HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016/05/17 Written Communications - Item C message from the director of libraries
Since 1891 the San Diego Law Library has provided free legal information to
county residents.
�
Pubiic law libraries are important ,,.a Paf8di9111 Shift In
because everyone has a right to 1 ibrary services ... is
+ know the law. We were established in
1891 by the State of Calrfomia to happening world-wide -
pro�.ae �ega� information not only to attomeys and judges, moving away from putting
but to businesses, self-represented litigants, and anyone all the importance on the
else who wanted to know more about their rights. p18Ce, but instead
We are open to everyone in four locations, North emphasizing that services
County�sta, East County/EI Cajon, South Bay/Chula Vista, we provide.
and our main branch in downtown San Diego.
Law library revenue has fallen nearly 4096 since 2008, and we aren't expecting it to come back.
With limited staff and a diminishing budget, we have to be very selective about where we put our
resources. Once civil matters were consolidated downtown, foot traffic at our South Bay branch
went away. We wanted to use staff, databases, and our print materials to maximum advantage.
That means going where the people are.
We partnered with the Chula Vista Public Library to provide Law Library resources to their Civic
Center branch. This move reflecLs a paradigm shift in library services that is happening world-wide
- moving away from putting all the importance on the place, but instead emphasizing that services
we provide (wherever we may be)can be provided anywhere. IYs the digital age!
Through programs and outreach events, we partner with the bar associations, public libraries,
schools, business groups, the courts and govemment agencies to provide access to the laws that
can bring real justice to those seeking its help. You will find that we are a small but mighty force for
the public good.
Let me know what you think of the partnership or if you have any suggestions on how we can
improve services. I want to hear from you.
o W.Adkins
rector of Libraries
iad ki ns@sd law li brarv.org
619.685.6567
.■ SHr. DiEGO
■ LAW LIBRARY
� � � . , � � � . . � I ' ► I
, , ' : i ' � ' ' ; ' �
CONTEHTS:
• A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF LIBRARIES
• SAN DIEGO LAW LIBRARY MISSION AND VISION
• PUBLIC LIBRARY PARTNERSHIP HISTORY
• LAW LIBRARY SERVICES ATTHE CHULA VISTA PUBLIC LIBRARY CIVIC CENTER BRANCH
• SAN DIEGO LAW LIBRARY PATRON COMMENTS
� PUBLIC LIBRARY ON DEMAND QUICK CLASSES BROCHURE
• SAN DIE60 LAW LIBRARY FUNDING POSTER
• FILING FEE DECLINE CHART
San Diego Law Library ��
www.sdlawlibrary.org �
vision & mission statements
VISION
The San Diego Law Library will become everyone's first choice for finding legal solutions, pursuing
access to justice, using advanced technology, and leaming how the law works for them.
MISSION
LAW MADE PUBLIC
The Law Library is dedicated to bringing law to the people:
■ We welcome all people to help them find the law.
■ We partner with legal services providers to help people understand and use the law.
■ We advocate for free and open access to the law and the justice system.
• � - � • • • •
� . . . �. - . .
This February, the Law Library began its partnership with local public libraries. lt has
been a resounding success.The Civic Center branch of the Chula Vista Public Library hosts
a law librarian on alternating Mondays for four hours, 10 am to 2pm. The public library
also has a dedicated"Law Library" computer terminal, which serves as a sateilite branch of
[he Law Library.
There were three main factors that led to the creation of this partnership. The first was
expanding the public's access to legal information. The Law Library's mission is to make
the law accessible to the public. By November 2015,the Law Library knew that its
courthouse locations were no longer serving this function and so we began worldng with
the public libraries to hring our legal information resources to the people.
As alluded to above,the second factor was the dramatic decline in the use of the
courthouse law libraries in Chula Vista and EI Cajon.This decline began when our cour�s
were forced due to budget conmaints to consolidate most or all of the civil cases--
including probate,family law,sma11 daims,and others-- in the Central [downtown San
Diego) court location. Not surprisingly,with no reason to come to these courthouses fewer
and fewer people went to the law libraries located there.
The third factor was monetary.The past 7 years have seen a dramatic decline in the
amount of money the Law Library receives as its portion of court filing fees.This decline,
now at almost 40% since 2009,meant that we were forced to reduce hours of operation in
the South Bay and East County courthouse locadons.At the same time we experienced a
60%increase in prices in legal materials and databases.
The courthouse law library is still in use by the Legal Aid Society of San Diego and
provides important legal help to the people of Chula Vista and the South Bay region. Four
legal clinics are held every week, from topics ranging from consumers rights to unlawful
detainers -- and more are in the planning stages.
Meanwhile,in this partnership's first few months,we answered more questions and
assisted more patrons at the Chula Vista Public Library than we had in the courthouse over
the last year and a halE In addition,our databases are available for many more hours than
they were before, making it easier for local attorneys and the public to access [he law. For
all those reasons,this partnership spells success!
Page 1 0l 1 �■
■ ■ SAN DIEGO
■ LAW LIBRARY
Law Made Public"
Law Library Services at the
Chula Vista Public Library Civic Center Branch
`C'7
� Starting Monday, Feb. 8th
' ; ~�� � Law Libra�ian Availoble
t � � 2nd & 4th Monday
�'I �` . � 10:00am-2:OOpm
E _ _ ,
•Y'.'J .T� I\l�
� " " '°�'"" Databases Available
M-Th 10:00am -8:OOpm
Fri-Sat 10:00am-S:OOpm
• Sun 1 :00pm-S:OOpm
Databases offered include:
CEB Onlcw- Database containing Continuing Education of ihe Bar publications.
Includes more than 100 praciice books and actions guides specifically written on
California law, including sample language to use when drafting court documents.
Good database to use when researching topics of Califomia law, court procedural
questions, drafting court documents, estate planning documents, or contracts.
Hein Online- Database containing law journal articles; Code of Federal Regula-
tions and Federal Register; U.S. Treaties and Agreements; Legol Classics library; and
Congressional Documents. Good database to use when looking for legal related
articles, older versions of federal regulations, information on heaties, or when look-
ing for historic Congressional information.
Lexis Advance- Database containing Siate and Federal Primory Law, CA adminis-
trative opinions, agency information, legal periodicals, and Matthew Bender Coli-
fornia collection. Good database to use when looking up state or federal law
(both codes and case law�. The Matthew Bender California collection is great for
sample language when drafting court documents, estate planning documenis, or
conhacts. The Shepard's feature can be used to further your legal research and
make sure you are using the most up to date laws.
These databases are available on two computers
at the Chula Vista Public Library Civic Center Branch.
�. �cr: I :�k (...i
L LAW IIBRARY
"17ie San Diego Low Ubrary reofly "Many thonks for your assistonce with "I om a solo praditioner who serves
Aelped me. I was run over by a huck my mon[hs of research on employment many!ow-inmme dients.6iven my
and permanently disabled. No one li[igaiion and medioiion. This librory client populoiion,I iefy a great dea!
would Aelp me 6ecause[he driver n/fers a tremendous weal[h of on[he law libmry for legal research,
was uninwred ond my empbyer did resour[es and!am extremely prin[ing and copying capab!lities.![
not hove Norke/s comp. The!aw app�ecioiive of all thaYs freety would be much more difficult ro do
libmry sroJf sAowed me how to do avoilobfe to the mmmuniry." my job whhout the help o(the!aw
the reseorch where io find the forms -Anonymous librory. For these reosons,l ask that
and monuols on how to folbw[he (Downtown 8randi Po[ronJ you continue[o support the low
process.As o result I was oble to file library and iu services."
in pro per ond get on trock to%ustice. -Akra Chifton
Thank you. The staff is great.' (Souih Bay Branch Poiron)
-lomes VaKOn "'TOday the library helped me...
(Downtown 8ranch Patron/ [o frnd informotan on accessing public
records.l believe fbot[he lawlibrary is
an essential port of 1iJe.!was shocked
?oday tlie librory helped me...file to see that fhe lib�ory hours had 6een "This library
my civi!litigation, witAout it,how �educed. 7Nis is tlie wrong ploce to cut
would we be ab/e[o deJend our right exae�s�.° offers a tremendous
astiUren...IpleaseaskourCalifomia -GregoryKirkland wealthojresources
legislators to support this bill in (South Bay Branch) nnd 1 am extreme►y
funding!aw libmry. Thank yrou.
-Jackie Lopez apprecia[ive of al!
(DOwntown Bmnch Patron) that's free►y
%udgmentfortheP/ointiff' available to the
fiat's me!I wun my case today „
"Thank you so much for hosting our bemuse oJ[he grocious and com munity.
students on[heir recent fie/d tnp. knowledgeable stoff at your
fie students realty loved visifing the downtown library. They did not give
fow lib�ary and the training you me any legol advice,but direded me 'I Jeel it is neceuary to!et you afl
provided on Lexis wos ouutaMing. to where 1 roukl find it know thot I am so gbd thot I leamed
The Oowford Academy of Low is so They olso showed me how I could use about(theJ e�cistence oJ j[heJ law
grotefu!for Ue support we receive the computers and pnn[er in the librory.1 ohsays wanted to leom
from aommunity poKners,such as librory to fill out my court papers so about laws and my rigAU. Thiz
yourselves,ond we know Ua[our that the couR clerks could read[hem. librory has given me the confidmce I
woik together is making a difference 1 am poor and muld no[hire an needed to be wccessfu!!Thank you
in the lives of these studen[s. Tliank attomey,but your bw librory enab/ed all.I should let you know that I wos
you again-we tndy appreciaie all of ine[o win my case ogainsi a mon who able to defend my mse in court a!f
the fime ond eJfort fhot you expend has been maliciousty hurting me for because of/theJ existence/ofJ this
on our beNaff 7riank you!!!" yeors.' fib�ary and its books.
-Jomie Davenport,Direc[or -Craig LoCoille -Anonymous
(CrowJord Academy of Law (Down[own Bronch Patron/ (Eos[CounYy 8�onch PatronJ
Hrgh SchonQ
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HOWISYOUR
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I N G FEES
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THE COST OF HELP US KEEP LEGAL
LEGAL MATERIALS INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE
INCREASED TOOURCOMMUNITY
p DONATE NOW
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2008-2009 $4.186,517
2009-2010 $3,980,423 5% 5%
2010-2011 $3,852,271 3.3% 8%
2011-2012 $3,304,732 14.2% 21.1%
2012-2013 $3,039,776 8.1% 27.4%
2013-2014 $2,777,��7 8.6°� 33.7%
2014-2015 $2,631,919 5.2% 37.1%
2015-2016 ro $2,532,000 3.8% 39.5%
San Diego Law Library ��
www.sdlawlibrary.org �