Middle Temple Law Library

Check out the website: https://www.middletemple.org.uk/library-and-archive/library

First off, I am heavily confused on the connection between a knight and a lawyer. This may be because of my RPG games, but I always considered knights as keeping order, not conducting legalities in a court. Just strange, but at the very least, it does give a fanciful atmosphere about justice.

The Middle Temple is one of the four Courts which educate people into law into becoming barristers or solicitors. The main focus however were barristers, as they are the ones who go to court and advocate. To become a barrister, one must study law, then go on for certification. Afterwards, they may try for tenancy in their court. This is where the library can help, as they can find information make it readily available to those trying to become educated. This is the part that makes me want to be librarian, as a keeper and dispenser of information.

Our guide, Mr. Woellhaf, led us through the library and told us of the history and of their categorization of the Law Library. This still did not explain how knights became associated with law, but I did find it interesting how, after nearly 350 years, the Middle Temple considers the USA more advanced in current law, such as privacy rights and computer ethics. I figured that this was because the Middle Temple is focused on interpreting law rather than making laws, and that using reference does help with information building overall. 

Onto the categorization, the Middle Temple essentially organizes their shelves into categories, with each floor dealing with a portion of the world's law. There are law reviews of the entire United Kingdom legislation, but also of the United States and of the European Union. While I am not a stickler for diversity, all of these refer to Western law, and none of eastern law. Granted, laws are extensive and may not work in other cultures, but I figured that referring to Eastern law may help with overall international understandings of laws. It would be interesting to see this change implemented, if the other courts have not an interest in those laws already. Of course, if this change were to occur, there would need to be more shelf space and an amping on cataloging, which I have no idea if it is in the budget.

I guess I am just more into general information rather than libraries of particular subjects. Still, I highly respect the Middle Temple and Mr. Woellhaf's efforts.