Academic law libraries face some challenges that are consistent with larger trends in higher education. However, there are unique or “quirky” aspects that shape the way collections are selected, evaluated, managed, and promoted. Most electronic resources designed for legal research do not generate COUNTER compliant usage data. Many subscription resources and services that libraries provide access to are primarily geared towards non-academic customers, such as law firms and corporations. Our patrons increasingly need and request research products that rely on data collection, personalization, and non-IP access controls, which complicates our professional commitment to things like preserving patron privacy and providing walk-in access. Law library technical services departments are perpetually negotiating these and other challenges to ensure the needs of law faculty and students are met as seamlessly as possible.
This poster will outline some of the most formidable collections challenges we face and the strategies and practices we employ to maintain some semblance of order and cohesion. Although some of the issues we will discuss are relatively unique to law libraries, several also resonate with those working with similarly specialized resources, such as business databases, datasets, etc. As libraries provide access to more diverse and eclectic materials, law librarians are not the only ones dealing with these complications and challenges. Attendees will learn about the quirks of collecting legal research materials and come away with some strategies and approaches that might strengthen or diversify their problem solving at their own institutions.
