Brandeis Spotlight: Erin Gow

As the Brandeis Law Library’s online services librarian, Erin Gow is responsible for updating the library’s website and social media, monitoring changes in electronic databases and creating research guides for professors. 

She shares a bit about herself here.

What brought you to Brandeis? 

Initially I was looking to move back to the U.S. from overseas. This job came up here and it was the perfect location and exactly what I wanted to do. I grew up in Richmond and Berea, Kentucky, and I went to UK, so Louisville was close to home without being too close!

What were you doing overseas?

I did my library degree there, and then I started working in law libraries over there. The libraries I worked at were attached to professional organizations, the Inns of Court. There’s not quite an American equivalent, but it would be a bit like if a bar association had a library.

In total I lived in England for about six years, until the laws changed and my wife was able to immigrate to the US with me.

Did you always want to work in a law library? 

Not at all! I have an undergraduate degree in education, so I originally was going to be a children’s librarian or a school librarian. 

When I was studying, our dissertation was structured around a research project and a practical library placement. The law library that I ended up working in had a project about researching user training needs in their library, so I got into it that way. Then I actually really enjoyed the environment, and ended up getting a job in an affiliated law library. One thing just led to another, and here I am.

What has surprised you about going from a European setting to an American setting?

There was definitely some culture shock. This is actually the first full-time job I’ve had in the U.S., I’d only ever done part-time or temp work here before.

And the legal system is totally different at every level, of course, with the state and the federal distinction here. In the UK, I was working with practicing lawyers, and they split up the legal profession into barristers and solicitors, which doesn’t happen in the U.S. It’s just a totally different way of thinking about how the law works.

What do you and your wife like to do for fun? 

We like to travel a lot and get to know the area. Last year we went to WorldFest, which was a nice chance for my wife, who is Australian, to feel a little more at home. We’ve been to Kentucky Down Under too, which was a similar little piece of home for her. We went to one of the local apple orchards in the fall, which was lovely, and we’ve visited a lot of local fairs and festivals. And we spend a lot of time trying new food! There’s so much food that Rachael has to try: chicken and waffles, hot brown, spoonbread.

I still have friends and family in the area too, and it’s nice to be able to catch up with them after being away for so long.

What might people be surprised to know about you?

I used to be a puppeteer. It was a group that did educational puppet shows for kids. I did that for years.

Initially, I got into puppeteering through Girl Scouts. I’ve been a Girl Scout since I was five, and as an adult I became a leader. That’s how I went overseas for the first time actually, and how I met my wife. We were both in London volunteering for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. They have five world centers where they do programs and events, and people can come to stay. One of the world centers is in London, and I spent several months volunteering there while I was in college. It was an amazing experience. You had new visitors from all over the world constantly coming through, and you had staff and volunteers from all over the world living and working together.