Babler an encyclopedia of knowledge

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For Emma Babler, every day at the library is a little different.

Babler, reference and technology librarian at the University of Wisconsin Law Library, has a myriad of tasks to keep her busy, including maintaining the library’s website and social media postings, helping faculty and students with questions and developing its collection.

“I work primarily with technology, so with that comes the usual difficulties of learning curves and patrons with varying technology skills,” she said. “I enjoy the challenge, though I have learned a lot personally — some basic coding and I redid our entire website last summer — and I like teaching others how to use technology as well. I think everyone can learn how to use technology as long as they are willing to try.”

Babler earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2015. While she was a law student, Babler also earned her master’s degree in library science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

A Wisconsin Idea Merit Scholar during her student days, Babler worked on a variety of legal research topics, ranging from archival documentation to pro se outreach. She was hired full-time at the University of Wisconsin Law Library in 2017.

“Through her instructional, research and outreach skills, Emma has proved to be an indispensable member of the UW Law Library team,” said Bonnie Shucha, associate dean of Library & Information Science and director of the Law Library at the University of Wisconsin Law School.

“It is a great privilege to work alongside such a wonderful and competent professional as Emma. She is already an accomplished law librarian, having established a great degree of understanding of both the legal world and the library world.”