Liz Graham

LIZ SHARES HER FAVORITE AALL MEMORY & WHAT SHE FINDS MOST VALUABLE AS A MEMBER

Liz Graham is the executive director of the Thurgood Marshall Law Library at the University of Maryland, Francis King Carey School of Law.

HOW DID YOU GET INTERESTED IN LAW LIBRARIANSHIP?

While I knew early on that I wanted to be a lawyer, I had no idea librarianship was a career option. It wasn’t until I attended UCLA and needed a job that I ended up working in the library. This decision ended up becoming one of the most life-altering decisions I have made and set me on a professional trajectory I couldn’t have imagined at that time.

WHY DID YOU JOIN AALL?

I joined at the encouragement of my employer—they may have even paid for my membership automatically—and they encouraged me to take advantage of the professional development and networking opportunities it facilitates for me.

WHY DO YOU STAY A MEMBER?

Aside from the fact that I’m fortunate to have an employer that continues to value and subsidize membership, I have continued to find meaningful opportunities to learn and engage. As a former chapter president, I appreciate the benefits we can offer at the local level, but the benefits through a national association are necessarily amplified.

WHAT ONE MEMBER BENEFIT IS MOST VALUABLE TO YOU?

The members will always be AALL’s greatest benefit—whether it’s through networking, professional development opportunities, and/or asking difficult questions that ensure the Association continues to grow and evolve proactively.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY ASSOCIATED WITH AALL?

At the 2017 Annual Meeting in Austin, I was in a technical services roundtable program where I had just met some really amazing colleagues discussing library system migrations. As we all rushed to our next program, one of those colleagues took the time to painstakingly map out really helpful information in anticipation of the migration I was about to embark on with my library. It was a quintessential example of how helpful and generous our community is with their time and wisdom.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING OUTSIDE OF WORK?

Baking! At the beginning of the pandemic, I jumped on the sourdough train and have managed to keep my starter alive for almost three years.

WHAT BOOK(S) ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I’m a third-year evening JD student, so my capacity for reading is mostly limited to what my professors assign. Right now, it’s Experiencing Business Organizations by Michael A. Chasalow. It’s kind of fun . . . for a casebook. I frequently visit my neighborhood bookstore (Charm City Books!), and when I have the time I indulge in fantasy fiction. One book that I am hoping to read next is Legends and Lattes, which is about a retired warrior orc who has hung up her sword and opened up a coffee shop.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL/VACATION DESTINATION?

There are so many to pick from, but the one that comes to mind right now is Cape Town, South Africa. The food, the beaches, the mountains, the art, the penguins, the wine—I loved it all!