Law librarianship encompasses a wide range of job responsibilities in a variety of settings, based on a foundation of a common bibliography, the provision of information services, and the assistance of users with their research needs. Interdisciplinary research will increase in frequency, scope and importance as the profession adapts to changes in its demands and the needs of end users. Technology will continue to change the work and the workplace of law librarians. The Research Agenda is structured to promote exploration of these changes, and others, as they affect the profession. An essential underpinning of the Research Agenda is the assurance of intellectual freedom in Association-sponsored research.
Intellectual freedom is a cornerstone of librarianship.
It allows both the researcher and the end user to explore new areas of knowledge and reach conclusions and recommendations free from oversight and pre-determined results. The American Association of Law Libraries adheres to the principles of intellectual freedom and does not seek specific outcomes from any research produced under its auspices. The Research Agenda is not comprehensive. It will change as research projects are completed and conditions warrant. The AALL Research Committee invites law librarians and other interested researchers to explore the items listed in the Research Agenda, and looks forward to working with them to develop research projects and publicize their results.