Alison Alifano, Manager of Library and Research at Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC in Vermont, shares her perspectives from working in three very different library environments. She tells Karen Oesterle about her ongoing work on digitizing resources, including what she learned from introducing online resources at the New York County Lawyers Association.
The Practising Law Librarian, part of the PLI Ever Current podcast, brings you conversations with — and for — the law librarian community. PLI is proud to offer resources to support the essential work of law librarians and practitioners including PLI PLUS, the award-winning legal research platform, and the PLI Librarian blog.
Please note: CLE is not offered for listening to this podcast, and the views and opinions expressed within represent those of the speakers and not necessarily those of PLI.
Featured in this Episode
Alison Alifano
Alison Alifano, Manager of Library and Research at Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC in Burlington, VT, never expected to be a law librarian. Intending to become a marine biologist, she took every science course available at Dowling College, branching out to government and legal courses as she approached graduation. Acquiring paralegal certification, she soon discovered that she enjoyed library work, especially legal research, and completed her MLS.
After stints at Rosenman Colin and White & Case, she moved to Hughes Hubbard & Reed as Assistant Director. Recruited to the New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA) in 1991, she served as Chief Librarian. While there, her library updates included the introduction of online resources, bringing NYCLA into the 20th century. In 2000, Sullivan & Cromwell created the Associate Library Director position for her and she managed all of the firm’s library functions in her last New York City-based position.
In 2014 Alison left New York for idyllic Vermont. Beginning as Manager of Library Services for Downs Rachlin, she now handles all library matters, records, conflicts, and risk management for her firm. She is active in the American Association of Law Libraries and a member of both the Law Library Association of Greater New York and Law Librarians of New England.
