Law Librarian Honored

Leonette Williams was awarded for her volunteer service -By Jared Servantez Leonette Williams, associate director of the law library for collection and administrative services, was one of two law librarians honored by the American Association of Law Libraries with its 2015 Volunteer Service Award.

Leonette Williams has worked at the USC Law Library for over 30 years.

“I’m thrilled to have been chosen as a Volunteer Service Award winner,” Williams said. “I never think about awards, but I love being surprised by one if it should come my way.”

Established in 2009, the AALL Volunteer Service Award honors the association’s members who have made significant contributions by volunteering for special projects, chairing a committee, volunteering or presenting at the AALL Annual Meeting, serving as a chapter president, or representing the association in an official capacity to an outside entity.

Williams has served as both a member and chair of 15 different committees within AALL. She has also remained active in AALL's regional chapter, Southern California Association of Law Libraries, including serving as president, vice president, treasurer, board member, and receiving the Chapter Service Award twice.

“The interesting thing about volunteering is that those of us who volunteer do it for the sheer joy of the act itself; not for acknowledgement,” she said. “Selfless voluntary service opens doors to a wealth of rewards in experience, learning, and personal connection.”

Williams first started working at the USC Law Library as the acquisitions librarian over 30 years ago after graduating from USC with an M.S. in library science.

During her career at USC, she was appointed by former President Steven B. Sample as the university's representative to the Bryn Mawr Summer Institute for Women in Higher Education Administration, served as both president and vice president of the USC Faculty Center (now University Club) Board of Directors, and held various positions on the USC Women in Management Executive Board.

Williams and other AALL award recipients will be recognized at the upcoming 108th AALL Annual Meeting & Conference, to be held in Philadelphia from July 18-21, 2015.