Legal Research

From Berkman Centre to the Harvard Law Library

By Simon Chester

Occasionally a single appointment can signal everything. Today, Harvard Law School Dean Elena Kagan announced the long-awaited replacement for Harry S. Martin, who has been director of the Harvard law Library¹ for 27 years. Martin’s contribution deserves a post in its own right for his service as Henry N. Ess III Librarian and Professor of Law at the Law School and his seminars on Art and the Law.

But let’s focus on the new Librarian, who’s John Palfrey currently Executive Director, Berkman Center for Internet & Society, Harvard Law School. Palfrey is a regular blogger. His work is informed by the energy of the Berkman Center and all that this implies. He does not, however, a leap from tradition, appear to have a library degree.

Dean Kagan commented:

“John is the perfect person to ensure that the Harvard Law School Library is as important an institution in the 21st century as it has been in the past. His extraordinary understanding of how digital technologies can facilitate scholarship and teaching, his deep commitment to making information and knowledge accessible, and his inspired leadership of research institutions all make him uniquely qualified to assume this great responsibility. Everyone who honors the Harvard Law School Library — who appreciates what it has done and what it can do to advance learning in the world — should feel a sense of joy about this appointment”.

1. Which is the most extraordinary law library I’ve ever used, with due apologies to Ruth at the Bodleian and David at the Great Library

Full post as published by Slaw.ca on May 01, 2008 (boomark / email).