Academia/Firm Exchanges
Slaw readers know that Osgoode Hall Law School is currently recruiting new librarians (three positions advertised, more later next year). When we do have some new full-time staff on board one of the things I’d like to look seriously at is setting up exchanges with law firm librarians. The idea would be to promote knowledge and understanding of the way in which our respective users undertake research. I think it would be especially useful for academic librarians to have insight into the way in which lawyers use firm libraries, and the kind of information they seek – useful in that we would be better able to equip our students (who will be those lawyers) while in law school. Having law firm librarians spend some time with us would be equally valuable I think. This is as far as I have thought on the issue – I haven’t got as far as considering how long or how often the exchanges would be but I’d appreciate any feedback on the basic idea.
Katie Thomas did a session on this topic at the CALL conference in St. John’s last year, entitled: “Job Swaps and Library Exchanges:
What resources are available, does it work, anecdotes from those who have swapped.”
http://www.library.dal.ca/law/St-Johns/Eng/Program.html#Mon
There were no materials along with this presentation as it was part of a larger session but you might want to contact her for some background info. She is a Librarian at the Bank of Montreal in Toronto.
Personally, this is an idea that I am very interested in pursuing but it has not gone past the incubation stage at this juncture.
A good idea, Nick. The problem with exchanges is that the usually work best between similar institutions where the jobs and benefits are similar, which is why they are a feature of academic work. You might want to rethink the idea to incorporate things like “visiting librarians” or “librarians in residence”. Sometimes this is administratively easier and a better sell to law firms.
Hi Nick, greetings from DC.
I think an exchange is a very good idea.
“Knowing the legal research environment in law firms” was one of our goals last year. Our Library Director invited 4 library directors of major law firms in the DC area over to have lunch with us (one law firm librarian at a time). One of our librarians who was eligible to take a few weeks of research leave interviewed a sizeable number of law firm librarians, judges, junior associates, senior partners, etc. to compile a list of research skills that are lacking in recent graduates. I can find out more about when and where he is planning to publish his research. He mentioned that more or less at the same time Chicago-Kent was doing the same thing.
For a few years, our Associate Librarian for Patron Services who has several years of litigation experience has been teaching a 1-credit course called Legal Research Skills for Practice. Another colleague (who actually just left but is continuing to teach) co-teaches a 3-credit Law Firm Research Seminar. These courses and some other librarian-taught advanced legal research credit courses usually have long waiting lists. There are students who know that they need more legal research skills that are taught and learned in 1st Year LRW.
There are many ways to bridge the gap.
I think its a great idea! I was able to find a link to my materials (somewhat buried on the website) at the below link. Currently, exchanges appear to be most popular with academic librarians. I’d love to see corporate, law firm and government librarians jump on the bandwagon (airplane?) as well. There’s been lots written on the topic and it all points to it being a positive experience.
http://www.library.dal.ca/law/St-Johns/Pres/Mon16/Job_Swaps_&_Library_Exchanges.doc
Thanks all for the positive feedback – perhaps we could start with some exchanges between Slaw-ers!