An Interview with Lisa Goodman, Director of the Dee J. Kelly Law Library: 3/14/24

For my practicum, I am working in an academic law library. An academic law library is typically associated with a law school. As a result, the primary function of these libraries is to support the law school’s community. However, publicly funded law libraries, such as those in state law schools, also serve the general public. As a law library, these libraries are comparatively specialized and focus entirely on topics relating to the practice of law. With this interview, I hope to learn more about trends in academic law libraries, and how working in one compares to similar or more generalized librarianship. I also hope to gain practical information that is beneficial for someone hoping to eventually work full time in an academic law library.

1.       What is your favorite aspect of working in an academic law library?

Lisa Goodman emphasized that she really enjoyed the variety of work. No two days are ever the same in an academic law library. For example, even as the library’s director, she may have a day involving everything from reference work to collection development. This is particularly true of smaller academic libraries, such as the Dee J. Kelly Law Library. Larger law libraries may have more staff, with each librarian handling a narrow subset of responsibilities. However, Lisa notes that working in a smaller academic law library is much like running a small business. The “CEO” is largely involved in every aspect of operation.

2.       How does working as a librarian in the legal community differ from other fields of librarianship?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, law libraries emphasize the law. As Lisa Goodman noted, the topic of law permeates every aspect of the library’s function. This means that instruction, collection development, reference work, and so on are all very narrowly tailored to the legal community. This is particularly apparent with respect to public patrons, which are non-law school community members. While public patrons at a public library may have varied purposes for using the library, law library public patrons are almost always assessing their own, personal legal concerns. This means law libraries have a particular goal of promoting access to justice, which is on the forefront of law librarian’s minds when provided public patron services. This priority particularly affects collection development.

3.       What are some of the skills and qualities of a successful law librarian?

Intellectual curiosity is the number one trait Lisa Goodman emphasized. Much academic law library work involves helping provide access to information. That might involve finding a particular source, a piece of information, or teaching how to use a resource. Ultimately, this requires a drive to find answers, which is the heart of intellectual curiosity. This innate curiosity is also greatly beneficial when a patron’s information request proves challenging. To be able to continue searching for information, even in the face of adversity, is an extremely valuable skill. Lisa Goodman notes that intellectual curiosity, while necessary, is not easily taught, meaning librarians that have this skill are particularly helpful.

4.       What are some of the biggest challenges facing academic law libraries today?

Academic law libraries are struggling with a diminishing emphasis on physical resources and space. With some exceptions, law schools must be accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) for their graduates to be eligible to take their state’s bar exam. In the past, the ABA has had certain requirements for a law’s school library. However, recently, the ABA has changed its standards to allow a law school to maintain accreditation even without any physical library or physical resources. There is concern that, in the future, law schools will reduce funding and space allocation for a physical library, given it is no longer strictly necessary for a law school to maintain ABA accredited. This is a major challenge, given that many physical resources and spaces are imperative to an academic law library’s function. As a result, law libraries are being challenged to visibly show the merit of their physical resources.

5.       What are the pros and cons of working in an academic law library as compared to a law firm library?

A law firm librarian will not benefit from the academic calendar enjoyed by academic law librarians. For example, an academic librarian will have “downtime” periods such as over the winter holiday or even somewhat over the summer months. However, a firm librarian has little downtime, and is very beholden to the client’s schedule and budget on a given legal matter. However, firm librarians get to see the cutting edge of legal practice. As Lisa Goodman notes, academic law librarians can sometimes become detached from the “real world” practice of law. Firm librarians are involved in active legal matters. As a result, they are exposed to much more frequently to actual trends in American jurisprudence.

6.       What big changes, if any, do you expect to see in the law librarianship field in the next ten years?

Lisa Goodman expects to see a shift in librarians needing more verbal skills. Public speaking skills, in particular, will become borderline necessary to succeed in an academic law library. This is mainly because the technical service aspects of law librarianship are being automated away, with those library roles becoming increasingly defunct or rare. As a result, the roles that cannot be eliminated include ones where librarians teach courses or provide training workshops. Law schools are typically keen to hire and support librarians that are visibly assisting students. Thus, there is dwindling room for law librarians that perform their duties solely in their offices away from the view of the public. Lisa Goodman has already seen this shift over her career in this field, and expects this trend will only continue.

In conclusion, I learned a lot about the practical concerns facing academic law libraries. I also learned a great deal about what makes a successful law librarian. Further, I learned how I can “future-proof” my career as this field shifts further into the twenty-first century. While some of the concerns regarding the loss of physical spaces are likely reflective of libraries generally, law libraries face unique challenges relating to the operation of law schools. For example, learning how much of an effect ABA accreditation has on law schools, and thus on academic libraries, was surprising if understandable. The loss of physical resources and spaces, now allowed by the ABA, is a major threat to the function of law libraries. However, law school administrative staff may not be aware that reducing physical resources would severely affect their students and faculty. As such, law librarians will need to shift towards visible operations, wherein members of the wider law school are made aware of the critical function of these libraries and their physical materials.

Photo Description: Photo of Lisa Goodman, director of the Dee J. Kelly Law Library.