POLICIES
Circulation
The law library's collection is non-circulating to ensure that materials are available at all times.
Acquisitions
The Contra Costa County Public Law Library primarily serves the bar, bench and public. Bar and bench needs focus on California law unless there is no California precedent, in which case general treatises containing decisions from other jurisdictions are used. Federal law may also be used depending on the cause of action. Public users generally need easy to understand treatises that explain laws using basic terminology. Form books are also regularly used by the public, as well as members of the Bar. Considering the nature of our clientele, the goal of our acquisitions policy is to make available a comprehensive California collection, primary and secondary Federal sources, general treatises representing most areas of law, and materials geared toward helping pro pers. International and foreign materials are presently excluded from collection development purchases.
Basic Acquisitions Guidelines
California Law
Every effort will be made to purchase all published California legal materials not to exceed (3) titles representing an area of law. Exceptions may be made depending upon the demand for a particular title or area of practice; and budget constraints.
Other States
Unless the laws of other states are included in a general treatise, no practice materials from other states will be purchased. Selected statutes from other states will be retrieved using the Internet.
Federal Law
Primary sources that include statutes, cases and regulations will be purchased, in addition to a basic collection of Federal treatises.
General Treatises
Efforts will be made to build a treatise collection containing materials representative of diverse legal practice areas. Newly published titles will be reviewed and added as needed. Occasionally a new title may replace an existing title if the treatment of the subject matter is better. Most areas of practice will be represented by at least one title. Duplication of coverage will be avoided when possible.
Business Materials
No business materials will be purchased. If business information cannot be retrieved using the Internet, patrons will be referred to the public library.
Newspapers
The law library has the San Francisco Daily Journal and the Contra Costa News Register.
Law Reviews
Emphasis will be placed on maintaining a collection of law reviews published by California law schools. No efforts will be made to build a comprehensive law review collection. Some practice related legal periodicals may be purchased depending upon demand.
SERVICES
Reference Assistance
Help is provided in locating statutes, regulations, cases, and treatises pertaining to any legal matter. However, the staff cannot give legal advice or interpret information retrieved. There are NO attorneys on staff at the law library.
Computer Assisted Legal Research
Computer assisted legal research is available on the Internet, with access to Westlaw, CEB OnLaw and Judicial Council Legal Forms.
Photocopies and Computer Printouts
Two copy machines are available for use in the photocopier room; copy machines take CASH ONLY. The cost is $.25 per copy. See staff for special copying needs or if you need to pay with a credit/debit card. Computer printouts are $.25 per page.
FAX
Charges for fax use are $1.00 per page to transmit and $1.00 per page to receive. No charge for cover sheets.
Word Processing
Microsoft Office is available on seven (7) public workstations. There is a $.25 per page charge for printing.
Fee-based Services
Flash drive - $3.00 each
White-Out - $1.00 each
Photocopies - $.25 each for black and white, $1.00 each for color
Computer printouts - $.25 each (patron computers only print in black and white)
Fax - $1.00 per page to send or receive
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