AUSTIN, Texas—A rare English dictionary will be formally introduced this week at The University of Texas at Austin as the millionth volume in the vast collection of books at the Tarlton Law Library of the Jamail Center of Legal Research.
John Rastell’s The Exposicions of (the) Termys of (the) Law of England is a unique volume of one of the first English dictionaries ever published. The million-and-first volume, which will be the oldest book in the Rare Book Collection, also will be formally introduced into the collection during a special ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Friday, (Dec. 7) in the law library.
The Jamail Center of Legal Research is the sixth-largest law library in the nation. To celebrate the acquisition of the millionth volume, leading legal scholars from around the world will participate in The Language and the Law Conference at the Jamail Center Friday and Saturday (Dec. 7-8). The public may attend by registering in advance and paying a fee of $295 per person. For registration information, contact Rhonda Hankins at (512) 232-3819.
Participants will discuss the myriad of ways in which language has an impact on law. How that dynamic relationship shapes the functioning and development of the legal system and the creation of laws in the English-speaking world will be a central theme of the conference.
“Speculation on that relationship and its effect on the nature of law libraries and the tasks of law librarians will no doubt stimulate discussions that are likely to affect the future development and growth of law libraries,” said Professor Roy M. Mersky, director of the Jamail Center for Legal Research. “The publication of the conference proceedings will be an invaluable reference work for scholars in the field.”
For more information, contact Mersky at (512) 471-7735. More information is avaliable at the conference Web site.
