Wrangling Weirdness: Lessons Learned from Academic Law Library Collections

Abstract

Academic law libraries face some challenges that are consistent with larger trends in higher education. However, there are unique 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. Patrons increasingly need and request research products that rely on data collection, personalization, and non-IP access controls, which complicates law librarians’ 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. Some of these methods and strategies might be applicable to other types of libraries navigating unfamiliar issues.