December 11, 2006
Law library professor to lead top law library association
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- James E. Duggan, a professor in the Southern Illinois University School of Law library and associate director of the law library, will lead the world's largest law library organization.
Duggan is the vice president/president-elect of the American Association of Law Libraries. His term as vice president begins in July at the organization's annual meeting in New Orleans. Duggan's term as organization president starts in July 2008.
"I'm excited as well as honored to be chosen by my peers to lead this organization that has been a part of my professional life for almost 20 years," Duggan said.
The American Association of Law Libraries has more than 5,000 members. The organization represents law librarians and related professionals affiliated with law firms, law schools, corporate legal departments and local, state and federal government agencies.
The organization helps mentor law librarians, provides scholarships for their education and serves as a voice of the law librarian in the legal information marketplace, Duggan said.
Duggan joined SIUC in 1988. He became an associate professor in 1993 and professor in 1998. A native of Roanoke, Va., Duggan earned a bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech in 1983. He earned a law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1986, and a master's degree in library information science from the Louisiana State University School of Library and Information Science in 1987.
In addition to being responsible for the day-to-day library operations at the law school, Duggan teaches in the school's Lawyering Skills program, and teaches an advanced electronic legal research course.
Duggan served as SIUC Faculty Senate president in 2004-2005. He has served as president of the Carbondale Public Library Board of Trustees and also as president of the Shawnee Library System Board of Trustees.
This is the second time the SIU School of Law is home to the American Association of Law Libraries' president. Frank G. Houdek, law library director and professor, served as organization president in 1996-97.
Celebrating faculty excellence is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint the University is following as it approaches its 150th anniversary in 2019.
James E. Duggan
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