Judicial Operations
William D. Block Memorial Law Library
The goal of the William D. Block Memorial Law Library is to serve the public. This goal is accomplished by providing the judges, attorneys, and citizens of Lake County an open and efficient system of access to the library’s resources. The law library collection includes 26,000 books, 7,000 microfiche documents, self-help materials in both English and Spanish, and on-line access to statutes, regulations, and cases of all 50 states and the federal government.
The library is staffed by a bi-lingual law librarian who is supported by one bi-lingual full-time clerk and one part-time paralegal. In order to accommodate the needs of the judiciary and the citizens of Lake County, the library is open from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.
Over the course of 2008, the library averaged 53.6 users per day, with approximately 50% of those people being classified as non-attorneys, pro se litigants, or general public. The law library works closely with the public libraries in Lake County, whose users can be directed to the William D. Block Memorial Law Library when legal matters and questions arise.
During 2008, the library experienced a period of transition as a new law librarian was hired. The librarian and her staff have made efforts to work closely with the judges and the Circuit Clerk’s office to coordinate the court forms for self-represented litigants. By working together, the idea is to eliminate the overlap between these entities in the judicial processes and benefit everyone involved. The library staff observed various court proceedings throughout the year and attended workshops and seminars to enhance their skills. “Empowering the Library Staff to Meet the Needs of Spanish Speakers” and “Copyright Q & A,” a presentation for the North Suburban Special Librarians Networking Group, were just two of the workshops.
The law library enjoys membership in several organized groups, including the Illinois County Law Library Association (ICLLA), North Suburban Library System (NSLS), American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), and the American Library Association (ALA). Continued involvement with these professional associations allows the library to remain innovative and offer improved practices.
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