Laura Moorer

LAURA DISCUSSES HOW SHE GOT INTO LAW LIBRARIANSHIP & WHY SHE JOINED AALL

Laura Moorer is the solo law librarian at the DC Court of Appeals in Washington, DC.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO LAW LIBRARIANSHIP?

After practicing law for a few years, I realized my passion was actually helping people find the information they needed, not actually going to Court. My first job as a law librarian was as the solo librarian for the Public Defender Service for DC, and I am currently the solo law librarian for the DC Court of Appeals.

WHY DID YOU JOIN AALL?

My family recently moved from DC to California and my employer is allowing me to maintain my job in a hybrid capacity. I work remotely most of the year and return every few months to update the library’s physical collection and to hold law clerk trainings. With this move, I wanted to make sure I had a professional support network in California and DC, so I decided to join AALL again.

WHY DO YOU STAY A MEMBER?

I stay a member for the amazing resources and professional contacts! The Government Law Library Special Interest Section (GLL-SIS) has been incredibly helpful to me during my transition to the West coast, as well as the daily emails and links to new resources and programs. These tools have been key in my role as a solo librarian. The articles sent around are so helpful to me when I am trying to come up with content for my monthly newsletter.

WHAT ONE MEMBER BENEFIT IS MOST VALUABLE TO YOU?

Being a member of the GLL-SIS. The members have been so welcoming and “seeing” how other members are handling the COVID pandemic, and how we come out of it has been immensely helpful.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY ASSOCIATED WITH AALL?

As a fairly new member, it was seeing a law school classmate, Clanitra Stewart Nejdl, hosting a program on a new book she has written. I was so excited to see another law librarian sharing her amazing experiences with the profession.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING OUTSIDE OF WORK?

I love to read, knit, and go on hikes. My husband is a park ranger at Pinnacles National Park (which prompted our move) and we love visiting National Parks. I love finding new ways to share my love of librarianship and DC history with others, which prompted me to create Libby, a kik-step in my library, and her Instagram account, @dccalibby. The clerks love her!

WHAT BOOK(S) ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I am a huge fan of the Outlander Series, but I am currently reading News of the World by Paulette Jiles. I just finished up The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL/VACATION DESTINATION?

The beach to read as many books as possible, and in the fall, a nice, cozy cabin (again to read by the fire).