What do you get when you combine a law librarian’s frustration, a spark of inspiration, and three decades of grit, scholarship, and family collaboration?
You get The Complete Periodical Literature of Law Librarianship, an award-winning, annotated bibliography of more than 5,000 law librarianship articles. But beyond its scholarly significance, the story behind this project is one of uncommon dedication and family.
I sat down with Michael J. Slinger and Sarah C. Slinger, the father-daughter team behind CPLLL, to learn more about how this monumental database came to be. What I discovered was a story of persistence, passion, and an unwavering commitment to a profession they both love.
A Problem Sparked the Project
When Michael J. Slinger began his career in law librarianship, he quickly realized he was in uncharted waters. “I entered the field of law librarianship knowing very little about how to actually do the work,” he reflects. “Nearly every assignment I was asked to do was a case of first impression for me.”
Like many new professionals, he turned to the literature to find guidance, but the search was anything but efficient. Time and again, promising article titles led to dead ends. “I wasted a lot of time chasing down articles that sounded useful but ended up being completely off the mark,” he explains. “There was no tool that could tell me, clearly and quickly, what an article actually covered.”
Out of that frustration came inspiration: a meticulously annotated guide to the literature of law librarianship, something that didn’t yet exist but needed to. So he started reading. Then annotating. Then building.
What he didn’t anticipate was that the project would span three decades.
“Well, the most important thing was that I believed the profession really needed it and I wanted to do something important for law librarianship. Also, I am very stubborn, and I hate to quit on a project. I also greatly enjoyed reading the articles because law librarianship is a rich and scholarly profession. Reading those articles immersed me in the profession like nothing else could do. It was quite an education for me.“
Michael J. Slinger, Editor
Three Decades and a New, Unexpected Partner
Over the years, Michael Slinger quietly chipped away at the project, reading articles, writing annotations, and building a framework for what would become CPLLL. It was a labor of love. The scale of the work was enormous, and for many years, he carried it on alone.
But law librarianship wasn’t just Michael’s profession; it was part of the family. His daughters grew up immersed in the world of legal research and libraries. They spent countless hours in their father’s law library, and summer vacations often revolved around the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) Annual Meeting. While other families might have headed to the beach, the Slingers were paging through conference schedules and navigating exhibit halls.
Those early experiences left a lasting impression, especially on Sarah.
When it came time for law school, she chose Widener’s Delaware Law School, where Michael happened to be the director. And then came a moment Michael didn’t see coming: “One day, she surprised me by telling me she wanted to become a professional law librarian.”
By then, the project had grown even larger in scope. Subject headings had shifted with the evolution of the profession, new technologies were emerging, and the need for a fresh perspective and a reliable collaborator was clear. Fortunately, Sarah was not only willing, but enthusiastic.
She brought with her a deep understanding of both the scholarly landscape and the tools needed to manage it in the digital age. Her insights, energy, and organizational skills helped push the project forward after years of steady but solitary progress. She tackled technology hurdles, helped expand the scope to include Canadian literature, and collaborated closely with her father to refine and finalize the resource.
“We work very well together,” Michael says. “And she deserves the most credit for getting CPLLL to the finish line.”
Their partnership not only brought the project to completion, but it also added a multigenerational perspective, one that reflects both the profession’s rich history and its forward-looking future.
A Lasting Contribution
The project has already garnered recognition: in 2025, it was named the Joseph L. Andrews Legal Literature Award winner by the American Association of Law Libraries, an honor bestowed on works of enduring research value and outstanding contribution to legal bibliography.
“The award validated the importance and quality of our work,” Michael says. “We just feel a deep sense of pride and relief that we were able to complete it.”
As for what’s next, Sarah will continue adding to the database through annual updates. She always has additional research and scholarship projects she is working on. Michael, meanwhile, is looking forward to a well-earned break: “Thirty years of investment in a project was enough for me to feel like I deserve a rest!”
Designed by Law Librarians for Law Librarians
The Complete Periodical Literature of Law Librarianship is now available as a fully searchable, standalone database in HeinOnline. Designed by law librarians, for law librarians, this resource offers unparalleled access to the profession’s rich body of literature, annotated, categorized, and made accessible like never before.
Visit the HeinOnline interface to explore the collection and see how this award-winning tool can support your research, teaching, and professional scholarship.
Includes digital access to the HeinOnline database, as well as one copy of the print edition. Updates will be made to the HeinOnline database on an annual basis. No future print edition is planned.
Subscribers of Spinelli’s Law Library Reference Shelf receive a 10% discount on this database.
Customers on standing order for the AALL Publication Series will automatically receive the print edition and be granted access to the HeinOnline database.
Lauren has been an employee of the William S. Hein & Co., Inc. for more than 20 years. During her long tenure, she has worked in various departments and developed considerable skills. Most recently, she acts as a lead member of the marketing staff and oversees the HeinOnline support team. Lauren's blog posts focus on tips, tricks, and how to make the most out of HeinOnline tools. She also enjoys writing on topics that are close to her heart, such as social issues, pop culture, and sports.
Lauren has been an employee of the William S. Hein & Co., Inc. for more than 20 years. During her long tenure, she has worked in various departments and developed considerable skills. Most recently, she acts as a lead member of the marketing staff and oversees the HeinOnline support team. Lauren's blog posts focus on tips, tricks, and how to make the most out of HeinOnline tools. She also enjoys writing on topics that are close to her heart, such as social issues, pop culture, and sports.
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