Amid the continual transformation of higher education, academic law libraries are reimagining what it means to lead, collaborate, and innovate. Organizational Structures of Academic Law Libraries: Past, Present, and Future (Volume 3), edited by Elizabeth G. Adelman and Jessica de Perio Wittman, extends the respected AALL Publications Series, offering new insights into how libraries evolve and thrive within the shifting landscape of modern academia.
Building on the foundation of Volumes 1 and 2, this third installment captures the nuanced balance between autonomy and collaboration that defines the 21st-century academic law library. Drawing from an array of new case studies and real-world perspectives, it offers both strategic insight and practical guidance for law librarians, deans, and administrators navigating today’s complex institutional structures.
Capturing the Modern Law Library Experience
All-New Case Studies
Volume 3 features detailed profiles of academic law libraries nationwide, offering candid, data-driven examinations of governance models, reporting structures, and shared services. These case studies showcase how diverse institutions organize, communicate, and measure success in ways that reflect their unique missions and resources.
Real-World Perspectives
The editors have assembled an impressive lineup of contributors, including Rebecca Chapman, Austin Martin Williams, Jessica Whytock, Kirsten R. Moore, and Jane M. Meland, who share actionable lessons and models for leadership, budgeting, and innovation within academic law libraries.
Continuing a Trusted Series
As part of a long-standing series exploring the evolution of law library administration, this volume advances the conversation around how organizational structures influence the success of legal education. It is an indispensable resource for those shaping the next generation of academic law libraries.
Inside the Volume
Organizational Structures of Academic Law Libraries: Past, Present, and Future (Volume 3) offers a comprehensive look at both historical context and current trends.
Table of Contents
Summary of Contents
- Contributors
- Introduction
- Part I: History of the Academic Law Library Structure
- Part II: Autonomous Law Libraries
- Part III: Autonomous + Collaborative Services
- Part IV: Autonomous + Shared Services
Organizational Models
This volume continues to explore the four primary organizational models that define academic law libraries today. Each structure represents a different balance between autonomy, collaboration, and shared services within the broader university environment.
Autonomous
Reports to: Dean of the law school
Budget derived from: The law school
Collaboration with central library: May share an integrated library system (ILS) with the central library.
Autonomous & Collaborative Services
Reports to: Dean of the law school
Budget derived from: The law school
Collaboration with central library: May share ILS, discovery layer, institutional repository (IR), and engage in cost-sharing for shared databases or services.
Autonomous & Shared Services
Reports to: Dean of the law school
Budget derived from: The law school
Collaboration with central library: Shared services are governed by a formal memorandum of understanding (MOU); may include access, technical, and IT support.
Semiautonomous
Reports to: Dean of the law school and university librarian
Budget derived from: University libraries budget
Collaboration with central library: Reporting and funding are governed by an MOU.
Key Highlights
Ten New
Case Studies
Presents in-depth profiles of academic law libraries from across the United States, each demonstrating unique approaches to leadership, budgeting, and collaboration.
Real-World Perspectives
Features first-hand insights from law library directors and administrators who share strategies for navigating institutional challenges and opportunities.
Frameworks for Change
Expands on established models of autonomy and shared services, offering comparative analysis an actionable guidance for improving organizational effectiveness within law schools and universities.
Who is This Book For?
The third volume of Organizational Structures of Academic Law Libraries: Past, Present, and Future is designed for professionals and institutions involved in the administration, leadership, and study of academic law libraries, including:
- Law library directors and administrators seeking to evaluate or restructure their libraries for improved efficiency and collaboration.
- Law school deans and provosts responsible for overseeing budgets, reporting structures, and strategic planning across academic departments.
- University librarians and central administration leaders exploring shared services or integrated support models.
- Legal educators and scholars researching the evolving role of academic law libraries within higher education.
- Graduate students and researchers in library and information science studying management, governance, or academic law library trends.
About the Editors
Elizabeth G. Adelman
Director of the Charles B. Sears Law Library & Vice Dean for Legal Information Services, University at Buffalo School of Law
Elizabeth G. Adelman serves as Director of the Charles B. Sears Law Library and Vice Dean for Legal Information Services at the University at Buffalo, where she is also a SUNY Distinguished Librarian. She is the lead author of New York Legal Research (4th ed.) and has written extensively on legal research and academic law libraries. A past president of the American Association of Law Libraries (2022–2023), Adelman holds a J.D. from Albany Law School and an M.L.S. from the University at Buffalo.
Jessica de Perio Wittman
Professor of Law & Director of the Law Library, University of Connecticut School of Law
Jessica de Perio Wittman is Professor of Law and Director of the Law Library at the University of Connecticut School of Law, where she also serves as the Cornelius J. Scanlon Scholar. She oversees library operations and information technology systems and teaches courses in Special Education Law, Technology and Law Practice, and Advanced Legal Research. A leader in the field, she is active in American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), Southern New England Law Libraries Association (SNELLA), and American Association of Law Schools (AALS), with research focusing on legal technology, inclusivity, and innovation in legal education. In 2024, she received the inaugural Technology and Ethics Award from AALS and was named one of vLex Fastcase’s 50 legal innovators.
Order Your Copy Today
Organizational Structures of Academic Law Libraries: Past, Present, and Future
Volume 3
AALL Publications Series No. 90
Editors: Elizabeth Adelman & Jessica de Perio Wittman
Item #: 1007708
ISBN: 9780837743387
Pages: xx, 158 p.
1 Volume…$120.00
Published: Getzville; William S. Hein & Co., Inc.; 2025
Explore Volumes 1 & 2
Organizational Structures of Academic Law Libraries: Past, Present, and Future
Volume 1
Item #: 1007048
ISBN: 978-0-8377-4272-4
Pages: xxii, 250p.
Published: Getzville; William S. Hein & Co., Inc.; 2023.
Organizational Structures of Academic Law Libraries: Past, Present, and Future
Volume 2
Winner of the 2025 AALL-SIS Book Award
Item #: 1007577
ISBN: 9780837743059
Pages: xviii, 158 p (176 p total)
Published: Getzville; William S. Hein & Co., Inc.; 2024.
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