Library 127: Cornell Library (Vermont Law and Graduate School)
Law for the community and the world.
Library 127! The Julien and Virginia Cornell Library at the Vermont Law and Graduate School was the first library of 2025 and the 127th stop on my quest to read, write, and knit in every public (and academic) library in Vermont.
I read: student interviews
I wrote: a grant report
I knit: a merry ear flap hat in rustic bulky by Neighborhood Fiber Company.
This is the second library where my photo contained three hand-knit sweaters (the first hat trick was at the Haskell Free Library & Opera House with Eva Sollberger). This time Rhonda was wearing a hand-spun, hand-knit textured beauty (along with hand knit gloves and hat) and Sarah was wearing a lopi colorwork zinger. When I meet librarians in hand knits I don’t know where to start. I just want 15 hours to hear the story of each item + their knitting autobiography + life long friendship.
Rhonda and Sarah gave me a lovely tour of this one and only legal library in our state. The words “lex pro urbe et orbe” (law for the community and the world) in the lobby declare their commitment to making legal research accessible to the public, and their “CLIC” program furthers that mission for those who want to represent themselves in court or figure something out without hiring a lawyer. It also supports incarcerated Vermonters, my favorite fact about this library.
The top floor boasts the largest interdisciplinary environmental collection in the country to support their environmental law and policy programs, as well as the largest jade plant I have ever seen to support this library’s commitment to indoor plants.
The staff offices and lounges have serious personality. Plants! Also spotted: post card collections, a Jane Austin shrine, bird cross stitch, art, RGB quotes, rows of legal books, queer pride flags, years of photos of whole-staff Halloween costume competitions. To me, personality tucked into corners here and there is a sign of a great place to work, and staff who feel comfortable being who they are in their professional environment.
I basically wanted to move in.
Other features of this library that were downright charming include: A fighting Swan named “Paige Turner” who kindly posed for a photo with Hen Solo, seven copies of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, and a frog hiding in the linoleum of the old schoolhouse. There was also an art gallery dedicated to Dean Shirley Jefferson, who has not yet retired and still works there, because everyone just loves Dean Jefferson so much. A lovely tribute.
Being in this library made me want to study law. That’s a first.
What a way to kick off 2025! Thanks for your kind hospitality, Vermont Law School!
Paige Turner the fighting swan!(insert cry/laughing emoji)