Conference brought together law librarians and legal information professionals from NZ and beyond
Law librarians and legal information professionals addressed their role in handling the quick changes in legal information services at The New Zealand Law Librarians Association Conference 2025.
The two-day event drew attendees from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. The conference’s theme was “Whanaungatanga: connections in the digital age”.
Discussions were held on the topics of using generative AI in legal research, AI and data as viewed from the Māori lens, and digital technology use in the courts. The open resource Essential Legal Research Skills in Aotearoa New Zealand also debuted at the conference as a tool to support legal research in the country.
NZLII search platform enhancements were addressed as well. Moreover, national law librarian Camille Tooman unveiled the findings from the New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa’s national survey and focus groups on behalf of the organisation.
Per the survey results, lawyers considered library services like access to subscription databases, comprehensive print collections, and cost-effective research support to be critical to their practice. Respondents also highlighted the important of library staff’s expertise.
Bolstering awareness of services was highlighted as a priority.
