Source: US Global Legal Monitor
Today’s interview is with Ella Patterson, an intern working in the Public Services Division of the Law Library of Congress.
Describe your background.
I am from Cary, North Carolina. I grew up with my parents and two sisters. Cary is home to my favorite park, Downtown Cary Park, which is overlooked by a beautiful public library.
What is your academic/professional history?
I am a rising senior at Duke University, pursuing a double major in history and political science. Academically, I am interested in legal history, international human rights, and the frameworks surrounding humanitarian aid.
I have professional experience in the museum and history fields. I previously worked as a co-curator for the Museum of Durham History and as a research grant awardee for the Duke Human Rights Center. These experiences spurred my love for archival materials! Additionally, I have developed strong research and database skills through roles at the Duke Center for Firearms Law and Duke Law School, as well as a research fellowship with the Corioli Institute analyzing veteran re-integration policies in Ukraine.
How would you describe your job to other people?
I am currently working on a project to index the Law Library’s collection of DC Circuit Court records and briefs, with the goal of making these documents accessible to researchers. Day-to-day, I scan relevant pages from microfilm reels and compile their metadata and citations into a database.
Beyond the technical skills I have gained from the project, working here has sparked a genuine interest in law librarianship as a career path. I have had the opportunity to shadow the reference librarians, and I have been consistently impressed by the staff’s dedication to accessibility, whether responding to remote inquiries, assisting on-site researchers, or building out these digital indexes.
Why did you want to work at the Law Library of Congress?
As a history major, I do not know who else in my shoes would not want to work at the Library of Congress! I have always been in awe of the Library’s vast collections and its mission to preserve history. I saw this internship as an opportunity to learn more about how I might transfer my academic interests and research skills into a fulfilling career.
The Law Library specifically drew me in because of its focus on preserving legal history. One of my primary professional goals is expanding public access to history. The Public Service Division and the DC Circuit Court index project within it provide exactly the skills I need to engage with patrons and see firsthand how training and careers in history can be used to help others.
What is the most interesting fact you have learned about the Law Library of Congress?
The Law Library at the Library of Congress is the largest law library in the world! I am always blown away by the breadth of its holdings. Beyond the physical collections, it has a comprehensive research guide for almost any location you could think of. From North Carolina to Italy (where I studied for a semester) the Law Library’s guides are a great place to start your research online!
What’s something most of your co-workers do not know about you?
Most of my colleagues probably do not know that I participated in Duke’s tenting tradition. Every winter, students camp out in tents outside the basketball stadium for weeks at a time to earn tickets to the game against our rival, the University of North Carolina.
I shared a tent with 11 other people for six weeks. There were many cold nights and annoying 3:00 AM tent checks, but the memories I made and the experience of being part of that tradition made it completely worth it. It is one of my favorite Duke experiences. I wonder if any of my co-workers could pass the tenting test?
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