Blending law and librarianship to support the UB community

by DENISE WOLFE

Matthew Walker: Blending law and librarianship to support the UB community

For nearly three years, Matthew Walker has been a steady and welcoming presence at the Charles B. Sears Law Library.

Walker began working in the law library through a work-study placement during his final year of law school. After completing undergraduate studies in history and classics at Canisius University, he enrolled in law school but soon realized the high-pressure environment was not the right fit. The library, he said, offered something different. He found himself drawn to research and to supporting others.

“I realized the parts of law I liked most were the research and helping people,” Walker said. “Working in the library made me feel useful without the constant pressure I felt in law school. Working here showed me there were options outside of being an attorney.”

Walker earned his law degree from UB in 2024 and now splits his time between working as a student assistant and completing his master’s degree in information and library science. He expects to graduate in May 2026.

Today, Walker holds his own reference desk shift and serves as the student leader during evening hours. He fields questions from peers and acts as the first point of contact before referring more complex issues to supervisors. His law degree, he said, often helps him reassure students who are experiencing the same pressures he once faced.

“During Moot Court, students come to the desk really nervous,” he said. “I tell them that once they start talking, it all flows. Being able to calm someone down because I’ve been there feels meaningful.”

Walker credits law school with sharpening skills that now serve him well in librarianship, particularly clear writing, efficient research habits and comfort navigating databases. He enjoys helping students explore the library’s digital tools and recently taught a OneSearch research session to undergraduates in Silverman Library.

A native of Baldwinsville, outside Syracuse, Walker hopes to continue working in an academic law library after graduation, ideally in New York or Massachusetts. Outside of school and work, he enjoys long walks, yoga and reading, especially now that he has time to read for fun. He also recently adopted a cat, Ariadne, who keeps him company during online coursework.

Walker describes himself as compassionate, humorous, dependable, grounded and genuine — traits that shine through in his daily support of the law library community.