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Getting to Know You: Deborah Schander... By Margot McLaren
Deborah Schander is originally from Mohnton, Pennsylvania. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Columbia Union College in Tacoma Park, Maryland (2003), and both her MLIS and J.D. from Florida State University (2007).
When I asked her what made her pursue a career in law librarianship, and who was her source of inspiration or mentor, she replied: I had a great law library internship at Georgia State University. I really credit Nancy Johnson and her staff with helping me figure out what actually goes on in a law library, our profession in general and how I can contribute to both. I am a behind -the-scenes person, and I knew I did not want the life of a firm lawyer, so I started looking into alternative career paths. Florida State offers a joint JD/MLIS program that I could complete in three years, so I applied after my first year of law school. I like the variety law librarianship offers. I can keep current on a lot of legal topics, not to mention do everything from teaching to designing brochures.
While at Florida State University, Deborah has held a number of interesting positions. She served as a research assistant, as student coordinator for FSU Law at Oxford Program, and as a law library intern at Georgia State University. In addition, Deborah was program associate/ webmaster for The Muse Machine (a student arts organization) in Dayton, Ohio.
Deborah left Florida in 2008 for sunny southern California to secure a position as reference and electronic services librarian at the University of LaVerne College of Law Library. Her responsibilities include assisting students and the public and teaching.
When asked what she considers the most challenging aspect of her current position, she said: I would probably have to say answering reference questions. Even if I’ve successfully answered a dozen questions in a row, I still have moments of “What are they going to ask next? Will I be able to answer it?” The confidence comes with time and with knowing you’ve helped a lot of people already; but I do not know if the feeling ever quite goes away.
Deborah keeps active in her profession by participating in AALL and its SIS Committees-RIPS, FCIL, and CS (Communications Committee), and in SCALL.
When not immersed in professional activities, she loves visiting different parts of the United States and other countries of the world. She does not feel tied to one location, having moved several times for school and work. In fact, she added, I chose my law school sight unseen and wound up being somewhere that was a perfect fit for me. Every move is a new adventure.
Although Deborah enjoys the variety of working in law libraries, she plans to specialize in FCIL and IP law-- which she finds endlessly fascinating--and publish some scholarly pieces. Some day, she plans to live abroad and work in a foreign law library. Deborah seeks to become a great law librarian, and to garner the respect of her colleagues.
Margot McLaren is Serials/Government Documents Librarian at Whittier Law School Library in Costa Mesa. She is currently a SCALL Board Member.
