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Friday, November 27, 2009

Law - How to use the new Google Scholar legal search options; the demise of courthouse libraries

See this Nov. 17th entry from the Supreme Court of Texas Blog.

And for a story on how the combined impact of budget cuts and the availability (to some) of online research resources has impacted courthouse libraries, see this story by Douglas S. Malan of The Connecticut Law Tribune headed "The Final Chapter for Court Libraries? Budget crunch to force closure of six courthouse law libraries." From the story:

Law library funding issues were discussed several times over the course of the year, but in the end they were largely overshadowed by the Judicial Branch's decision to close three courthouses. Last week was the first time that also put a specific number on the number of libraries to be shuttered.

From the Judicial Branch's standpoint, those most affected will be self-represented parties, solo attorneys and small law firms that can't afford to pay the several hundreds, or sometimes thousands, of dollars needed to subscribe to online research programs like Westlaw and LexisNexis.

"From our perspective, it's a big deal," [Chief Court Administrator Judge Barbara Quinn] told the Connecticut Law Tribune last week. "Who it hits the hardest are self-represented parties who receive help from the librarians." * * *

One Stratford lawyer who didn't want to be identified said she regularly uses law libraries in Milford and Stamford. "Most libraries are pretty empty most of the time, which is why you might not be hearing the outrage" concerning closings, she said. "Most research is done online. However, the law libraries are an irreplaceable resource" for pro ses and lawyers who haven't paid for online research access.

Richard A. Roberts, president of the New Haven County Bar Association, said the libraries also are valuable for lawyers who want to quickly and cheaply brush up on types of cases that they don't normally handle. * * *

Massachusetts lawyer Robert J. Ambrogi, who blogs on technology and the law for the Connecticut Law Tribune's parent company ALM, agrees that there are resources available in a law library that just can't be accessed easily or inexpensively.

These include treatises outlining the basics of a certain area of law, along with continuing legal education materials.

"I'm the kind of guy that does everything online, but every so often, I'll go to the law library to find something that I can't get online," Ambrogi said. "The problem is a lot of lawyers who don't have access to technology or aren't as savvy are going to the law library."

This recalls Francesca Jarosz's Sept. 21st, 2009 story in the Indianapolis Star, headed "County library could be endangered legal resource." A quote:
Scott Vaughn hovered near a table covered with two thick law books and a binder full of court filing forms. He was trying to find the paperwork to start child custody proceedings. His deadline to file was approaching.

Next to him, librarian Zoya Golban flipped through the books to locate a reference that helped her find the proper form. She explained to Vaughn that he was a petitioner and pulled the paperwork to copy.

Similar interactions play out dozens of times a day at the Marion County Law Library. Located on the third floor of the City-County Building, it is one of the few places where litigants who represent themselves in civil court -- because they can't afford a lawyer -- can find guidance navigating the complex court system.

But it's a public service that may soon go away. Budget cuts could close the law library by the end of this year.

Court administrators say they've pared their costs so much that keeping the library open would force other court staff reductions or program cuts.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on November 27, 2009 08:19 AM
Posted to General Law Related