After 6½ years working as a librarian at the Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Northern Kentucky University, I accepted a position as law clerk for a United States District Court Judge. This was a tough decision to make and I consulted several colleagues, both law librarians and law faculty. The consensus was that I could not pass up the opportunity to serve as a federal law clerk, and that upon completion of the clerkship I would be a more attractive candidate for an Associate Director’s position or some other management position. I took the position and I do not regret one second of my clerkship. I am without a doubt a better librarian because of it.
But, due to personal family issues, I could not relocate after the completion of my clerkship. My job search ultimately was restricted to the Cincinnati/Dayton Ohio region. With no academic library jobs available at that time, I took a position as an associate at a mid-size Dayton, Ohio law firm. Six ½ years as an academic law librarian and 2 years as a federal law clerk prepared me for the intellectual rigors of a first-year associate. But, I was not prepared for the rigors of billing 2,100 hours a year.
This story doesn’t need to be long; because, I’m sure all of you know what the ending is. Each of you reading this piece knows that you work in the best profession in the world. The profession provides each of us an opportunity to pursue intellectual pursuits, while simultaneously helping people - whether law students, faculty, or the general public. There is such camaraderie in the law library profession. At seven straight Annual Meetings, I never met another law librarian I didn’t like. Daily I miss the profession and all the friends I met along the way.
With my personal circumstances changed, I can remove my “gone fishin’” sign. What I’ve learned is that sometimes it’s better to simply stay put. But, life is about taking chances. And, if the outcome isn’t what you expected you can only take another chance. Why this story? Because I want to remind each of you how fortunate you are to be a part of the wonderful profession of law librarianship. Take it from someone who loved it, left it, and now knows there is nothing better.
I’ve run out of time - it is, after all, money . . .