Many law librarians are curious about research questions in their own work places: How do students really use the library? What makes some reference interactions more successful than others? What outreach strategies actually work?

Too often, we stop at anecdotes because"“real research" feels out of reach since we’re not trained in empirical research. This program is designed for librarians without formal empirical research training and will demonstrate that empirical research is not only possible but deeply rewarding, especially since law librarians already have the skills to make meaningful contributions.

Three panelists will give short “elevator pitch” presentations on their librarian-led empirical projects, ranging from citation analysis, comparative studies of search methods, scholarship impact metrics, and pedagogical assessments of first-generation law students’ study habits. None had extensive training before starting, they just started asking questions and found themselves in the middle of a study. They’ll share what worked, what didn’t, and how they learned by doing.

Together, we’ll compare two core approaches—collecting your own data vs. using existing datasets—and unpack the tradeoffs, tools, and decision points in each. A quick “IRB for Dummies” segment will demystify human-subjects review (and show when you might not need it).

Panelists will also share what they learned the hard way—so you don’t have to. Attendees will leave with realistic strategies, examples, and resources for turning workplace questions into empirical projects, without needing to go back to school.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Academic, firm, and government law librarians; anyone curious about exploring empirical research in law libraries.

TAKEAWAYS:

1. Participants will discover practical tools, examples, and lessons from panelists to jump-start their own research ideas with confidence.
2. Participants will explore how to turn everyday workplace curiosities into researchable questions, including when (and when not) to worry about IRB review. 
3. Participants will understand the basics of common empirical research approaches—such as surveys, citation analysis, or studies using existing datasets—and see the tradeoffs between collecting new data and reusing what’s already out there.

SPEAKERS:

• Amy Taylor, University of Georgia School of Law
• Rob Willey, George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School

COORDINATOR/SPEAKER:

• Aimee Self-Pittman, University of Maryland School of Law

MODERATOR:

• Todd Venie, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

AALL BODY OF KNOWLEDGE DOMAINS: Professionalism + Leadership At Every Level, Research + Analysis

CANCELLATION AND OTHER POLICIES:

No refunds will be given for any purchased AALL conference recording. This applies to non-AALL members only as the recordings are free for AALL members.

The opinions shared during this program represent the views of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL). Recording, capturing, or using AI tools to duplicate, transcribe, or otherwise reproduce an AALL program in any form is strictly prohibited without prior written consent from AALL. This includes, but is not limited to audio, video, or any other content shared. By accessing an AALL recording, you agree to adhere to this policy.