Robin Schard, J.D. '90, is a seasoned library professional with a wealth of experience in academic libraries. Recently appointed as the director of the library for the University of Miami School of Law, Schard brings a unique combination of technical expertise and a deep understanding of the role of libraries in higher education. With a strong commitment to providing students and faculty with the resources and services they need to succeed, Schard is poised to make a significant impact on the academic community at Miami Law.
"It's an exciting time for libraries," said Schard, who earned her B.A. and M.L.S. degrees from Rutgers University. "This week I taught my first class on building better prompts for use with AI tools. The library will need to ensure that our students are prepared to use new technologies in practice, and we will need to leverage AI and other legal technology to support scholarship, programs, and projects at the law school. The library will also need to be involved in preparing students for the NextGen Bar exam, which is still a few years away. The new bar exam will test various skills, most importantly (for the library) legal research."
Schard looks back fondly at her time as a student at Miami Law. In addition to working as a part-time student assistant in the Law Library, she also served as an associate editor of the Inter-American Law Review.
"I had so many wonderful professors, and I really enjoyed being on Inter-American Law Review, working with such a great group of fellow students," said Schard. "I didn't know it at the time, but finding the most obscure resources for this journal was great preparation for my future career. Additionally, I worked part-time in the law library. The people (some of whom are still here) were so witty and kind, and it was a huge relief from law school stress."
After graduating from Miami Law, Schard completed a state court judicial clerkship before deciding to move into librarianship. She served as the head of reference services at Marquette University Law Library and as a reference librarian at the Atlantic City Free Public Library and the Wildwood Crest Public Library. In addition to her role at the law library, she serves on the editorial board of the peer-reviewed journal "Internet Reference Services Quarterly", teaches Legal Research Techniques and Law, Technology and Practice, and is an active member in the American Association of Law Libraries, participating in several committees.
"As a law student, I did not always feel that the law library was a welcoming place," said Schard. "This is certainly one of the things we've worked hard to improve during my time here—everyone should feel welcome in the law library."
During this academic year, Schard will be holding a series of conversations with law community members to see how the library can better serve the work of the Law School.
Read more about Miami Law’s Law Library.
