Camille Broussard, Associate Dean and Library Director at New York Law School’s Mendik Library, was honored by American Association of Law Libraries with an AALL Hall of Fame Award in the organization’s 2022 award cycle. The award recognizes the “achievements of law librarians and legal information professionals for their service to the legal information profession and contributions to legal literature,” according to the AALL’s announcement of the awards.
“Dean Broussard leads our world class law library and provides the kind of leadership and vision every school needs in its Chief Law Librarian—she is our rock!” says Anthony W. Crowell, NYLS Dean and President.
Dean Broussard’s award honored her contributions to the Association, and in particular, the Social Responsibilities Section activities. She has served NYLS since 1991, when she joined the Library as Head of Reference Services. Since 2008, she has served as the Library’s Director. She joined NYLS with rich experience as a librarian, having held positions as New York University Law Library and the Boley Library at Lewis and Clark College. Dean Broussardalso teaches practical legal research skills classes, including the advanced legal research seminar Legal Research Skills for the Digital World, among other research workshops and database searching classes.
Dean Broussard collaborates with faculty members to integrate vital legal research skills into their coursework: “Effective research skills are vital components of the lawyer’s toolkit,” she says. Students who can see the contextual connection between the theory and practice of law are better prepared as lawyers, she says, and “working with faculty to craft relevant, in-class exercises or other contextual research exercises can show students the importance of research to all areas of law.”
A dedicated member of the professional law librarian community, Dean Broussard’s award from AALL is especially meaningful. “To be honored by one’s professional association is truly humbling,” she said in an AALL press release. “To be selected for the AALL Hall of Fame and placed in the distinguished ranks of past honorees and colleagues of this great profession is an incredible reward. AALL has given me so many opportunities to do the work I enjoy surrounded by a wonderful community of friends and supporters all working to make our great Association even stronger.”
NYLS alumnus Steven Antonio Lastres ’03, retired Director of Knowledge Management Services at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, also received an AALL Hall of Fame Award this year.
“This award reflects NYLS’s commitment to excellence and the inspiration we provide to students and alumni—like Steven Antonio Lastres ’03—who go out into the world and serve the profession with the same dedication and quest for knowledge and truth,” Crowell says.