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Administrative Services Division
The Public Services staff is available to assist patrons in using the law library. The staff includes one librarian and two paraprofessionals who are trained in legal research. Their job is to help patrons find and use the resources in the library. They can help you select, locate, and use the resources in the library so that you will be able to answer your legal question or prepare your case. By state law, the Law Library staff is not authorized to provide legal advice to, nor perform legal research for, the public. Requests for legal assistance or advice and questions pertaining to the law should be directed to an attorney licensed to practice law in Alabama. For basic legal information, please visit http://www.alabamalegalhelp.org. Below are some examples of what the staff can and cannot do to help you.
What the Public Services staff can do for you: Assist in locating and using resources in the library to help you with your legal research Explain how to use different formats of legal resources, such as online databases and microfilm Direct you to form books, court rules and books about the law (called treatises) Explain how to read legal citations Help you locate a particular statute or case when you have a reference or citation Direct you to resources that will help you learn how to do legal research Provide in-library access to subscription electronic legal research databases Assist in locating and using free legal and informational websites Provide assistance in obtaining answers to factual questions Provide copies of library materials Make requests for you for materials from other libraries outside of Montgomery, if you are a resident of Alabama Show you how to use the library’s online catalog to find resources on your topic and help you check out materials from the library Refer you to other agencies or organizations that might be able to provide more assistance with your problem.
What the Public Services staff cannot do for you: Perform legal research for you Read statutes, cases, or court rules over the telephone Interpret the meaning of court cases, statutes, regulations and other legal authority or determine how they would relate to your case Select statutes, cases or regulations for your case Give legal advice or opinions on legal matters, advise you of your legal rights, or recommend a course of action Tell you how to file a document, which document to file, or how to proceed with a court case Assist you in selecting or completing forms or specific language to use in forms Recommend or refer you to a specific attorney If you need someone who can research the law for you and interpret the law as it applies to your circumstances, you should consider talking to an attorney. The Alabama State Bar Association offers a Lawyer Referral Service. Meet the Staff The Administrative Services staff performs various functions to ensure that the library operates efficiently and meets the present and future needs of our patrons. This division supports the day-to-day operation of the library by: Maintaining the switchboard Handling the accounting functions of the library Resolving any issues with publishers and vendors Negotiating contracts for library services Overseeing the library’s collection development plan Maintaining personnel and payroll records Maintaining the rare book collection Ensuring that the physical facilities and equipment for the library are properly maintained Preparing an annual budget and operations plan Web Resources The Library provides access to Westlaw for the appellate courts and state trial courts. In-library public access to Westlaw and to HeinOnline is provided at no charge. The library provides access to Alabama appellate court opinions through its subscription database Alalinc. Through this database, subscribers can access appellate court opinions on the date of release, and archived opinions dating back to 1995. For more information about Alalinc, click here [link]. The Electronic Services Librarian is also responsible for maintaining this website.
Tours, Museum, & Archives Aside from its role as a legal information center, the law library also serves as the museum and archives of the Alabama Judicial System. The purpose of this program is to foster the preservation and dissemination of the judicial history of the State of Alabama. The Judicial Building houses museum exhibits, disseminates brochures and pamphlets, and volunteer docents conduct tours for numerous visitors and school classes throughout the Judicial Building. To schedule your group for a tour, please contact the Public Education Coordinator at 334-229-0572.
Virtual Tour of the Judicial Building. Photo Tour of the Judicial Building.
Meet the Staff Although it remains in the background of the library, the Technical Services Division can be considered the core of the library. This division supports the mission of the library by acquiring and maintaining a comprehensive and viable collection of legal resources and ensuring that those legal resources are accessible to the courts and to other library users.
The Technical Services Division handles ordering of new or updated materials, physical processing of those materials when they are received, invoicing of those materials for payment, cataloging of those resources, maintaining the library’s online catalog system, and distributing materials to the offices of the appellate courts. Technical Services staff can answer questions about:
Whether a publication has been ordered Whether a particular publication has been received Distribution of materials Latest pocket parts or supplements available Invoice and payment inquiries
The Technical Services Division is staffed by one librarian and two paraprofessionals. Meet the Staff
"Alabama's Legal Information Center" |