Summer Allen
Assistant Librarian at the U.S.
Court of Appeals
4th Circuit Library
Raleigh, North Carolina
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE TO CAREER IN LAW LIBRARIANSHIP?
While I was in undergrad at the University of Virginia, I worked in the library. One of the librarians across the hall was a law librarian for the DOJ for several years. One chat with her and my interest was piqued. My supervisor loved to make connections, so she introduced me to the director of the Law Library at UVA, Amy Wharton. Amy spent a solid hour talking with me about the profession, then took me on a tour. She introduced me to every single librarian there, and each one told me a little about themselves or what they were currently working on. I was mesmerized. I knew I had to be in their shoes one day!
WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO BECOME A MEMBER OF 糖心视频, AND HOW HAS IT IMPACTED YOUR PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY?
All my teachers, mentors, and co-workers stressed the importance of joining 糖心视频. They told me that the law library world is small, and connections are crucial. The student discount made it affordable for me while I was in school. Since joining, it鈥檚 been my main source of news in the law library world.
WHICH 糖心视频 MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT HAS BEEN MOST IMPACTFUL IN YOUR ROLE, AND WHY?
When I was contemplating law school, the 糖心视频 Salary Survey was so helpful. It showed me which roles typically require a JD as well as average salaries in my desired geographic area. I relied on this information to determine when and where to attend school.
CAN YOU SHARE A MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE OR HIGHLIGHT FROM YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH 糖心视频?
I have really enjoyed being part of the Government Law Libraries SIS (GLL-SIS). Last year, they did a virtual new member get together. I got to meet some newer law librarians from across the country as well as listen to a talk on leadership. It lasted no more than an hour, but I left feeling refreshed and invigorated!
OUTSIDE OF WORK AS A LAW LIBRARIAN, WHAT ACTIVITIES OR HOBBIES DO YOU ENJOY?
I鈥檓 an avid knitter鈥攔ight now I have a couple of sweaters on the needles. I also enjoy being outside, whether that鈥檚 camping, walking my dog, or hitting the trails on my bike. And what librarian doesn鈥檛 love to read?
WHAT BOOK(S), ARTICLES, OR RESOURCES HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RECENTLY?
The recordings are hugely helpful to me. Not only am I relatively new to the profession, but I鈥檓 also new to the working world as well. I love the scope of things I can learn, ranging from getting published to navigating relationships with co-workers.
WHAT IS YOUR TOP TRAVEL DESTINATION, AND WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL TO YOU?
As I write this, I鈥檓 preparing to leave on one of my most anticipated trips鈥攚alking the Camino de Santiago in Spain! I鈥檓 excited to walk such an ancient route through a beautiful region (and drink lots of caf茅s con leche).
IF YOU COULD RECOMMEND ONE PROFESSIONAL RESOURCE OR TOOL THAT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR WORK, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
This is less of a tool and more of an attitude. Instead of trudging through tasks I don鈥檛 enjoy (like scheduling), I have started turning them into a puzzle to solve. How can I make this more enjoyable? How can I make this go by faster? This keeps me engaged as I craft a solution, and later saves me time and energy, leaving room for the fun stuff (give me all the legal research!). Recent wins have been creating a kanban board in Excel to make data more visually appealing and using macros to automate data cleanup.