Libraries have become synonymous with knowledge and information. Libraries can give local communities the tools to interact with those in positions of power, whether it be a landlord or an employer.
Our law library is a community hub that connects people to information, ideas, and resources. We accomplish this mission by creating a pathway to research, learning, and inspiration by educating students, faculty, and staff. We provide comprehensive, current, and relevant collections. We align our services and resources with the evolving needs of legal education, scholarship, and technology, while we engage our community with innovative library and technology services.
We encourage student activity and cross-departmental collaboration and offer a safe space for non-lawyers and bar association members to discover, access, and use our library collections and services.
Welcome to the Thomas J. Meskill Law Library!
Jessica de Perio Wittman
Professor of Law, Director of the Law Library, and Cornelius J. Scanlon Research Scholar
Vision
We envision a Law Library & Technology department where creativity is supported, communication fuels collaboration, and every process is shaped with intention. With this foundation, we empower people, strengthen our efficiency, and offer innovative services that advance our mission.
Mission
The University of Connecticut School of Law Library & Technology Department connects members of the law school community to information, ideas, and resources.
Core Values
The following Core Values define how we carry out our mission.
We strive for excellence
We strive for excellence by providing quality services and work performance.
We are innovative
We are innovative by intentionally pursuing or implementing improved methods, practices, and services by being flexible, creative, and imaginative.
We are collaborative
We are collaborative by bringing our diverse skill sets, experiences, perspectives, and viewpoints to bear as we work together toward our common goals.
We embrace change
We embrace change and are open to new ideas and perspectives.
We are accountable
We are accountable by taking responsibility for our own conduct, performance of duties, and the successful delivery of information and technology within the Library, Law School, University, and our community.
We have integrity
We have integrity by being honest and trustworthy and upholding the values expressed by the Library, Law School, University, and our community.
We are reflective
We are reflective by employing thoughtfulness in the workplace, including careful and deliberate consideration and thorough, measured examination of issues and ideas from all sides.
We strive for equity, diversity, and inclusion
We strive for equity, diversity, and inclusion by valuing and respecting a full spectrum of values, backgrounds, and points of view which enhance our ability to learn, create, and provide the best service possible to our patrons and each other.
We value each other
We value each other by building and maintaining a workplace that supports personal well-being and provides the tools to create, adapt, and innovate.
Strategic Directions
Provide accessible, relevant resources that support the needs of the law school community and address the changing landscape of legal information and the legal profession.
Goals
- Curate, preserve, and create a collection that supports research, scholarship, and curricular needs.
- Enhance accessibility and discovery of resources.
- Promote visibility of the Law Library & Technology departments and their resources.
- Support staff development to equip them to best respond to future developments in the law, legal information, and technology.
Educate the law school community through formal and informal instruction, supporting student success while preparing them for modern legal practice and the future of legal information and technology.
Goals
- Lead curricular development in legal technology and research to address evolving needs in the legal profession.
- Develop additional classes, tools, and instructional opportunities that provide more specialized instruction and leverage innovative educational technology solutions.
- Align instructional services, programs, and resources to support student success, including bar exam readiness and transition to professional practice.
- Work with key partners to integrate information literacy and critical thinking competencies strategically into the learning experience.
Create a culture of inquiry and critical thinking by supporting, contributing to, and engaging in research and scholarship.
Goals
- Strengthen and promote scholarly research by supporting faculty and student work and by engaging in original research and professional inquiry that informs services and innovation.
- Identify new opportunities to engage with the law school community and align information services with their needs.
- Support discovery by making faculty and student scholarship available through online platforms.
Serve as a welcoming community hub that supports the academic mission of the law school and the legal information needs of Connecticut communities.
Goals
- Champion the Law Library & Technology department as a central resource for learning, research, and community engagement within the law school and beyond.
- Promote access to justice by honoring our commitment to serve the public.
- Create, promote, and host events that bring together the law school community.
- Assess user experience to continually improve services and facilities to better meet user needs.