Dear Members of the Duquesne Kline Law Library Community,
This fall, I start my third academic year here with the same sense of hope and gratitude I have had since my first day on the Bluff. And, as I always do in the fall, I would like to take a moment to reflect on my first two years at Duquesne Kline Law Library and to look forward to the future, while welcoming the incoming 2023 1L class:
Duquesne Kline Law Library Is a Pillar of Intellectual Life
This past year, Duquesne Kline Law Library had the privilege of hosting and producing, in connection with Gumberg Library, a Book Symposium, The Lessons of the Justinian Code, and five scholarly exchanges with five Duquesne Kline Faculty:
- Professor Wes Oliver,
- Professor Bruce Ledewitz,
- Assistant Professor of Law Ashley London,
- Visiting Assistant Professor of Law John Rice, and
- Assistant Professor of Law Richard Heppner.
This year, the Duquesne Kline Law Library will continue its collaboration with the main library. This October, I will proudly represent the law library, as a panelist on “The Right to Read: Prison Libraries & Librarianship.”
Duquesne Kline Law Library Is a Center of Equity and Inclusion
Under the leadership of Dean April Barton, our Duquesne community-wide antiracism and inclusion work continued and expanded last year. This February, Duquesne Kline Law Library conceived, organized, produced, and promoted a well-received webinar, Building Belonging through Radical Empathy with the Office of Diversity Inclusion at Duquesne University.
This year, the community continues to use the reimagined a multicultural, diversity and inclusion space in the McGinnis Lab (Room 118), with help from local youth talent, CAPA high school seniors. Their art can be seen there, and outside the McGinnis Lab on the first floor.
Duquesne Kline Law Library Promotes Excellence in Teaching & Learning
Duquesne Kline Law Library faculty offer research sessions as needed to students, faculty and staff. This Fall, Duquesne Kline Law Library faculty will continue their popular course Research for Law Practice (RLP) taught by Professors Charles Sprowls and Kathleen (Katie) Lynch. This Fall, Professor Lynch will also co-teach a new asynchronous course, Law Office Technology. In the Spring, in addition to RLP, I will again offer the experiential seminar, Climate Change Law, Research & Writing.
Duquesne Kline Law Library Is at the Forefront of Scholarly Publication and Dissemination
The Duquesne Kline Law Library faculty works closely with the editorial board of the law school’s student-edited publications. In addition, the Duquesne Kline Law Library works with the Deans of Scholarship, and manages the law school’s SSRN e-Journal, as well as various digital libraries on Digital Commons.
Duquesne Kline Law Library as a Space of Well-Being
Our Wellness Program will continue highlighting Pittsburgh cultural heritage. Stop by the Research Desk between 4-6, Monday-Thursday and talk to our Duquesne Kline Law Research Librarian, Katie Lynch, about your research needs and inquire about our programs. Be ready to take our survey where you will learn more about us and also enlighten us how to better serve you.
Looking ahead, I want to extend my gratitude to each one of the Duquesne Kline Law Library Faculty and the Duquesne Kline Law Faculty and especially Dean Barton, as well to all of you, Duquesne Dukes, for the role you are playing in advancing our shared ambitions and moving us forward. As a result of your efforts, we can begin the year ahead with a sense of fulfillment. I look ahead with optimism.
~Dana