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The Journey of Establishing the Law Library for Bhutan’s First Law School

Published/Copyright: March 25, 2025
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International Journal of Legal Information
From the journal International Journal of Legal Information Volume 52 Issue 3

Abstract

Established in 2015 by Royal Charter, the Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law (JSW Law) opened to students in 2017 and is Bhutan’s only law school. This article describes the author’s journey in establishing JSW Law’s library. From earning an MLIS to finalizing construction plans and purchasing materials, the author’s journey was complex and challenging. However, the JSW Law Library is now open and provides faculty and students with a modern space for research and study.

Keywords: Bhutan; JSW Law; JSW Law Library; law libraries; collection development

Editor’s Note: I met Ugyen at the 2024 American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) annual meeting in Chicago. He had received the FCIL-SIS’s Schaffer Grant for Foreign Librarians to attend the conference. He gave a fascinating lecture on his experience creating Bhutan’s first law library, so I asked him if he could write an article about that experience for publication in the IJLI. He kindly agreed.

  1. 1

    National Statistics Bureau, “Bhutan at a glance,” accessed Nov. 15, 2024, https://www.nsb.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2023/10/Bhutan-At-a-Glance.

  2. 2

    Gelephu Mindfulness City, “About us,” accessed Nov. 15, 2024, https://gmc.bt/about-us/.

  3. 3

    The Constitution of Bhutan was enacted on July 18, 2008, and marks the country’s transition from a monarchy to a democratic constitutional monarchy.

  4. 4

    M. Childs and S.Sexton, “Starting a new law school library: Successes and challenges,” Legal Information Management11, no. 3 (2011): 191–97.

  5. 5

    The Royal Institute of Law, “Master plan for the establishment of the Royal Institute of Law” (Oct. 23, 2013), 15.

  6. 6

    Library, “Detail Project Report for the establishment of the Royal Institute of Law” (Feb. 6, 2014), 56–58.

  7. 7

    See American Bar Association Standard 606.

  8. 8

    See American Bar Association Standards 601(c) and 704.

  9. 9

    A. Fitzgerald and S.Lee, “Library innovation in the digital age: A strategic framework for law school libraries,” Journal of Library Administration52, no. 1 (2013): 55–68.

  10. 10

    Library, “Detail Project Report for the establishment of the Royal Institute of Law” (n 6).

  11. 11

    Judy Stark is a consultant from the White & Case law firm based in Washington, DC.

  12. 12

    National Assembly of Bhutan, “Parliament Business, Act,” accessed Nov. 14, 2024, https://nab.gov.bt/page/acts.

  13. 13

    Ibid.

  14. 14

    Judiciary of Bhutan, “Publications, judgments,” accessed Nov. 14, 2024, https://nationalcouncil.bt/page/acts.

  15. 15

    Section 96 (A), “Civil and Criminal Procedure Code (CCPC) (Amendment) Act 2011,” which states that the judgment of the Court shall be made accessible in the public domain, including libraries.

  16. 16

    P. Murray , “Creating collaborative spaces in law libraries: Challenges and solutions,” Legal Reference Services Quarterly37, no. 2 (2018): 75–91.

  17. 17

    Childs and Sexton (n 4).

  18. 18

    Sonam Wangdi and Kelly Tobden DorjiTamang, “The Perspective of Library Management in Bhutan: Roles, Challenges and Opportunities,” International Information & Library Review55, no. 4 (2023): 302–31. doi: 10.1080/10572317.2023.2167052.

  19. 19

    Pema Choden, “The Role of Libraries in Developing Reading Culture: A Bhutanese Perspective,” Thimphu: National Library of Bhutan, 2020.

  20. 20

    Roy Balleste , SoniaLuna-Lamas, and LisaSmith-Butler, eds., Law Librarianship in the Twenty-First Century, 2nd ed. (Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 2014).

  21. 21

    Royal Institute of Law, “The Programme Advisory Committee Report” (Oct. 22, 2014).

  22. 22

    Fitzgerald and Lee (n 9).

  23. 23

    L. Johnson , “The evolving role of digital resources in law school libraries,” International Journal of Legal Information48, no. 1 (2020): 37–53.

  24. 24

    Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law, “Library,” accessed Nov. 14, 2024, https://jswlaw.bt/library/.

Published Online: 2025-03-25
Published in Print: 2024-12-01

© The Author(s), 2025. Published by International Association of Law Libraries

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Article
  2. Some Personal Reflections on Enhancing Global North – Global South Academic Cooperation in Legal Higher Education in the Era of Artificial Intelligence
  3. Development of Large Language Models: Copyright Law Perspectives for Research Institutions and Research Libraries
  4. Implementation of a Library Management System in a Malaysian Law Firm Library
  5. Global Studies in Asian Laws
  6. The Journey of Establishing the Law Library for Bhutan’s First Law School
  7. International Calendar
  8. INTERNATIONAL CALENDAR
  9. Miscellaneous
  10. Sustainable Public Procurement of Infrastructure and Human Rights: Beyond Building Green
  11. Research Handbook on International Abortion Law
  12. Literary Characters in Intellectual Property Law.
  13. Expropriation by Law: Intellectual Property, Value and Labor
  14. Advanced Introduction to Cultural Heritage Law
  15. Column
  16. Behind the Books: Global Insights from Law Librarians
  17. Front Cover (OFC, IFC) and matter
  18. JLI volume 52 issue 3 Cover and Front matter
  19. Back Cover (IBC, OBC) and matter
  20. JLI volume 52 issue 3 Cover and Back matter
  21. Editorial Comment
  22. EDITORIAL COMMENT
https://doi.org/10.1017/jli.2025.8
Keywords for this article
Bhutan; JSW Law; JSW Law Library; law libraries; collection development

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Article
  2. Some Personal Reflections on Enhancing Global North – Global South Academic Cooperation in Legal Higher Education in the Era of Artificial Intelligence
  3. Development of Large Language Models: Copyright Law Perspectives for Research Institutions and Research Libraries
  4. Implementation of a Library Management System in a Malaysian Law Firm Library
  5. Global Studies in Asian Laws
  6. The Journey of Establishing the Law Library for Bhutan’s First Law School
  7. International Calendar
  8. INTERNATIONAL CALENDAR
  9. Miscellaneous
  10. Sustainable Public Procurement of Infrastructure and Human Rights: Beyond Building Green
  11. Research Handbook on International Abortion Law
  12. Literary Characters in Intellectual Property Law.
  13. Expropriation by Law: Intellectual Property, Value and Labor
  14. Advanced Introduction to Cultural Heritage Law
  15. Column
  16. Behind the Books: Global Insights from Law Librarians
  17. Front Cover (OFC, IFC) and matter
  18. JLI volume 52 issue 3 Cover and Front matter
  19. Back Cover (IBC, OBC) and matter
  20. JLI volume 52 issue 3 Cover and Back matter
  21. Editorial Comment
  22. EDITORIAL COMMENT
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