SMU Underwood Law Library Final Reflection

My practicum at SMU's Underwood Law Library has been an eye-opening, energizing, and occasionally humbling experience that allowed me to explore the many layers of law librarianship. From the beginning, I was welcomed into the community and introduced to staff across technical services, reference, and administration. Angela Jones, my supervisor, gave me my bearings and helped me understand the expectations of my role, while others—including Donna Wolf, David Black, Shannon Dekat, Marja Pietiläinen-Rom, and later Cassie Walker—shared insights into their work and the broader structure of the law library. Each conversation gave me a deeper appreciation for just how multifaceted librarianship can be, especially within a legal academic environment. Whether learning about cataloging, discovering rare books bound with medieval musical manuscripts, or seeing how leadership transitions unfold, I found myself constantly absorbing new perspectives.

My Advanced Legal Research course was another major thread running throughout the semester. At first, I felt somewhat overwhelmed—legal databases can be dense, and the stakes behind case law gave me pause—but over time the material became genuinely exciting. Cases felt like puzzles waiting to be solved, and learning about connectors, administrative regulations, presidential documents, and even the pricing structures of Westlaw and Lexis expanded my understanding of how legal information is structured, accessed, and funded. These lessons helped clarify not only the mechanics of legal research but also the role that librarians play in teaching researchers how to be effective and cost-conscious. Along the way, I also got to know some of the law students, which made the experience more enjoyable and reminded me that professional growth often happens through relationships as much as through coursework.

The largest portion of my practicum, however, was spent transforming the neglected basement archive into a usable system. It was a slow start—Pen-to-Print processed handwriting at a glacial pace, especially before I realized Safari was the culprit—but eventually I found my rhythm. I experimented with different workflows, learned to troubleshoot OCR quirks, and ultimately built a Python script (with plenty of trial and error) that could automatically convert cleaned text files into structured Excel data. Once the script worked, the project moved significantly faster, but it still required hours of organization, documentation, and quality control. I spent much of the semester ensuring the files were saved in universal formats, arranging the materials for long-term accessibility, and writing clear instructions so future archivists could replicate or expand on the process.

A beautiful sunset in my last weeks

Throughout this work, I found myself increasingly considering the future of archives and the role they play within academic libraries. Conversations with staff reinforced how essential special collections will be as more information moves online and easily accessible databases make basic collections less distinctive. I even got the chance to share this perspective in a technical services meeting, where big-picture planning for SMU’s growth as a top 25 law school was underway. My contribution felt meaningful—pointing out that rare materials and unique archives are what give a library its identity and depth. Alongside these broader discussions, I also found space to enjoy the lighter sides of library life, whether shelving books with circulation staff, admiring a Halloween display of arsenic-green rare books, or helping distribute the weekly bagels (while happily sampling several myself).

As the semester drew to a close, most of my time shifted toward refining the archive and preparing my final presentation. I spent hours cleaning up inconsistencies, filling gaps, and ensuring the organizational structure made sense. Sitting in on the presentation of a candidate for dean of the law library further highlighted how much strategy and long-term vision goes into shaping a successful academic institution. When it came time for my own presentation, the staff was wonderfully supportive. I brought Krispy Kreme as fuel, walked them through my process, and fielded thoughtful questions. I may have startled Cassie with the sheer volume of material in the archive, but I left feeling proud that I had turned something chaotic and inaccessible into a functional foundation. It’s still a long road to a fully cataloged, fully processed archive—but now there is a path forward.

Looking back, this practicum helped me grow in ways I didn’t anticipate. I gained practical experience, technical skills, and a clearer sense of the many directions a career in law librarianship can take. I also confronted big questions about my own future, ultimately deciding to take the LSAT as a first step in exploring whether a J.D. is right for me. More than anything, though, I’m grateful for the people who welcomed me, taught me, and encouraged my curiosity. Whether I end up in academia, a firm, a county law library, or somewhere else entirely, this experience has given me both the confidence and the motivation to continue pursuing a career in this field. I hope the archive I built becomes the groundwork for something long-lasting—and I know that the lessons I learned here certainly will be.

Thank you to everyone who made this semester possible!

<3 Bliss