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Therese Broy

Ireland presents a unique blend of old traditions and new inventions- a country with ancient roots that is now at the forefront of many economic and technological advancements. One Irishwoman who embraces the challenges brought on by this synthesis of old and new is Therese Broy, Head Librarian and Director of Information at Arthur Cox, a prominent Dublin law firm. As Ireland's leading law firm, Arthur Cox is involved in many cutting edge legal issues, both nationally and globally. As a result of this, Therese finds herself riding the wave of innovation by encountering more and more sophisticated research questions and tapping into her global resources for help in finding what she needs.

After earning a B.A.(Hons.) in History & Politics from University College Dublin in 1987, Therese went on to obtain a M.A.(Hons.) in International History in 1988, also from UCD. Therese's career in law librarianship began as a trainee in the Library at King's Inns -- the body that governs entry to the profession of barrister-at-law in Ireland. Once Therese obtained her professional librarian qualification, she was appointed Assistant Librarian at King's Inns Library, a position she held until joining Arthur Cox in 1996. In her current position, Therese is responsible for management of the Library and Information Service; conducting research for 'fee earners'; monitoring legislation; reviewing new products and services; training; and, ordering new publications and services.

While Therese estimates that about 90% of the legal research she conducts is 'international' in nature, she states that much of this 'international research' is, in fact, from the European Union. To be sure, the creation of the EU has altered many countries' perceptions of what is truly 'international' in nature. For example, Irish litigants may now take their cases to either Irish or European courts, thus extending the lines of precedent that need to be researched in any given case. Of the research that Therese conducts outside of Irish and European materials, she spends most of her time looking for information from the U.S. or Commonwealth countries. To accomplish these research demands, Therese has access to most major online services, (e.g. LexisNexis Professional); Irish and UK university library information services (e.g. Trinity Information Service and the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in London); and, of course, the ubiquitous Internet.

The Irish people are known worldwide for their warmth and hospitality -- qualities that Therese demonstrates in the wide array of personal contacts that she is able to maintain around the world. First and foremost, Therese cites BIALL, (British and Irish Association of Law Librarians), as her primary source of professional contacts. Therese feels that the globalization movement has influenced closer links between various librarian networks, such as BIALL, AALL, CALL and ALLG. She credits the 1998 Joint Study Institute in Cambridge, England, where these various librarian networks converged, as a 'breakthrough' opportunity for her in getting to know non-Irish librarians. The relative small size of this conference was the real advantage that afforded her the opportunity to forge deeper connections with others from outside her familiar professional circle. These contacts still prove valuable to her today in helping to unravel many complex research questions.

Like many other legal professionals around the globe, Therese has observed an increase in the number of sophisticated research questions that she receives from her clients and, simultaneously, a decrease in the timeframes given for answers to these questions. One outcome of our perpetually-connected, globalized world is that any given event in one country can have almost instantaneous effects in other countries. For example, the Enron debacle in the U.S and its corresponding legislative developments have had profound implications on the legislation and economies in many countries, including Ireland and the EU. As a result of this phenomenon, Therese states that, "We are constantly trying to find out what is about to happen, both nationally and globally." With the luxury of today's technology, Therese realizes that the expectation is that there is 'no excuse' for out-of-date information.

Probably one of the biggest research challenges for Therese is anything that involves Irish legislative materials. This is where the 'ancient' aspect of Ireland has not caught up with the technical advances seen in other areas of the country. For example, Irish legislation, which dates back to the 1500s, is not consolidated. Thus, when one is conducting legislative research, the most formidable task is in making sure that the information is current. While Therese would like to be able to give others advice on how to overcome this obstacle, the best she can offer at the present time is to tell you to be very careful in checking the legislation. In addition, an opportunity awaits the individual or organization that can consolidate Irish legislation and offer researchers a more viable alternative. While Therese cannot help direct others to more useful sources when it comes to Irish legislation, she does recommend the Irish Government Web Site (http://www.irlgov.ie) as a useful source of general information.

While updating Irish legislation can be a time-consuming task, Therese still has time at the end of the day to indulge in an interesting array of personal hobbies. True to Irish tradition, Arthur Cox maintains a Dramatic Society, of which Therese is, literally, an active participant. When not performing on stage, Therese enjoys being in the audience of a theatre or cinema. Tasting wine, reading and traveling are other ways that Therese spends her time outside the Arthur Cox library. So, if Dublin is your destination anytime in the near future and you're looking for Therese Broy, first try the library at Arthur Cox -and if you don't find her there, check the local theatre listings, sit back and enjoy the show!.

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