David McClure
What is one of the things you enjoy most as a law librarian?
There are many things I enjoy, but one of my favorite things is supervising the Law Library’s student research assistant program. I am grateful for the opportunity to share legal research methods and introduce students to new databases and research tools as they assist librarians on research projects for law faculty. Our law faculty members are always working on important and interesting scholarship that presents unique research challenges. Working through the various stages of a research project and seeing students develop and improve their research skills along the way is very rewarding.
What’s the most important service activity you are working on right now?
I am currently serving as the President of the Western Pacific Chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries (WestPac). The WestPac region covers Alaska, California, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, the U.S. Pacific Territories, and the provinces of Western Canada, and includes members associated with many different types of law libraries, including academic, federal, state, county, court, and law firm libraries. All of our meetings and educational programs have been held virtually over the past year, but we still have had great opportunities to share experiences and lessons with each other that have helped encourage and support members and their associated libraries.
What have you read, listened to, or watched recently that has influenced you or your work?
Tim Harford’s book Messy is one of the most interesting books I’ve read in recent years. It describes many examples where an unintentionally or intentionally messy situation ended with a very positive result. This past year certainly could qualify as unintentionally messy in many ways. The stories in Messy remind me to keep my eyes open for unexpected opportunities to improve and learn in every circumstance.