Beth Adelman is Associate Director and Head of Collection Management at the University at Buffalo Law Library. Before joining the University at Buffalo, Beth was employed at the Georgia State University College of Law Library for five years, first, as a Reference Librarian and, later, as Head of Public Services. Beth’s prior professional library experience includes Research Librarian at the Atlanta law firm, King & Spalding, Reference Services Librarian at Schenectady County Community College (New York), and Data Librarian and Webmaster for the Center for Social and Demographic Analysis (University at Albany).
Beth has taught Legal Bibliography and is planning to co-teach an online Advanced Legal Research course in the fall. She is the co-author of Georgia Legal Research and is currently working on another book, New York Legal Research. In addition, Beth has authored articles, book reviews, and CALI Lessons.
Beth is an active member of professional library associations. She is currently a member of the AALL Mentoring Committee and will serve as chair of the CONELL Committee next year. Beth is also a member of the ALL-SIS CALI Committee and has been a member of the CALI Editorial Board since 2004. Beth served, first, as a member and, later, as chair of the SEAALL Scholarship Committee.
Beth holds three degrees. She earned her B.A. in History (1992) and her M.L.S. (1993) from the University at Buffalo, and her J.D. from Albany Law School (2001) where she was a Sandman Fellow and member of the Albany Law Review.
Academic libraries are in a constant state of change. From budget cuts and new technology to construction projects, we are in an uphill battle to provide our patrons with good library services. There are at least three long-term agendas that ALL-SIS can provide for our members to address such challenges. First, as new members enter the profession, ALL-SIS can provide more support through mentoring. Not only will we benefit from mentoring our future leaders, we will also glean fresh perspectives to persistent challenges unique to academic libraries. Second, the Special Interest Section can be strengthened by expanding its membership to include all academic librarians. Third, we must encourage continued dialogue among our members. The better job we do listening to each other and learning from one another’s experiences with our changing environments, the better off we will be as individual librarians, but also as a collective pursuing excellence. It would be an honor to chair the Academic Law Libraries Special Interest Section.
