Author: Joan Bellistri

Law Library Director for the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library

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lawlibrary Legal Technology Libraries

Worth a read: Curfew Shall Not Ring Tonight! – the Value of Libraries

This RIPS blogpost is a good response to why a library when “everything is online.” No matter the format of the material, it is the librarian in the library that makes the difference and the case for the library.

The struggle between librarian and technology is real, but the situation is a lot more nuanced than saying that librarians and technology are at odds. We go together. (Like rama lama lama ka dinga da dinga dong.) Yes, there can be entire libraries available on smart phones, but guess what makes them available. Libraries. And guess who makes them navigable. Yup, librarians. Even the free stuff is there because of the efforts of libraries and librarians—both academic and local. In a time where more and more students are having difficulty navigating truth from lies or bogus stories, librarians and libraries—even the ones sans books and chock full of the latest technology—are needed more than ever.Earlier this month, fellow RIPS blogger Paul Gatz wrote about the service aspect of librarianship and how librarians are “at the nexus between the system and the user, benefiting one no less than the other.” A huge part of our service is to connect patrons to information, and not just any information, but relevant and accurate information. We are the navigators, we are the beacons, we are the silent, mostly unacknowledged, partners in research. Take away the librarians, strip down the libraries, and there will be consequences. Maybe not 80 stanzas worth of them, but consequences none the less. We are in the day and age where finding information isn’t a problem—it’s the next step that matters. No matter what you type into a search box, you’re bound to find an answer. Is it the correct answer? Is it the best possible answer?

Source: Curfew Shall Not Ring Tonight!

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lawlibrary

Court Holiday: Thanksgiving

The Law Library is closed today November 24, 2016 and tomorrow, November 25, 2016 for Thanksgiving.  The Law Library will reopen on Monday, November 28, 2016.  A list of Court Holidays is available on the Circuit Court’s website at http://www.circuitcourt.org/court-holidays. Except on Court Holidays, the Library is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

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lawlibrary

Worth a read: “Google Think” and the New Associate

A recent blogpost by Erik Adams, a firm law librarian, on the RIPS Law Librarian Blog provides good insight on the legal research background needed as a new firm associate. I especially liked his observation that “with legal research often 5 minutes of background research can save hours of blind poking about. That certainly was the case with my new associate: had they spent a little time reading secondary sources or just thinking about what they were researching, rather than Google-thinking their way through search after search of case law, they unquestionably would have saved time.” This discussion of the legal research process will benefit anyone’s legal research whether a new associate or not.

Read the whole post here: “Google Think” and the New Associate

Categories
lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask a Lawyer in the Library and MVLS Foreclosure Clinic Wrap-up

On Wednesday, November 16, 2016,  the Ask a Lawyer in the Library program was offered at two different locations and two different times: the circuit court law library from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and the Glen Burnie Regional Library in the evening from 430 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Marietta Warren was on call  in the circuit court and was able to answer questions about malpractice.  At the same time the law  library hosted the MVLS Foreclosure Clinic.  Volunteer attorney Tom McCarthy assisted a couple with their foreclosure questions.

In Glen Burnie, there were five attorneys on hand to provide legal assistance to 11 people:

Cliff O’Connor and Katelyn Maloney
Josh Tabor
Alan Forman and Nickola Sybblis

Cliff O’Connor of Holmes and O’Connor assisted by his daughter and associate, Katelyn Maloney; Josh Tabor of the Law Office of Marla Zide; Nickola Sybblis who has a solo practice; and  Alan Forman of Forman Clothier Law Group.  The attorneys provided assistance with  such issues as wills, power of attorney, living wills, procedure, bankruptcy, contracts and family law.

The Ask A Lawyer In The Library program is a civil, non-family law, self-help program sponsored by The Anne Arundel Bar Association and the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. Every Wednesday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., you can talk with a volunteer attorney for up to 20 minutes. No appointment is necessary, but sign-up is required at the law library’s information desk. Sign-up begins at 10:45 a.m., and time slots are determined by a lottery.  On the 3rd Wednesday of the month the MVLS Brief Limited Advice Foreclosure Clinic is hosted by the library.  Particpants are encourage to register for the clinic by calling 410-547-6537, but pre-registration is not required. The Ask a Lawyer program is also held in the evening once a month in the Anne Arundel County Public Library – at the Glen Burnie Regional Library on the 3rd Wednesday of the month and at the  Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library on the last Tuesday of the month. For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.

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Holiday lawlibrary

Veterans Day Holiday

The Law Library is closed today, Friday, November 11, 2016, for the Veterans Day holiday.  The Law Library will reopen after the weekend on Monday, November 14, 2016.  A list of Court Holidays is available on the Circuit Court’s website at http://www.circuitcourt.org/court-holidays. Except on Court Holidays, the Library is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

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lawlibrary

Ask A Lawyer In the Library – Wednesday Wrap-Up

On Wednesday, November 9, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Mike Valadez Valadezassisted five people with their questions concerning guardianship, foreclosure, real property, and the return of an engagement ring. The next program date is Wednesday, November 16, 2016.

The Ask A Lawyer In The Library program is a civil, non-family law, self-help program sponsored by The Anne Arundel Bar Association and the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. Every Wednesday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., you can talk with a volunteer attorney for up to 20 minutes. No appointment is necessary, but sign-up is required at the law library’s information desk. Sign-up begins at 10:45 a.m., and time slots are determined by a lottery. In addition to the weekly program, the Ask A Lawyer In The Library program is held monthly at two Anne Arundel County Public Library branches: Glen Burnie Regional Library on the 3rd Wednesday and Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library on the last Tuesday. For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.

The MVLS Brief Legal Advice Foreclosure Clinic is now held on the 3rd Wednesday in the law library from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the same time as the Lawyer in the Library Program.  More information can be found here: http://aacpll.pbworks.com/w/page/99877141/Foreclosure%20Clinic

 

Categories
Holiday lawlibrary

Election Day

The Law Library is closed today, Tuesday, November 8, 2016, because it is Election Day.  The Law Library will reopen tomorrow, Wednesday, November 9, 2016.  A list of Court Holidays is available on the Circuit Court’s website at http://www.circuitcourt.org/court-holidays. Except on Court Holidays, the Library is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Remember polls will be open today from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.  More information can be found at the Maryland State Board of Elections

Categories
lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask A Lawyer In the Library – Wednesday Wrap-Up

Tjack-and-mikehe Ask A Lawyer In The Library program is a civil, non-family law, self-help program sponsored by The Anne Arundel Bar Association and the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. Every Wednesday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., you can talk with a volunteer attorney for up to 20 minutes. No appointment is necessary, but sign-up is required at the law library’s information desk. Sign-up begins at 10:45 a.m., and time slots are determined by a lottery. For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.

On Wednesday, November 2, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Thank you, Jack Paltell and Mike Ragland for volunteering and providing this service to the public. Four people took part in the program and were able to speak with the attorney to request assistance with issues such as discovery, HOA problems, and appeals. The next program date is Wednesday, November 9, 2015.

Do you have a family law matter? Family Law matters are best addressed by Family Law Self-Help Center which is located in the back of the law library.  For more information: http://www.circuitcourt.org/legal-help/family-law

Categories
lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask A Lawyer In The Library: Pro Bono Week Wrap-Up

Last week as we celebrated pro bono, we offered two, regularly scheduled, “Ask a Lawyer”

20161025_175549
Michelle Smith and Jerry Williams

programs. On Tuesday evening, October 25, the monthly program was held at the Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library and on Wednesday, October 26, the Law Library hosted the weekly program in the courthouse law library.  In Eastport, Jerry Williams of Patel and Williams and Michelle Smith of Brassel, Alexander, and Rice provided legal assistance to four people on such issues as wills, deeds and real estate taxes.

paul-farmer-20150826
Paul Farmer

On Wednesday, Paul Farmer of Gormley, Jarshow, Bowman, assisted six people with procedure in a federal discrimination case, liens, judgments and guardianship questions.

The Ask A Lawyer In The Library program is a civil, non-family law, self-help program sponsored by The Anne Arundel Bar Association and the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service.  Every Wednesday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., you can talk with a volunteer attorney for up to 20 minutes.  No appointment is necessary, but sign-up is required at the law library’s information desk.  Sign-up begins at 10:45 a.m., and time slots are determined by a lottery. The service is also held in the evening, monthly, at Anne Arundel County Public Libraries. For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.

Categories
lawlibrary

HeinOnline Announces UNC Press Law Publications Are Now Available Free of Charge for All U.S. Core Subscribers

HeinOnline is available in the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library on all of the library’s computers. HeinOnline provides access to “the world’s largest image based legal research database.”  This includes access to a vast collection of legal journals, classic legal treatises, and more.

In August, Hein “added more than 120 legal titles from the University of North Carolina Press to all U.S. Core Subscribers completely free of charge.”  This addition brings  the total number of pages on HeinOnline to 137,643,146.

According to Hein’s Press Release: The UNC Press has a national and international reputation for publishing quality books. Established in 1922, the UNC Press was the first university press in the South and one of the first in the entire nation. These UNC Press publications cover a variety of timely topics and include both current and historical titles. These books can also be found throughout HeinOnline in their subject-appropriate collections. HeinOnline is proud to partner with UNC Press to add valuable content to our database while simultaneously providing extensive exposure for all included titles.