LIBRARY SUPPORT – FACULTY OF LAW UNIT REVIEW
October 2004
INTRODUCTION
The law collection supports the curricular, scholarly reading and research needs of the Faculty
of Law; the legal community (national and international); and non-law researchers (the
University community as well as the community-at-large).
Specifically, the collection supports the undergraduate curriculum by providing an extensive
collection of Reserve titles (monographs, looseleaf publications, and course materials provided
by individual instructors). This Reserve collection also provides introductory treatises for nonlaw users.
An extensive Reference collection supports the immediate reference and research needs of
students, faculty, and the legal community and non-law users. At its centre is the print collection
of the Canadian Abridgement, which is used primarily to provide access to citations of cases in
Canada. The Reference collection also contains print indexes to legal treatises (in journals and
monographs); dictionaries; encyclopedias; statutory finding aids (provincial, federal, and
international); legal forms; directories; treaty indexes; and other research aids.
The Faculty of Law benefits from the services of two professional librarians who are responsible
for the teaching and research needs of the faculty and students. A part-time librarian provides
reference services three afternoons per week. The role of the Head of the Library is both
administrative (planning; budgeting; faculty, library and university governance; supervision;
facilities and other infrastructure concerns) and professional (provision of reference service;
collections review, assessment and growth; participation in institutional, local and national
professional associations; research and contributions to academic interests in the field of
librarianship). The role of the Public Services Librarian focuses on the provision library
instruction and research methods for the Law Faculty as well as to interdisciplinary classes on
campus. Furthermore, the Public Service librarian supports the administrative work of the Head
Librarian by assuming responsibility for the evaluation and administration of an increasing
number of electronic resources and services. Finally, the Public Service Librarian maintains
reference desk schedules and the communication of new developments in reference sources
(print and electronic) to other reference staff. (The Law Library supports two half-time positions
dedicated to the provision of reference service).
The Circulation services of the Law Library, as at any branch library, provide for the circulation
of materials (regular and reserve materials) to all authorized university of Calgary users,
including alumni and members of the Alberta Bar Association. It also supports Inter-library
Loans (ILL) for the Faculty. The Faculty’s graduate students and “mooters” (student members of
the Faculty’s moot competition teams) are the most frequent users of these services (Law
Library Retreat Document, October, 1999). Thus, with the increase of the number of LL.M.
Students, the demand on these services will increase. Service hours for Circulation normally
extend to 10:00 p.m. during the term. Extended service is provided through the employment of
hourly-wage students, as well as full-time evening assistant.
The former “Micro-Lab”, previously supported by Alberta Law Foundation (ALF) grants is now
funded by the University’s Information Resources. It is equipped 20 pc’s, a data projector and a
Library Support – Law Unit Review
Page 2 of 15
screen. The room doubles as a computer resource site for all University students, as well as an
instruction room for library instruction.
Law students enjoy the use of student carrels. These are equipped with task lighting, lockable
desks and Ethernet connections for laptops. Whereas students are expected to provide their
own Ethernet cables, the Faculty provides for about 12 cables on an annual basis, which can be
borrowed from the Circulation desk. The Student Legal Society administers the assignment of
carrels. Second and Third year students are assured of a carrel, but with the growth of the
student body, first year carrels are assigned through a lottery system. It must be noted that the
Law Library falls short of standards at other Canadian Law Libraries. Most libraries have
implemented, or are preparing to implement wireless solutions for access to the Internet. One
library has purchased, through faculty funds, laptops that may be borrowed through Circulation
services.
In 1995, the Law Library Technical Services was moved out of the Law Library together with
support for acquisitions, cataloguing and serials check-in. Some technical services staff
(professional and non-professional) also provided reference support, and these functions were
lost. Currently, the Head Librarian or the Public Services Librarian handles collection issues
that arise which involve these acquisitions or processing. The responsibility for binding remains
at the Law Library (Operations Manager), due to the proximity of the collection to Circulation
services as well as the complexity of many statutory materials. Also, the Administrative
Assistant handles preliminary duplication checks for new materials, as well as order preparation.
The Head Librarian has taken a very strong role in the content development and appearance of
the Law Library’s web pages. The half-time Administrative Assistant is responsible for the
technical maintenance of these notable web pages.
Facilities also include offices assigned to groups of LL.M students; two workrooms for students
working on groups projects (these are heavily used by the mooters); general worktables; a
current periodicals mezzanine; lower-grade pc’s in public areas; an equipped microforms/audiovisual room; lower grade photocopiers. At present, the Library does not have a self-charging
debit card machine or a change machine for students needing to recharge their accounts for
printing or photocopying.
The Law Library is home to a very modest Special Collections Room. The collection consists of
a small collection of British and Canadian treatises, for the most part well preserved and
restored through ALF funding in the early 1990’s. Primarily Law students as well as History
students use the collection. Visits are infrequent (approximately three consultations per year). In
the past materials that have been access have been military history, international law, as well as
British legal treatises.
Since it’s founding in 1975, the Law Library has played a vital role in the Law School
programme. The Law Librarian was recognized as being both qualified and experienced in both
Library Science and the Law. At the time, “it is envisaged that the law Librarian will be a full-time
member of the Faculty of Law, with teaching responsibilities” as well as being a member of the
University Library professional compliment. (Proposed Policy Guidelines for the Operation and
Development of the Law Library at the University of Calgary, 1975, hereinafter, “Proposed
Policy, 1975). It is interesting to note that whereas other Canadian Law Libraries grant teaching
responsibilities to Head Librarians, the University of Calgary has failed to recognize the
teaching role of its Law Librarian in areas such as Legal Bibliography; Legal Process and
Legal Research Methods.
Library Support – Law Unit Review
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A quick survey of CALL Directors was conducted in September 2004. Here is a review of the
responses:
UBC (Sandra Wilkins)
Dalhousie (Ann Morrison)
McGill (John Hobbins
York (John Davis)
UWO (John Sadler)
UofA (Kathryn Arbuckle)
UofC (DonSanders/Mary
Hemmings, Acting)
Uof Toronto (Beatrice Tice)
UofOttawa (Stephen Park)
UNB (Anne Crocker)
Windsor (Paul Murphy)
Reports to University Library
Reports to Faculty
Reports to University Library
Reports to Faculty of Law
Reports to University Library (Budget) as well as Faculty
Reports to University Library
Reports to University Library
Reports to Faculty
Reports to Library
Reports to Library (per Collective Agreement); also reports
to Faculty (administrative)
Reports to Faculty
Also, at the time of it’s founding, it was proposed that the Law Library be structured according to
Law Library norms at other Canadian academic institutions (a Public Services that include
Reference, Circulation and ILL; a Technical Services that include “Acquisitions; Classifications
and Cataloguing”. (Proposed Policy, 1975). Whereas this remains the norm among academic
law libraries, the Technical Services were surrendered in 1995, contrary to the “total service”
ethos identified in 1975. Given the restraints of the 1990’s, however, this was considered an
effective cost containment option.
Finally, the first three years’ budget of the Law Library relied on funds generated by the “Calgary
Bar, the City of Calgary and the Province of Alberta”. (Proposed Policy, 1975). The University
and the Law Faculty provided additional funding. In terms of governance, there is no unanimity
among Canadian academic Law Libraries. Some Libraries report directly to their respective Law
Faculty; others report directly to the Library administrations of the university. In our case, the
Law Library reports to the Library administration (Information Resources). Again, a quick survey
of CALL Directors in September 2004 yielded the following from the respondents:
UBC (Sandra Wilkins)
McGill (John Hobbins)
York (John Davis)
UWO (John Sadler)
UofA (Kathryn Arbuckle)
UofC (Dan Sanders/Mary
Hemmings, Acting
Legal research handled by faculty; some grad instruction
Librarians teach library instruction; one is a designated
teacher within the faculty
Teaches “Intensive Legal research and Writing
Colleague teaches (Advanced Legal Research) ALR (20
students); John & colleague teach a section of ALR (fall &
spring); John works with law faculty to offer 1st year Legal
research skills; John also teaches Legal Bibliography at
UWO’s Library School
Provide library instruction to Law Faculty and other
university courses, as requested
Law Librarian and Public Services Librarian teach
sessions for 1st year and 3rd year research classes;
provide library instruction for interdisciplinary courses, as
requested
Library Support – Law Unit Review
Page 4 of 15
UofToronto (Beatrice Tice)
UofOttawa (Stephen Park)
UNB (Anne Crocker)
Windsor (Paul Murphy)
Beatrice Tice and Ted Tjaden teach – Ted also produces
valuable publications
Two librarians teach – plans to expand participation
N/A
Head Librarian teaches courses in legal research (year 2
& 3)
COLLECTION COVERAGE
Location of Collection
For the most part, the Law collection supports the undergraduate courses offered through the
Faculty of Law. The collection resides in the Law Library but also relies on government
publications located in the main library (MacKimmie Library) as well as collections in support of
legal research at the Business Library and the Medical Library.
Formats
The collections consist of print, microform, audiovisual and an increasing array of electronic
resources. In recent years, the availability of full-text electronic resources has replaced or
supplemented published microforms and looseleaf volumes. It is expected that wherever
possible, the Law Library will prefer to increase its collection through electronic full text
resources, and to rely less on microforms or looseleaf collections. Some Canadian law libraries
have taken an aggressive approach to replacing looseleaf publications. At the University of
Alberta, the librarian favours the purchase of Internet-available looseleafs, reasoning that it is
more cost effective in view of costs associated with acquisitions, filing, claiming and shelving.
This is in keeping with current library practice which recognizes that an electronic resource is
not a new format, but rather, it is a new source of information. (Miller, 2000, p. 665).
Collection Development
In developing the collection, selection tools used include electronic announcements and
approval slips from book vendors of forthcoming and recently published titles; vendors’ and
publishers’ websites and catalogues; reviews in key journals and review sources; subject
searches of catalogues such as WorldCat and other leading academic law Libraries; and faculty
consultation and recommendations. Recently, the Law Library began accepting shelf-ready titles
from the Yankee Book Peddler (YBP) approval plan in addition to using its collection
management software.
The responsibility of collection development work belongs with the Head Librarian. Some
responsibilities had been assigned to the Public Services Librarian. In recent years, however,
with the growth of electronic resources, the Public Services Librarian has had the responsibility
for analyzing the content and software interfaces of these products. Technological issues arising
from the loading and maintenance of these products have also fallen within the purview of the
Public Services Librarian.
In an environment of strategic collection growth, and in keeping with the Academic plan, the
traditional methods of collection development need to be reviewed with a view to broader
approval plans and a more reasoned approach to electronic ordering.
Library Support – Law Unit Review
Page 5 of 15
COLLECTION STATUS AND ASSESSMENT
Strengths
In 2001, the Head Librarian, in concert with the emerging Academic Plan, identified natural
resources and environmental law as an area of “emerging research performance” at the
University of Calgary. (Law Library Submission to Information Resources, April 2001). Given the
Faculty’s recognized excellence in the area (Canadian Institute of Resource Law and adjunct
faculty), it can be said that the Law Library has been collecting steadily in the area for 25 years.
The Academic Plan had also recognized that both accreditation requirements and core teaching
needs must be maintained and strengthened. To this end, the Head Librarian noted in 2003
(Law Library Scope Note) that the Law Library has consistently maintained collections to
respond to the factors that make up the common law system:
a) the importance of primary materials (legislation and judicial decisions)
b) the doctrine of judicial precedent
c) the importance of jurisdiction
d) the importance of secondary sources (legal treatises)
e) the effect of globalization on local law
Furthermore, in addition to supporting the pedagogical needs of the Law School, collection
development took into account the interdisciplinary needs of the University as well as
associated law institutes:
Alberta Civil Liberties Centre
Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family
Finally, the Law Library has played a central role in the planning and development of the
digitization of retrospective Alberta legislation as part of the Alberta Heritage Digitization Project.
To date, Statutes (to 1990); Bills (1950-1990) appear on the website. Scanned and ready to
appear on the website shortly are: Bills (1906-1949) and Gazettes (1905-1993). The Editorial
Board has ambitious plans for the digitization of municipal bylaws in the future.
Exclusions:
The Law Library has followed a reasoned philosophy of exclusions. Subjects not actively
collected include: criminology, penology, military law, law office management, justice system
statistics, and popular press law books. Books from non-common law countries are acquired
only if they are notable descriptions of local legal systems. Primary materials for common law
countries are no longer acquired (since the cuts of the 1990’s). Only selected titles from the
United States and England are consistently maintained as continuation orders.
Collaboration
A joint application between UofA and UofC allowed for the purchase of 19th century legal
treatises on microfiche. The collection is held jointly at the “BARD” (a collection repository).
Nearly 15,000 titles are catalogued and available through the UofC’s catalogue. As of
September 2004 (per telephone conversation with the Head Librarian, UofA), the UofA relies on
UofC catalogue records for access to this collection because of technical problems with their
computing services. The UofA and the UofC are currently considering the acquisition of an
electronic (full-text) product that will enhance and supplement the 19th Century treatises; and will
provide full-text access to 18th century treatises.
Library Support – Law Unit Review
Page 6 of 15
The Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL) is a small, yet vibrant association. The
annual conference provides an opportunity for up to 400 members to gather and share
information among academic, legislative and law firm libraries. The Association offers research
grants to librarians to work individually or collaboratively. The Academic Law Libraries Group
has in the past actively supported the work of the indexing of Canadian law journal in the Index
to Canadian Legal Periodicals. The Academic Law Directors meet annually, and support each
other’s work through a small and active listserv. The Head Librarian plays a role in all of these
activities by contributing to and benefiting from this dialogue.
Funding
The following illustrates the distribution of monograph funding by broad subject category. This
table represents
a) LAW titles purchased by all Library funds (law included). The increase between 2002
and 2003 represents additional funding for academic “pillars”, notably in the area of
natural resources and environmental law.
b) Social Science; Science; Arts and Humanities represents titles purchased in those areas
purchased by Law funds
Law Expenditures by Subject
Subject Areas
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
LAW
$63,471.80
$44,846.71
$58,055.98
$74,760.50
$103,857.36
$344,992.35
Social Science
$6,463.64
$1,468.09
$3,277.66
$1,319.28
$2,184.27
$14,712.94
Science
$1,334.56
$533.65
$475.18
$628.62
$229.45
$3,201.46
Arts &
Humanities
$246.13
$52.25
$230.66
$279.34
$808.38
Grand Total
$71,516.13
$46,900.70
$76,939.06
$106,550.42
$363,715.13
$61,808.82
Grand Total
Environmental Law
The following illustrates the allocation of monograph funds by subject area within law. The table
represents a subject approach to monograph titles purchased by Law, as well as other library
funds:
Law: Expenditures by Departmental Specialties
Selective Subjects*
K3476-86 Conservation
K3496-99 Water Resources
1999
2001
2002
$38.43
$385.06
$115.84
$539.33
$179.26
$41.51
$114.79
$335.56
K3514-25 Public Lands
$89.52
K3581-97 Environment
$3,061.62
K3884 Forestry
$164.65
K3904-18 Mining/Petroleum
$527.12
K3981-92 Public Utilities
2000
$1,513.33
$1,976.77
2003
Grand
Total
$127.13
$371.74
$588.39
$2,734.35
$3,519.16
$12,805.23
$1,160.93
$548.92
$2,522.41
$113.54
$113.54
$164.65
$285.44
Library Support – Law Unit Review
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K955 Environmental Damages
$258.93
KF5551-90 Water Resources
$149.14
$97.90
$131.62
$378.66
KF1298-99 Environmental Damages
$465.85
$50.63
$56.43
$572.91
KF1686 Conservation
$1,133.34
$1,392.27
$9.50
$9.50
KF1750-73 Forestry
$71.06
$24.95
$96.01
KF1801-1849 Mining/Petroleum
$78.40
$137.11
$175.27
$600.45
$991.23
KF2076-2140 Public Utilities
$65.54
$288.52
$99.05
$137.14
$590.25
KF2398 Pipelines
$1.00
KF3775-3816 Environment
$2,141.35
KF6481-82 Taxation
$556.10
$514.99
$46.59
Grand Total
$7,275.90
$1.00
$1,171.55
$1,271.46
$5,655.45
$3.00
$2,354.87
$3,492.49
$49.59
$6,907.31
$6,775.41
$26,805.98
Monographs
The following table illustrates that the Law Library consistently purchases about 50% of
available law monographs. The statistical analysis relies on a report from the Yankee Book
Peddler (YBP) and represents North American and British monographs published within the
given year:
LAW: Titles Published/Purchased Comparison
1999
University of Calgary # of Titles
Purchased
YBP: # of Titles Published
Percentage of Titles
Purchased
2000
2001
2002
Average
663
478
559
807
627
1229
1261
1382
1653
1381
54
38
40
49
45
This table represents a proportional analysis of monographs purchased in contrast to new
monograph titles commercially available. A 45% proportion is less than ideal. An ideal
proportion would be 75%.
Statistics available from ARL (Association of Research Libraries) suggest the following norms
for monograph purchases (UofC has applied for membership to ARL in 2004):
(Association of Research Libraries, Academic Law Library Statistics, 2000-2001,
www.arl.org.stats/lawmed)
The median annual acquisition rate is 1601 titles. The “low” rate is considered to be 556.
UofC is clearly in the “low” range according to ARL norms.
UofC
UofA
McGill
Montreal
Sask.
UofToronto
York
559
3167
2784
1224
858
1431
12,644
Library Support – Law Unit Review
Page 8 of 15
Journals
The most important indexing tool for Canadian law journals is the Index to Canadian Legal
Literature (ICLL). The law Library has conducted its own review of the titles indexed by ICLL
and subscribed to by the UofC:
118 journals were indexed in ICLL from January 12, 2004 - August 23, 2004
89 of these journals are in our collections either in print or online
29 journals are not in our collections
75.4% of the journals indexed in ICLL for 2004 are in our collections.
24.58% of the journals are not in our collections
The following titles are not currently received at the Law Library:
British Columbia Tax Conference
Cdn Tax Foundation - we have 1990-99
Canadian Cases on Pensions & Benefits
Carswell
Canadian Corporate Counsel
Canada Law Book
Canadian franchise Review
Lexisnexis Canada
Commercial Litigation Review
LexisNexis
Compensation and Benefits Update
Carswell
Condobusiness
Shelter Publications
Construction Law Letter
Build/Law Letter
Digest of Municipal & Planning Law
Carswell
Directions: Executive Briefings
Financial Services Institute
Employment Bulletin
Canada Law Book
Estey Centre Journal of International Law & Trade Policy
Information & Technology Law
Carswell
Innovate Magazine
U of T faculty of Law
Interaction
Network:Interaction/Conflict Resolution
Journal of Business Valuation
Carswell
Journal of the Church Law Assoc. of Canada
Carswell
Legal Alert
Carswell
Legal Research Update
Legal Research Network
Money & Family Law
Carswell
Municipal World
Municipal World
National Banking Law Review
Butterworths
National Creditor/Debtor Review
Butterworths
National Insolvency Review
Butterworths
Ontario Tax Conference
Cdn Tax Foundation
Society Record
N.S. Barristers' Society
Solicitors' Journal
Cdn. Bar Assoc.
Taxation of Executive Compensation/Retirement
Federated Press
Workplace News
Canada Law Book
Ideally, the UofC law Library should subscibe to all 29 titles in order to achieve a comprehensive
Canadian coverage. (Approximately $6000 per annum)
Library Support – Law Unit Review
Page 9 of 15
Similarly,
A sample of 49 scholarly, law journals published in Canada was derived from Ulrichsweb.com,
the largest union list of periodicals.
Have
Electronic
Embargo
No
Print
Grand
Total
Total
Electronic
18%
9
3
6
31
49
Embargo
6%
No
Print
12%
The Library provides access to 42 or
64%
86% of these titles, although 3 are only
available as embargoed titles. This
sampling provides support to the Law
Library’s own ICLL review which found
that only 75.4% of Canadian titles are represented in our collection. This is because Ulrich’s
does not always cover “grey” or esoteric publishers.
This same sample was tested, again using Ulrichsweb.com, against a peer group of 9
institutions with FTE of over 20,000. These institutions are a mix of US and Canadian includes
5 doctoral level and 4 undergraduate schools. Unfortunately, there was no data to indicate how
many of the 9 had law schools.
Subscriptions
Total commitment for journals, standing orders, and global subscriptions.
$
Law - General
Law Electronic Resources
Law Source Materials
Law Journals
#
116,789
1,669
326
2
246,462
286
63,239
455
428,159
1069
Law Journals published in the United States or United Kingdom
A sample of 389 scholarly, English language law journals published in the United States or
United Kingdom was derived from Ulrichsweb.com, the largest union list of periodicals.
Library Support – Law Unit Review
Page 10 of 15
(“Embargo” refers to journals available electronically, subject to an embargo waiting period for
licensing purposes. Embargo periods typically run from 6 to 12 months for new issues.)
Total
Calgary
Number
Embargo
33
No
141
Print Only
Embargo
8%
34
Yes
181
Grand Total
389
Peer
Peer
Calgary
Embargo
No Libraries
68
8
7
1
48
4
15
2
52
6
16
3
51
9
20
4
52
4
45
5
8
0
6
6
40
1
38
7
40
1
38
8
13
0
13
9
17
0
17
Grand Total
321
32
215
Electronic
47%
Calgary
No
36%
Print Only
9%
The library provides access to 248, or 64% of the journals tested. However, 33 of these titles
have an embargo period, meaning the electronic access is delayed by 6 months to a year. This
means the Library provides current access to 215, or 55 % of the journals sampled.
This same sample was tested, again using Ulrichsweb.com, against a peer group of 9
institutions with FTE of over 20,000. These institutions are a mix of US and Canadian includes
5 doctoral level and 4 undergraduate schools. Unfortunately, there was no data to indicate how
many of the 9 had law schools.
The peer institutions held a total of 321, or 83% of the sample titles.
The following is a detailed report of the print/electronic titles represented in this study:
Number of
Libraries
No Libraries
Peer
Calgary
Calgary Embargo
3
1
0
1
4
3
1
2
9
3
2
3
9
9
0
4
20
20
0
5
2
2
0
6
1
1
0
7
1
1
0
Grand Total
46
40
3
Library Support – Law Unit Review
Page 11 of 15
SERVICES
Instruction
To illustrate recent instruction activities, a recent report to Information Resources Council
(March 2004), the first quarter of 2004 logged the following instruction sessions:
Library Instruction in support of Law 405 (Legal Research and Communication)
26 individual instruction sessions were given by the Public Services Librarian and the
Acting Head Librarian. Topics covered were:
Introduction to Legal Research
Canadian Abridgement and CED Western
Quicklaw and Lexis/Nexis: Noting Up
WestlaweCarswell: Judicial consideration
Wrap-Up
Sessions ranged from 30 to 75 minutes each, and accommodated an average of 12 firstyear students per session.
A session on Internet Legal Resources was done for Law 607 (Advanced Legal
Research) by the Public Services Librarian. Approximately 40 students were present.
In addition to Law courses (Legal Research and Communication and Advanced Legal
Research), the Public Services Librarian and the Acting Head have also provided library
instruction for legal resources in courses for Canadian Studies, Engineering, Law and Society,
and Business in the past 12 months.
Reference
The following report was provided to Information resources Council in March 2004:

Reference statistics are kept at the reference desk. The kind of statistics recorded by
liaison librarians at MacKimmie (noted as in-depth, or consultation) are included in the
desk count.

Statistics for reference questions answered:
November
394
December
252
January
537
(these numbers do not include directional questions)

Ratios between on-campus users and off-campus users have remained much the same
in the last 10 years:
For 1993-94, 57% were on-campus users and 43% were community users
For 2003-04, 60% were on campus users and 40% were community users
Staffing of the reference desk is problematic. For example, last week, the reference assistant
was stranded in an airport after a brief vacation. The Public Services Librarian was required to
provide a full day of reference duty (closing services over the lunch hour) while the Acting Head
attended to half-time duties on behalf of the English Department. In October 2004, both the
contract Public Services Librarian and the part-time reference support librarian were
unavailable. The Acting Head and the half-time reference assistant assumed responsibility for
Library Support – Law Unit Review
Page 12 of 15
40 hours weekly of reference duty. Administrative and collection responsibilities were
compromised.
Comparison to other Law Libraries
Comparison to Other Law Libraries
The following analysis provides a comparison of UofC Law Library in relation to other Canadian
Libraries:
Collection Data 2002 – 2003
Library
Alberta
Calgary
Dalhousie
Laval
Manitoba
McGill
Moncton
Montreal
Ottawa
Queen's
Saskatchewan
Sherbrooke
Toronto
UBC
UNB
UQAM
UWO
Victoria
Windsor
York
(1) Refers to volumes as physical items.
(2) Refers to volume equivalents.
Library
Alberta
Calgary
Dalhousie
Laval
Manitoba
McGill
Moncton
Montreal
Ottawa
Queen's
Saskatchewan
Sherbrooke
Toronto
UBC
UNB
UQAM
UWO
Victoria
Windsor
York
Print
Serials
Monographs
110,476
56,763
107,405
Staffing
(Including
Benefits)
586,484
378,912
662,670
444,973
Microforms
Total
162,506
101,347
99,455
272,982
158,110
206,860
127,981
40,326
69,895
38,956
89,093
84,944
87,532
123,900
315,443 incl. gov. pubs
20,162
41,052
103,809
97,561
201,370
79,407
157,010
18,412
197,581
55,742
Monographs
299,200
44,846
45,916
39,669
84,229
123,898
22,447
66,730
112,921
179,651
179,866
297,819
152,176
Expenditures ($) 2002-2003
Collections
Electronic
Continuations
Binding
Doc.
966,990
n/a
11,417
361,774
1,398
10,055
492,333
18,483
17,218
Total
1,266,190
408,018
573,950
Other
Expenditures
n/a
5,960
82,604
Total
1,864,091
792,890
1,319,224
36,477
398,000
529,329
515,544
13,560
50,000
10,000
13,000
579,366
976,544
1,024,339
695,462
(excl.
benefits)
111,656
684,861
included
16,069
812,586
1,508,048
467,963
101,298
654,649
7,842
6,100
769,889
5,000
1,242,852
931,130
143,358
586,428
137,248
17,368
884,402
171,637
1,987,169
493,632
30,788
232,688
30,994
6,644
301,114
93,952
888,698
480,495
596,334
81,353
47,529
471,501
475,679
35,000
35,127
18,000
15,556
605,854
573,891
64,731
1,086,349
1,234,956
Library Support – Law Unit Review
Page 13 of 15
People 2002-2003
Staff (FTE)
Library
Alberta
Calgary
Dalhousie
Laval
Manitoba
McGill
Moncton
Montreal
Ottawa
Queen’s
Saskatchewa
n
Sherbrooke
Toronto
UBC
UNB
UQAM
UWO
Victoria
Windsor
York
Hours
per year
per FTE
1,820
1,820
varies
Librarians
Full
time
Casual
Other Staff
Members
Full
Casual
time
Faculty Members
Full
time
Students
Casual
Undergrads
Grads
Others
3.5
2
5
0
0.2
10.6
5
7.6
0.8
1.04
4
27
18
37
62
25
47
509
221
467
21
13
23
5
2
3
5
0
5.5
7
1.5
1
22
45
2
16
272
477
6
141
4
6
1
9
6
62
76
891
321
1,820
4
3
6.5
0.82
18
22
307
8
0
1,863
7.0
6.6
3.5
56
64
520
80
0
1,885
3
0
4.55
2.68
19
7
240
1,680
3
1
6
1
0.75
6.0
8.5
1
3.5
28
35
10
23
321
534
0
10
0
Schedule
Library
Alberta
Calgary
Dalhousie
Laval
Manitoba
McGill
Academic Year
M/Th:0800-2200 F:0800-1800 Sa:11001800 Su:1100-2200
M/Th:0800-2200 F:0800-1800 Sa:10001800 Su:1000-2000
M/Th:0800-2245 F:0800-2100 Sa:09001800 Su:1100-2245
Exam Period
M/F:0800-2200 Sa/Su:1100-2200
Summer
M/Th:0800-1800 F:0800-1700
M/Th:0800-2200 F:0800-2100 Sa:10002100 Su:1000-2100
M/Th:0800-2245 F:0800-2100 Sa:09002400 Su:1100-2400
M/F:0830-1630
M/Th:0830-2100 F:0830-1700
Sa/Su:1300-1700
M/Th:0900-2200 F:0900-2000 Sa:12002000 Su:1000-1700
M/Th:0830-2100 F:0830-1700
Sa/Su:1300-2100
M/F:0900-2400 Sa:1000-2400 Su:10002200
M/Th:0830-2300 F:0830-2100
Sa/Su:1000-1900
M/Th:0830-2300 F:0830-2100
Sa/Su:1000-2100
M/F:0830-1700
M/Th:0800-2300 F:0800-1700 Sa:10001700 Su:1300-2200
M/Th:0800-2300 F:0800-2100 Sa:10001700 Su:1300-2200
M/Th:0800-1630 F:0800-1600
M/Th:0845-2300 F:0845-2000
Sa/Su:1000-2000
M/F:0845-2400 Sa/Su:1000-2400
M/F:0845-1700 (May-June)
0845-1630 (July-August)
M/Th:0800-2200 F:0800-1700 Sa:10001800 Su:1200-2200
M/Th:0800-2300 F:0800-1700 Sa:09001800 Su:1200-2300
M/F:0800-1600
M/Th:0830-2200 F:0830-1800
Sa/Su:1000-1700
M/Th:0830-2200 F:0830-1800
Sa/Su:1000-2200
M/F:0830-1800 Sa/Su:12001700
M/Tu:0830-1630 W:0830-2000
Th/F:0830-1630
M/F:0830-1700
M/F:0900-1800 (closed Fridays
July-Aug.
Moncton
Montreal
Ottawa
Queen's
Saskatchewan
Sherbrooke
Toronto
UBC
UNB
UQAM
UWO
Victoria
Windsor
York
(1) Varies over the term
Library Support – Law Unit Review
Page 14 of 15
SUMMARY
Collections
UofC Library appears to be moderately funded for current collections in support of basic
undergraduate pedagogy. Budget cuts of the 1990’s caused the cessation of continuing orders
for legislative and judicial material from common law countries. Electronic access to many of
these “lost” resources is available, however, funding has not been re-instated for these
resources (eg. Australian Current Law (Butterworths); Australian Digest (Lawbook Online))
Increases to the collections budgets from Differential Fees have not yet been realized to support
the enhanced needs of graduate undergraduate programmes or to natural resources and
environment al law.
In order to achieve a comprehensive journal collection, 29 new serial titles are required
(Approximately $6000 per annum). Monograph expenditures fall well below Canadian norms.
Currently, the UofC spends $40,000 per year for monographs. This is already a substantial
reduction (in both buying power, as well as the actual sum). In 2002-2003, the University of
Toronto spent $143,000 on monographs. To match this rate, we need an additional $103,000
per annum for monograph acquisitions. This does not include an annual inflationary rate of
approximately 10%. Additional funding for electronic resources at a rate of $20,000 per annum
is recommended.
Staff
Professional librarian staffing is the lowest among Canadian law libraries (with the exception of
Windsor which relies on a higher compliment of support staff). In view of differential fees and
rising expectations of law education in Canada, this shortage is even more acute. With strategic
planning focusing on increasing graduate education, specifically in specialized areas, the
shortage can only be characterized as critical. Similarly, support staff levels are also deficient,
sliding into “critical” given future plans.
Instruction
Professional staff is keeping pace with the provision of library instruction to both Law Students
and non-Law students. However, a limited compliment of professional staff limits any increase in
provision of instruction
Facilities
Facilities appear to be adequate. Unlike older academic law libraries, the Law Library has
sufficient expansion room for anticipated increased monograph collections in support of the
Faculty’s identified area of specialization: natural resources and environmental law. Areas of
identified deficiency are: the lack of wireless internet support; lack of workrooms for student
projects and moot teams; lack of graduate student workrooms
Innovation
Whereas UofC Law Library appears to have seized digitization initiatives, it lacks for wireless
facilities; classroom instruction support; laptop lending; videoconferencing; and automated cash
management for student printing. Innovation is largely dependant on a strong compliment of
Library Support – Law Unit Review
Page 15 of 15
professional and support staff, charged with the task of seeking “ways and means” that support
innovative initiatives.
Sources:
Association of Research Libraries, Academic Law Library Statistics, 2000-2001,
www.arl.org.stats/lawmed
Miller, Ruth H., “Electronic Resources and Academic Libraries, 1980-2000: A Historical
Perspective”, Library Trends, v. 48, no. 4, p. 645-670
University of Calgary, Law Library Retreat Document, October, 1999
University of Calgary, Law Library Scope Note, June 19, 2003
University of Calgary, Law Library Submission to Information resources Council, April 2001
University of Calgary, Proposed Policy Guidelines for the Operation and Development of the
Law Library at the University of Calgary, 1975
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Hemmings
Acting Head, Law Library
University of Calgary
October 2004