Appraising Our Past, Charting Our Future

HIGHLIGHTS, SPECIAL EVENTS AND AWARDS

Brown v. Board of Education
LibQUAL Survey
Bridge the Legal Research Gap Workshop
American Association of Law Libraries Conference Highlights
2003 Excellence in Marketing Award
National Library Week

Brown v. Board of Education

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the decision in Brown v. Board of Education, the Library created a multifaceted exhibit in the display cases lining the fourth floor Dolliver Reading Room. Structured around a timeline of significant civil rights and school desegregation events, the exhibit brought together library materials, photos, and other information to trace the progress from Brown until the present.

The physical exhibit was complemented by an online exhibit on the Library’s research portal which included a suite of online games with interactive learning opportunities.

Len Schroeter, a local attorney and civil rights activist, loaned the Library original documents from the Brown v. Board decision and other desegregation cases to add to our display materials.

Additionally, Prof. Rooke-Ley, who in the summer of 1965 served in Mississippi as a volunteer with C.O.R.E., loaned his collection of civil rights pamphlets, notes, flyers and images from that time.

Building on our commemorative exhibits, the Library next created a "traveling" exhibit entitled "Images of Struggle and Hope: The Context of Brown v. Board."

After its well-received debut at the Seattle University-hosted CLE "From Brown to Grutter: Racial Integration and the Law in the Northwest," we received numerous requests for our mobile exhibit. It, and other Brown-related creations traveled extensively. For example:

• A video montage version was created for use in Prof. Adamson's presentation, "Commemorating Brown/Celebrating Grutter and Lawrence" at the AALS Conference on Clinical Education in San Diego;
  
  
• the "Images" exhibit was displayed during Loren Miller Bar Association panel discussion, "Brown and Its Impact," May 10th, Piggott Auditorium;
  
  
• the "Images" exhibit was on display the LMBA's "Reenactment of the Brown Supreme Court Argument," featuring Lembhard G. Howell, the Honorable Chief Judge John C. Coughenour and the entire Washington State Supreme Court, May 17, Kane Hall, University of Washington;
  
  
• the "Images" exhibit traveled to the New Holly Community Center for display at a YMCA Youth and Community Forum discussing Brown, May 25;
  
  
• our content was shared with the YMCA for its development of a Brown video to be used in the Seattle School District.

Needless to say, the Library is very excited that what started as a library exhibit has reached out so broadly into our community.

Back to Top

LibQUAL Survey

With over 125 law faculty, staff and student responses, the survey provided valuable comments and suggestions. Although library services received high marks, students asked for improvements in maintaining a quiet study environment. All surveyed groups identified a need for more individual and collaborative study space. Additionally, faculty emphasized the importance of maintaining adequate print and electronic collections to support courses, programs and research. The Library will continue to make improvements based on the results.

Back to Top

Bridge the Legal Research Gap Workshop

On June 23, the Library participated in the 9th Annual Bridge the Legal Research Gap. This free program offered eight instructional sessions taught by librarians from the Seattle University Law Library and the University of Washington Gallagher Law Library. Sessions were designed to reacquaint students with research skills useful in summer legal employment. While the majority of the 150 attendees were students from Seattle University and the University of Washington, students from many other law schools (e.g. Harvard, Columbia, Stanford) also attended. The materials from each instructional session and photos of the event are available on the web.

American Association of Law Libraries Conference Highlights

The 2003 Academic Law Librarians reception hosted by Seattle University Law Library had such a lasting impact that academic librarians at the 2004 AALL conference were still complimenting us on such a fine event!

Back to Top

2003 Excellence in Marketing Award

The Seattle University Law Library received the 2003 American Association of Law Libraries Excellence in Marketing Award in the Best Use of Technology category for outstanding achievement in public relations. The centerpiece of the Library's award winning public relations campaign was the redesigned Virtual Tour of the Law Library. This tour, created by the Information Services Department, utilized Flash technology to offer viewers a virtual experience akin to walking through the physical space of the Library. This tour was used to support the Library's marketing campaign, which introduced our new alumni memberships. The national publication, Law Library Resource Xchange (LLRX), described the tour in its article, Virtual Tours and Law Library Websites, as "a multimedia presentation second to none."

Back to Top

National Library Week

In observance of National Library Week, April 18-23, the Law Library joined other libraries across the country in promoting awareness of the contributions libraries and library staff make to their communities. Banners and handouts proclaiming the celebration greeted the law school community. Patrons were treated to candy, bookmarks and complimentary earplugs at the public service desks. Users were encouraged to try their skill at online interactive games and puzzles. The Docket displayed interesting and amusing daily facts about libraries and librarians. Fine amnesty, an annual library tradition, was a great success. Under the amnesty, students eliminated accumulated overdue library fines by bringing in canned food or dry goods for the Northwest Harvest food bank. Fines were reduced by one dollar for each can of food donated.

Back to Top