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You Mean the Criminal Code is Not a Secret Code?

You Mean the Criminal Code is Not a Secret Code? . Legal Information in Public Libraries. Canadian Library Association Conference May 2014 Janet Freeman and Nancy Hannum. Overview. Introductions History of legal information services to BC public libraries

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You Mean the Criminal Code is Not a Secret Code?

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  1. You Mean the Criminal Code is Not a Secret Code?

    Legal Information in Public Libraries Canadian Library Association Conference May 2014 JanetFreeman and Nancy Hannum
  2. Overview Introductions History of legal information services to BC public libraries Current program: LawMatters at your local public library Public Library legal information services in other jurisdictions Questions and discussion
  3. Workshop handouts: go to bclawmatters.ca Click on Conference Materials page
  4. History of legal information services to BC public libraries The BC Justice Development Commission (JDC) publishes Public Legal Education and Access to the Law by Rob Fenton which recommends the creation and distribution of legal information to the public, including public libraries. The JDC becomes the Legal Services Commission (later Legal Services Society), which provides grants for public libraries (Public Library Program) to develop core legal collections, and offers training workshops for public librarians. A Legal Resource Centre of legal reference and popular legal materials is developed, and is open to all. National study also published: Access to the Law (Friedlander) 1974 1975
  5. Meg Richeson was the first librarian of the Legal Information Services Program in 1975, which became the Legal Resource Centre in 1979.
  6. History cont’d 2002 Cutbacks to Legal Services Society, and Legal Resource Centre is closed. Nancy Hannum hired by Public Library Services Branch to continue training, Courthouse Libraries BC revives the legal information services for public libraries with the program called “LawMatters at your local public library”. Courthouse Libraries BC launches the plain language legal information website Clicklaw. 2007 2008
  7. Philosophical basis of Public Library Program “In order for the rule of law and not the rule of force to govern the actions of its people, citizens must know what their rights, their remedies and their responsibilities are.” Legal Services Society, Brief to the Task Force on Public Legal Services, 1984
  8. Importance of public legal education (PLE) “The law delivers too many ambulances at the bottom of cliffs and not enough railings at the top.” The End of Lawyers? by Richard Susskind (London: Oxford University Press, 2008)
  9. 5% - complex client advocacy 10% - legal representation - formal claim 35% - 3rd party non-lawyer assistance eg librarians, community advocates 50% - self-help general information Public Legal Information Needs From: Washington State Equal Justice Network
  10. Legal Resource Centre Publications
  11. LawLine Conference for legal information providers,1991
  12. Community forums Forums have been held in Chilliwack, Squamish, Nanaimo, Duncan, Courtenay, Coquitlam, and Prince George. Forum goal is “to provide an opportunity for local legal information providers to meet, update information and discuss local legal information issues,
  13. Key feature for success of legal information for public libraries programs in BC: Collaboration with Libraries & Literacy (formerly Public Library Services Branch), which is a department of BC Government’s Ministry of Education. Provides contact information, training opportunities and publicity.
  14. Public library PLE today: LawMatters 71 BC public libraries with 241 outlets 35,000-40,000 questions with a legal dimension asked in public libraries every year (LawMatters Evaluation and Survey Report, 2010)
  15. Courthouse Libraries BC helps both lawyers and the public find and use legal information. There are 4 programs that help the public: A website with plain language legal info Online resources that are frequently updated and can be printed Helping public libraries provide current legal information CLBC website and legal reference assistance
  16. LawMatters information: bclawmatters.ca Web page includes program background, recommended titles, lists for weeding, legal information tools and program evaluations.
  17. LawMatters blog bclawmatters.blogspot.ca
  18. LawMatters Training Events Events have included in-house workshops, webinars, and an 8 week on-line course.
  19. Community forums Forums have been held in Chilliwack, Squamish, Nanaimo, Duncan, Courtenay, Coquitlam, Victoria and Prince George. Forum goal is “to provide an opportunity for local legal information providers to meet, update information and discuss local legal information issues,
  20. clicklaw.bc.ca
  21. Then and now: legal materials for the layperson 1975: About 100 plain language legal titles available 2014: Clicklawoffers over 1400resources
  22. The plain language guide “Legal Help for British Columbians” was such a nice starting point for 30 common legal problems that we got copies for all public libraries in BC
  23. We used a wiki platform to put the Guide online, opening up access to it
  24. ClicklawWikibookswiki.clicklaw.bc.ca
  25. Settlement Workers Guide to Helping Clients with Legal Information and Legal Referrals
  26. Current CLBC/LawMatters project: Beginner's Guide to Legal Research Wikibook; a resource for non-lawyers Content Ideas: Determining the Area of Law and Court How to Find Court Forms How to Find Case Law How to Find Laws How to Find Procedural Information
  27. Public Library PLE in other jurisdictions Alberta: 1980’s Legal Materials Placement Project provided funds for public libraries collection upgrading and training. 2010 - Law for Seniors in Alberta project provided training and materials for public libraries in topics for seniors. Saskatchewan: 1980’s small grants and training for library regions through Public Legal Education Association of Saskatchewan. Ontario: some workshops for librarians offered recently by Community Advocacy & Legal Centre (Belleville) and Community Legal Education Ontario.
  28. Public Library PLE in other jurisdictions cont’d Australia: Legal Information Access Centre of New South Wales Began in 1990 (were inspired after visiting BC’s Public Library Program). Provide regularly updated collection information, a series of legal books and training for public libraries. U.S.: In 2010 “Public Libraries and Access to Justice” national conference held. Follow-up trainings and partnerships developed. View webinar series and related materials at probono.net/librarywebinars American Association of Law Libraries Public Library Toolkit aallnet.org/sections/lisp/Public-Library-Toolkit
  29. Legal Information Access Centre of New South Wales legalanswers.sl.nsw.gov.au/about/findlegalanswers/public_libraries.html
  30. PLE in Canada: lawcentralcanada.ca
  31. Discussion and questions
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