Meet Your Personal Librarian

Karen Breda

Legal Information Librarian & Lecturer in Law

karen.breda@bc.edu

617-552-4407

Library Room 255A
 

Subjects

Civil Litigation

Human Rights

Immigration 

Insurance

Legal Ethics

Courses 

Advanced Legal Research 

Immigration Law Research

Profile

Karen has been a legal information librarian and lecturer at Boston College Law Library since 2007.  She teaches Immigration Law Research, Insurance Law Research and Advanced Legal Research, is the Immigration Law Specialist Librarian and is the librarian liaison to the Center for Experiential Learning.

Prior to joining Boston College Law Library, Karen practiced law, specializing in insurance defense and ERISA benefits litigation. She is a member for the bars of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the State of Oregon, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.  She received her JD from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1988 and her MLIS from Simmons College in 2004. 

Get to Know Your Personal Librarian

What is the most interesting research question you have gotten?

One of our faculty asked me to help her find scholarly articles in the field of neuroeconomics which connected risk-taking personality types to financial fraud.  Before then, I had never heard of the field of neuroeconomics!  I threw myself into the research and learned a lot about the interrelationship of psychology and financial investing.

What is the favorite part of your job?

Helping students with their research projects.

What is your favorite legal research source?

Kurzban's Immigration Law Sourcebook.  It is the bible of immigration law.  I keep my copy handy at my desk.

What is your favorite vacation spot?

Saratoga Springs, New York.  There is a wonderful state park with many mineral springs and spouting geysers there.  The Saratoga County Courthouse is actually within the state park! 

What is your favorite book?

T. S. Eliot, Collected Poems, 1909-1962.  My favorite poem is Eliot's Burnt Norton which is a meditation on the nature of time.

What are your hobbies?

Reading, completing half marathon races, and cooking.

Do you have any pets?

I have a Chow Chow dog and an orange and white rescue cat.

Where is your favorite place to have lunch near the law school campus?

I usually brownbag my lunch and sit either by the Thomas More statue or in the Mone Courtyard when its sunny.  If you see me out there, feel free to stop and chat.