5 Essential Secrets Of The Detroit Mercy Law Library (Kresge Law Library) In 2025
The Kresge Law Library, the academic heart of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, is far more than a traditional repository of legal texts. As of December 19, 2025, it stands as a critical, high-tech hub that supports groundbreaking legal education, including Michigan’s first and only Online JD program. Its strategic location on the Riverfront Campus in downtown Detroit—the center of the region's largest legal community—positions it as an indispensable resource for students, faculty, and the public alike.
This dynamic institution seamlessly blends over a century of legal history with cutting-edge digital resources, ensuring its users have access to both foundational research and millions of digital documents. From its specialized Red Mass Archive Collection to its expert team of librarians, the library is constantly evolving to meet the complex demands of modern legal practice and scholarship in 2025.
The Law Library Leadership and Expert Staff Profile
The Kresge Law Library’s success is directly attributable to its dedicated and highly specialized personnel, who are essential in guiding students and faculty through complex legal research. Their expertise ensures the library’s collections and services remain current and relevant in a rapidly changing legal landscape.
- Patrick Meyer: Associate Dean for Library Services & Professor of Law. Professor Meyer is the chief administrative officer for the library, managing the budget, personnel, and overall strategic direction. His role is crucial in integrating library services with the Law School's academic mission.
- Michael Bird: Head of Public Services. Promoted in August 2025, Bird manages the public-facing operations, including reference services, circulation, and ensuring seamless access to both physical and digital resources for all users. He originally joined Detroit Mercy Law in 2022 as the Reference & Serials Librarian.
- Jennifer Hostetler: Reference & Government Documents Librarian. Hostetler specializes in assisting researchers with complex inquiries and navigating the extensive collection of government documents, a vital component of legal research.
- Elaine Manning: Cataloging Librarian. Manning is responsible for the organization and classification of the library's extensive collection, ensuring that the over 420,000 print volumes and millions of digital items are easily discoverable.
This team of legal information specialists is committed to providing interactive research guides, one-on-one consultation, and essential support for every program offered by the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, including the US JD, the Canadian & American Dual JD, and the innovative Online JD program.
Digital Dominance: Cutting-Edge Research Resources and Technology
In the 21st century, a top-tier law library must excel in the digital realm, and the Detroit Mercy Law Library meets this challenge head-on. The library’s commitment to digital access ensures that students, whether on the Riverfront Campus or participating in the new Online JD program, have 24/7 access to the resources they need.
The Power of the Discovery Layer and Databases
The cornerstone of the library’s digital strategy is its sophisticated discovery layer, Summon. This "one-stop solution" allows users to search across the majority of the library’s vast physical and digital holdings simultaneously, including books, e-journals, and case law. This integration streamlines the research process, making complex legal information instantly accessible.
In addition to Summon, the library provides access to a wide variety of premium legal and inter-disciplinary databases, which are critical for in-depth scholarly work. These resources include:
- HeinOnline: Essential for accessing law review articles, historical legal documents, and specialized government publications.
- Legal Databases: Access to major legal research platforms, providing up-to-the-minute case law, statutes, and regulatory materials.
- Inter-Disciplinary Databases: Resources that support the research needs of faculty and students exploring the intersection of law with other fields, such as business, ethics, and social justice.
Wireless internet access is available throughout the Kresge Law Library, supporting the use of personal devices and public research terminals. Furthermore, the library maintains specialized technology like a Microfiche Digital Reader, ensuring that historical documents and older serials can be easily digitized and used in modern research projects.
Unique Collections and the Public’s Access to Legal Knowledge
While the digital collection is robust, the Kresge Law Library’s physical holdings and special collections offer a deep dive into historical and regional legal scholarship that cannot be replicated online. The library holds over 420,000 print volumes, providing foundational texts and historical context for legal studies.
The Red Mass Archive Collection
A particularly unique and historically significant holding is the Red Mass Archive Collection. The Red Mass is a tradition dating back to the 13th century, celebrated annually to invoke God’s blessing on the judiciary, legal profession, and all who work to administer justice. Detroit Mercy Law has a long and storied history with this event, and the archive preserves programs, correspondence, and other historical materials related to the Detroit Red Mass ceremonies. This collection serves as a powerful resource for scholars interested in the intersection of law, faith, and ethics in the Michigan legal community.
Commitment to Public Access and Community
The Detroit Mercy Law Library operates with a strong commitment to the broader community. The Kresge Law Library is officially open to members of the public, in addition to its primary users—faculty, staff, students, and alumni. This policy solidifies the Law School's dedication to increasing access to legal education and information, a core tenet of its mission since opening its doors in 1912.
The library’s location in the heart of downtown Detroit, near the federal and state courthouses, makes it a vital resource for legal practitioners and researchers in the city. The staff regularly updates the collection, with new acquisitions released monthly, ensuring that the physical and digital holdings reflect the most current state of the law.
Supporting Innovative Legal Education: Online and Dual JD Programs
The Kresge Law Library plays an indispensable role in supporting the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law’s innovative academic offerings. These programs require sophisticated and flexible library services that can reach students across different formats and geographical locations.
The Rise of the Online JD Program
Detroit Mercy Law is the first and only law school in Michigan to offer a fully online Juris Doctor (JD) program. The library is crucial to the success of this initiative, providing comprehensive digital support. Online JD students rely entirely on the library’s extensive network of databases, e-books, and digital research guides. The library staff’s expertise in remote reference services and digital resource management ensures that the quality of legal research for an online student is identical to that of a student on the Riverfront Campus.
Canadian & American Dual JD Program
The Dual JD program, which allows students to earn both a U.S. and a Canadian JD, presents unique research challenges. The library’s collection must be robust enough to support comparative legal research, requiring materials from both U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions. The staff are trained to guide students through the complexities of transnational legal systems, utilizing interlibrary loan services and specialized databases to bridge the gap between two distinct legal frameworks.
In summary, the Detroit Mercy Law Library is a modern, forward-thinking institution. Under the guidance of leaders like Associate Dean Patrick Meyer and Head of Public Services Michael Bird, it continues to evolve its digital footprint, maintain unique historical collections like the Red Mass Archive, and provide essential support for the next generation of legal scholars through innovative programs like the Online JD. Its status as a public-access library further reinforces its vital role as a pillar of legal knowledge in the Detroit metropolitan area.
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