Yale Law School

lillian goldman law library

in memory of Sol Goldman

biennial report 2007–2009

design
Yale YPPS
photography
Robert Lisak, William K. Sacco, Harold Shapiro
 message from the director

It’s my pleasure to present the biennial report of the Lillian Gold- our faculty and students with access to the richest array of online
man Law Library covering the two year period 2007-2009. As with legal information possible, supported by cutting edge technologies
our earlier annual reports covering the previous two years, this docu- and the help of expert librarians.
ment is intended to present an overview of the library’s major activi-
In order to better showcase our extensive collection of rare books,
ties and provide a point of comparison for the future. This combined
we opened a new rare book exhibit area outside the Paskus-Dan-
two-year report is meant to bring the series current and will be fol-
ziger Rare Book Room, in the summer of 2008. The two large exhibit
lowed by regular annual reports beginning in 2010.
cases in this area are used for series of themed exhibits, such as the
As we approach the end of the first decade of the 21st Century and inaugural exhibit in 2008: The Flowering of Civil Law: Early Italian
are well into the digital age, those of us involved in the daily life City Statutes in the Yale Law Library, in honor of former dean Guido
of the Yale Law Library have no doubt about its relevance in fulfill- Calabresi’s 50th class reunion. These exhibits have been popular
ing the central mission of the Law School. Our library has played a with library users, but they can also be viewed online via the library’s
central role at the Yale Law School from the time of its founding, Rare Book blog, linked from the library’s website at http://blogs.law.
and this continues to be the case now, where our lovely renovated yale.edu/blogs/rarebooks/ .
space provides a place for students to conduct independent study
In the current era, it’s no longer necessary to enter the library physi-
and research, access the ever more complex web of legal informa-
cal space to access many of its information resources. An ever grow-
tion resources in a wide array of digital and print formats and benefit
ing portion of our collection is now available in digital formats,
from expert guidance of law librarian specialists on how to most ef-
which can be accessed by members of the Yale community from a
fectively devise a research plan and mine our resources.
computer on their desktops. But this shift has made research more
Library use by Yale law students continues to increase: a survey of complex, as print resources are dropped in favor of an ever expand-
students last year indicates students spend more time in the library ing array of online sources, each with a different user interface. This
than the classroom, and by all measures, the use of the Yale Law more complex information world is counterintuitive to those ac-
Library continues to increase every year. The library provides what customed to limiting their research to one box searching, such as
architects often refer to as a third place, separate and distinct in na- Google, and it has led our librarians to seize opportunities for offer-
ture from the home or classroom: it’s a social place similar to a café ing effective legal research instruction and building information dis-
or a lounge, but one that speaks the language of independent study covery tools and guides supporting the best use of our rich resources.
and research. Enter the Yale Law Library on any evening, and you are
In sum, the digital era is an exciting period for the Yale Law Library,
likely to find the Reading Room full with students, surrounded by
and we are especially enthusiastic about the new challenges and
mounds of books and computer print-outs, working away on a note-
opportunities the ever evolving information landscape allows us for
book computer.
improving our collections and services. We hope some of this excite-
While challenged by current budget realities, we are committed ment is conveyed in this report.
to maintaining the historically strong research collections of the
library, including its impressive rare book and foreign and interna- S. Blair Kauffman
tional collections. At the same time, we pride ourselves in providing Law Librarian and Professor of Law
 technical services:
adaptability and innovation

Despite weathering a year of significant budget and staffing reductions, technical services
has demonstrated an admirable resiliency. As leaders in the field, the staff collaborated in the
development and testing of information services systems to improve research processes and was
heavily involved in the reprioritizing of the library’s collection goals.
The serials department began planning the and save a list of titles for future reading. ITEMS CATALOGUED
Library’s transition from print journals to Yale affiliates with network IDs are now able 10000
online resources, in response to increased to rate books or add their book reviews to 9000
user preference for the convenience of MORRIS. Development of a new faceted
8000
electronic research and also the need to trim interface called Encore continued as version
7000
expenses. The serials team cancelled 210 print 2.0 launched publicly. Encore now features a
titles in the 2008 fiscal year and 471 print titles new search tool called Research Pro. With this 6000
in 2009. Spanning two fiscal years, the serials tool, patrons may send their keyword search 5000
unit checked in numerous items, including to several selected databases simultaneously 4000
10,095 bound volumes, 26,362 volume without rekeying their Encore search. 3000
equivalents in microfilm and microfiche
formats. A total of 11,292 volumes were University mandated cutbacks in personnel at 2000

prepared for commercial binding. the end of the 2009 fiscal year were felt heavily 1000
in technical services and have warranted 0
In 2008, the cataloging team completed a reassessment of priorities and a staffing 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09
cataloging canon law materials acquired reorganization. Three clerical positions, two
from the Association of the Bar of the City in cataloging and two in serials as well as one
of New York in 2006 by Yale Law Library, part time professional position, were identified
where it is on permanent loan from the for elimination. BINDING
Association of the Bar of the City of New 8000
York. The cataloging team cataloged 7096 Technical services librarians remained
7000
other print titles and purchased records for professionally engaged serving on a number
of Law Library and University Library 6000
12,667 electronic titles available in a variety
of collections and aggregator services. These committees, attending continuing education 5000

records were downloaded into MORRIS and programs and were active nationally in 4000

include hyperlinks to the electronic resource. professional organizations. 3000

In 2009, the cataloging team began work on Mary Jane Kelsey prepared a presentation for 2000
the German law collection acquired from the Innovative Users Group in Washington D.C. 1000
Association of the Bar of the City of New York. in Spring 2008 (delivered by Anne Myers). 0
2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09
The project was suspended after cataloging She also delivered two presentations at the
207 titles due to budget constraints resulting 2008 AALL conference in Portland, Oregon:
from the shrinking value of the University’s “Encore, Enterprise, Primo and WorldCat
endowment. The plan is to finish cataloging Local: Explore the Evolving Discovery Tools
ACQUISITIONS ACTIVITY – PAID INVOICES
the collection when the financial situation for Your Catalog” and “Energize Your Catalog!
16000
improves. During the fiscal years 2007-2009, Get Electronic Titles Out of Their Silos and into
the cataloging team cataloged 14,215 other Your OPAC.” 14000

print titles and in FY09 purchased 2454 shelf 12000

ready titles. The Morris catalog now contains Jo-Anne Giammattei served on the University 10000
records for 32,000 electronic titles available in Libraries Collection Development Council. 8000
a variety of collections and aggregator services Anne Myers completed a term on the AALL 6000
including Lexis and Westlaw. These records Executive Board and served as a member 4000
were downloaded into MORRIS and include of the AALL Continuing Professional 2000
hyperlinks to the electronic resource. Education Committee. 0
2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09
In 2008, the acquisitions team continued the Susan Karpuk was a reader for the Descriptive
effective use of technology to streamline the Cataloging for Rare Materials (Serials)
purchase of 7476 new book titles in print, and DCRM(S) commenting on the draft before
271 DVD titles with 491 discs. In FY09, the its publication in 2008. Susan has also been a
library acquired 11,046 book titles in print and ACQUISITIONS ACTIVITY – LINE ITEMS
member of  AALL Technical Services Interest
also acquired 146 DVD titles with 316 discs. Section’s Descriptive Cataloging Policy Advisory
16000

The collection grew by a little over 21,000 Working Group since 2007. 14000
print volumes. 12000
Michelle Sullivan served on AALL’s Technical 10000
We were once again invited by our library Services Special Interest Section on Cataloging
8000
system vendor, Innovative Interfaces, to beta and Classification as well as the Descriptive
test the newest release of the software running Cataloging Policy Advisory Working Group.
6000

behind MORRIS. Some of the enhancements 4000

include the option to maintain reading history 2000

0
2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09

2 | 3
 the evolving collection:
new challenges and opportunities

Recent budgetary reductions have opened up opportunities to reassess the library’s collecting
goals. While the demand for electronic collections has grown exponentially, the library is still
committed to the acquisition and maintenance of a first rate collection of scholarly monographs
and foreign and legal history materials in print to support the research interests of our faculty
and students.
In the area of print and online library collections, 100 Croatian law books, Croatia being one of library publications
the primary challenge in FY 08 and FY 09 was to Yale’s VCR’s (vigorous collecting responsibilities
After several years of preparation, Yale University
continue to serve the ambitious research needs in the parlance of the Northeast Foreign Law Press and the Yale Law Library have revived the
of Yale Law School faculty and students in the Librarians Cooperative Group NEFLLCG). Yale long-dormant Yale Law Library publication series.
face of mounting budgetary restrictions. Our hosted the spring NEFLLCG meeting in May In its new incarnation the series has the name Yale
Associate Librarian for Collections and Access attended by librarians from Harvard, University Law Library Series in Legal History and Reference.
Services, Fred Shapiro, devoted considerable of Pennsylvania, and Cornell. Current issues and As noted in the last annual report, the plan for
time in identifying cancellations that made sense challenges facing selection and collecting in the this series is “to publish about two books per year
in terms of cost-savings while preserving the area of foreign and international law were on legal history or legal reference. We hope that
research mission of our library. He consulted discussed. Dan Wade, Associate Law Librarian the series will further scholarship in legal history
extensively with reference librarians at our for Foreign and International Law, chaired the and legal reference, enhance ties between our
library, Yale Law School faculty, law students Foreign Law Selectors Interest Group of the library and the research of Yale Law School faculty,
from foreign countries who shared their American Association of Law Libraries in 2008- exploit the riches of the Law Library collection,
knowledge of legal publications from their 2009. He also assisted Professor Brilmayer in and promote the visibility of our library and its
collection in the law library profession and among
home countries, and librarians from other teaching Contemporary Legal Issues in Africa
legal scholars.”
libraries. Our Serials Librarian, Anne Myers, was and participated in Research Methods in
indispensable to the cancellation process. Her International Law. Fred Shapiro, our Associate Librarian for
considerable knowledge and skills enabled us to Collections and Access Services, is the series editor.
Under the leadership of our Acquisitions The first book in the series was published in 2007,
implement cuts in a way that was quick, efficient,
Librarian, Jo-Anne Giammattei, we have made Yale Law School professor James Q. Whitman’s
and responsive to the intricacies of faculty and
great strides in improving the efficiency and acclaimed work, The Origins of Reasonable Doubt:
student needs.
effectiveness of our collection development Theological Roots of the Criminal Trial. The second
Fortunately, our library has been preparing and related acquisitions processes. Selectors book, published in 2009, was The Yale Biographical
for a more restrictive budgetary climate for now use Yankee Book Peddler’s online GOBI Dictionary of American Law, edited by Roger
several years and was well positioned to respond system extensively for English-language book K. Newman. The latter is the first full-fledged
efficiently and with minimum impact on our selections. In the foreign-law area, we use the scholarly biographical dictionary of law.
patrons. Our principal approach was to cut OttoEd system from Harrassowitz (German- We continued to work with the Gale Company
subscriptions to underutilized print serials, such language countries) and electronic slips from to digitize our books in the Making of Modern
as looseleaf services, journals, reporters, and Casalini (Italy, France, and Spain), and we are Law product, probably the most ambitious digital
treatises. In most cases we would still have access exploring new relationships with other vendors, legal history project in the world. In 2009, we
to the same publications in electronic formats. such as EastView for some Slavic-language agreed to participate in the fourth module of
We hope that, by greatly reducing print serials, countries. These new tools have allowed us Making of Modern Law and began planning for
we have preserved our ability to ambitiously coordinate collection development more closely it. This fourth module will be largely drawn from
collect monographs, foreign legal publications, and streamline workflow in many ways. The the Yale Law Library collection, and our library
legal history materials, and electronic resources. efficacy and sophistication of our collecting is playing the lead role in conceiving, planning,
In these areas we are among the handful of have also improved because our Foreign and and implementing the module. Legal history
researchers, as well as those in other areas of
unique and rich law library collections, and will International Law Librarian, Teresa Miguel,
history, will greatly benefit from the online
continue to strive to maintain that status. and Evelyn Ma, our Asia Law Specialist, have
availability of the materials.
connected with foreign vendors important to
We continue to aspire to have one of the Another important library initiative is the
their areas of selection.
best collections of legal electronic resources creation of a Digital Commons open-access online
from around the world. New electronic Fred Shapiro, our prolific Associate Librarian for repository of Yale Law School faculty, student,
subscriptions initiated in 2007-2009 included: Collections and Access, published numerous and other publications. If successful, this can
Audio Case Files, CCH Tax Network, articles about quotations, including a regular serve as an institutional repository of the Yale
Hague Academy Collected Courses Online, column in the Yale Alumni Magazine and an “On Law School, capturing the intellectual output of
Halsbury’s Laws Direct, HeinOnline Israel Language” column in The New York Times the Law School and preserving its institutional
Law Reports, HeinOnline National Conference Magazine. His book, The Yale Book of Quotations, history. In 2009, we were at the point of setting up
of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, was reviewed or covered in many media such as a repository using the Digital Commons platform
HeinOnline Selden Society Publications and the New Yorker and the Today Show, and it of Berkeley Electronic Press. There were 159 papers
the History of Early English Law, HeinOnline received a number of awards. The Wall Street in the initial site, and our next step is to work with
faculty to solicit many more current and future
Tax and Economic Reform in the United States, Journal named it the number two most essential
papers from them.
HeinOnline United Nations Law Collection, reference book. He is the Contributing Editor to
Human Rights Documents Online, International Black’s Law Dictionary responsible for adding NEW MONOGRAPHS PURCHASED

Investment Claims, Justis International Law historical information to their entries, and he 10000

Reports, Justis State Trials, and Max Planck received a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon 9000

Encyclopedia of Public International Law. Foundation for research, using online databases, 8000

into the origins of English-language words and 7000

The dollar was stronger for much of the 2008-
phrases. In addition, he is the consultant to the 6000
2009 year, and there were funds available to
Gale company for the Making of Modern Law 5000
acquire virtually all the books suitable for
digital legal history projects and the consultant 4000
selection in the foreign and international law area
to the Oxford English Dictionary on legal terms. 3000

in English. Many monographs were ordered in 2000

French, German, Italian, and Spanish. In 1000

addition, there was a major acquisition of over 0

2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09

4 | 5
 rare books and special collections:
showcasing the library’s illustrious
collections to the yale community and beyond

Our rare books area now has state of the art rare book exhibition showcases, to display the
library’s illustrious collections. Exhibits can also be enjoyed around the world, courtesy of the
rare books blog which premiered in April 2008.
The Pakus-Danziger Rare book room continues Mike Widener published Part 1 of “Remembering manuscripts and archives
to serve as an integral part of the intellectual Roy Mersky” in Legal Miscellanea, the newsletter
During the 2007-2009 fiscal years, the library’s
life in the Yale Law School and beyond. A new, of the Jacob Burns Law Library, George
Archivist Barbara Heck completed revisions to the
state-of-the-art rare book exhibition gallery was Washington University School of Law. He was finding aid for the White Brothers/Clark, Hall &
launched in the Rare Book Collection, under the named to the Board of Advisers for the Green Peck Collection. The collection contains over 1200
energetic and imaginative management of Rare Bag Almanac & Reader, an annual compilation linear feet of materials, primarily consisting of title
Books Librarian Mike Widener. The two 8-foot- of outstanding legal writing. He was appointed examination documents, surveys, and real estate
wide exhibit cases enable the library to showcase to the Special Collections Committee of the Yale closing documents. White Brothers and Clark, Hall
its rare books in a safe and secure environment. University Libraries. & Peck were two of the largest New Haven law
firms from the mid 1850s to the 1990s and their
The inaugural exhibit, “The Flowering of Civil The Rare Book Collection hosted two unpaid records document over a century of development of
Law: Early Italian City Statutes in the Yale Law internships. Sabrina Sondhi, the new Special real property in New Haven and New Haven County.
Library,” highlighted the library’s outstanding Collections Librarian at Columbia Law School In addition to continuing reference by surveyors
collection of early Italian statutes. The exhibit Library, completed a three-week internship and attorneys for title research, the collection is
opened during the October 2008 Alumni in February 2009. Benjamin Yousey-Hindes, also regularly used by two Yale architecture classes
Weekend and was dedicated to the Hon. Guido a Ph.D. candidate in medieval history from to study the evolution of different New Haven
Calabresi (Law ’58), Dean Emeritus. “Landmarks Stanford University, co-curated the “Early Italian neighborhoods during the twentieth century.
in Law Reporting” followed in March 2009, City Statutes” exhibit. Manuscripts and Archives also acquired 350 bound
coinciding with Professor John Langbein’s volumes of legal materials from New York attorney
There were several significant gifts to the Rare
“History of the Common Law” course. Items and Yale alumnus Peter Megargee Brown. The
Book Collection. Professor Morris Cohen
on display included a medieval Year Book volumes primarily document his professional
donated his unique and outstanding collection of
manuscript, first editions of the case reports practice at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft and
over 200 law-related children’s books spanning his subsequent writings and speeches relating to
of Coke and Plowden, and the first published
the 18th to 21st centuries. The library is actively legal ethics.
American case reports.
collecting additional titles for the Juvenile
Both exhibits can be enjoyed from computers Jurisprudence Collection. Charles J. Tanenbaum Nancy Lyon, Archivist at the Sterling Library and
around the world thanks to the Yale Law Library (Law ’37) donated a significant letter from Chief Barbara Heck traveled to Philadelphia to appraise
and acquire the personal papers of Judge Edward R.
Rare Books Blog, which launched in April 2008. Justice John Marshall. Written in April 1835, not
Becker. Becker, a 1954 YLS graduate, was best known
Postings on the blog included acquisitions, gifts, long before he died. Marshall describes a meeting
for his long and dedicated service on the bench,
events, interesting discoveries, links to legal with George Washington that led to his career first as a United States District Court Judge for the
history resources, bibliographies, and images and in public service. Beverly Manne of Houston, Eastern District of Pennsylvania (1970-1982), then
descriptive text from the exhibits. Texas, donated Thomas Mortimer’s Every Man as a judge on the United States Courts of Appeals
His Own Broker (London, 1765) in honor of for the Third Circuit until his death in 2006. His
The Rare Book Collection supported teaching in
her brother-in-law Henry Manne (LL.M. ’53, papers document his lifelong involvement in the
several classes in the Law School and elsewhere
S.J.D. ’66), one of the founders of the Law & civic affairs of his hometown of Philadelphia as
on campus. The Paskus-Danziger Rare Book well as his most well-known opinions about the
Economics movement. Mordecai Rosenfeld (Law
Reading Room served as the classroom for reliability of scientific evidence, class action suits,
’54) gave a fine copy of the 1830 London edition
Professor Anders Winroth’s graduate history and complex litigation.
of Blackstone’s Commentaries. Before his death
seminar in “Medieval Law” in Fall 2007.
in May 2009 at the age of 102, the late Harold I. Our archivist also completed a preliminary
Professor James Whitman invited Rare Book
Boucher of San Francisco funded the acquisition inventory of the 135 boxes of materials donated by
Librarian Mike Widener to present several
of Essex’s Innocency and Honour Vindicated the family of Lawrence Z. Freedman. Freedman’s
early canon law works in his “Western Legal
(London, 1690) and John Brydall’s Jura Coronae: primary appointment in the Psychiatry Department
Traditions” class, Spring 2008. Widener also at Yale Medical School was complemented by
His Majesties Royal Rights and Prerogatives Asserted
taught sessions on biographical and archival his work in the legal field with Harold Lasswell.
(London, 1680).
research in Professor Morris Cohen’s seminar on Freedman and Lasswell collaborated extensively
“Research Methods in American Legal History,” There were two major acquisitions from the in studying the intersections of law and psychiatry
in Spring 2008 and Spring 2009. Entering first- library of the Association of the Bar of the City of in the 1950s. Much of the collection pertains to
year law students and graduate students received New York. A collection of early German law (826 Lasswell’s subsequent work at the University
a brief introduction to the Rare Book Collection volumes) was acquired in September 2007, made of Chicago where he became an expert in the
in their Fall 2008 library orientation tours. possible with the generous support of the Oscar personality development of political assassins and
M. Reubhausen Fund. A collection of foreign law serial killers.
The Rare Book Librarian prepared special
(163 titles) arrived in October 2008. Another notable acquisition consisted of 30 boxes
displays and presentations for several group
of materials by donation from the family of Stanton
tours: about twenty staff from Manuscripts & The Rare Book Collection continued to actively
Wheeler. Wheeler taught at Yale Law School from
Archives, Sterling Memorial Library (Aug. 2007); acquire titles for its William Blackstone
1968 until his death in 2007, primarily in the fields
new interns at the Beinecke Rare Book and Collection (already the most comprehensive in of sociology and the law. In addition to his classes
Manuscript Library (August 2008); about twenty the world), its collection of early Italian statutes at Yale Law School, Wheeler’s papers document
Latin American law students in the Linkages (possibly the largest outside of Italy), and its his work as a sociologist with the Russell Sage
program (February 2009); and twenty eight collections of American trials and law books with Foundation, and his membership and chairmanship
students from the Scuola S. Anna, Pisa (March illustrations. Other acquisitions strengthened its of the Yale Faculty Committee on Athletics.
2009). In addition, Widener gave a presentation holdings in Anglo-American common law.
Due to ongoing budgetary constraints, the library
entitled “Race on the Stand: African American regrettably has to suspend its manuscript and
History in the Law Library’s American Trials archives program. We hope to reinstate this
Collection” in the Sterling Memorial Library invaluable service in the near future when the
Lecture Hall on February 20, 2008, as part of budget situation improves.
Black History Month activities.
6 | 7
 access services:
the library’s hub of activity

The increase in and accessibility of electronic materials has not diminished the level of
circulation activity. Our students and faculty continue to request and check out print materials.
The library as a whole remains probably the most preferred and comfortable space in the law
school for study and group interaction.
 Access Services, ably supervised by Information goal of having a readily accessible collection The following are comparative circulation
Access Manager Martha Clark, continues that responds to the needs of our users. figures for this year as compared to the last
to be a center of activity. Even in this era of Approximately 15,000 items per year have been two years:
electronic access to materials, access services processed for storage at the environmentally
staff spend significant time at the circulation controlled and secure Library Shelving Facility. 2005–06 academic year
desk assisting patrons with charging, renewing Currently about 266,000 bound volumes, 1067 > 29,499 checkouts
and recalling books and answering a variety archival materials and over 6,000 microfilm > 89,070 total transactions
of questions. Materials are circulated from the documents are housed in the facility. This
library’s collection, and also from other Yale figure represents titles that have been cancelled 2006–07 academic year
campus libraries through the intra-campus due to our serials cancellation initiative as well > 33,770 checkouts
delivery service Eli Express; Interlibrary Loan; as titles that are no longer in heavy use. As a > 100,137 total transactions
and ShareLaw, which is a consortium of law result, space in the stacks has been freed up 2007–08 academic year
libraries used for quick turnaround lending for incoming and high use materials which
> 32,327 checkouts
and borrowing. Due to budgetary constraints are immediately accessible to our users. A
> 96,793 total transactions
and low borrowing statistics, the library ceased comprehensive and thorough inventory of
to participate in the interlibrary loan portion two levels of stacks was completed in spring 2008–09 academic year
of ShareLaw as of May 2009. In FY 08, the 2009. This process ensures the accuracy of > 31,397 checkouts
library loaned 285 items and borrowed 67 while information in the online catalog and the > 91,449 total transactions
in FY 2009 the library loaned 243 items and availability of library materials to our users.
borrowed 87. Although we have discontinued
Our Collections and Access Coordinator,
the interlibrary loan portion of ShareLaw, the
Cesar Zapata is playing an important role in CIRCULATION CHECKOUTS
library has elected to continue with ShareLaw’s
managing the library’s online repository for
expanded union catalog. 40,000
working papers and other content generated
35,000
Eli Express, our intra-campus delivery service, by Yale Law School faculty and students.
has increased by almost 1,000 transactions As chair of our Task Force on the Digital 30,000

during the most recent fiscal year. These figures Repository, he has also, worked on developing 25,000
represent the number of books from other Yale the design of the repository and preparing for 20,000
campus libraries delivered to the Law Library its launch in Fall 2009. 15,000
and checked out to patrons from the Law 10,000
Our librarians in access services have been
Library Circulation Desk.
professionally engaged both locally and 5,000
Also, effective March 2009, the Law Library nationally. Martha Clark serves on the 0
2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09
is now able to lend and deliver Law Library University Library’s Document Delivery
books to other libraries on the Yale campus. Coordinating Committee and the Managerial
The service is gaining in momentum and we Performance Appraisal Committee. In addition
anticipate that it will pick up significantly at she is a member of the Arabic and Middle TOTAL TRANSACTIONS
the start of school year in September 2009. Eastern Electronic Library (Project AMEEL)
105000
Interlibrary Loan lending and borrowing have which is a web-based portal for the study of
both increased in the last two years. the Middle East. Her involvement relates to 100000

Interlibrary Loan implications for this growing 95000

Our statistics for circulation of Law Library
digital collection. 90000
books has decreased only slightly during the
85000
past two years despite the increase of electronic Cesar Zapata served as chair of the Latino
information. Our DVD collection and our New Caucus of the American Association of Law 80000

Books Collection remain very popular parts of Libraries and was a member of AALL’s Diversity 75000
the Law Library collection. About 10% of all Committee. He was also chair of the Library 70000
2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09
circulations during the 2008-2009 fiscal year Disability Services Committee and a member of
were for DVD’s. the Law Library’s Website Launch Committee
and Preservation Committee.
Access Services actively collaborated with
other departments in working toward the INTERLIBRARY LOANS
2500

“Yale Law School’s tremendous movie collection has made 2000

1500
Blockbuster a thing of the past (well, at least a trivial thing until 1000

graduation). It’s one of the many under-discussed treasures of Yale 500

Law School. Located smack in the middle of the Federal Practice 0

2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09

Digest Series and Almanacs, it offers a wide variety of film and

television shows available for free to all Yale Law Students.”
K.S., 3L
8 | 9
 reference and instructional services:
innovation and creative approaches
to research and teaching

Our reference librarians have kept a pulse on the research needs of our students and faculty.
While traditional walk up reference still exists, the complexity of the questions have risen and
the corresponding need for individual counseling sessions. Librarians have also tapped into social
media such as Facebook, Twitter and Blogs to reach a fast growing segment of our patrons on
social networks.
The Reference and Instructional Services the Department have been active bloggers, both faculty services: reliability
Department has made great advances in at the blogs maintained at the law library and at and efficiency
providing services in new and innovative ways. other professional blogs.
Yale Law School faculty have always relied
Members of the department also remained
Throughout the year, the Department offered on the creativity, speed, and efficiency of our
extremely active professionally and also took faculty services department and over 8,500
many library tours for a variety of groups,
on new responsibilities within the university items were retrieved in the past two years.
including: new and visiting faculty, visiting
libraries and at the law library. This resourcefulness has become even more
scholars, other Yale librarians, Chinese scholars,
The department’s educational efforts have crucial in an era of constrained budgets. At the
regular tours for Law School employees, and
end of 2008, our Faculty Services Assistant,
expanded and in addition to an increase in tours for other special groups. The Department
Theresa Cullen, retired and was replaced by
individual instructional sessions, we have also also offers library orientations to new members
Dick Hasbany. Dick has quickly and easily
added a fall semester section of Advanced Legal of the faculty, visitors, fellows, research transitioned into this position continuing
Research as well as specialized courses offered assistants, and incoming students. the tradition of excellence in the delivery of
throughout the school year. These courses have materials to our faculty. However, due to the
The department’s liaison program with the
covered a variety of topics, ranging from use budget reduction our attempt to fill a second
faculty has witnessed a steady increase in the
of bibliographic database programs to recent vacant faculty services position was halted.
number of requests fielded with almost 4,000
developments with ebooks. Fortunately, other library departments have
requests in the past two years. The number
stepped in and enabled us to continue to
The first semester legal research sessions have of faculty members who have used reference provide our faculty with the superb service
continued to raise the awareness of the students services has also increased and we were able that they expect. Kathy Eow, from Collections
about the issues and methods of legal research. to identify almost 75% of the faculty who used and Access, assists our Faculty Services
Students are introduced to the issues of legal reference services. Assistant, Dick Hasbany on a daily basis and
research, to important sources, and to research has proved to be an invaluable member of the
The past two years have seen a drop in
strategies. The first semester sessions are an faculty services team.
microform subscriptions, helping us resolve
excellent lead in to the larger slate of classes
space issues. However, there has not been a
offered in the spring. There were twelve sections Committee Chair of the Law Librarians of New
reduction in microform use. The material that
of first year students taught in the first semester. England since 2008. Margaret Chisholm served
is available solely in microform is still important
Each section had roughly 17 students. Exclusive on the library’s communications committee.
and there is still a fairly large support need
of Lexis and Westlaw training, each section met Teresa Miguel is Vice Chair/Chair elect , AALL
with microforms. Due to university mandated
for about 4 classroom hours. Latino Caucus. Teresa was most recently, Panel
budget cuts, we faced a situation where this vital
Coordinator, Moderator, Speaker: Thinking
Trends in reference have included a rise in the function, microforms, was not being supported.
about Treaties: Interpretation, in Force at AALL
complexity of questions and a rise in requests We have worked collaboratively with other
2009 in Washington, D.C.
for individual research counseling sessions. departments to fill this need and beginning
There also has still remained a need to maintain Fall 2009 school year, the Technical Services Evelyn Ma presented an overview of noteworthy
a presence at the reference desk as a significant Department will assist with microform filing. China-related electronic resources at the Asian
point of contact with our patron base. Over Law Interest Group, Foreign and Comparative
The judicial nominations database in order to
the past two years, we have experimented with Law Special Interest Section, AALL, Portland
grow and remain relevant, had to be completely
various coverage configurations and have found Oregon in July 2008. She also served on
redeveloped and our Emerging Technologies
that during the school year, it is important to Publications and Translation Committee, 1st
Librarian, Jason Eiseman has completed this
have a reference librarian at the reference desk for China-United States Conference on Legal
project. We now have a new database that is
most of the day. Information and Law Libraries, Beijing, China,
more complete, searchable, and expandable.
May 2009.
We have also made it easier for patrons to reach Also, the department has taken on responsibility
us. Most reference librarians have individual for the maintenance and the future direction of Jason Eiseman spoke at the 2009 CALI
web pages that contain their schedule as well as Avalon: the most popular web-site at Yale. Conference in Colorado and was elected to the
contact information including: location, phone Executive Board of the Computer Services Special
The department has had some changes in
number, email address, IM handle, and an IM Interest Section of the American Association of
personnel during the past two years. Mark
widget. The reference department also has an Law Libraries. Jason also co-cordinated the 2009
Engsberg, Head of Reference, left to become
IM handle, with a widget embedded on the Un-Conference at AALL 2009 in Washington.
the Director of the Law Library at Emory
reference web page, that is monitored by the
Law School. The department has been Camilla Tubbs was appointed to a three year term
librarian on duty. IM has become an important
further strengthened by the addition of Ryan on the Government Printing Office’s Depository
means of communicating with our patrons. IM
Harrington as a Reference Librarian in 2008 and Library Council, she is also Chair of the AALL
is currently the third most favored means to
Jason Eiseman as the Librarian for Emerging Government Relations Committee.
reach us (walk-up is first, and email is second).
Technologies at the beginning of 2009.
Telephone reference has declined dramatically: The past two years have been challenging with
most phone queries are from the general public Members of the department remain active in budgetary constraints and reduced staffing. The
and not from members of the Yale community. professional endeavors. In 2008, John Nann adaptable staff in reference and instructional
spoke at the Joint Study Institute (a conference services have tapped into their collective skills
The Reference Department has also worked
sponsored by several domestic and foreign law and abilities to face these challenges and create
with social media to serve our patrons. We
library organizations and with attendees from new opportunities. The demand for the products,
have developed a Facebook page that provides
the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, services, and skills offered by the Reference and
access to our most important services and serves
Australia, and New Zealand), the Conference Instructional Services Department continues to
as a point of contact. While we have not been
on Computer Aided Legal Instruction, and grow, and we are now more than ever central to
especially aggressive with Twitter, we are among
at the American Association of Law Libraries the mission of the law library and the law school
the most “followed” library. Also, members of
Annual Meeting, and has served as the Education as a whole.
10 | 11
 programs
The library continued its active engagement in Movie night continued the expansion of the
the law school community by hosting a wide library’s outreach to graduate students outside
array of exciting programs geared toward the a conventional library setting. An interesting
law school audience and the general public. array of films ranging from the “Monsoon
In continuing a tradition of showcasing the Wedding” (India) and “Yella” (Germany)
scholarship of the law school faculty, the library selected by international graduate students
played host to several faculty scholarship series, showcased their home countries and were
book discussions, and also for the first time viewed by lively audiences from within and
hosted a law student book discussion. outside of the law school.
Among the well attended and lively book Librarians lunches and staff spotlight series
discussions hosted by the library at Labyrinth provided continuing education and learning
Bookstore in New Haven were Paul Kahn’s opportunities for librarians and support staff.
exposition of his book “Sacred Violence: Discussions included an overview of China
Torture, Terror, and Sovereignty” in October Law by Evelyn Ma, two serials discussions by
2008 and Robert Post’s talk in April 2009 on Anne Myers, and an overview of the Harvard
his well received book “For the Common Good: Law Library’s faculty services program by Janet
Principles of American Academic Freedom.” Katz, Faculty Services Librarian at the Harvard
Law Library. Various spotlight series programs
The library hosted its very first student book
featured a taped interview of Morris Cohen
talk in April 2009 with Zachary Kaufman’s
(who was also present and provided personal
(09) discussion of his book with Philip Clark
commentary), Femi Cadmus’ “Cybersleuthing”,
- “After Genocide: Transitional Justice, Post-
Kathy Eow and Heather Bryant’s “Librarian
Conflict Reconstruction and Reconciliation
Travels in Kenya and Vermont” amongst
in Rwanda and Beyond.” This enlightening
others. Mary Jane Kelsey convened and
discussion was well attended by students,
presented at a spring 2008 meeting of the
faculty and staff, and particularly struck a
New England Innovative Users Group held at
chord with librarians because profits from the
the Yale Law School focusing on succession
book will be donated to Kigali Public Library,
planning in libraries.
Rwanda’s first public library.

transitions
professional appointments
Femi Cadmus Associate Law Librarian for Administration
Jason Eiseman Emerging Technologies Librarian
Ryan Harrington Reference Librarian
Anne Myers Librarian for Serials Services

new support staff

Drew Adan Library Assistant (Collections and Access)
Kathy Eow Library Assistant (Collections and Access)
Jonathan Lasky Library Assistant (Cataloging)

retirements
Bonnie Collier Associate Librarian for Administration, retired in June 2008
(35 years of service)
Alexandra Karyshev Cataloging Assistant, retired in July 2007
(16 years of service)
Barbara Renckowski Cataloging Assistant, retired in March 2008
(41 years of service)
Theresa Cullen Faculty Services Assistant, retired in January 2009
(9 years of service)
 yale law school
lillian goldman law library
po box 208215 • new haven, ct 06520-8215 • 203.432.1600 • www.law.yale.edu/library