Locating the Law Handbook for Non-Librarians

I love a freebie that comes from good stock. The Southern California Association of Law Libraries has a new edition of the Locating the Laws Handbook. If you are interesting in working in a law library or need to find a law source quickly this might be the publication you have been seeking in the stacks.

5th Edition of Locating the Law, A Handbook for Non-Law Librarians

There is much goodness to be found here. Chapter 3 has a guide to conducting a legal information search and interview techniques. This is a section of the handbook that talks about the legal information interview:

Regardless of how the question is phrased, the user is ultimately asking what law or laws apply to his or her situation. Your first task, as in any reference interview, is to analyze the information provided in order to identify the relevant facts and to weed out the irrelevant. To determine the relevant facts, you will usually need to ask additional questions. At this point, it is appropriate to briefly address concerns about the unauthorized practice of law.

Librarians conducting a reference interview should not be afraid to ask questions of someone seeking legal information. Asking questions in order to make recommendations about appropriate legal resources to consult does not constitute giving legal advice. 

The handbook is a Adobe PDF document. You can view by chapter or you can download the entire handbook and read it on your computer or with you favorite tablet or e-reader.

You definitely want this on your virtual resource shelf.

Library Associates Companies (LAC) Needs Library Technicians

This is an re-post of an e-mail from Krista Goguen about two positions via Library Associates. Check out the details and prepare for action. Each position would be 20 hours per week. The Technician will provide library support services to clients located in Century City and/or Downtown Los Angeles.

Primary Responsibilities

• Process and route mail;
• Enter data into library integrated library system (ILS);
• Label, barcode, shelve and process materials;
• Perform filing as needed;
• Process library invoices and claims;
• Oversee Interlibrary loan;
• Perform library maintenance including shelving, shifting, weeding; older collection as needed / directed;
• Perform light and “ready reference” duties as needed.

Qualifications

• Library Technician Certificate, plus one year of library experience OR three years of library experience mandatory;
• Previous experience in a law library preferred;
• Bachelor's degree strongly preferred;
• Experience with mail sorting and maintenance strongly preferred;
• Familiarity with ILS systems strongly preferred;
• Excellent customer service and reliability, professional and friendly demeanor mandatory;
• Must be able to maintain strong attention to detail over the course of a full workday;
• Must be able to lift 25 - 30 pounds and move boxes and other materials on a regular basis;

To Apply

• Please send resume and cover letter to jobs@libraryassociates.com, and please specify the location you are interested in or both.
• Please use "Law Library Asst #1177" as the subject line of your email.
• If applying for both positions, must have reliable means of transportation

If you would like more information or would like to check out the other opportunities available via Library Associates visit the web site at www.libraryassociates.com

Legal Glossaries And Dictionaries

With all the financial, legal and political mischief that is occurring in the news I thought that this might be a good time to provide resources to legal terms and expressions.

These are on-line glossaries and dictionaries that can help make sense of some of the legal concepts that will be introduced in the coming year. For those of you of a tactile nature and have access to PCC's Shatford Library the following items are on the shelves:

• Black's Law Dictionary REF 340.03 B 1-3 1999 This is also available on-line if you have access to Westlaw.
• A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage REF 340.03 G 1 1995
• Real Life Dictionary of the Law REF 340.03 H 2
  

For our non-library students readers the format is: the name of the book, the type of material, in this case it is a reference (REF) book that cannot be removed from the library, the Dewey Decimal Number and general location in the library.

Many libraries will have at least one or all of these dictionaries in their reference stacks but the Dewey number or Library of Congress number may be different. When in doubt ask at the Reference desk.

Glossaries of Legal Words, Terms and Expressions

• Lawyer's.com Glossary - You can select the most frequently used terms or enter your word or phrase in the search box. Very handy when you need to know what Fraud in the factum means.
• Nolo's Law Glossary - What does lex loci mean? What is the exact meaning of the McNaghten Rule? A good resource for accessible meanings to legal terms.
  

Law Dictionaries

• Dictionary at Law.com - You can search a term, a definition or choose your favorite legal letter of the alphabet to find your legal meaning or concept.
• Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law at Google Book Search - This is a limited preview version of the dictionary but the section that is available maybe all that you need to locate the legal term of your choice.
• Duhaime.org - If you need to research Canadian legal terminology this dictionary is maintained by Barrister and Solicitor Lloyd Duhaime. Not only can you search by letter or by the newest additions you can also check out Canadian legal history and Canadian laws.

So when you need to know what habeas corpus really means (provided you don't watch CSI or Law and Order) I hope you will access these legal resources.