An Interview with Ella Patterson, Public Services Division Intern

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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An Interview with Joanna Colclough, Leadership Development Program Participant at the Law Library of Congress

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

Today’s blog interview is with Joanna Colclough who participated in the Leadership Development Program (LDP) at the Library of Congress. Her detail assignment during the program was at the Law Library of Congress.

Describe your background.

I live in Maryland, but grew up moving around a lot as an Army brat. Most of my extended family lives in Michigan, so the Midwest is a big part of my background and my favorite region. I took many summer trips to Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum.

What is your academic/professional history?

I have wanted to be a librarian my whole life, so I knew a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree would be required at some point. Until then, I studied where my interests drew me – classics, English, history, and theatre. I went to Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina, for undergrad and completed graduate work at the University of Maryland, College Park. While in school and during the summers off, I always tried to intern and volunteer at local archives or special collections repositories. I was a contractor at the Government Publishing Office in Washington D.C., where I worked on digitizing the Congressional Record for govinfo.gov. Then I spent four years as a high school librarian, which I loved. Those two experiences prepped me for working in the Serial and Government Publications Division at the Library of Congress, where I have been a reference librarian in the Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room since 2021. I have spent these summer months on detail in the Law Library’s Public Services Division, which operates the reading room.

How would you describe your job to other people?

My job as a reference librarian is to help people find things within the Library’s vast collections, and I would say this is the heart of the job in any reading room at the Library of Congress. My specialty is in newspapers and periodicals, but this summer, I got to spend time in the Law Library Reading Room. I have not done a lot of reference work during my time in the Law Library because the learning curve for legal research definitely requires more than four months! But I have learned a lot about the different types of law documents, and both the practical and unique collections held in the Law Library.

Why did you want to work at the Law Library of Congress?

I have zero law experience, and so I came to the Law Library to be fully immersed in the new language and culture of the legal world! This type of detail, where staff can change jobs for a time, allows for greater sharing of information within the Library of Congress and the development of personal and professional connections. I got to spend time learning about the law collections and the legal reference staff who work with them, how the reading room operates, the classes they teach in the Legal Research Institute, and the projects the Public Services Division is responsible for. The Supreme Court records and briefs and the federal bills and resolutions are two ongoing projects where the Law Library processes incoming documents from the current Congress and Supreme Court session – all intended to provide long-term access as soon as possible. There are so many moving parts to the projects! It is really impressive, and we had some great project management discussions on current challenges and possible improvements.

What is the most interesting fact you have learned about the Law Library of Congress?

I have definitely learned a lot of interesting facts. One is that the legal reference librarians are some of the coolest people, and each of them genuinely enjoys helping people research. They are brilliant. My favorite fun fact is that the on-site Law Library collections are equivalent to almost two football fields. Talk about high-density storage!

I also enjoyed learning more about the Constitution Annotated (CONAN). It is a bit like Chronicling America – a free online resource with a wealth of information!

Four ranges of high-density shelving in the Law Library collections. Photo by Joanna Colclough.

What’s something most of your co-workers do not know about you?

For a time, I also wanted to be a paper conservator and work with beautiful old illuminated manuscripts, but I hated chemistry in school and so ultimately decided not to go into the career that required a lot of biological and chemical science. I still have a master’s in science (which cracks me up), but the science of information is a bit different!

Photo of the Library of Congress from the East St. Louis Daily Journal. March 9, 1919. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn92053739/1919-03-09/ed-1/?sp=16&r=-0.325,-0.001,1.779,0.81,0

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An Interview with Joanna Colclough, Librarian-in-Residence at the Law Library of Congress

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

Today’s blog interview is with Librarian-in-Residence at the Law Library of Congress, Joanna Colclough.

Describe your background.

I live in Maryland, but grew up moving around a lot as an Army brat. Most of my extended family lives in Michigan, so the Midwest is a big part of my background and my favorite region. I took many summer trips to Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum.

What is your academic/professional history?

I have wanted to be a librarian my whole life, so I knew a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree would be required at some point. Until then, I studied where my interests drew me – classics, English, history, and theatre. I went to Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina, for undergrad and completed graduate work at the University of Maryland, College Park. While in school and during the summers off, I always tried to intern and volunteer at local archives or special collections repositories. I was a contractor at the Government Publishing Office in Washington D.C., where I worked on digitizing the Congressional Record for govinfo.gov. Then I spent four years as a high school librarian, which I loved. Those two experiences prepped me for working in the Serial and Government Publications Division at the Library of Congress, where I have been a reference librarian in the Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room since 2021. I have spent these summer months on detail in the Law Library’s Public Services Division, which operates the reading room.

How would you describe your job to other people?

My job as a reference librarian is to help people find things within the Library’s vast collections, and I would say this is the heart of the job in any reading room at the Library of Congress. My specialty is in newspapers and periodicals, but this summer, I got to spend time in the Law Library Reading Room. I have not done a lot of reference work during my time in the Law Library because the learning curve for legal research definitely requires more than four months! But I have learned a lot about the different types of law documents, and both the practical and unique collections held in the Law Library.

Why did you want to work at the Law Library of Congress?

I have zero law experience, and so I came to the Law Library to be fully immersed in the new language and culture of the legal world! This type of detail, where staff can change jobs for a time, allows for greater sharing of information within the Library of Congress and the development of personal and professional connections. I got to spend time learning about the law collections and the legal reference staff who work with them, how the reading room operates, the classes they teach in the Legal Research Institute, and the projects the Public Services Division is responsible for. The Supreme Court records and briefs and the federal bills and resolutions are two ongoing projects where the Law Library processes incoming documents from the current Congress and Supreme Court session – all intended to provide long-term access as soon as possible. There are so many moving parts to the projects! It is really impressive, and we had some great project management discussions on current challenges and possible improvements.

What is the most interesting fact you have learned about the Law Library of Congress?

I have definitely learned a lot of interesting facts. One is that the legal reference librarians are some of the coolest people, and each of them genuinely enjoys helping people research. They are brilliant. My favorite fun fact is that the on-site Law Library collections are equivalent to almost two football fields. Talk about high-density storage!

I also enjoyed learning more about the Constitution Annotated (CONAN). It is a bit like Chronicling America – a free online resource with a wealth of information!

Four ranges of high-density shelving in the Law Library collections. Photo by Joanna Colclough.

What’s something most of your co-workers do not know about you?

For a time, I also wanted to be a paper conservator and work with beautiful old illuminated manuscripts, but I hated chemistry in school and so ultimately decided not to go into the career that required a lot of biological and chemical science. I still have a master’s in science (which cracks me up), but the science of information is a bit different!

Photo of the Library of Congress from the East St. Louis Daily Journal. March 9, 1919. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn92053739/1919-03-09/ed-1/?sp=16&r=-0.325,-0.001,1.779,0.81,0

Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

An Interview with Tatev Martirosyan, Foreign Law Intern

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

Today’s interview is with Tatev Martirosyan, a foreign law intern working with Assistant Law Librarian for Legal Research Peter Roudik in the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress.

  1. Describe your background.

My name is Tatev Martirosyan, and I am a lawyer, Ph.D. researcher, and lecturer from Armenia. I am also a licensed attorney and mediator. I hold LL.B. and LL.M. degrees from Yerevan State University, and recently completed a second LL.M. in technology law at Penn State Dickinson Law as a Fulbright scholar.

Throughout my career, I have worked with government institutions, international organizations, and academic institutions on legal and regulatory issues, particularly in the areas of technology, innovation, and public policy.

  1. What is your academic/professional history?

I have over eight years of experience in legal practice and research, as well as nearly two years of teaching experience. Before coming to the United States, I served as a prosecutor in Armenia. Before that, I worked as an attorney and legal consultant on projects with international organizations, including the World Bank, the European Union, the Council of Europe, and UNICEF.

In addition, I teach law courses at Yerevan State University, and am currently completing a Ph.D. focused on the regulation of crypto-assets and emerging technologies.

  1. How would you describe your job to other people?

I usually say that law is more than just a profession; it is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives. I would describe my work as helping people and institutions understand how the law responds to new challenges.

Whether through legal research, policy analysis, teaching, or legal practice, my role involves examining complex issues, comparing different legal approaches, and translating them into practical solutions.

  1. Why did you want to work at the Law Library of Congress?

After completing my Fulbright program, I was selected for the Muskie Professional Fellowship Program, which provides an opportunity to gain practical experience within U.S. institutions.

The Law Library of Congress stood out to me because of its unique role in comparative and international legal research. As someone passionate about legal innovation and comparative law, I was excited by the opportunity to learn from leading experts, contribute to research projects with global impact, and gain a deeper understanding of how different legal systems address common challenges.

  1. What is the most interesting fact you have learned about the Law Library of Congress?

One of the most fascinating things I have learned is the breadth of the Law Library’s foreign and international law collections. The ability to access legal materials from jurisdictions around the world and support comparative legal research makes it an extraordinary resource for researchers, policymakers, and legal professionals.

  1. What’s something most of your co-workers do not know about you?

Most of my co-workers probably do not know that, alongside my legal work, I enjoy creating projects that connect people through ideas and conversation.

During my LL.M. studies, I launched a legal podcast where I interviewed professors, researchers, and students about law, policy, and emerging technologies. It allowed me to combine my interests in law, education, and storytelling while creating a platform for meaningful discussions.


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Meet the Interns and Volunteers from Summer 2025 – Part 2

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

In celebration of 10 years of the remote metadata internship, we are catching up with our amazing interns and volunteers from the last year. Last week, we recognized the first half of our participants from last summer’s remote metadata program and the creative digital projects program, and this week, we have the second half. The mini-biographies below were written when they worked at the Library in Summer 2025. We wish them the best as they continue in their professional careers.

Casey McKenna resides in the coastal town of Norwalk, Connecticut. She holds a B.A. in English from Saint Leo University in Florida and recently earned her Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S.), along with a certificate of advanced study in information security management, from Syracuse University. With over seven years of experience in the human relations technology space, she finds fulfillment in helping job seekers refine their skills and matching them with employers looking for talented individuals. As an elected member of Phi Kappa Phi, she cherishes the opportunity to connect with fellow lifelong learners. Outside of her professional pursuits, Casey is passionate about wildlife photography, reading, and hiking, embracing the beauty of nature with every adventure.

Danny Mendoza is a future intellectual property attorney with a background spanning science, law, and education. A recent J.D. graduate from the University of Tennessee, Winston College of Law, he focuses on advocacy, business transactions, and intellectual property (IP) law. Danny will be working on his M.S. in library science from the University of North Texas and an M.B.A. in business analytics from Lincoln Memorial University this fall; he has two graduate degrees already in education. He is passionate about digital access, international IP policy, and the role of law libraries in shaping equitable innovation.

Kieran Micari-Lawless holds a B.A. in history and global studies from Bishop’s University, where he focused his studies on the social history of early modern Europe. He works at a public library in the Chicago suburbs. An advocate for expanded access to free information, he is focusing his career on advancing efforts to make all knowledge freely available to all people. He enjoys cooking, gardening, illustration, and archaeology, and would love to own a maximalist antique shop at some point in his future.

Emily Mizokami lives in Sacramento, California, holds a B.A. in politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and is graduating with a master’s in library and information science from San José State University in December of 2025. She is an assistant archivist at the California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives. Emily also serves as chair of the Society of American Archivists, Students and New Archives Professionals section. She has two amazing daughters and one lovely husband. When she emerges from the archives, she enjoys camping, eating out, and reading.

Irene Park is a Maryland native and M.L.I.S. candidate at the University of Maryland. She is interested in academic and research librarianship as well as library outreach and engagement. Before returning to school for her graduate degree, Irene completed a B.A. in international comparative studies at Duke University and worked in film and education. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, crafting, watching movies, and planning her next trip.

Puja Roy is a native of New York and has lived in New York City her entire life. She holds a B.Tech. in computer engineering technology from CUNY New York City College of Technology and a master’s degree in data science from CUNY School of Professional Studies. As a child, Puja began volunteering in libraries, utilizing her own second home and best childhood learning center at The New York Public Library (NYPL), one of its largest, to provide her childhood education. Later, she served as a library assistant volunteer at the NYPL and library page at the NYPL St. Agnes Branch in Midtown Manhattan. She also interned at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Other than school and work, Puja loves retro 1990s world music and is pet-friendly—doves, pigeons, sparrows, and dogs, cats, and monkeys, in particular.

Wei-Ting Shih is from Taiwan and Nicaragua. She graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in political science and plans to attend law school in the future. She is interested in legal research, writing, and advocacy. In her free time, Wei-Ting enjoys exploring new cafes, spending time outdoors, and rooting for the New York Yankees.

Genevieve Smiley recently completed her B.S. in economics at Bowling Green State University. She will continue to further her studies by attending the University of Alabama School of Law in the fall of 2025. In her free time, she enjoys reading, collecting vinyl, and spending time with friends.

Abigail Starcher is from New Jersey. She is a recent M.L.I.S. graduate from the University of South Florida and holds a B.A. in history from Ave Maria University. She is a returning intern and supervises public services at a law school library in Florida. Abigail’s main areas of interest in librarianship include special collections, historical research, and emerging library technology. Before working in libraries, she taught third grade on the Zuni Pueblo Reservation. In her leisure time, she enjoys spending time with her two dachshunds, landscape painting, singing in choir, reading, watching classic films, and cooking Croatian cuisine.

Ana Starr is originally from Boston but now calls D.C. home. She is currently pursuing an M.L.I.S from the University of Maryland and has a B.A. in history from Emmanuel College. She has spent the last few years working in development in healthcare and higher education. She hopes to move into library work upon graduation. In her free time, she hangs out with friends and catches up on reality TV.

Abigail Svetlik was born and raised in Washington, D.C., just blocks from the Library of Congress, where she resides today. Her early love for art and literature was fueled by the city’s network of free museums and public libraries. As an undergraduate student at Skidmore College, Abigail studied art history and English. Since graduating in May 2024, she has continued to seek ways to explore, exercise, and embrace the storytelling ability of word and image. Abigail currently works at a used bookstore, where her responsibilities include cataloging antiquarian materials, and serves as Editorial Assistant for Liberties Journal of Culture and Politics.

Devi Swamy lives in Northern California and currently works as an adjunct counselor at a community college. She holds a B.S. in psychology from the University of California, Davis, and an M.A. in counseling from Saint Mary’s College of California. She is currently completing her M.L.I.S. degree at San José State University and enjoys learning about archiving, metadata, and UX design and research. In her free time, Devi loves spending time with family, doing outdoor activities, reading, and catching up on movies and TV shows.

Jasmine Tham is an undergraduate at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in English. She currently works as an undergraduate research assistant conducting legal research and competes on her university’s moot court team. In her free time, she tutors kids in music and bakes the most complicated recipes she can find.

Hilary Turner lives in a suburb of Austin, Texas, and is pursuing her Master of Science degree in library science (M.S.L.S.) at the University of North Texas. She previously earned an M.B.A. and is especially interested in academic library reference services and how they support research, teaching, and access to business and government information. Hilary has experience in higher education communications and has contributed to an in-progress scholarly work on health resource sharing in public libraries. In her free time, she enjoys reading, teaching herself German, and working through a Couch to 5K running program.

Ann Marie Watson grew up in the D.C. area and remembers doing research at the Library of Congress in high school (though details of the project are hazy all these years hence). It took a long career in marketing for cultural nonprofits to rediscover a love for libraries, and two decades after earning her B.A. in history at the University of Virginia, she is now halfway through her M.L.I.S. degree at Drexel University, where she has particularly enjoyed classes in archives and metadata. Ann Marie is an avid reader, knitter, birder, a regular platelet donor, and a staunch supporter of the arts. She still lives in northern Virginia with her husband; they are currently between cats, but hopefully not for long.

Olivia Wong graduated from McGill University in 2024 with a B.A. in liberal arts combined with a minor in classics. She was previously a student project assistant at the McGill Department of Rare Books and Special Collections and currently volunteers with the Montreal Aviation Museum. She aspires to one day become an academic librarian, perhaps working with metadata! In her spare time, she enjoys reading, ice skating, and hunting for her next thrifted treasure.

Riley Yates grew up in Salinas, California, but now attends the University of Chicago, pursuing a degree in history and nonfiction creative writing with a minor in linguistics. A lifelong fan of American history, she loves sharing fun facts about our nation’s past with just about anyone who will listen. Outside of academia, Riley enjoys spin class, baking, organization, and spending time with friends and cute dogs.

Ella Young is a North Carolina native currently pursuing an M.S.L.S. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she also holds a B.S. in information science. She is specializing in academic librarianship and worked as a library intern at Duke University during her undergraduate studies. This is her second semester interning at the Law Library of Congress, and she previously contributed to the Congressional Research Service bill summaries project. In her free time, she enjoys running, hiking, and reading.


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Upcoming US Law Webinars – August 2026

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

We hope you can join us for the continuation of our U.S. law webinars in 2026. In August, we are offering an Orientation to Legal Research webinar focusing on tracing federal regulations. Additionally, we will host another session in our Lunch and Learn series; this webinar will focus on public international law. Finally, to wrap up August, we will host another session in our Introduction to Congress.gov series. For more information and to register, please visit the links below.

We look forward to having you join us for these informative and engaging webinars!


Orientation to Legal Research: Tracing Federal Regulations 

Date: Thursday, August 6, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Content: This entry in the series provides an overview of U.S. federal regulations, including information about the notice and comment rulemaking process, the publication and citation of regulations, and the tracing of regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations to the proposed rule in the Federal Register, to the regulation’s docket.

Instructor: Ann Hemmens. Ann is a senior legal reference librarian at the Law Library of Congress. Ann holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and earned her J.D. and Master of Science in library science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Register for the Orientation to Legal Research: Tracing Federal Regulations. 


A Lunch and Learn Webinar: An Overview of Public International Law 

Date: Thursday, August 13, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Content: This entry in the series will provide an overview of recent developments in U.S. foreign relations law, including statutes, cases, and international agreements passed over the last two years. The webinar will also provide practical examples highlighting the various aspects of U.S. foreign relations law and strategies to effectively research this dynamic area of law. The presentation will introduce general concepts of public international law and a specific explanation of U.S. practice in international law, or practice in foreign relations law.

Instructor: Louis Myers. Louis holds a B.A. in history from Kent State University, a J.D. from the University of Idaho College of Law, and an M.L.I.S. from Kent State University.

Register for A Lunch and Learn Webinar: An Overview of Public International Law.


An Introduction to Congress.gov Webinar 

Date: Thursday, August 20, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Content: This orientation is designed to give a basic overview of Congress.gov. While the focus of the session will be searching legislation and the congressional member information attached to the legislation, the new features of Congress.gov will be highlighted.

Instructors: Barbara Bavis and Robert Brammer. Barbara is the bibliographic and research instruction librarian at the Law Library. She holds a B.A. in history from Duke University, a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law, and a Master of Science in library and information science, specializing in law librarianship from Catholic University. Robert is the chief of the Law Library’s Office of External Relations. He holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Kentucky, a J.D. from Wayne State University, and a Master of Library Science from Florida State University.

Register for An Introduction to Congress.gov Webinar.


To learn about other upcoming classes on domestic and foreign law topics, visit the Legal Research InstitutePlease request ADA accommodations at least five business days in advance by contacting (202) 707-6362 or [email protected].

Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

An Interview with Griffin Barros-King, Intern at the Law Library of Congress

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

Today’s interview is with intern Griffin Barros-King, an intern in the Global Legal Research Directorate at the Law Library of Congress

Describe your background.

I was born in New York City, New York, and later lived in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Toledo, Ohio; and San Diego, California before moving to St. Petersburg, Florida, where I am currently studying law.

What is your academic/professional history?

I studied Applied Mathematics with a focus on statistics and data science at the University of California San Diego, where I earned my bachelor’s degree. I am currently a rising 2L at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida. I chose Stetson because of its strong focus on career readiness and its reputation for excellence in legal research and writing. During my time there, I have developed interests in law and technology as well as tax law.

How do you describe your job to other people?

I am an extern with the Global Legal Research Directorate (GLRD) of the Law Library of Congress. My primary responsibility is evaluating AI-powered legal research tools to determine which are most effective and how they can be used while maintaining the high standards of quality and accuracy expected by the Library of Congress. I also assist my supervisor, Assistant Law Librarian for Legal Research Peter Roudik, in analyzing website usage data to identify opportunities for improving the library’s blogs.

Why did you want to work at the Library of Congress?

My interest in legal research and writing made joining the Library of Congress an easy choice. The breadth of legal topics and the quality of the research conducted here are unmatched. In addition, the resources and mentorship available here have helped me grow as a student and researcher and will continue to benefit me throughout my legal career.

What is the most interesting fact that you’ve learned about the Library?

My favorite feature is the series of murals in the main hall just beyond the Gutenberg Bible, which has been aptly titled the Hall of Government murals by Elihu Vedder. The murals on the left, Anarchy and Corrupt Legislation, depict the consequences of bad government, while those on the right, Good Administration and Peace and Prosperity, depict the benefits of good government. The center mural, Government, depicts that a government should be of the people, by the people, and for the people. These murals were intended to inspire members of Congress to govern wisely.

Left side of the mural featuring the Anarchy and Corrupt Legislation murals. Picture courtesy of Griffin Barros-King.
Center of the mural featuring Government, picture courtesy of Griffin Barros-King.
Right side of the mural featuring Good Administration and Peace and Prosperity murals, picture courtesy of Griffin Barros-King.

What’s something that most of your co-workers don’t know about you?

I was once a Team USA speed climber. I am also ranked in the top 500 in the world for Expert Minesweeper (yes, the one from 1989).


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Happy 194th Birthday, Law Library of Congress!

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

Today’s guest post is by the Law Librarian of Congress, Aslihan Bulut. Aslihan has previously authored the following posts for In Custodia Legis: A New Year’s Greeting from the Law Librarian of Congress, and
A Holiday Greeting from the Law Librarian of Congress (2022), (2023), (2024), and A Holiday Greeting from the Law Librarian of Congress (2025).

Each year on July 14, we celebrate the anniversary of the Law Library of Congress’s establishment. On this day in 1832, Congress approved legislation creating a separate law library to support its legislative work, laying the foundation for what would become the world’s largest law library. The statute remains in force and is codified in the United States Code at 2 U.S.C. §§ 132, 134, 135, and 137.

Nearly two centuries later, the Law Library continues to fulfill that mission while serving a broad community that includes Congress, the federal judiciary, legal professionals, researchers, and members of the public, by preserving and providing access to legal knowledge from the United States and around the globe.  Although the Library has grown dramatically since its founding, its purpose remains remarkably consistent: to collect, preserve, and provide access to legal information.

What began as a modest collection has grown into an extraordinary resource comprising millions of legal materials representing jurisdictions from nearly every country. The collection includes constitutions, statutes, judicial decisions, legal treatises, historical documents, and rare legal texts spanning centuries. Together, these resources document the development of legal systems and the rule of law across cultures and time and support research into everything from ancient legal traditions to today’s emerging legal questions.

Behind these collections is the work of the Law Library’s law librarians and legal reference specialists, attorneys, foreign law specialists, digital collections specialists, outreach specialists, and many other staff members whose expertise makes the collections discoverable and usable. Their work ensures that the Law Library continues to meet the evolving needs of its users while preserving the legal record for future generations.

The anniversary is also an opportunity to reflect on how access to legal information has changed. Researchers who once needed to travel to Washington, D.C. to consult many of the Library’s resources can now explore growing digital collections, online research guides, recorded presentations and webinars, and reports and publications from wherever they are. Expanding digital access remains an important part of the Law Library’s ongoing commitment to connecting people with reliable legal information.

Birthdays naturally invite reflection, but they also encourage us to look ahead. As the Law Library approaches its bicentennial, it continues to build collections, embrace new technologies, strengthen partnerships, and expand access to legal knowledge in support of Congress and the public.

On this anniversary, we celebrate not only the founding of the Law Library of Congress on July 14, 1832, but also the people whose dedication has sustained its mission for nearly two centuries. We invite you to visit us in person or virtually, to explore the Law Library’s collections, publications, research guides, and educational programs, and to join us in celebrating another year of preserving and sharing the world’s legal heritage.

Happy birthday, Law Library of Congress!

Aslihan Bulut

Law Librarian of Congress


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Meet the Interns and Volunteers from Summer 2025 – Part 1

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

In celebration of 10 years of the remote metadata internship, we are catching up with our amazing interns and volunteers from the last year. This year’s summer program began three weeks ago, but we want to recognize our participants from last summer’s remote metadata program and creative digital projects program. The mini-biographies below are self-reported from when they were working with us, so they may be a little out of date. We wish them the best as they continue in their professional careers.

Charis Adkins is a Houston native who recently graduated with a B.A. in English from Texas A&M University. She is an incoming J.D. candidate at Wake Forest University School of Law in North Carolina, and though she does not know which facet of law will be right for her, she is interested in appellate writing and the sports and entertainment field. She enjoys learning about and reading Old English, listening to classic rock, and dreaming about the pets she will have when she no longer lives in an apartment.

Hannah Danielle Albor is a rising third-year student at St. Mary’s University School of Law in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas. Previously, she double majored in political science and English and minored in women’s and gender studies at Texas A&M University. After graduating from law school and sitting for the bar exam, Hannah hopes to pursue a degree in library sciences, specializing in law librarianship. She is endlessly passionate about increasing public access to legal information, watching college sports, and playing tabletop games with her friends.

Isaac Albright is from southern Arizona, roughly an hour from the Mexican border. He has a bachelor’s degree in government and public service from the University of Arizona. He will receive a Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S.) degree from Emporia State University in August 2025. He enjoys reading, playing video games, and playing frisbee with the family dog, Pericles.

Carolyn Arnold is from outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but came to Washington, D.C., to pursue her undergraduate education. Currently, Carolyn is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English and political science at George Washington University and hopes to attend graduate school in the future. She is passionate about literature, literacy, and accessibility to literary and digital resources for all. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading, hiking, and spending time with her two dogs.

Erah Arzate is from Carson, California. They hold a Master of Library and Information Science degree from San José State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Cal State Dominguez Hills. As a first-generation college graduate and first-and-a-half-generation Mexican-American U.S. citizen, they look forward to helping diversify the field of library science. They are currently on a gap year, considering whether to return to school for a J.D. or go straight into law librarianship.

Rachel Bernstein is from central Illinois and has a Master of Science in Library and Information Science (M.S.L.I.S.) degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a B.A. in political science from the University of Illinois Springfield. Rachel loves playing tennis, reading, and renovation TV shows. She enjoys learning, especially learning about the law!

Maria Crenshaw is a law student at St. Louis University and a graduate of Marquette University, where she studied journalism, history, and digital media. She is intrigued by the creative outlets used by law, which is what drove her to volunteer with the Library of Congress. Her experience has combined her interests in law, writing, history, and creative visual projects.

Margaret Ennen is a recent graduate of the University of Virginia, where she majored in English. She is passionate about reading, writing, and editing, and she is also currently an intern with Princeton University Press. During her free time, she enjoys baking, crocheting, embroidery, puzzles, and time with her family, friends, and dog

Tina Fontenot is a California resident with an M.L.I.S and a B.S. in advertising, both from San José State University. She is passionate about information literacy and accessibility, archives, and digital preservation.

Casey Gipson is currently completing a Master of Library and Information Science at the University of Arizona, with a focus on cataloging, metadata, and digital asset management. She holds a B.A. in art history from Arizona State University and a B.A. in classics and anthropology from the University of Alabama. From archaeological artifact analysis and documentation of the ancient Mediterranean to modern bibliographic cataloging and metadata, she has a strong interest in how cultural objects and information are documented, discovered, and made accessible. During her travels, Casey makes a point of exploring as many libraries and museums as she can, with one memorable experience being the opportunity to study Cypriot votive offerings at the British Museum. Outside of work and academia, her hobbies include reading, hiking, camping, and researching an ever-growing list of special interests.

Eric Gottlieb is from Menlo Park, California, and received his bachelor’s degree from Brown University this spring. At Brown, Eric studied history, applied mathematics, and Egyptology. He has a strong interest in legal theory, particularly legal hermeneutics—the philosophy of interpreting legal texts—and plans to study legal hermeneutics further as a Marshall Scholar at Cardiff University. Professionally, Eric has conducted policy research at the Bipartisan Policy Center, HousingWorks RI, and the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, as well as through independent fellowships at Yale Law School and Brown’s Stone Inequality Initiative.

Ash Grunewald currently lives in Texas and is in their last semester of the Master of Science in Information Science (M.S.I.S.) degree at the University of North Texas. Grunewald received a B.A. in English from Texas State University and an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) from Tarrant County College’s library technician program. They currently hold a library specialist position, which focuses on creating accessible information paths in the stacks and digital resources for users of an academic library. In their free time, Grunewald enjoys rock climbing, hiking in the many parks in the area, playing board games with friends, and reading.

Sydney Hamilton is a Maryland native and a rising 3L at the University of Baltimore School of Law. She earned her B.A. in literature and her Master of Fine Arts degree (M.F.A.) in creative writing at American University. As a writer and a law student, she is especially passionate about copyright law and constitutional law, though she also finds criminal law rather thrilling. When she is not busy deciphering a Supreme Court opinion, she enjoys baking, knitting, reading, and making very niche Spotify playlists.

Keiko Hilmo is currently pursuing an M.A. in Korean for professionals from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. She earned her B.A. in cognitive and linguistic sciences with a minor in Korean language and culture from Wellesley College. Outside of academics, Keiko enjoys running, hiking, going to cafes, and spending time with her cat.

Mary Hogan previously interned with the Law Library of Congress metadata internship program. She holds a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree from Westfield State University, an M.S.L.I.S. from Simmons University, and a B.A. in political science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Most of her career has been in the government and nonprofit sectors, often in roles that, while not always within a library, still required a library degree.

Jennifer Iapichino lives in sunny Orlando, Florida, and is currently working toward her master’s degree in library and information science from the University of South Florida, with graduation set for Spring 2026. She also holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from the University of Connecticut. Jennifer has worn many hats in the world of education—as a public-school teacher, a school media specialist, and now a law librarian, where she enjoys supporting law firms and public law libraries with their research and information needs. Outside of work, Jennifer loves spending time with her husband, their three teenagers, and a lively bunch of four-legged family members.

Matthew Kadish grew up and currently resides in New Jersey and is in the process of earning a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He has earned two previous degrees in English and linguistics. When not working, he enjoys movies and various personal art projects.

Erika Kielsgard holds an M.F.A. in poetry from Brooklyn College, a B.A. in psychology from George Mason University, and is earning her M.L.I.S. from ODUGlobal. She has taught undergraduate English for nine years and has a decade of experience in customer service, retail management, and home health support. Her debut chapbook was selected by Diane Seuss as the winner of the 2023 International 3-Day Poetry Chapbook Contest. Erika is the guest contributor for the first episode of Dakota Gearhart’s collaborative animated video podcast, Life Touching Life: “true love” (2023), and was an ecopoetics workshop 2024 resident at Café Tío Conejo in Manizales, Colombia.

Jo Lisman holds a B.S. in finance and environment, sustainability, and policy from Syracuse University. She is currently participating in Latham & Watkins’ business services rotational program, working with the research services and human resources teams in the firm’s Chicago office. Driven by a passion for connecting with others and experiencing diverse cultures, Jo has lived across the United States—including the West Coast, East Coast, South, and now the Midwest—and has completed a solo backpacking journey through Asia.

We will share the other half of this wonderful group soon!


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An Interview with Laura Baitz, Foreign Law Intern

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

Today’s interview is with Laura Baitz, a foreign law intern working with Foreign Law Specialist Jenny Gesley in the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress.

Describe your background.

I grew up in a town near Cologne, one of Germany’s most populous cities, best known for its cathedral (Kölner Dom) and the Cologne Carnival. The carnival in Cologne is a centuries-old tradition where people dress up in funny costumes, listen to local carnival music, and celebrate for almost an entire week. It is also referred to as the “fifth season.” Originally, the costumes served as disguises to protect against evil spirits. If you are in Cologne during carnival season, you can hardly escape the so-called “Jecken” (the carnival revellers), as the whole city joins in the festivities. Because the atmosphere is fantastic and I really enjoy dancing, I could never skip a carnival season. That is why I consider myself a “Jeck” as well.

What is your academic/professional history?

I studied at the University of Bonn and the University of Cologne, where I passed the First German State Examination in law (equivalent to a juris doctorate degree in the United States), with a specialization in competition in intellectual property law. As a first-generation academic, pursuing a career in law required a lot of independence and persistence, which drove me to gain practical experience early on. After graduation, I worked at a major international law firm with a focus on patent litigation.

Currently, I am completing my legal traineeship (Referendariat) at the Higher Regional Court of Cologne, which will qualify me to practice law in Germany. As part of the two-year program, I have worked at a civil chamber of the court and at the local public prosecutor’s office. My internship at the Law Library of Congress is another part of the program.

How would you describe your job to other people?

As a foreign law intern, I assist in addressing legal inquiries regarding German-speaking jurisdictions and European Union law from members of Congress, executive agencies, courts, and the public. My daily work involves conducting legal research and preparing detailed reports or writing articles for the Global Legal Monitor, in which the Law Library provides information on significant legal developments in foreign jurisdictions.

Why did you want to work at the Law Library of Congress?

Ever since I had my first English lesson in elementary school, I have been deeply fascinated by the United States and the power of language to connect people from different cultures. It was a long-held wish of mine to move abroad and finally experience this firsthand. Professionally, the Law Library of Congress offers a unique environment for conducting legal research. Working in the Global Legal Research Directorate allows me to sharpen my comparative research and writing skills in a vast array of legal fields and jurisdictions. Contributing to such a world-renowned institution is an incredible opportunity that will significantly shape my future career.

What is the most interesting fact you have learned about the Law Library of Congress?

The Capitol Hill underground network still surprises me every day. The Law Library and many congressional buildings in Washington, D.C. are connected by a unique tunnel system that allows staffers and members of Congress to safely travel between the buildings regardless of the weather. You will also find numerous amenities there, and it even has its own little subway system.

What’s something most of your co-workers do not know about you?

Law was actually not my first choice. I initially started my academic journey studying media technology at TH Köln, because I have always been interested in the scientific background of technologies. However, I quickly realized how much I missed working with texts and language, which ultimately led me to study law. Finding myself now working at the world’s largest library while being surrounded by millions of books and legal texts feels like the perfect full-circle moment.


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