Legal reference
Though legal issues can feel intimidating for library staff, public libraries are well positioned to help patrons with civil legal questions by providing more access points to legal information and services. A wide range of resources and examples are available to help support library staff in both connecting with local and regional experts, and developing their own skills in answering these essential reference questions.
In partnership with the Legal Services Corporation, WebJunction offers learning opportunities and resources for library staff to support the civil legal needs of patrons through the Improving Access to Civil Legal Justice through Public Libraries inititative. Key resources developed for supporting patron civil legal needs include:
- NEW course series: Navigating Civil Legal Issues of Natural Disasters
- Course series: Creating Pathways to Civil Legal Justice
- Resource collection: Eviction Resources for Libraries
Most Recently Added
Five things you didn’t know about the civil legal issues of natural disasters
Publish Date: News / 23 January 2023
Civil legal issues can be confusing to all of us, and the emergent nature of a natural disaster means things are happening quickly, and people are in crisis. This article seeks to point out a few of the important details that might get lost in the ch...
Learning Groups for Navigating Civil Legal Issues of Natural Disasters Courses
Publish Date: News / 10 January 2023
The three-course series Navigating Civil Legal Issues of Natural Disasters is well-suited to be the core learning content for a group learning experience with peers. Since civil law is complex and local, these courses are particularly appropriate for...
Civil Legal Issues of Natural Disasters Persist, but Change over Time
Publish Date: News / 21 November 2022
What do document replacement, contractor scams, and lease terminations have in common? They are all examples of civil legal issues that can stem from a natural disaster, and questions about these could show up at your library’s reference desk. Patron...
Navigating Civil Legal Issues of Natural Disasters, a Self-Paced Course Series
Publish Date: News / 30 September 2022
Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and are no longer confined to predictable seasons or specific geographic regions. In the wake of a natural disaster, civil legal issues surface quickly as patrons pursue various assistance options, and the...
Civil Legal Issues of Natural Disasters: Libraries Can Help
Publish Date: Webinar / 22 September 2022
Presenters will introduce the civil legal issues that arise during natural disasters and share how to support related patron information needs.
Libraries at the Disaster Preparedness Table
Publish Date: News / 3 August 2022
Libraries have an important role to play in disaster response planning, and their contributions are welcomed at community disaster preparedness exercises. Building on its Creating Pathways to Civil Legal Justice foundational course series, WebJunctio...
Resources for Advancing IDEAs (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility): A New Blog Series
Publish Date: News / 21 July 2022
A new blog series shares resources and learning opportunities for library staff Advancing IDEAs (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility). Twice monthly, series editor Jay Weitz compiles a collection of information, stories, and tools on time...
WebJunction Collaborator Wins Public Access to Government Information Award
Publish Date: News / 13 July 2022
WebJunction is thrilled to share the news that Deborah Hamilton, strategic services librarian at Pikes Peak Library District in Colorado Springs, Colorado is this year’s winner of the American Association of Law Libraries Public Access to Government ...
How to Run an Expungement Clinic at Your Library
Publish Date: News / 28 June 2022
Staff at the Worcester County Library (MD) were offering workforce development services for their community when they learned how many patrons encounter roadblocks due to their previous criminal history. Staff also knew that expungement–the process b...
Mental Health and Suicide Prevention for Veterans, Service Members, and Their Families
Publish Date: News / 21 June 2022
WebJunction is collaborating with the Veterans Health Administration and Legal Services Corporation to promote free and reliable services, information, and resources on suicide prevention.
