Ryan Metheny
Director, Reference & Collections
LA Law Library
Los Angeles, California
Ryan MethenyWHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE TO CAREER IN LAW LIBRARIANSHIP?
After practicing law for a few years, I discovered which parts of the job I liked鈥攕ervice, teaching and presenting, research鈥攁nd which parts I did not, namely, everything else about being a lawyer. When I eventually ran across a job posting for a reference librarian position at a law library, I instantly knew the career for me, and there was no turning back.
WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO BECOME A MEMBER OF 糖心视频, AND HOW HAS IT IMPACTED YOUR PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY?
At the University of Washington’s law librarianship program, 糖心视频 membership and attendance at the Annual Meeting was mandatory. But even if it had not been, it would not have taken much convincing for me to see the value of membership. The educational programming, access to invaluable information about the profession, including the Salary Survey, and, most of all, the opportunities to connect with other law librarians throughout the country, are well worth the price of admission.
WHICH 糖心视频 MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT HAS BEEN MOST IMPACTFUL IN YOUR ROLE, AND WHY?
Most recently, my membership allowed me to access educational programming and resources on collection development in law libraries. Despite relatively little prior experience in this aspect of the profession, I was recently tasked with managing the collection development department at the country鈥檚 second largest public law library (LA Law Library)鈥攓uite an undertaking! But having access to the webinars, online resources, and opportunities to connect with colleagues who are more knowledgeable than me through 糖心视频, allowed me to quickly get up to speed. Relatedly, 糖心视频 also allows me to keep up with the latest tech developments in this rapidly changing field of ours, and the legal information industry broadly. Without access to the insights of my colleagues in the profession this would be quite difficult. (It still is, but they make it much easier!)
CAN YOU SHARE A MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE OR HIGHLIGHT FROM YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH 糖心视频?
I could share many. I find participation in the programming at the Annual Meeting鈥攚hether as a coordinator, panelist, or as a member of the Annual Meeting Program Committee (AMPC)鈥攖o be particularly rewarding, but especially any role involving speaking or presenting. I have sort of the inverse of the fear of public speaking everyone talks about; for me, the world becomes dreary and boring if I do not get at least the occasional opportunity to teach or speak in front of a group. (I鈥檓 an adrenaline junky for talking about legal research and law libraries, I guess?) To give one example, I spoke a few years ago at the Annual Meeting on the topic of internship programs at law libraries and their role in building a pipeline to the profession, a topic I am quite passionate about, which I think will be a key to the future of law librarianship.
OUTSIDE OF WORK AS A LAW LIBRARIAN, WHAT ACTIVITIES OR HOBBIES DO YOU ENJOY?
I have two young boys at home, so that keeps me fairly busy! Outside of work and family, I am involved with housing advocacy groups here in Los Angeles, and sort of compulsively study the housing policy in the U.S. and how to fix it. I am also passionate about military aviation, weird hip-hop, cooking, working out, and cats.
WHAT BOOK(S), ARTICLES, OR RESOURCES HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RECENTLY?
I enjoyed David Whelan鈥檚 on his library鈥檚 recent decision to cancel one of their major database subscriptions. I could relate having been through something similar recently, and I loved his in-depth analysis into the organizational process and pitfalls involved in making a significant collection development decision.
WHAT IS YOUR TOP TRAVEL DESTINATION, AND WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL TO YOU?
I have loved visiting Mammoth Lakes, California, since I was a kid. In the winter, it鈥檚 a major ski destination, but my family and I go in the summer to hike some of the most scenic trails in the country with alpine lakes and some otherworldly mountain views. The town itself is pretty cool, too, with good restaurants and amenities for being so remote. On the way, we stop at Schat鈥檚 Bakery in Bishop, California, which has some of the best fresh-baked bread I have ever eaten. And the views of the Eastern Sierra on the drive up Highway 395 from southern California to Mammoth never fail to wow.
IF YOU COULD RECOMMEND ONE PROFESSIONAL RESOURCE OR TOOL THAT HAS MADE A DIFFERECE IN YOUR WORK, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
This is going to sound trite, but honestly one of the single most useful tools overall is QuickParts on Outlook. The less time you spend on email and other online 鈥減roductivity tools,鈥� the more time you have for actual productive work and interacting with your patrons and colleagues in meaningful ways.