Albert Brecht

Associate Dean, Chief Information Officer and John Stauffer Professor of LawUSC Gould School of Law

Albert Brecht

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Work: (213) 740-6482
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 699 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90089-0074 USA Room: 202

last updated Mon, Mar 29, 2010

Albert Brecht specializes in computerized legal research and the expanding role of law librarians in the scholarly mission of the faculty. In addition to administering the law library and information technology, Dean Brecht teaches Legal Research.

Dean Brecht has published numerous articles on library administration and the effects of information technology on law libraries. Among his publications are “The Impact of Automation on Academic Libraries” (Law Library Journal, 1991) and “Changes in Legal Scholarship and Their Impact on Law School Library Reference Service” (Law Library Journal, 1984-85).

Before joining USC Law as an assistant librarian in 1973, Dean Brecht completed his B.A. at North Texas State University; his J.D. at the University of Houston; and his M.L.L. at the University of Washington, Seattle. He is a member of the Texas State Bar and a past president of the American Association of Law Libraries. At USC, he has served as a librarian and assistant professor; director of the Law Library and associate professor; professor; and interim deputy university librarian.

Contributions to Books

  • “Service to the Parent Institution: It Is Worth the Effort.” In The Spirit of Law Librarianship: A Reader, 2d ed. (Roy M. Mersky and Richard A. Leiter, eds.) (Alert Publications, Inc., 2005).
  • "Impact of Automation on Academic Libraries." In Legal Information for the 1980's: Meeting the Needs of the Legal Profession (B.W. Taylor, ed.) (Rothman, 1982).

Articles

  • "Vignettes of Julius J. Marke" (with others). 96 Law Library Journal 18 (2004).
  • "Back to the Future - My First Annual Meeting."  In "Stories of 'My First Annual Meeting'" (Frank Houdek, ed.). 88 Law Library Journal 9, 21 (1996).
  • "Automation and the Changing Environment of Legal Scholarship: Introduction." 83 Law Library Journal 623 (1991).
  • "Changes in Legal Scholarship and Their Impact on Law School Library Reference Service." 77 Law Library Journal 157 (1984-85).
  • "Accelerated Legal Research at U.S.C. Law School." 75 Law Library Journal 167 (1982).
  • "Teaching Legal Research Skills." 32 Journal of Legal Education 285 (1982).
  • "Minorities Employed in Law Libraries" (with R. Mills). 71 Law Library Journal 283 (1978).
  • "Recruiting Law Librarians" (contributor). 69 Law Library Journal 7 (1976).

Book Reviews

  • The Executive, Congress, and Foreign Policy: Studies of the Nixon Administration, by J. F. Lehman. 71 Law Library Journal 222 (1978).
  • Sunday Morning: Aspects of Urban Ritual, by M.H. Ducey. 71 Law Library Journal 496 (1978).
  • Stanford Legal Essays, edited by J.H. Merryman. 69 Law Library Journal 115 (1976).

Other Works

  • "Method to the Madness: Ways to Increase Academic Law Librarian Salaries." 6 AALL Spectrum 2 (November 2001).
  • "The Law Library and Information Technology" (with Darin K. Fox and Denise K. Russell). USC Law 23 (Spring 1999).
  • "Case Sensitive: Law Librarians Adapt to Net Expectations" (contributor). Library Journal, July 1998, at 44.
  • "Net Result: More Computers, Less Room." Library Journal, July 1998, at 46.
  • "Changes Affecting Law School Libraries -- Similarities to and Differences from Other Law Libraries." AALL Spectrum, April 1997, at 10.
  • "Changes in Academic Law Librarianship Noted." 19 Syllabus, June 1988, at 6.
  • "From the President." AALL Newsletter, 1987-1988.
  • "The USC Law Library: A Library With Today's Research Capabilities." USC Cites 17 (Fall-Winter 1981-82).
  • Letter to the Editor, "Turning Off the Volume." 71 Law Library Journal 386a (1978).
  • Medical Malpractice Insurance and Its Alternatives: The Legal, Medical, and Insurance Literature--A Bibliography (with A. Holoch and K. Pecarovich) (Council of Planning Librarians, 1975).