Harvard Law School Library

Harvard Law School Library
Name	Harvard Law School Library
Established	1817
Location	Cambridge, Massachusetts
Type	Academic law library
Scope	Legal research
Collection size	Over 2 million volumes
Director	Jocelyn Kennedy
Parent organization	Harvard Law School

Harvard Law School Library. It is the largest academic law library in the world, serving as a preeminent center for legal scholarship and research. Its vast collections support the faculty and students of Harvard Law School while also serving a global community of legal researchers. The library's mission encompasses preserving legal heritage, fostering innovative scholarship, and providing unparalleled access to legal information.

History

The origins trace back to the founding of Harvard Law School in 1817, with its initial collection housed in Dane Hall. A significant early benefactor was Christopher Columbus Langdell, whose deanship in the late 19th century championed the case method and emphasized the library's central role in legal education. The collection grew substantially under the stewardship of librarians like John H. Arnold. A major architectural milestone was the 1907 completion of Langdell Hall, named for the dean, which became the library's iconic home. Throughout the 20th century, it expanded through acquisitions like the Rare Book Collection and the integration of specialized libraries such as the International Legal Studies resource center.

Collections

The holdings encompass over two million volumes, featuring exhaustive collections of Anglo-American, international, and comparative legal materials. Its Rare Books collection is world-renowned, containing treasures like a Gutenberg Bible and seminal works by Blackstone and Coke. The Manuscripts division holds the papers of notable figures such as Justice Frankfurter and Justice Holmes. Specialized collections include the Islamic Law library, the East Asian Legal Studies materials, and the historical archives of the Sacco and Vanzetti case. It also maintains a vast repository of U.S. Supreme Court records and briefs.

Buildings and facilities

The primary facility is the monumental Langdell Hall, a Beaux-Arts building anchoring the Harvard campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The complex includes the historic Areeda and Griswold reading rooms, known for their grand architectural details. The adjacent Lewis Center houses the International Legal Studies library. Modern additions and renovations have integrated the Pound Building and created the Wasserstein Hall, Caspersen Student Center, and Clinical Wing complex, which includes the Clinical library. Study spaces range from the iconic Reading Room in Langdell to numerous group study rooms and technology-equipped carrels.

Services and access

It provides extensive reference and research assistance through its team of librarians, many specializing in areas like Tax Law or Human Rights Law. The library offers interlibrary loan services through the Harvard Library system and participates in the Research Libraries Group network. While primary access is for the Harvard community, qualified scholars from other institutions and members of the Massachusetts Bar can apply for access. Services include course reserves for HLS classes, dedicated research consultations, and a robust Document Delivery program for faculty.

Digital initiatives and special projects

A leader in legal informatics, it hosts the Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard repository for scholarly works. Major digitization projects include the Making of Modern Law series and the Foreign Law Guide. The library is a key partner in the Caselaw Access Project, which has digitized millions of U.S. court decisions. Other initiatives include the Historical & Special Collections online exhibitions and the development of the Bluebook Online. It also contributes to the World Legal Information Institute and hosts the Islamic Law Blog.

Governance and administration

The library operates under the Dean of Harvard Law School, with daily management led by the Vice Dean for Library and Information Resources. It is an integral part of the larger Harvard Library system, collaborating with peers like the Harvard College Library and the Harvard Business School's Baker Library. Key administrative units include Collections & Digital Services, Research & Instruction, and Historical & Special Collections. Advisory committees, often including faculty like Dean Emerita Minow and Dean Manning, guide policy on acquisitions and access.

Category:Harvard University libraries Category:Harvard Law School Category:Law libraries in Massachusetts Category:Libraries in Cambridge, Massachusetts Category:Academic libraries in the United States