Legal Research

Library as [a fun] place

By emma wood

Mark at the AALL Spectrum Blog wonders whether law libraries are holding fun events in the library, and whether anyone has studied (and presumably reported on) that.

My answer to the first question is an emphatic “yes!”

At my previous job in a firm library, we tried to hold several fun events every year. These events would often take the form of “coffee parties” (library staff would bring in home-baked treats, and we’d have coffee, punch, etc.). Sometimes, we’d tie the party into a new library service or product, or a season or holiday, but not always. They were often “just because”, which everyone needs now and then!

Over the years, we also had the firm’s resident lawyer rock band play on more than one occasion and hosted (very popular) annual Easter egg hunts, among other events. I also know of other firm libraries that do used book sales (to fundraise for community literacy groups), doughnut days, and contests.

The point - aside from just having fun - is to reinforce the fact that the library staff are friendly and approachable (not shushing and uptight), and that the firm has a library (people tend to forget!) and it’s an enjoyable place to be. Sure, in some situations, it would have been less crowded to hold the party in a boardroom, but that would have defeated the point of it being a library party.

As for whether anyone has studied this, now that I think of it, wouldn’t that be a good topic for a wiki? Maybe one exists already….

Full post as published by Ballad in Plain E on October 09, 2008 (boomark / email).