The quality of academic law libraries should not be judged on their number of physical volumes. Instead, libraries should "rightsize" their collections by intentionally selecting and deselecting materials based on how well they serve the library's institutional mission and community needs by embracing continuous planning and assessment to determine what materials are most relevant and useful. The goal is having collections that are focused, accessible, and support the library and law school's goals, rather than just being large for the sake of size. This webinar will include a discussion of an article by Amanda Watson which encourages law librarians to overcome fears of losing volumes and take an active role in curating dynamic collections tailored to their institution. 

TARGET AUDIENCE:

All law library workers and law library students that are interested in the past, present, and future of library assessment, collection development, and professional relevancy.

TAKEAWAYS:

1. Discuss the history of law library collections based on a completion model.
2. Apply mission-based right-sizing of your collection.

SPEAKERS:

• Amanda Bolles Watson, University of Houston Law Library

COORDINATOR/MODERATOR:

• Nicole P. Dyszlewski, Roger Williams University School of Law

AALL BODY OF KNOWLEDGE DOMAINS: Professionalism + Leadership At Every Level, Information Management

CANCELLATION AND OTHER POLICIES

No refunds will be given for any purchased live AALL webinar. This applies to non-AALL members only as AALL webinars are free for AALL members.

All AALL webinars include live captioning services.

Amanda Bolles Watson, BA, J.D., M.I.S.
Houston Law Library, Assistant Professor of Law
B.A., Mississippi University for Women
J.D., University of Mississippi School of Law 
M.I.S., Florida State University

Professor Amanda Watson is the Director of the University of Houston Law Library as well as an Assistant Professor Law and an Associate Librarian. She teaches legal research. Her scholarship focuses on the intersection of law libraries and technology. Her work has earned many accolades including the American Association of Law Libraries/LexisNexis Call for Papers Award, two invitations to the Yale Law Library Symposium, and a research grant from the American Association of Law Libraries and LexisNexis. Prior to joining the faculty, Professor Watson was the Associate Director of the Tulane University Law Library, the State Librarian of Mississippi, and the Manager of Information Services at Phelps Dunbar, LLP. She is a first-generation college student.

Nicole P. Dyszlewski, BA, J.D., M.L.I.S.
Nicole P. Dyszlewski currently serves as the Director of Special Programs, Academic Affairs and Professor at Roger Williams University School of Law. She originally joined the staff of RWU Law as the Research/Access Services Librarian in 2015 having come from a public legislative library. She received a
B.A. from Hofstra University, a J.D. from Boston University School of Law, and an M.L.I.S. from the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Library and Information Studies. She is a member of the Massachusetts State Bar and the Rhode Island State Bar. Prior to becoming a law librarian, Nicole practiced real estate law. Her areas of interest are DEIB pedagogy in law school, mass incarceration, and access to justice.