In May 2025, I had the pleasure of attending the Annual Conference of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL/ACBD) in the city of Calgary. This marked my fourth time participating in this dynamic professional gathering, and as always, I left inspired, energized, and deeply connected to a community that continues to shape the future of legal information in Canada. This year’s theme, Moving Mountains Together, felt especially timely. It reflected not only the geographic grandeur of the province of Alberta but also the metaphorical mountains that law librarians and legal research professionals face—Artificial Intelligence, Access to Justice, inclusive leadership, team management in hybrid settings, digital preservation, and more.
One of the standout features of this year’s conference was the exceptional programming from colleagues at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Law. Kim Clarke delivered a compelling session on appellate court citation practices, offering valuable insight into the influence of provincial courts across Canada. Equally thought-provoking was Stephanie Chipeur’s session on Disability & Canadian Law, which provided a critical historical and legal lens on disability justice in Canada. Her presentation offered both a sobering reminder of past injustices and a hopeful look at the resilience and advocacy of disabled communities in claiming equal legal membership in society. Rounding out these intellectually rich contributions was Gideon Christian’s timely presentation, Generative AI in Legal Practice: Risks, Responsibilities, and the Role of Law Librarians. As AI becomes embedded in legal workflows, Gideon emphasized the dual role of librarians: to lead adoption with technological insight and to uphold ethical boundaries. He addressed pressing concerns such as hallucinated citations, embedded bias, and confidentiality, while pointing to court and law society responses as guides for law librarians navigating this new frontier.
I was honored to contribute to the conference with my presentation, Law Librarians Teaching Comparative Law/Bibliothécaires Juridiques Enseignant le Droit Comparé, where I explored how we, as legal information professionals, can deepen the teaching and understanding of comparative law through our unique vantage point. My session emphasized the value of embracing both the theory and practical challenges of comparing legal systems—shifting between the role of insider and outsider, historian and “detective”. We discussed how comparative law helps cultivate well-informed global citizens who understand law not only as a set of rules but as a product of institutions, cultures, languages, and histories. I encouraged participants to reimagine legal research instruction through a multidisciplinary and international lens—incorporating concept mapping, taxonomies, AI tools, and historical resources. Most importantly, I urged librarians to see themselves as embedded educators and connectors—linking students, faculty, and research strategies across domestic and global legal traditions.
Equally inspiring was the energy and presence of new professionals. Events like the Speed Networking session and the Membership Development Committee Reception were buzzing with excitement. The panel on New Professionals in Management Roles spoke volumes about the evolving expectations for early-career librarians. In many legal environments, new hires are asked to wear multiple hats—from cataloguing to strategic planning—and CALL is stepping up to support this next generation. The diversity of keynote speakers also underscored CALL’s commitment to inclusion and interdisciplinary dialogue. From Justice Renée Cochard’s powerful reflections on Indigenous and mental health justice, to Naheed Nenshi’s keynote on civic leadership, the conference offered a broad and urgent look at the role of law libraries in a democratic society.
Beyond the sessions, the informal moments were just as enriching. Whether chatting with colleagues over a glass of wine at the Exhibitor Reception, exploring Calgary during the Dine Arounds and local tours, or connecting with friends new and old in hallway conversations, I was reminded that professional conferences are as much about community as they are about content. The people behind CALL—members, volunteers, organizers—make it an organization worth returning to year after year.
The beauty of being a law librarian lies in our liminal role: we stand at the crossroads of legal scholarship, public service, pedagogy, and information stewardship. We work with faculty, students, practitioners, judges, and the general public—each with different needs, each with different definitions of what it means to “know the law.” This gives us a panoramic view of both the challenges and opportunities within the legal information landscape. If you’re interested in being part of these rich, interdisciplinary, and forward-thinking conversations, I encourage you to consider joining CALL/ACBD. You won’t just find a professional association—you’ll find a professional home.