Law libraries, as much as any part of American law schools, are where legal educators are often trying to do more with less. The “less” usually means schools face challenges both in their budgets and in their physical space. The “more” usually means schools face dramatic changes in how their constituents access information and in their hopes and expectations for the services law librarians will provide.
This workshop for deans and law librarians – Reconciling Core Values and the Bottom Line – will raise critical questions about what happens when law libraries must do more with less, and will explore pragmatic and innovative approaches for the future. Attendees will receive an insightful overview of law library budgeting, and will explore how deans and law librarians can work together to confront budgeting challenges. In addition, participants will hear from deans, law librarians, and experts who have successful experience in helping law libraries expand their services to meet the evolving needs of their schools (including in research, job placement, alumni & development, skills training, and internationalization) and reconfigure their traditional spaces to respond to the new ways students, faculty, and the community interact.
The workshop is designed around the belief that law libraries will evolve dramatically in these challenging times, but that the core values and services of law libraries will remain vital to school missions, including the mission to educate professionals, foster knowledge and serve the community.
This workshop will also be informative for faculty members who care about the future of law libraries.