Preserving and fostering legacies and learning: The Grisham Law School Library’s dedication to academic excellence and service in the face of historical challenges

Abstract

This article is written by Marci Wicker, a Public Services Law Librarian and Assistant Professor of at the University of Mississippi School of Law. She holds a JD from the University of Mississippi, is a Registered Nurse, and will soon have an MA in Higher Education from the University of Mississippi. This article explores a case study that highlights how the Grisham Law School Library actively cultivates academic exploration and safeguards the intellectual freedoms of its patrons, encompassing both students and faculty. This commitment is particularly pronounced against the historical backdrop of civil rights challenges in Mississippi and the University of Mississippi, exemplified by the 1962 riot. In negotiating these historical intricacies, the library adopts a nuanced approach, transparently acknowledging the past without causing undue distress. Through meticulous archival and collections scrutiny, bolstered by educational initiatives and collaborative endeavors, the library not only underscores its enduring consistency but also demonstrates remarkable resilience as the flagship law school and law library in Mississippi. The Grisham Law School Library, striking a delicate balance between historical awareness and forward-thinking initiatives, emerges as a beacon of adaptability, dedicated to preserving legacies and nurturing learning for the benefit of both current and future legal scholars.

Keywords:

• Special libraries
• special challenges
• University of Mississippi
• University of Mississippi riot
• segregation
• archives
• library archives
• collection development
• racism
• library collections

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Marci Wicker

Marci Wicker is a Public Services Law Librarian and Assistant Professor of the Practice of Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law. She holds a JD and a MHED from the University of Mississippi and is an RN. She teaches courses in risk management and compliance along with legal research.