Public Services in Law Libraries Evolution and Innovation in the 21st Century

New and creative ways to provide library services

In recent years, new advances have opened doors to exciting possibilities for libraries and their users. Drawing inspiration from the commercial sector and new uses of the latest technology, Public Services in Law Libraries: Evolution and Innovation in the 21st Century examines today's changing law libraries and offers unique and practical ways to provide services in a variety of areas, including student services, faculty services, attorney and governmental services, general administrative support, needs surveying, creative marketing, and innovative instructional materials.

Grounded in the Competencies of Law Librarianship established by the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), the chapters in Public Services in Law Libraries: Evolution and Innovation in the 21st Century look at the current state of the discipline as well as at the changing expectations created in users by such commonplace on-demand technology as Amazon.com, Netflix, and similar services. In addition to imagining possibilities of the near future, this useful collection includes concrete suggestions of pragmatic ways to adapt, improve, and enhance existing library services.

Contributors to Public Services in Law Libraries: Evolution and Innovation in the 21st Century cover topics such as:

• the history of the development of the AALL's Competencies for Law Librarianship
• technology and its application to the reference interview and the debates growing out of this
• artificial intelligence and the possibilities it may hold for libraries
• ways in which the library catalog can and must change in response to users' expectations
• changing law firm collections, user expectations, and the inventive ways librarians are fulfilling needs
• the unique challenges faced in reference services in courts and governmental settings
• practical solutions for reaching students with cutting edge technologies
• meeting the challenge of conveying theory and process of legal research through familiar tools and newer innovations
• faculty service and publication evolution
• and many others!

With extensive references and practical ideas for staying up-to-date, librarians and library administrators—especially those in law and special libraries—as well as educators and students will find Public Services in Law Libraries: Evolution and Innovation in the 21st Century to be an invaluable research and information resource.