Law Libraries: Open to the Public
2024 How Law Libraries are Serving Self-Represented Litigants Across the Country
Introduction
Law libraries have the power to strengthen communities and improve access to justice by providing individuals and families with the resources needed to address their civil legal problems.
Whether it is staying in their homes, protecting their families, or safeguarding their livelihoods, members of the public, including self-represented litigants, can reach out to law libraries and their staff to access the resources they need to tackle their civil justice issues.
These resources are vital for the large segment of the U.S. population whose income is not low enough to qualify for civil legal aid nor high enough to hire an attorney as well as those who choose not to use an attorney.
Background
The Self-Represented Litigation Network (SRLN) Law Librarian's Working Group first surveyed law librarians about their self-represented litigant (SRL) services in 2013 and again in 2019 . This Story Map updates the previous surveys with the results of the 2023 Survey on Law Library Services to the Self-Represented Litigant.
This research and analysis was developed to expand SRL services among law libraries by demonstrating best practices for assisting SRLs. The information also describes important law library services for stakeholders, advocates and the public.
The maps in this Story Map are interactive. Zoom in to see county names. Choose Expand to fill the screen with the map. Click on the Legend icon in the lower left of the map to open the legend. Many of these maps have layers. To retrieve this information, click on a county for a pop-up window. Be sure to scroll through the arrows in the upper right of the pop-up to see all the information. If the information is covered by text in the story, scroll to reveal the pop-up window then click the dock icon pictured above to read the pop-up.
Collections
Law libraries collect materials that include books, databases, and custom library guides – also called pathfinders – which identify the information and referrals needed for self-represented litigants in that county or state.
Librarians facilitate interlibrary loans and provide document delivery. They provide legal books in plain language that are easier to understand, and they offer books translated into other languages.
Collections most commonly found in law libraries:
94% provided Print/Online
91% provided Westlaw and/or Lexis
90% provided Legal Core Collections (State or Federal)
Click on a library to see what Collections are offered
Technology
Law libraries provide a public space with access to technology such as phones, fax machines, computers, scanners, copiers, printers, Wi-Fi, internet, video conferencing, and coaching on how to use these resources.
The five technologies most commonly found in law libraries:
93% provided computer access
90% provided Internet access
88% provided Wi-Fi with no fee
87% provided printing (78% charge for printing)
82% had a copier (86% charged a fee)
Click on a library to see what technology is offered and whether a fee is charged.
Library Services
Research and Reference
Law librarians and library staff help self-represented litigants access research materials, forms, and software. Some software programs guide users through interviews (guided interviews) that help them assemble documents for court (document assembly). Some states combine online court forms with e-filing which allows the user to electronically file forms with the court. They can provide services to other areas of the state through email and live chat (remote services).
Resources and Services
The variety of law library resources and services (books and databases, reference help and referrals, brief legal advice and technologies) offers the self-represented litigant a holistic, multi-faceted approach to addressing their legal issue. The most common services offered:
- Access to on-line court forms & instructions
- Publicly accessible space
- Reference and research assistance and instruction
- Email and/or AskLawLibrarian
- Hard copy court forms and instructions
- Guides and Pathfinders
- Document delivery
- Local social services referrals
Opportunities and Initiatives
Law libraries also provide opportunities such as legal clinics, training for both public libraries and their patrons, Lawyer in the Library programs, workshop and remote access programming.
Click on a library to see complete list and learn what other services are provided.
Click on the buttons below to see which libraries offer each service.
Referrals
Law librarians and library staff are connected to the network of organizations that provide legal services and social services and can refer people to additional organizations for further help. Legal service organizations can include civil legal aid (free legal assistance by nonprofits for those who are eligible), bar associations (for attorney referrals), pro bono services (free legal assistance from private attorneys), low bono services (discounted legal assistance from private attorneys), and unbundled legal services (also known as limited scope representation) where the attorney is limited to certain tasks.
Partnerships Developed
Law libraries partner with other community organizations to create a network of resources for self-represented litigants. Triage opportunities with other legal service providers help the library direct users to vital resources beyond the scope of law library services and vice versa.
84% of libraries responded that they have a partnership. The top four most common partners are:
Courts (70%)
Public libraries (52%)
Legal Aid and/or legal service providers (51%)
Bar Association (49%)
Click on a library to learn how many partnerships were developed and with whom.
Public libraries are also displayed on the map. Partnering with public libraries expands the reach of Law Libraries resources and services.
Pandemic
Services provided in direct response to the pandemic:
- Virtual reference (via email, phone, chat) 78%
- Emailing of resources 77%
- Remote access to computerized legal research (Westlaw and Lexis) 58%
- Limited/reserved seating 30%
- Curbside Pickup 29%
Services curtailed:
- In-person access to the library 70%
- Circulation of resources 35%
As a result of the pandemic many libraries are offering more remote access and virtual services and reduced fees/or no fees for technology.
It is important to acknowledge the Digital Divide in the U.S. when discussing remote services. This is the gap between regions that have access to digital technology and those who do not. Although there is a movement to provide better access, the quality of this access, cost, or lack of digital skills can make it unattainable or unusable for many people. Libraries continue to bridge this gap by providing resources and instruction. Click the link below for an example of mapping the digital divide.
Levels of Service
to Self-Represented Litigants
This analysis of the 2023 survey of law libraries revealed which services were offered at each library. By sharing information on these offerings and formally publicizing best practices, law librarians help promote a high standard of service to self-represented litigants at multiple levels.
Best practices for law library services to self-represented litigants were published in Access to Justice: Best Practices for Public Law Libraries (2016) (GLL Resource Guide No. 5) .
Based on these best practices, law libraries surveyed were categorized into levels of service. Below is a selected list of criteria.
24 law libraries are basic level and fit all/most of the following criteria:
- Publicly Accessible Space
- Professional Law Librarian
- Reference, Research Assistance and Instruction, and Referrals
- Basic Legal Collection (Non-lawyer resources, Print/Online, Westlaw/Lexis)
- Court Forms
- Public Computers
- Internet Access
- Public Fax, Copier, Scanner, Phone
103 law libraries are intermediate level and fit all/most of the following criteria:
- Basic levels
- Guides and Pathfinders
- Law Library Website
- Email (AskLawLibrarian)
- Interpreter Services
- Referral Systems/Triage
- E-Filing
- Limited English Language Resources
- More Court Forms (Online forms with document assembly and guided interviews)
- Public Librarian Partnerships (training opportunities for public librarians)
- Partnerships with Others in the Legal Community
- Self-Help Center in the Law Library or Lawyer in the Library Program
- Support for External Self-Help Centers as Available
7 law libraries are advanced level and fit all/most of the following criteria:
- Basic and intermediate levels
- The self-help center more comprehensively integrated into the law library program
- Attorney(s) (not a law librarian with a dual degree—library science and law—or a librarian with a law degree acting as a reference librarian) employed by the law library
Libraries may strengthen support for SRLs by adding services. By studying more advanced libraries (or by viewing specific services in the “Services Offered” section above) librarians can reach out to their colleagues for guidance. Click on a library for contact information.
Communities Served
Nationwide, over 99 million people live within a 30-minute drive of the law libraries that answered the survey and that also serve the public.
Zoom in and click on the drive-time polygon around a library to see the number of people that live within 30 minutes of each library. Some drive-times overlap, so more than one library may be represented. Click the arrow in the top or bottom left corner of the pop-up to see drive-time and other library information.
Click below to see whether libraries are located in smaller populated/rural settings. The map displays areas for lower populated regions (in greens) where law libraries are less likely to be located. Law librarians, their partners, and their stakeholders should explore ways to reach SRLs in more remote areas and overcome geographic disparities in services.
Low-Income Communities Served
Nationwide, Over 16 million people with incomes below 125% of the Federal Poverty Level live within 30 minutes of the 158 surveyed law libraries serving the public.
Click on a library to see the number of people with incomes below 125% of the Federal Poverty Level that live within 30 minutes of each library. Some drive-times overlap, so more than one library may be represented. Click the arrow in the top or bottom right corner of the pop-up to see other library information.
Key Findings and Takeaways
- Law libraries provide critical services that create a more educated public, more prepared self-represented litigant for courts, and stronger communities with their basic legal needs met.
- Law librarians and library staff can assess opportunities for increasing their service levels by using best practices guides; identifying where new services are underway at other public law libraries; and contacting other libraries for guidance.
- Public and stakeholder support for law libraries is critical to expanding services to improve access to justice.
- Law libraries leveraged technology to provide resources and services during the pandemic, which increased and expanded access to support the legal needs of the public well into the future.
- Based on survey results, self-represented litigants are effectively supported by law libraries across the country with:
- 95% of libraries providing basic or intermediate levels of service
- 92% of law libraries partner with others (such as courts, legal aid agencies, bar associations, and public libraries) to provide services
- 95% of libraries provide access to online court forms and instructions
- 80% of libraries offer reference and research assistance to SRL
Comparison of 2019 Survey Results and 2023 Survey Results
