Update submitted by Brian J. Archambault, Head Law Librarian, Lawrence Law Library.
[The opinions expressed are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries]
Trial Court Law Libraries Automation Project Underway
The Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries have recently undertaken a very exciting automation project, which will result by Fall 2004 in the installation of an automated circulation system, with a single patron database serving all seventeen Trial Court Law Libraries, as well as streamlining of our Interlibrary Loan procedures, upgrades to our check-in procedures, and a host of other improvements.
This project will require a great deal of work, including the re-registration of all borrowers, as well as bar-coding thousands of circulating items, but will greatly enhance the ability of the Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries to serve the needs of our patrons, as well as the other Libraries in the Region. For example, the circulation system will serve as a springboard to future Remote Patron Access to some databases which are currently only available on a walk-in basis. Also, the publicly accessible on-line catalog will be upgraded to include circulation status information, which will make the catalog much more useful.
Watch this space for further developments!!
Lawrence Law Library Continues Acquisition of
Spanish Language Legal Materials
In accordance with its LSTA Community Languages Grant, the Lawrence Law Library has continued to locate, obtain and catalog legal materials written in the Spanish language. Also, a subscription to The CQ Researcher en espanol (online version) has been obtained and will be up and running for in-library use shortly.
Lawrence Law Library Hosts Summer Student Assistants
For the past several years, the Lawrence Law Library has had the pleasure of hosting two local high school students as Summer Interns. This year our two students, Karla and Shadine, come to us from the Youth Technical Support Service Corps sponsored by the Hispanic Office of Planning and Evaluation, Inc.
Duties will include updating legal materials, creating and using computerized records, data entry, inventory control, and similar projects.
Trial Court Law Librarian Named Compliance Officer
Ms. Doris V. Rodriguez, one of the Law Librarians staffing the Evening and Saturday Extended Hours at the Lawrence Law Library, has recently been named to the position of Compliance Officer, City of Lawrence Office of Planning and Development. In this position, she will administer grant programs which are funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Fortunately for the libraries in the Region, Doris plans to remain in her Evening and Saturday position with the Trial Court Law Libraries.
Lawrence Law Library Continues to Offer Extended Hours
The Lawrence Law Library is open to the public as follows:
Monday through Thursday—8:30AM to 8:00PM
Friday—8:30AM to 4:30PM
Saturday—10:00AM to 3:00PM
Evening and Weekend Hours are made possible by NMRLS Supplemental Reference funding. We are available in person, by telephone (978-687-7608), fax (978-688-2346) or email LawrenceLawLibrary@yahoo.com.
The Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries are Your Public Law Libraries
The NMRLS Region includes three of the seventeen Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries: Lawrence Law Library, Lowell Law Library, and the Essex Law Library (Salem, MA). Directions, hours, telephone numbers and email addresses for all Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries can be found at http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us.
