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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 D

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 wa

Week 14/15: Nov 18 & Nov 20 & Nov 25 7:30-11:15 (TOTAL HOURS: 109.5) This week was very much a “grunt work” week, with no more ALR classes and my full attention turned toward finishing the archival project. I spent most of my time with my head down, organizing files, cleaning up the digital structure, and making sure everything was prepared to be transformed into a cohesive and functional system. It was repetitive at times, but also satisfying to see the pieces finally coming

Nov 11 & Nov 13 7:30-11:15 (TOTAL HOURS: 98.25) This week marked the final session of my Advanced Legal Research class. We focused on the pricing structures of major legal databases such as Westlaw, Lexis, Bloomberg, and HeinOnline, which turned out to be surprisingly fascinating. I hadn’t fully realized how costly each search and document retrieval can be—sometimes ranging from $100 to $300 per action. It was eye-opening to see how these expenses can quickly add up, and it r

Nov 4 & Nov 6 7:30-11:15 & Nov 5 6-8 & Nov 7 11:45-3 (TOTAL HOURS: 90.75) This week started off on a civic note! I went and voted on Tuesday, with some friendly encouragement from David and Marja, who were determined to make sure I did my civic duty. On Wednesday, I spent time with Jen and Audra doing some classic circulation tasks like shelving books and pulling holds. Jen also showed me her Halloween book display on the history of arsenic books and uranium glass, which was

Date: October 29, 2025 Introduction As part of my practicum for the Master of Library Science program, I am completing my fieldwork at the Southern Methodist University’s Underwood Law Library under the supervision of Angela Jones, Head of Technical Services. My area of study lies at the intersection of law librarianship and archives, focusing on how information organization, preservation, and accessibility function in specialized library settings. Key concepts in this field

Oct 28 & Oct 30 7:30-11:15 (TOTAL HOURS: 78) After a short hiatus while the law students focused on a major project, classes started back up this week. We covered rules and regulations, which is an entire subset of law I hadn’t realized was so vast. My mind is still spinning from the sheer scale of it all. The idea that unelected agencies are publishing hundreds of pages a day just to tell people how to follow the law was both fascinating and a little alarming. It wasn’t exac

Oct 21 & Oct 23 7:30-11:15 (TOTAL HOURS: 70.5) This week was primarily devoted to organizing the files and running them through the program I created. I also took the time to carefully document each step of the process and arrange the original text files in a way that future archivists can easily follow and replicate for years to come. My goal was to make the workflow both intuitive and sustainable, ensuring that the project remains accessible long after my practicum ends. Ho

Oct 14 & Oct 16 7:30-11:15 (TOTAL HOURS: 63) This week I decided to test a theory I had about automating part of the archival workflow. Specifically, I wanted to see if I could create a Python script to automatically sort all the text files generated by the Pen-to-Print software. I hadn’t touched Python since high school, but with some trial and error (and a little help from ChatGPT), I managed to write a fully functioning script that compiles and organizes the files into an

Sep 30 & Oct 1 & Oct 9 7:30-11:15 (TOTAL HOURS: 55.5) This week went much more smoothly after I finally figured out what had been slowing down the Pen-to-Print process. As it turns out, the issue wasn’t the software at all, it was my browser choice. I should have been using Google Chrome instead of Safari the whole time. Of course, the solution was that simple; it only took me seven weeks to uncover it! With that sorted, things have been running far more efficiently. Classes

Sep 16 & Sep 23 & Sep 25 7:30-11:15 (TOTAL: 44.25 HOURS) This week was largely focused on project work. With Angela Jones out of town, I spent most of my time in the basement organizing materials and figuring out the best way to streamline the process. I experimented with several methods to speed up the Pen-to-Print workflow (the AI/OCR system I’ve been using to convert the previous archivist’s handwritten notes into text files) but progress remains slow. It’s definitely a te

Sep 9 & Sep 10 7:30-11:15 & Sep 11 12:00-4:00 (TOTAL: 33 HOURS) This week was long but rewarding. I had the chance to meet with Tim Gallina, a reference librarian who is spearheading AI integration efforts with faculty and students, and it was fascinating to hear how these tools are beginning to shape legal research. I’m convinced they’ll become a staple in the field. My legal research class has also been a highlight; the cases feel like puzzles I get to solve, which I really

Sep 2 & Sep 4 7:30-11:15 (TOTAL: 21.5 HOURS) This week my schedule shifted slightly, with an earlier start time of 7:30 to help ensure I meet all my practicum hours by the end of the semester. One of the highlights was meeting Cassie Walker, the interim library director. She recently transitioned into the role after serving as a reference librarian and administrator, so it was inspiring to see how quickly someone can step into a leadership position within the field. Our conve

Aug 26 & Aug 28 7:45-11:15 (TOTAL: 14 HOURS) This week I had the chance to meet with Marja Pietiläinen-Rom, who also works in technical services. Beyond her current role, she has a fascinating background as an opera singer in Finland, which I thought was especially impressive. She introduced me to some of the treasures in the McKnight Rare Books collection, including volumes bound with medieval musical manuscripts. What made this particularly memorable was learning that the s

Aug 19th & Aug 21 7:45-11:15 (TOTAL: 7 HOURS) During my first days, I had the opportunity to meet with a number of staff members who will be guiding me through this practicum. My supervisor, Angela Jones, who works in technical services, welcomed me warmly and gave me a tour of the facility, set me up with a computer, and walked me through the kinds of projects I’ll be taking on. I also met Donna Wolf, the associate director and my professor for the legal research course I’m