SMU Underwood Law Library Week 16

Week 16: Dec 2 7:30-11:30 & Dec 4 7:30-11:15 & Dec 5 12-3 (TOTAL HOURS: 120)

This was my final week of the practicum, and I spent much of it putting the finishing touches on both my presentation and the archive itself. I cleaned up areas that were disorganized, filled in anything that was missing, and made sure the overall structure was as clear and functional as possible. I also had the chance to sit in on the presentation of a candidate for dean of the law library, which was genuinely fascinating. Hearing about the potential growth of the library and how it fits into SMU’s broader goal of becoming a top 25 law school, gave me a deeper appreciation for the vision and strategy behind academic law libraries.

The highlight, of course, was giving my own presentation. I brought Krispy Kreme as moral support, and the atmosphere was wonderfully encouraging. I think I may have given Cassie (the interim director) a coronary with the sheer amount of material preserved in the archive; it will definitely need significant weeding and cataloging down the line. Even so, I feel proud that I was able to take what was essentially an inaccessible basement collection and shape it into something usable. A fully functioning archive would certainly require a full-time archivist, but I’m glad I could contribute a meaningful first step.

My captive audience for my presentation :) Left to Right: Donna, Chris, Marja, Cassie, Shannon, Angela

The team asked thoughtful questions, and it was genuinely fun to walk them through my process. My hope is that the work I’ve done becomes the foundation for an archive that will continue to grow, improve, and eventually become a true asset to the law school. It was a fulfilling end to a challenging (but incredibly rewarding) semester.