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.

Court of Appeal Law Library Externships

The Court of Appeal Law Library in downtown Los Angeles is seeking one or two library externs for the Spring term. These positions may roll over into the summer.

Job duties include:

• shelving, shifting of the collection,
  
• loose-leaf filing,
  
• receiving and delivering new materials to judicial chambers,
  
• checking-in materials,
  
• labeling,
  
• inserting pocket parts, and other duties as assigned, which may include preparation for the new Innovative Interfaces Millennium library automation system.

The rate of pay is $13 per hour. Parking and/or bus pass costs will be reimbursed. There is a more detailed description of the position over on the Library Technology Jobs blog.

If you are interested in applying contact Mary Crosby or Carol Ebbinghouse Resumes and other documents may be emailed, faxed to Carol Ebbinghouse at (213) 897-2429 or mailed to the address below.

Court of Appeal Law Library
Ronald Reagan Building, 3rd Floor, South Tower
300 South Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013

California Codes - California Law Finder

Library 102 is making me feel very humble. I have forgotten how to find things in print. What I have forgotten is matched up with what I don't know. There is a lot I don't know.

But I am coming along slowly so I want to share this tip should you find yourself needing to find information about a law in California. Special shout out to Raffi because I would have never found this without his help.

In Print:

When you are looking for laws you have to think in terms of keywords. In the library there is a master index, LARMAC Consolidated Index to the Constitution and Laws of California. This has the listing for all of the keywords that are associated with the law or code.

1. Search for the keyword and the you will find the legal citation number.
   
2. Write that number down.
   
3. Locate a legal resource that has that section of the law. At PCC we have West California Code; however there are other books that cite California law as well.
   
4. Find the book that has the citation range, look up the number and you have successfully located the law.

Online:

The state of California has a search engine, California Law, that helps you find the codes and laws of the state.

1. Enter the keyword in the search box at the bottom of the screen. I'll use "Chicken".
   
2. Select the code that best matches your search area or select all to show all of the relevant codes under the keyword. The database will show you a listing from the table of contents that matches your keyword search.
   
3. Select the number of documents you want returned, the default setting is twenty.
4. Click the search button.
5. A listing will appear with the sections of code that are relevant to your keyword.
6. Click the link and you will be taken to that section of the code. In this case it was the section from the Food and Agriculture codes. You now have to drill down to find the code or law that you are searching for; so if I am looking for the code that defines a specific class of Chicken meat and I am looking for Roasters then I am searching for section 25852(c) which will give me the code for what is considered at Roaster chicken in California.

Which Is Better?

Both have advantages and disadvantages. The print version you have a keyword but that may not be the word used by the code. There will be a cross reference to the correct word but you will be flipping pages. The good news is that you will be able to observe the legal context of your search area and may see a better keyword that matches what you are looking for.

The online method is initially faster but it will take you longer to drill down to the section of law or code. Instead of zooming in like you can in the print version you will have to visually drill down on the screen.

Introduction to Westlaw at Pasdena Public Library

If you have inclinations toward working in a law library or law office you might want to pay a visit to the Pasadena Public Library.

There are free introductory classes in how to locate legal forms, California and Federal case law, statutes, court rules and more.

The class is taught by Sarah Sabateanski from the L.A. County Law Library. The best part it is free and it is being offered on the following dates:

• July 11 Noon to 1pm and 7 to 8pm
• August 1 Noon to 1pm and 7 to 8 pm

You can register online by click http://apacitation-machine.blogspot.com/library/pubtraining.htm
or your can call 626-744-4066 and press option 7

If you have the time I definitely recommend that you add this skill set.