Kurt Melchior Retires as Board President of San Francisco Law Library After Nearly 40 Years

Kurt Melchior recently retired as Board President from the San Francisco Law Library. Kurt has been a member of the San Francisco Law Library since 1980, and its President since 1984. Founded in 1870, the Law Library is the oldest county law library in California. It was originally established in 1865 as a private membership library by leading members of the San Francisco bar, but within five years the legal community had expanded so greatly as a result of the boom in San Francisco’s economy that the membership library became a public law library. News of Kurt’s retirement was reported by the Daily Journal (subscription required).

Under Kurt’s leadership, the Law Library transformed from a 19th century institution to a 21st century library when its bookkeeping, catalog and library systems were converted from manual ledgers to automated systems and electronic resources were added to supplement the extensive print collection. Kurt has led the board in efforts to develop a permanent and appropriate facility for the Law Library and its superb Rare Books Collection, which has been housed in temporary and inadequate quarters in recent years. Kurt also appointed the Law Library’s first woman law librarian, Marcia R. Bell, in 1991. He has worked hard to diversify the Board by appointing as trustees women, small-firm attorneys and people of color.

Congratulations on your retirement, Kurt!