San Diego Law Library Welcomes First Female Director in 135-Year History: Gina Catalano Charts New Course with Innovation and Community Focus

The San Diego Law Library, a cornerstone legal resource approaching its 135th anniversary, has appointed its first female director in its long history. Gina Catalano, who brings a unique background as both a practicing attorney and veteran law librarian, stepped into her new role this month with ambitious plans to blend technological innovation with traditional library services while strengthening community partnerships. Her appointment marks a historic milestone for the institution while promising exciting developments for attorneys and self-represented litigants alike.

From Attorney to Library Director: A Legal Professional’s Journey

Catalano’s path to becoming library director began in legal practice. After working at a small law firm, she and a colleague established their own partnership. As a solo practitioner, she became intimately familiar with the law library’s value.

“I was in the library constantly,” Catalano explains. “I could see the value and impact for solo practitioners. It allowed us to have resources that we never could have purchased on our own to take cases. You do your intake interview and then run to the library to see if you could figure it out, if you could handle it, and if you felt confident in knowing what you were doing.”

After experiencing burnout from legal practice, particularly from “fighting cases against big law firms and how they could really paper you to death,” Catalano sought a career that would still utilize her legal background. When a part-time reference librarian position opened, it changed her life, rising through the ranks to Assistant Director of User Experience for the last 13 years, leading award-winning initiatives to expand and innovate on public access to legal information, and now director.

“I really think I found my calling then because I could use my legal background and help people,” she reflects. “It’s different when you see somebody coming in that just came over from the courthouse and they are terrified and don’t know what to do—and you’re able to calm them down and give them some perspective.”

 Embracing AI While Preserving Core Library Services

As library director, Catalano plans to position the institution at the forefront of technological innovation while maintaining essential traditional services. Her approach to artificial intelligence exemplifies this balanced perspective.

“AI is here to stay whether we like it or not,” Catalano states pragmatically. “As librarians, we have to be on the forefront and not get left behind because we have an obligation to teach people about this new technology—what it can and can’t do and how to best use it.”

One of her first initiatives involves developing a customized law library chatbot. This project aims to create a specialized tool that can search the library’s website, their 58+ legal guides, and link to reputable sources like government websites, statutes, and freely available case law. Catalano emphasizes managing expectations while creating something genuinely useful.

“If we could create a tool where people could search our website, search all of our guides, link it to reputable sources… and get some good response rates so it’s a little more reliable, I think that would be a wonderful tool,” she explains.

Simultaneously, Catalano recognizes the continuing importance of physical resources, especially for self-represented litigants who may face technology challenges. “There’s still a place for print,” she notes. “It’s easier to show them in print what’s happening, and you have more frame of reference when you’re holding a book and can flip back and forth, see a table of contents, see an index.”

 A Resource Hub for Complex Legal Needs

The library serves diverse populations, with family law and landlord-tenant issues representing the most common areas where assistance is sought. Catalano and her team constantly monitor legal developments, particularly in rapidly changing areas like landlord-tenant law.

“I’m watching the news all the time and sending things to the reference librarians,” she says. “We saw that Oceanside proposed some tenant protections, so I’m like, ‘Calendar this. We need to check to make sure if this passed and what to do with it.’”

To maintain accuracy in fast-changing legal areas, the library relies heavily on partnerships with legal professionals. “It’s really helpful to us to have people who are willing to donate their time and volunteer,” Catalano acknowledges. “We do our best, but we’re not experts and we’re not practicing law in these areas.”

Unlike court self-help centers or legal aid organizations that have specific service limitations, the law library can address gaps in legal resources. Catalano points to discovery and contempt issues in family law as examples where other service providers can’t help, but the library tries to fill the gap.

An Unparalleled Resource for New Attorneys

For new attorneys just starting their careers, and seasoned attorneys, the San Diego Law Library offers an incredible range of resources with its $75 annual membership. 

“The amount of things we have—14 databases in the house that you have access to, plus you can check out materials, plus you get free conference room rentals, plus you get remote access to some of the databases… $75 for 14 databases and five floors of information,” Catalano notes with pride.

While the library doesn’t offer formal appointments with librarians, they welcome research assistance requests. “If you walk in or send us an email ahead of time saying, ‘This is my issue, I want to learn,’ we will take the time to do that for you and point you to resources,” Catalano explains. “We can show you how to navigate, show you areas of the library you may be interested in. We have a lot of training materials we do for our new reference librarians, so we even have checklists and stuff that we would probably share with people.”

The library’s extensive YouTube channel has become another invaluable resource, offering 24/7 access to recorded presentations and seminars. “Anytime we ask somebody to speak, we try to get their permission to record it because there’s only so many people that can go to a class at a certain point in time,” says Catalano. “But if we can record it, we can put it on our YouTube channel and reach people 24/7.”

Call for Attorney Involvement

Catalano emphasizes that the library is not competition for attorneys but a potential partner and resource. “I think another message I’d like to send is we’re not a competitor to you,” she stresses. “Sometimes attorneys see us as, ‘Well, you’re taking away our clients because you’re showing them how to do things.’ It’s like, no, they still need human guidance. These are people that have no other options.”

She encourages attorneys to view the library as a strategic vehicle for sharing expertise and even marketing themselves. The library seeks attorneys willing to present on topics including:

– Civil procedure basics (What is a motion? What does it mean?)

– Discovery processes (particularly for self-represented litigants)

– Family law, especially in areas not covered by other services

– Landlord-tenant law updates

“We’re finding those gaps where it’s outside the scope of services [of other providers] but people still need help,” Catalano explains.

Measuring Success Through Impact

When asked how she’ll measure the success of new initiatives, Catalano acknowledges the challenge. “It’s difficult… How do you measure empowerment?” she reflects. While the library tracks usage statistics, website visits, and database utilization, measuring human impact remains complex.

“Winning or losing doesn’t mean we didn’t help you and didn’t have an impact,” she observes. The library relies on user feedback, surveys, testimonials, and communication with community partners to gauge effectiveness.

A Historic Appointment, A Forward-Looking Vision

As the San Diego Law Library approaches its 135th anniversary next year, Catalano’s historic appointment as its first female director signals both recognition of the past and readiness for the future. Her background bridging legal practice and library services positions her uniquely to understand the needs of attorneys, particularly those in solo or small practices.

For new attorneys seeking resources, guidance, and community connections, the San Diego Law Library offers exceptional value. Through technological innovation, educational programming, and continued commitment to accessibility, Catalano aims to ensure this venerable institution remains an indispensable resource for San Diego’s legal community for years to come.

Stephanie S. Germani, Esq., is a landlord-tenant attorney who values the San Diego Law Library as a vital resource for legal professionals and the community. She appreciates its mission to empower attorneys and self-represented litigants alike.