Rate My Professor Kate Thompson

Kate Thompson is the Law Librarian at the University of Otago's Faculty of Law, located in the Sir Robert Stout Law Library in Dunedin. With qualifications including a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of Otago, a Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) from Victoria University of Wellington, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching (PGCertTertT) from the University of Otago, she provides expert support to law students and faculty in research, resource discovery, and information literacy. Thompson maintains a comprehensive suite of online subject guides (LibGuides) for key areas such as Law, Asian Studies, Department of Languages and Culture, French, German, Global Studies, Higher Education, NZ Parliament, Spanish, and Generative AI. Her work facilitates access to scholarly resources, legal materials, and emerging topics in academia.

Thompson's academic contributions extend to publications in library and information science. She co-authored the open educational resource Essential Legal Research Skills in Aotearoa New Zealand (2025, University of Auckland edition) with Theresa Buller, Catherine Doughty, Melanie Lovich, and Tracey Thomas. Other notable works include Ethical AI Bloom Law (2025), Listening and learning: myths and misperceptions about postgraduate students and library support (2019, Reference Services Review), The Legal Research Process: Flowchart (2016), and From tourist to treasure hunter: a self-guided orientation programme for first-year students (2008, Health Information & Libraries Journal, co-authored with Rosemary Kardos and Lynne Knapp). These publications, cited over 25 times collectively, address library instruction, student support, and orientation methods. Additionally, she has been active in open access initiatives, contributing to Open Textbooks at Otago and International Open Access Week 2024. Thompson co-curated the exhibition In the Flesh: The Monro Dynasty at the University of Otago Medical Library and supported events for the Faculty of Law's 150th anniversary celebrations.