Meet Professor Franky Newcomb
For Franky Newcomb, being a librarian isn’t just a job—it’s an identity. As Marquette Law School’s new Reference and Instructional Services Law Librarian, Newcomb brings a passion for research, learning, and helping others navigate the world of legal information. Joining the faculty in 2024, Newcomb’s unique journey through libraries and law has shaped a career that blends expertise, curiosity, and a commitment to service.
“I think of myself as a librarian first and a lawyer second. My background is mostly in libraries—this is the fifth library I’ve worked in overall. It’s also the second law library and the first university law library where I’ve had the privilege to work,” said Newcomb
In this role, Newcomb will also teach a course in Advanced Legal Research: Wisconsin (ALR). An ALR is a class designed to prepare students to research issues specific to Wisconsin law, focusing on resources related to the state's executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
Although most of Newcomb’s professional experience comes from their work in libraries, they have also worked doing disability advocacy at Disability Rights Wisconsin and conducting document review for an antitrust law firm in Minneapolis. However, they feel being a law librarian is a special honor.
“I believe it’s great career. Every time I tell people I’m a law librarian, the common response I receive is, oh, that’s what I would have been in another life.’ I feel grateful to be doing it in this life,” said Newcomb.
Originally from Louisiana, Newcomb’s educational journey is what helped them find their way to the Midwest. After graduating summa cum laude from McNeese State University in Lake Charles Louisiana, they earned their J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in Minneapolis in 2021.Newcomb then moved to Milwaukee and worked in the legal field while studying toward a master’s in library and information science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
“I wanted to go somewhere new. I think you learn so much about yourself, and you get to explore everywhere. I like moving, but I’m settled in Milwaukee right now. I like the culture—there’s a kind of friendliness that is specific to Wisconsin,” Newcomb shared.
Many may not realize that Marquette University Law School is a selective federal depository library, which means that it is open to students as well as to the public to do research and access resources.
“What I love is the variety of information requests we receive. Every time someone comes to me with a question, I learn something new,” said Newcomb.
To students who might be unsure whether the library has the resources or assistance they need, Newcomb encourages them to stop by and ask.
“Libraries are about finding yourself somewhere new and discovering who you are while you’re there. Libraries don’t ask you to pay to be there or expect any specific outcomes from you,” Newcomb explained.
With finals on the horizon, Newcomb recommends that students break down studying into manageable tasks and don’t forget to take breaks. “Making a daily to-do list can help keep you focused without getting overwhelmed,” said Newcomb.
When not between the books or teaching class, Newcomb enjoys spending time with their husband, Ty Newcomb, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and spending time by the lakefront.