Reference

Reference Services

The Reference Librarians of the Downtown Campus Library help students, faculty, and the general public find the information they need for legal, business, and international research. Our professional librarians can advise patrons on research strategies and find the the best resources available in whatever media.

Please feel free to ask the reference librarians for advice and assistance in using the Library, strategies for research, using our online catalog and other electronic databases, and locating resources either within or outside the Library.

The Reference Librarians also participate actively in the instructional program of the Downtown Campus. Reference librarians regularly lecture on specialized legal research subjects in the legal writing and legal drafting programs and also develop on-line tutorials and guides for use in these classes and for other programs of the Downtown Campus.

You will find a reference librarian available to help you at the Reference Desk during most times the Library is open. You may also call the Reference Desk (312-906-5670) or e-mail refreq@kentlaw.edu for assistance.

If you have any questions about our services, or would like to arrange an appointment to discuss research strategies with one of our professional librarians, please contact the Director of the Library, Keith Ann Stiverson (kstivers@kentlaw.edu; 312-906-5610).

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Reference Hours

Sunday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm (except during summer session)
Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 9:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

More information about Library hours

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Librarian Biographies

Director Biographies

Keith Ann Stiverson, Director

Ms. Stiverson received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and her graduate degree in library science from Catholic University of America. She came to Chicago-Kent in May 2001 from the law school of the University of Texas at Austin, where she served as Deputy Law Librarian for five years. From 1988-1996, Ms. Stiverson was Special Assistant to the Law Librarian at the Library of Congress, and also served on a 7-member, Library-wide team charged with improving services to the Congress. Ms. Stiverson is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Ohio, and from 1985-1988 was an associate at Peck, Shaffer & Williams in Cincinnati, a firm specializing in municipal bonds. She has taught an advanced research course in the law school and from 2002-2004 was an adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Library & Information Science at Dominican University.

JoAnn Hounshell, Director of Bibliographic Services

JoAnn received her MLIS from Catholic University of America, and her BS in Business Administration from the University of Virginia at Wise. She came to Chicago-Kent in April 2003 from Northwestern University School of Law, where she was the Head of Acquisitions from 1995-2003. Prior to joining Northwestern University, JoAnn worked at the George Mason University School of Law Library in Arlington, VA.

JoAnn is active in the American Association of Law Libraries having served on the Executive Board of the Technical Services Special Interest Section; as a member the Editorial Board and columnist for the Technical Services Law Librarian; and as an instructor for the AALL regional workshop "New Perspectives on Law Library Acquisitions and Collection Development". She recently served as Treasurer to the Chicago Association of Law Libraries.

Reference Staff Biographies

Lucy Moss, Senior Reference Librarian

Lucy received her J.D. from Northwestern University Law School and an M.S.L.S. from the University of Wisconsin. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Olivet College where she received a B.A. in English. She received a State College Fellowship to study at the University of Michigan, where she earned an M.A. in English Literature.

Before coming to Chicago-Kent in 1991, she was the Assistant Director of the National Clearinghouse for Legal Services and Managing Editor of Clearinghouse Review. The Clearinghouse is a national information support center for legal aid lawyers. Prior to attending law school, she was an audiovisual librarian at the Sheboygan, Wisconsin public library and a school board member.

From 2003 to 2004, Lucy served on the American Association of Law Libraries' Committee on Relations with Information Vendors. Since 2004, she has served on the Chicago Association of Law Libraries' Continuing Legal Education Committee.

Debbie Ginsberg, Electronic Resources Librarian

Debbie received a B.A. in Russian Studies from Brown University in 1991. In 1995, she gradated cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law. She obtained her M.L.I.S. in 2001 from Dominican University where she worked as a graduate assistant. She also has a B.F.A. from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Debbie's practice included a clerkship with Justice Warren Wolfson. She spent several years working with Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation, Inc., first with its Suburban Attorney Volunteer Effort and later as its AIDS Advocacy Attorney.

Since joining the Downtown Campus Library, Debbie has been active in professional library organizations, especially those focusing on computing and the Internet. Debbie co-authored "Professional Values: Priceless," published in American Libraries (January 2005). She has also written several articles for Chicago-Kent's Commentator.

Tom Gaylord

Tom received a B.A., with Research Honors, from Illinois Wesleyan University in Political Science, with a minor in Philosophy. While there, he was selected for publication in the school's Undergraduate Review and served on the board of directors of the campus radio station, WESN, as assistant station manager.

Tom received his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law and is a member of the Illinois Bar. After graduating from law school, he practiced law in Chicago, specializing in construction, insurance and environmental law. After practicing, Tom also worked as an environmental consultant and in legal publishing. He received his M.L.I.S. from Dominican University in River Forest, IL in August 2002.

Since joining the Downtown Campus Library, Tom has supervised the interaction between the Legal Research & Writing Department and the Library with regards to in class library instruction and also handles faculty reserves. Tom has also taught Legal Writing III as an adjunct professor.

Stephanie Crawford

Stephanie returned to Chicago-Kent College of Law as a reference librarian in August of 2004 after receiving her M.S. in Library Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she worked as a graduate assistant in the Law Library. She has a B.A. in Rhetoric and History from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law. After law school Stephanie practiced law at Will County Legal Assistance, primarily in the areas of Domestic Violence and School Law.

Maribel Nash

Maribel joined the Downtown Campus Library in June 2007. She received her M.S. in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she worked as a graduate assistant in the College of Law Library. Prior to joining the Downtown Campus Library, Maribel worked as a reference librarian at Valparaiso University School of Law Library.

Maribel received a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law and is a member of the Missouri Bar. She has worked for a family law firm, and held internships with the Missouri Attorney General's Office and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Maribel also has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Illinois.

Maribel serves on the Community Service and Meetings Committees of the Chicago Association of Law Libraries. She also chairs the Patron Services committee for the American Association of Law Libraries Research Instruction, and Patron Services Special Interest Section.