Directory

Thomas Hanley

Professor Emeritus

Emeritus

School of Law

Profile

As the former director of the Zimmerman Law Library, Tom Hanley set library policies, reviewed librarian and staff performance, determined staff salaries and oversaw general library operations. He made sure the librarians were able to do their jobs and help the students and patrons. “I act as chief administrator for the library,” he says.

Originally interested in becoming a pharmacist, Mr. Hanley says experiences in college convinced him to change his major to political science. Studying law seemed like the logical next step, and following law school he went on to pursue a master’s of library science. After graduation, he became a law cataloger at the University of Kansas and then the associate law librarian at the University of Missouri at Columbia.

He came to the University of Dayton School of Law in 1982. The position of director and the opportunity to work with Dean Fred Davis, a colleague from the University of Missouri-Columbia, attracted him to the school. Mr. Hanley had the opportunity to provide substantial input in the design of the library spaces when Keller Hall was built. He says the library has several distinctive features, including a large reserve area, where library materials may be used without the need to be checked out; substantially expandable shelving areas; a flexible floor plan; and extensive hours. The library is open 102 hours per week during a regular semester, and hours are extended during exams.

Professor Hanley retired from the University of Dayton School of Law in April 2013.