TRANSINSTITUTIONAL EXCHANGES Andrea M. Alexander Michelle Hook Dewey

OUR RESEARCH In the spring of 2014, we were privileged to receive a LexisNexis research grant funding a series of on-site case studies of the relationships between academic law libraries and their institutions’ career development offices (CDOs). This research, inspired by a survey we had previously distributed on the same topic, was a unique experience for us because we were both, at that time, in our first professional jobs as law librarians and had had limited exposure to other academic law libraries. And while the research itself is important, the case study travel experience was just as valuable to us, because it gave us a unique opportunity to learn about many different academic law libraries in a relatively short period of time.

OUR JOURNEY BEGINS We traveled to ten law schools across the country. We toured the law school generally, playing close attention to library spaces, library collections, and library presence in other areas of the law school. [We also visited Career Service units at each school as part of our research.] We met with Directors, technical services staff, reference staff, general library staff, career services directors, and career service staff members. [This varied a bit by institution, but we met between 3-12 librarians per visit.] We traveled to ten law schools across the country. We toured the law school generally, playing close attention to library spaces, library collections, and library presence in other areas of the law school. [We also visited Career Service units at each school as part of our research.] We met with Directors, technical services staff, reference staff, general library staff, career services directors, and career service staff members. [This varied a bit by institution, but we met between 3-12 librarians per visit.]

LESSONS LEARNED.... A NDREA : T HE DIRECTOR REALLY SETS THE TONE FOR HOW LAW LIBRARIANS INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE LAW SCHOOL. S OMETIMES YOU DON ’ T EVEN KNOW A PROBLEM EXISTS UNTIL YOU GET AN OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE. I HAD A MUCH BETTER SENSE OF WHAT MY CAREER PRIORITIES ARE. M ICHELLE : T HERE ARE A LOT OF UNIVERSALITIES AMONG THE INSTITUTIONS, BUT THE UNIQUE APPROACHES AND CULTURE CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. I WAS ABLE TO PUT MY OWN CURRENT POSITION - AND MY LIKES AND DISLIKES ABOUT IT - INTO A LARGER PERSPECTIVE. S OMETIMES WE DO THINGS WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WHY AND THROUGH TALKING OUR POSITIONS OUT LOUD WE CAN UNDERSTAND THEM BETTER.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?  You will expand your understanding of how other law libraries work– a kind of knowledge that can otherwise take several career moves to achieve.  Visiting other institutions lets you build professional relationships and network in a less hectic environment than conferences sometimes provide.  Returning home with new ideas will let you contribute to your home institution in a unique way. (The visiting librarian)

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?  Newer law librarians will achieve a greater depth of understanding of how culture and practice influence the academic law library environment.  Your librarian will likely come back with fresh new ideas on how to solve existing problems or make helpful changes.  A visiting librarian can act as a sort of goodwill ambassador, building new relationships with other libraries. (The visiting librarian’s home institution)

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?  The chance to show off a little! You can highlight some of the things that make your library awesome to someone who might not otherwise get to learn about them.  Raising your profile makes it easier to recruit great new librarians when you need them.  Good karma– maybe one of your librarians will want to do a similar visit at another school?  Opportunities to see your library through a fresh set of eyes and learn about how things are done at other schools (The host institution)

THE VISIT What would this look like? There is a spectrum of possibilities, ranging from a day trip to a nearby library to a cross-country voyage. The right kind of funding makes a big difference (more on that in a minute) but it’s also important to make sure that both the visitor and the host institution are equally on board with the idea and have some clearly articulated goals for the visit.

ASSOCIATED COSTS?  Travel– Is this drivable, or do you need to fly? Can you tack on this visit to existing travel plans?  Housing– Do you have local connections who will host you for an overnight stay, or is a hotel necessary?  Per Diem– Who’s going to feed you?  Time off work– If your home institution is supportive, perhaps they will provide you with PTO for the visit? If not, is the professional development worth taking your own vacation time?

HOW DO WE MAKE THIS A THING?  PEGA-SIS?  Pilot project?  Regional associations (hey, MAALL, we are looking at you!)