Target Audience: Academic law library directors and other administrators; all academic law librarians
Learning Outcomes:
1. Participants will learn about changes in the American Bar Association Standards for Approval of Law Schools that directly affect their jobs and their libraries.
2. Participants will be able to evaluate their libraries' policies and practices in light of the new standards.
During 2009-2011, the American Bar Association reviewed and is now revising its Standards for Approval of Law Schools and the accompanying Interpretations, the law school "accreditation standards." Significant changes have been proposed for law libraries and for educational outcomes, including legal research education. The recommended changes are soon to be finalized and sent for approval. Academic law librarians must understand the Standards and their implication for management of the law school library, especially as their law school approaches its sabbatical accreditation visit. In this program, two ABA committee members involved in the formulation of the recommended Standards revisions will describe the changes made to the law library standards and the proposals for outcomes measurement, and will then answer questions about the intended application of the new standards. Participants will be expected to have read the new Standards in advance of the program to allow maximum time for questions.