AALL Virtual Coffee Chat: People Powered Patron Services: Staffing & Training Approaches Across Law Libraries Monday, July 13, 2026 (1pm - 1:45pm US/Central)

Effective staffing and training models are more important than ever as law libraries balance rising service expectations with limited resources. Join us for practical, solutions-focused conversation on innovative approaches to supervising student workers. interns, circulation assistants, and other frontline staff. We'll explore emerging trends, share adaptable best practices, and highlight creative strategies that law libraries of all types - academic, court, firm, government, and special - can use to strengthen service quality, reduce workflow friction, and build resilient user-facing teams.

This session is ideal for anyone responsible for patron-facing services in any type of law library. Librarians, supervisors, and staff who oversee circulation, service desks, space management, or frontline support will gain practical strategies they can adapt to their won staffing models, whether they work with student assistants, interns, clerks, part-time employees, or small dedicated teams. Attendees looking to strengthen workflows, improve training practices, or enhance the overall patron experience will find this session especially valuable.

Please note: AALL virtual coffee chats are not recorded and registration is open to AALL members only.

COORDINATOR:

AnnaKatherine Wherren, University of Colorado Law School

MODERATORS:

Christina Jurusik, University of Mississippi School of Law
Emma Kearney, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law