition is worth planning, too.

Service Within And Beyond Our Walls, Mary Whisner

Librarians' Articles

With the growth of the Internet, the typical patron base that reference librarians serve has increased to a much wider group of people who use various electronic means of communication to seek assistance. Ms. Whisner examines how technology has expanded these service borders and discusses the ramifications for the modern reference librarian.

Animal Stories For Good Reference Librarians, Mary Whisner

Librarians' Articles

This essay uses animals and animal-related metaphors to illustrate several short lessons about practicing reference.

Not What I Planned (A Writing Detour), Mary Whisner

Librarians' Articles

Ms. Whisner reflects on the busy lives of law librarians and why sometimes the demands of reference work may keep law librarians from completing planned writing projects in a timely manner.

Libraries And Legal Education, Jonathan Franklin

Librarians' Chapters in Books

Academic law libraries are in the midst of radical change, probably more so than at any time in the past 100 years. Two factors are converging that make business as usual no longer viable for academic law libraries: transition of legal resources from print to digital formats and economic changes in legal education.

Best Practices for Legal Education did not address the role of law libraries in the delivery of legal education. The changes facing law schools suggest now is the time to articulate how libraries can best contribute to the endeavor. How can best practices for law libraries be …

Race And The Reference Librarian, Mary Whisner

Librarians' Articles

Ms. Whisner examines how race arises in the day-to-day work of law librarians, and discusses how law librarians can foster cultural competence and create more welcoming environments in diverse institutions.

Thanking And Being Thanked, Mary Whisner

Librarians' Articles

Ms. Whisner contemplates the process of expressing and receiving appreciation for favors and assistance provided by librarians, and considers when giving thanks publicly is appropriate.

Law Library Budgets In Hard Times, Taylor Fitchett, James Hambleton, Penny Hazelton, Anne Klinefelter, Judith Wright

Articles

This article begins by looking at the environment of the academic law library of the twenty-first century, followed by an analysis of the current economic climate and an assessment of how these difficult economic times will affect academic law libraries. The next section discusses strategies a law library director can marshal to manage a multimillion-dollar budget in face of reduced resources. Focusing in on the institution's own budget and accounting framework, creative thinking, and planning for use of resources can have successful and innovative outcomes for law libraries and the schools they support. Finally tools and strategies that can help …

Change And Continuity (Rip Van Winkle's Reference Office), Mary Whisner

Librarians' Articles

How much has law librarianship changed over the past twenty years? Ms. Whisner imagines coming back to her library after being asleep for twenty years, and concludes that while our tools have changed, the basics of our jobs have remained remarkably stable.

Law Librarian, J.D. Or Not J.D.?, Mary Whisner

Librarians' Articles

Ms. Whisner considers whether and how a law degree helps her in her job as a law librarian

Memorial: Viola A. Bird (1905-2007), Penny A. Hazelton

Librarians' Articles

No abstract provided.

Rebuilding The Profession: Recommendations For Librarians Interested In Becoming Academic Law Library Directors, Barbara A. Bintliff, Laura N. Gasaway, Penny A. Hazelton, Frank G. Houdek, Janis L. Johnston, Martha Dragich Pearson, Charles Ten Brink, Michelle Wu

Articles

Based on papers presented at a 2005 workshop for individuals interested in becoming academic law library directors, this article begins by exploring the duties of academic director jobs—administrative skills and faculty responsibilities—before examining how to build credentials in preparation for such jobs. It concludes by focusing on the skills and knowledge needed to interview for director jobs.

Our Oldest Alumna: Viola Bird, Peggy Roebuck Jarrett

Librarians' Articles

No abstract provided.

Configuration Of The Law Library Of The Future, Penny Hazelton

Chapters in Books

No abstract provided.

A Tribute To Viola A. Bird On The Occasion Of Her 100th Birthday, Patrick E. Kehoe

Librarians' Articles

Consists of a biographical sketch and reminiscences of Mrs. Bird by former students and co-workers.

On Not Doing Research, Mary Whisner

Librarians' Articles

Even though her usual business is "looking up," Ms. Whisner explores a variety of situations in which it is professionally appropriate not to engage in research.

The Catalog Vs. The Home Page? Best Practices In Connecting To Online Resources, Georgia Briscoe, Karen Selden, Cheryl Rae Nyberg

Librarians' Articles

Connecting users to the best available sources of legal information is one of the traditional functions of the law library. These sources now include Web sites, electronic journals, and subscription databases. This article explores the best way to bring these useful Internet resources to the attention of users, concentrating on the pros and cons of using the catalog or the home page.

This article received the 2004 Law Library Journal Article of the Year Award from the American Association of Law Libraries.

Learning From Library Science, Mary Whisner

Librarians' Articles

Ms. Whisner describes the method and some of the results reported in a recently published book about the reference interview written by two library school professors. She points out that despite its academic approach, the book has much to offer the practicing reference librarian.

The Leader As Teacher, Penny A. Hazelton

Chapters in Books

No abstract provided.

The Leader As Teacher, Penny Hazelton

Chapters in Books

No abstract provided.

Finding Out What They Want To Know, Mary Whisner

Librarians' Articles

A skilled reference librarian knows more than simply where and how to look up information. Recognizing the importance of knowing what to look for as well, Ms. Whisner discusses the venerable reference interview and its role in this key aspect of patron services.

Care And Maintenance Of The Successful Career: How Experienced Law Librarians Make Their Work Rewarding, Paul M. George, Penny A. Hazelton

Articles

Experienced law librarians explain how at midcareer they continue to find challenges in their jobs and enthusiasm for their work. Although each offers a personal take, common themes emerge around involvement in profession and community, lifelong learning, and balance of work and private lives.

Penny Hazelton's contribution, I Am Not Bored—And Here's Why, begins at page 565.

Memorial: Elizabeth Roe Wilkins (1915-1999), Viola A. Bird

Librarians' Articles

No abstract provided.

"Meet My Mentor": A Collection Of Personal Reminescences, Frank G. Houdek, Penny A. Hazelton

Articles

Contributors describe the mentoring they received as law librarians. Individually the pieces offer fascinating glimpses of individuals and relationships. Collectively, they demonstrate how important—and how varied—the process of mentoring has been and continues to be for the growth and evolution of the profession.

Penny Hazelton's contribution, Sometimes You Need a Good Shove, begins on page 216.

What Law Librarians Collect, Penny Hazelton

Articles

No abstract provided.

Sometimes You Need A Good Shove, Penny Hazelton

Articles

No abstract provided.

What Law Librarians Collect, Frank Houdek, Penny A. Hazelton

Articles

Law librarians describe their personal collections—what they collect for fun, not for their libraries.

Penny Hazelton's contribution, Postage Stamps, begins on page 601.

Why Let Them Go? Retaining Experienced Librarians By Creating Challenging Internal Career Paths: Introducing The `Executive Librarian'?, Jonathan A. Franklin

Librarians' Articles

In a traditional hierarchical library, librarians often must leave the institution to move up the career ladder The library loses an experienced librarian and must also invest a substantial amount of time and money to train a new employee.

The author argues that libraries should attempt to retain experienced librarians by creating continuously challenging career paths with equivalent rewards. He proposes a new type of position—that of executive librarian—that would include increasingly individualized job content, a voice in institutional decision making, and optional administrative responsibilities.

One Piece Of The Collection Development Puzzle: Issues In Drafting Format Selection Guidelines, Jonathan A. Franklin

Librarians' Articles

New electronic formats have made collection development decisions more complex. Mr. Franklin discusses how to incorporate a library's primary goals and resource limitations into library-specific format selection guidelines, and proposes criteria to help selectors choose the appropriate format for specific resources. A format selection checklist is appended. para This paper won the student division of the American Association of Law Libraries / LexisNexis Call for Papers Award in 1994.