The Law Library: A Powerful Tool for Your Practice
By Shirley H. David, Sacramento County Public Law Librarian

"Wow. My first trip on-line from my office to your web page was a huge success. It gives me another powerful tool in my research. While I have access by other means to most of these resources, I have here the added feature of the Federal Register, and a better search engine for the CFR. I am sure that as time goes on, I will find other nice things to use." This comment came from a bar member, and it illustrates that one of the ways law librarians' services enhance the work of lawyers.

Being a law librarian is also one of the "300 things you can do with a law degree." According to the American Association of Law Libraries Biennial Salary Survey and Organizational Characteristics 2003, 23.5 percent of professionals working in law libraries have both a JD and a master's degree in library science. If you are thinking you want a change and still want to continue to use your knowledge gained from law degree and you missed Hindi Greenberg's class 300 Things You Can Do With A Law Degree held on March 3, you can borrow her book of the same title from the Sacramento County Public Law Library.

If you are a lawyer with a library science degree and library management experience or know someone who is an experienced law librarian and looking for a new challenge, check out the library director ad on the Sacramento County Public Law Library website. The salary and benefits are excellent and providing services for the Sacramento legal community is fun and rewarding. Application deadline is April 9.

A nine-member task force selected jointly by the Judicial Council, the California State Association of Counties, and the Council of California County Law Librarians is carefully examining the significant challenges for county law libraries throughout California. Their recommendations for improving the organization, funding, and facilities of the county law libraries is due back to the Legislature by December 31, 2004. Sacramento is fortunate to be the home of one the task force members, Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Garcia. Commenting about the appointment Judge Garcia said, "County law libraries often represent the only means by which citizens have access to legal information. This resource is a necessary cornerstone of meaningful access to the courts. I welcome the challenge presented to the task force to identify the needs of county law libraries and to discover and explore funding for their continued viability." Librarians and county law library boards throughout the state are looking forward to the recommendations of the Task Force.

During the annual survey week for the Council of California County Law Librarians, we asked what more the Sacramento County Public Law Library could provide. Several people asked for more or more varied MCLE offerings. We are fulfilling that request. Some of the upcoming offerings include: Family Law Long Cause Hearings and Trials, Adoption Law and Practice, PowerPoint and Visual Aids for Attorneys, Estate Planning for IRA Distribution, Will FEHA (CA ADA) Replace Vocational Rehabilitation in Worker's Compensation? Check out the library website or call the library for these and other offerings.

Finally, April 19-24, 2004 is National Library Week. It's another reason to check our website for our schedule of special NLW classes and activities. It's the place to be if you are an attorney!