New editions added to the Law Library:
Maryland Criminal Law and Motor Vehicle Handbook: KFM1761 .M37 2023-2024
Residential Real Estate Transactions: KFM1326 .R47 2024
DSM-5-TR: REF RC455.2 C4 D55 2022
The Maryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy’s newest edition of its Maryland Sentencing Guidelines Manual: Version 16.0 is available in the law library (KFM1763 .M3) and online. The changes went into effect on February 1, 2024. Guidelines E-NEWS Vol. 19 summarizes some of the changes:
Did you know that the law library has moved not once but twice in the last three years? The law library is now in a great new space right inside the front door of the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court – right after security. (Room 301 – the old jury office.)
The law library moved to the AABA Lawyers’ Lounge in September 2020. (The law library space was needed for the social distancing of jurors.) This was a much smaller space with only four workspaces and computers. It was also difficult to find. Still, with COVID limiting access to the courthouse and then having such a small space, the law library could offer access to the same services as before:
The law library had converted much of the United States resources to a digital format with a plan to gradually acclimate library users to more reliance on online. With COVID, the plan was accelerated. Luckily, Lexis and Westlaw already provided access to just about all the material once held in print. Use of online resources does make it easy to email information and even provide co-browsing research sessions with results sent via email.
The Maryland collection is still available in print and superseded codes have also been retained for historic research. Use the catalog to see what is in the collection whether print or digital: https://a94031.eos-intl.net/A94031/OPAC/
The law library now provides a variety of workspaces, 13 computers with access to legal research databases and Microsoft office, a Maryland print collection and a small conference room equipped with videoconferencing capability. It is a great space to visit for legal research, client consults, document preparation and copies. But if you are not in the courthouse, just call (410-222-1387) or email (AALawLibrarian@mdcourts.gov) and take advantage of library services wherever you are.
The Anne Arundel County Public Law Library and the Family Court Help Center will be closed on Monday, December 25, 2023.
The court will reopen on Tuesday, December 26, 2023. The Law Library is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm except for court holidays.
The updated 11th edition of MSBA’s Maryland Divorce and Separation Law (2023) is now on our shelf (catalog record). You can also access the updated text on Lexis in the Law Library. As of today, Westlaw has not yet updated its content from the 10th to 11th editions.
Among the book’s updates is a new section on parenting plans in response to the laws passed in 2020 requiring these plans in custody and/or visitation cases.
In December and January, the Ask A Lawyer in the Library program provided legal advice to seventeen people. Thanks to volunteer attorneys, Steve Migdal, Jack Paltell, Saul McCormick, and Michele Manculich for providing this service to the public. In January we were happy to welcome new volunteer attorney, Patrice Clarke. Issues included student loan debt, landlord/tenant, expungement, estate planning and immigration.
The Ask a Lawyer in the Library program is a civil, non-family law, self-help program held every Wednesday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and on the 3rd Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The program is sponsored by Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service and hosted by the Anne Arundel County Public Library. You can talk with a volunteer attorney for at least 20 minutes. Registration is required. All sessions are held remotely via Zoom videoconferencing or phone. More information can be found here.
Do you have a family law matter? Family Law matters are best addressed by the Family Court Help Center.
Do you have a criminal case? The Office of the Public Defender provides legal services to eligible individuals. Information about representation in criminal cases can be found here.
“Vintage snowflakes” by thethreesisters is licensed under CC BY 2.0 
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The Anne Arundel County Public Law Library and the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County will be closed on the court holidays of Friday, December 23rd, Monday, December 26th, and Monday, January 2nd.
New and updated titles from the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC), the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) and the National Business Institute (NBI) are now on our shelves covering used car fraud, custody and child support, real property, civil practice, and criminal procedure. See below:
See all NCLC titles in our catalog.
See all NBI titles in our catalog.
In an August 31, 2022 Press Release, the American Association of Law Libraries announced that the AALL Advancing Access to Justice Special Committee has developed a new resource, the Online Legal Information Resources (OLIR, “for information professionals—law librarians, legal information professionals, and public librarians—and members of the public to easily locate online primary legal materials.”
“The new Online Legal Information Resources (OLIR) includes information for U.S. states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the U.S. Federal Government, and Canada. The OLIR includes links to session laws, statutory codes, registers, administrative codes, and court opinions. To help users easily identify reliable online sources, the OLIR contains information about whether the legal materials are official, authentic, preserved, and copyrighted. The OLIR also includes contact information for state and local public law libraries, covering whether services to incarcerated people are provided.”
Jessica Corace, Saul McCormick, Steve Migdal, Jack Paltell and Carole Brown provided pro bono assistance to 20 people this month. Legal questions involved such issues as HOA disputes, expungement, name change, debt collection, car accidents and estate planning. The law library will send registrants information on their topic to review before there session with the attorney. The attorney will receive a copy of the information sent. Oftentimes, links to the law library’s online FAQs can be sent. These FAQs have links to the Maryland Code and Rules, People’s Law Library articles and Maryland Access to Justice department videos. FAQs sent this summer included FAQs for name change, wills and estates and expungement.
“Ask a Lawyer in the Library” is held every Wednesday of the month from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and on the third Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. You can talk with a volunteer lawyer for at least 20 minutes about your civil, non-family legal problem for free. All sessions are now conducted over Zoom or by phone.
This program is sponsored by Anne Arundel County Local Pro Bono Committee, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, and the Anne Arundel Bar Association. It is hosted by the Anne Arundel County Public Library.
Register online here or call the law library for help. Once you have registered, you will be sent a link to an intake sheet. Instructions for meeting with the attorney will be sent once the intake is competed.
Contact the library if you have questions: (phone) 410-222-1387 or (email) AALawLibrarian@mdcourts.gov
AACPLL Blog: Law Library News 