Janis Lee Johnston

Born in Iowa, but raised in Northern Indiana, Janis Lee Johnston graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1966. She then attended Purdue University, where she received her B.A. in European History (1972). In January 1973, she enrolled as an undeclared graduate student at Indiana University South Bend, working at the school’s library as she attended classes. In June of 1975 Johnston enrolled in the graduate library science program at the University of Illinois. While at Illinois, she had the opportunity to take a legal reference class taught by legendary law librarian Bob Berring. She graduated in 1976 and became a cataloger at the Marian County Public Library (1976-77), before taking her first job in a law library as the librarian for the Marion County Law Library (1977-79). After spending a year in India (1980-81), where she worked as the Rural Development Coordinator for the Indian Institute of Cultural Affairs, she accepted a position as the Serials Librarian at the Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington. Three years later she became the law library\u27s Assistant Head of Technical Services. While working in the library, Johnston was also a part-time law student, receiving her JD in 1987 (Cum Laude). Upon graduation, Johnston accepted a position at the University of Notre Dame Law School’s Kresge Library (1987-1999) and rose to the position Associate Director. In 1999 she became the Director of the Jenner Memorial Law Library and Associate Professor of Law at the University of Illinois, a position she held until her retirement in 2013. Long active in the American Association of Law Libraries, Johnston served as the association’s president in 2003-04. In 2014 she was inducted into the AALL Hall of Fame, the same year she was presented the Marian Gould Gallagher Distinguished Service Award. Johnston authored numerous publications in the field of law librarianship, including 1998’s Law Library Journal article of the year “Managing the Boss” (89 Law Library Journal 21). Additionally, Johnston was co-founder and co-chair of the Chinese and American Forum on Legal Information and Law Libraries (2006-2012).https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/notablealumni/1265/thumbnail.jp