American Association
of Law Libraries (AALL) Legal Information Services to the Public Special
Interest Section (LISP-SIS) has created a “Public Library Toolkit” with links
to help public librarians “understand the process of legal research,
effectively develop and use the information located within their libraries and
utilize information outside their libraries.” Topics range from researching a
legal problem to knowing when to refer. There are State-specific Public Library
Toolkits, all written using a particular formula, including one for Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts
Trial Court Law Libraries have a long history of working with public librarians.
In 1994, Trial Court
Law Librarians Meg Hayden and Janice Shotwell published How to Grow a Law Collection: a Guide for Massachusetts Public Librarians.
In 2001, the
Statewide Legal Reference Service (SLRS) was set up to guide non-law librarians in
assisting their patrons with legal research needs. Evening and weekend reference
support was offered via a toll-free
number, as well as via fax or e-mail. A SLRS Web site addressed many common
reference legal queries that public librarians dealt with. The project grew out
of the Mass. Board of Library Commissioners’ strategic plan (page 23 of their 2001 Annual Report).
The Trial Court Law
Librarians continue to work with their public library colleagues as members of the Mass. Library System (MLS). Barnstable Law Library is one of the pilot libraries for the MA eBook Project , a six month pilot project exploring different models for eBook lending . Law Librarians have recently presented at several MLS workshops titled "Skill Builders: Legal Reference" continuing the work first addressed in Meg and Janice's book, and followed up with the SLRS project.
In January of this
year, the Fitchburg Law Library re-opened in a new location on the second floor
of the Fitchburg Public Library, another example of the Trial Court Law
Libraries and the public libraries working together.
