New Law Library Dedication
by Shirley H. David, Director, Sacramento County Public Law Library

The Board of Trustees of the Sacramento County Public Law Library and the Law Library Committee of the Sacramento County Bar Association invite you to attend the dedication of the new Law Library on Thursday, September 13. 2001 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The dedication program will begin at 5:30. The new library facility is located in the historical Hall of Justice building at 813 Sixth St.

The dedication of the new law library facility in a historic building on the library's 110-year anniversary begs one to reflect on the library's history. In 1891, a statute was passed that allowed a $1.00 fee to be collected in civil actions for county law library operational expenses. This was the start of the present statewide system of independent county public law libraries. Soon after the statute was enacted the Sacramento County Law Library was established in the county courthouse.

The move to the Hall of Justice building in January 2001 broke the 110-year tradition of locating the library in the basement of the various downtown county courthouses. What may have been lost in geographic convenience to the main county courthouse is made up for by extended hours, added space for resources, a computer training center, meeting rooms and expanded on-line resources.
Civil filing fees have increased for the benefit of county law libraries since 1891. The law allows a local option for the county Board of Supervisors to raise the fee by up to $3.00 per year at the request of the library board of trustees.

During the last ten years the library space requirements could no longer be accommodated in the county courthouse but the county's ability to fund a new facility was limited by other priorities and a recession. As a result, the library board requested regular increases in the filing fees to build a reserve fund. With the reserve the library could contribute to the cost of furnishing and moving the library. The library board also committed substantial annual contributions to the lease payments. In order to meet escalating operating expenses for double digit inflationary increases in the law book & legal information industry and to meet the lease contribution commitment, the board of trustees will be asking for a filing fee increase effective January 1,2002. The library board will be asking the county bar association for your support.

Staffing of the law library has also changed dramatically in 110 years. Part-time librarians who were lawyers with their own private practices were the norm until 1962 when Lloyd Riley became the first full-time professional law librarian. Riley was very well qualified for the job holding an advanced degree in law library management as well as a law degree. Although he only stayed a year, he organized the collection, offered reference assistance and began planning for the move into a new courthouse.

There are now eighteen librarians, library assistants, systems staff and library clerks who maintain two library locations and the superior courts chambers' and libraries' collections.
Library hours have expanded to include evening and Saturday hours making it easier for non-lawyers to research their rights and consult legal resources written specifically for the layperson.
Join us on September 13, 2001 to celebrate the new facility, tour the library and learn more about how your Sacramento County Public Law Library can support your practice.

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