Jessica Panella believes information has the power to change lives. In her role as Head of Outreach and Community Engagement at UConn Law’s Thomas J. Meskill Law Library, Panella connects people to knowledge, opportunities, and each other. 

Through her work, Panella has expanded the reach and impact of the law library’s services, strengthening the law library’s connection to the state’s legal profession, its libraries, and even the community outside of law and libraries. In recognition of her contributions, the Connecticut Library Association has named her the recipient of its Outstanding Librarian Award.  

“Jessica has helped reimagine what a law library can be—one that supports academic success and serves as a gateway to knowledge, opportunity, and connection beyond our campus,” says Dean Eboni S. Nelson. “This recognition is a well-deserved acknowledgment of her leadership and lasting contributions.” 

The award is given annually to honor the career accomplishments of a librarian in the state who has demonstrated an outstanding record of service to their library and to their profession. 

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by the Connecticut Library Association and deeply meaningful because the award recognizes not only individual accomplishments, but a broader commitment to service, collaboration, and community impact through librarianship,” Panella says. 

Connecting With Communities 

She has worked to build community and institutional support for libraries, partnering with various organizations to both bring UConn Law’s legal expertise into the community and bring the larger Hartford area community to UConn Law’s public library. 

This year, Panella launched the Lawyers in Libraries program at the Law School, in partnership with the Connecticut Bar Association.  The initiative, which connects lawyers with underserved populations through public libraries, is the Hartford area’s first collaboration of its kind. She also worked with Farmington Valley public libraries on a series of programming featuring UConn’s experts speaking on local and historical legal topics in honor of the country’s 250th anniversary. The series elevated the profile of libraries in the area, connecting them with both the University and its alumni. 

Panella similarly connects with Law School alumni through initiatives like Bring Your Child to the Library Day and programming with the Connecticut Bar Association. She has also brought many former student employees back to the library, both physically and virtually. 

A Vision for Libraries and Their Impact 

Throughout her career, Panella has also maintained a commitment to developing the physical space of the library, championing collaborative communal spaces through a blend of creativity, resilience, and administrative skill. 

“I care deeply about libraries as welcoming and transformative spaces,” Panella says. “Much of my work has focused on ensuring libraries remain responsive to the evolving needs of their communities.” 

She played a key part in the library’s reconstruction project, managing construction challenges and offering service-design changes like transforming the traditional circulation desk into an integrated service desk. 

Panella also teaches The Practice of Law and Professional Identity at UConn’s Special Program in Law, which helps undergraduate students on the path to law school. The course introduces future legal professionals to libraries’ role in supporting ethical, informed practice. 

Previously, Panella was elected to the Law Librarians of New England executive board as the Education Committee co-chair. In that position, she spearheaded impactful programs such as “Dismantling Bias” and “Inaccessible Justice.” 

“Jessica has an ability to build relationships and inspire collaboration,” library director Jessica de Perio Wittman says. “She connects academic and public libraries, librarians and legal professionals, the campus and the wider community, and past and future generations of library users. Colleagues across institutions describe her as a positive, collaborative presence whose energy is contagious and whose creativity and dedication continually expand what libraries can do for the public they serve.”