Dalhousie University. University Libraries. Sir James Dunn Law Library

Corporate body (Dalhousie University)

Dalhousie University. University Libraries. Sir James Dunn Law Library

CAN-NSHD/1617-01

1967-

The James Dunn Law Library opened in 1967, occupying the fourth and fifth floors of the newly built Weldon Law Building. The library was funded by the widow of Dalhousie Law School graduate Sir James Dunn. As early as 1969 the Dunn Foundation had initiated funding for the university's first professional law librarian, Professor Eunice W. Beeson, one of Canada's earliest qualified lawyer librarians who is widely credited with establishing the foundation of the modern law school library.

In August 1985, a lightning strike caused an electrical malfunction, igniting a fire that destroyed the library's fifth floor, along with hundreds of books. Despite the losses, the fire was considered a “mixed tragedy" as it spurred the construction of a four-storey addition on the north side of the law building. Completed in 1988, the new library was financed by Lady Beaverbrook, law foundations across Canada, and Dalhousie alumni. The Dunn Law Library now occupies four floors in the Weldon Law Building, offering space for study and research and a collection of over 220,000 volumes.

The Sir James Dunn Law Library is located on Dalhousie University's Sexton Campus, at 6061 University Avenue.

The Sir James Dunn Law Library’s print and digital collections support the teaching and research interests of Schulich Law faculty and students. The International Law and Maritime and Environmental Law collections are particularly strong and attract scholars from around the world. Emphasis is also placed on works that support the research initiatives of Schulich Law’s three institutes.

The Sir James Dunn Law Library is managed by a head librarian who reports to the Dean of Libraries. Head librarians have included Eunice Beeson (1957-1966); Alan Hugh MacDonald (1965-1967; 1969-1971); Christian Wiktor (1971-1998); Ann Morrison (1998-2010); and Anne Matthewman (2010- ).

Dalhousie University. University Libraries (1867 -)

Dalhousie University. University Libraries. MacRae Library (2012-)

Dalhousie University. University Libraries. Sexton Design and Technology Library (1997-)

Dalhousie University. University Libraries. Killam Memorial Library (1971-)

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