Libraries

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What are libraries for, if no longer just places for books?

More than just places to find or read books, libraries offer access to the information resources and technology needed by their communities. As safe, neutral public spaces and hubs for community education, libraries are essential to access to justice for many reasons, including:

• Libraries are places where people come to access information

• Librarians are key players in forming partnerships and collaborations to implement live assistance in the Library

• Public libraries have evolved into a primary source for public Internet access in many communities

• Librarians are trained to help people access the resources and online information they need

• Law librarians provide training to public librarians to expand public access to legal information and facilitate referrals

Public Libraries

The American Library Association (ALA) represents all types of libraries - public, school, academic, state and special libraries. The State of America’s Libraries 2015: A Report from the American Library Association recognizes American libraries as “community anchor institutions” whose missions include providing equitable access to information, technology and digital content as well as building communities. Learn more about the American Library Association’s advocacy efforts at ILoveLibraries.org, an initiative that focuses on getting communities to value their libraries.

Law Libraries

Facilitating access to legal information is a core function of law libraries. More information about the three general categories of law libraries – academic, government and private - can be found on the website of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), the primary professional association serving law librarians and other legal information professionals. The American Association of Law Libraries’ 2014 Law Libraries and Access to Justice report underscores the critical role that librarians of all types have in helping to expand access to and understanding of legal information.

Open to the Public – 2024 How Law Libraries are Serving Self-Represented Litigants Across the Country
The Law Librarians’ Working Group of the Self-Represented Litigation Network with the American Association of Law Libraries Government Law Libraries Special Interest Section Best A2J Practices Committee surveyed law libraries about their services to the self-represented litigant, including self-help programs. Results are displayed in this Story Map. This research and analysis was developed to expand SRL services among law libraries by demonstrating best practices for assisting SRLs.
Year published: 2024
Document Author: SRLN
Map Gallery Reports, Evaluations, Best Practices, Surveys Surveys Self-Help Centers Best Practices for Self-Help Centers Libraries Academic Libraries Law Libraries Public Libraries
COVID-19 Resources
This page will be updated as more resources are identified. Last updated 12-9-20.SRLN COVID Response Memos 
Year published: 2020
Document Author: SRLN
100% Access to Justice Self-Help Centers Libraries
Survey: SRLN Library Working Group National Self-Help in Libraries Survey (SRLN 2019)
SRLN Report (March 2021) Evaluating Library Services to Self-Represented Litigants: A Story of Two Surveys The Law Librarians’ Working Group of the Self-Represented Litigation Network surveyed law libraries in the summer of 2019 about their services, including self-help programs. Learn more about best practices and full survey results in this story map.
Year published: 2019
Document Author: SRLN
Map Gallery Reports, Evaluations, Best Practices, Surveys Surveys Self-Help Centers Best Practices for Self-Help Centers Libraries Academic Libraries Law Libraries Public Libraries
Conference: American Association of Law Librarians Annual Conference (Baltimore 2018)
The 2018 AALL annual conference will occur in Baltimore, Maryland and will focus on moving from knowledge to action. For more information see the AALL Conference webpage.
Year published: 2018
Document Author: SRLN
Libraries
SRLN Brief: Intro to Design Thinking (SRLN 2017)
In the Access to Justice space, design thinking practices from the technology space are increasingly embraced to improve the way people access legal services and to improve and simplify the processes themselves. Reviewing practices around the country, we see that sustainable innovation in the access to justice space happens when design thinking is adopted and implemented in our core practices, and when that happens we can effectively identify where technology can offer scalable, sustainable and accessible resources.
Year published: 2017
Document Author: Katherine Alteneder, Eduardo Gonzalez
Human Centered Design 100% Access to Justice Simplification Triage Strategic Planning ATJ Commissions Reports, Evaluations, Best Practices, Surveys Self-Help Centers Best Practices for Self-Help Centers Libraries Plain Language & LEP Articles & SRLN Briefs
Resource: Resource Guide on Serving Self-Represented Litigants Remotely (SRLN 2016)
The Resource Guide provides options for courts and other entities interested in providing services to self-represented litigants using means that are not face-to-face, instead of, or in addition to, in-person alternatives such as walk-in services, workshops, and clinics. It also includes information regarding technology and business process options and describes a study of how eight sites provide remote self-help services to self-represented litigants and its principal findings and recommendations.
Year published: 2016
Document Author: Self-Represented Litigation Network, John Greacen
Strategic Planning Courts Administrative Agencies Legal Aid Remote Reports Impact of Self-Represented Litigant Innovations on Cost and Efficiency Trial Court Self-Help Best Practices for Self-Help Centers Libraries Regulatory Concerns Scaling in Court Systems Technology Unbundling
Article: Delivery of Legal Services to Maryland Public Librarians (MSBA 2016)
In Maryland, each year the use of public library services rises as the state’s population increases. Along with this increase in library customers, the number of people who need, but struggle to afford legal help, continues to grow. So it follows that more and more self-represented litigants find themselves in a public library.
Year published: 2016
Document Author: Sandy Brewer and Dave Pantzer
Libraries
Article: Public Legal Information: Pro Bono that Keeps on Giving (MSBA 2016)
The article, Public Legal Information: Pro Bono that Keeps on Giving, offers a look at People’s Law, an educational outreach program of the Maryland State Law Library, that works to provide clear, reliable summaries of Maryland law, links to primary and secondary legal sources and referrals for legal help. People’s Law is sustained by the voluntary efforts of Maryland’s legal community and offers a conflict-free form of pro bono service that can be performed at any time of day and from any location.
Year published: 2016
Document Author: Dave Pantzer
Libraries
Survey: SRLN Library Working Group National Self-Help in Libraries Survey (SRLN 2013)
The Law Librarians’ Working Group of the Self-Represented Litigation Network surveyed law libraries in the summer of 2013 about their services, including self-help programs. The full survey results are available below, as well as maps of the various tiers of service provided throughout the country. The Working Group is re-surveying law libraries in 2019, and will include updated results here when they are available. Executive Summary
Year published: 2013
Document Author: Self-Represented Litigation Network
Allied Professionals Reports Surveys Linking a Self-Help Center to Other Services Libraries Law Libraries
Resource: Equal Access Unit of the California Center for Families, Children & the Courts (Judicial Council of California 2015)
The Equal Access Unit of the Center for Families, Children & the Courts has materials available for courts, court-­based self-­help programs, and other nonprofit providers of legal self­-help services. The materials include sample instructional handouts developed by local courts, translations, brochures, program models, evaluation tools, and ideas for setting up a self­-help center. Background
Year published: 2015
Document Author: California Judicial Council Center for Families Children & the Courts
Strategic Planning Research Ethics Education Self-Help Centers Libraries Unbundling Plain Language & LEP Forms Conferences & Summits Funding