Thank you to everyone who wrote letters of support to your representatives and the Governor. This new law, Senate Bill 711, enables libraries to charge for modern services to defray costs. It received bi-partisan support and had no opposition.   Senate Bill 711 adds services such as electronic delivery and other delivery services, educational programs,…

Follow this simple step-by-step guide to write your legislators and support SB711.     Step One – Find Your Local Representatives Go to http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/ Enter your address RESULT: You will receive links to your local legislators web sites. Select the first link   Step Two – Contact Your Representatives  Go to the website and look for the “Contact”…

Due to our current budget crisis, as of 3/31/2015, the San Diego Law Library no longer offers the Westlaw or WestlawNext Databases. We continue to offer Lexis, CEB Onlaw, and HeinOnline.   In May 2015, our Lexis service will be upgraded to Lexis Advance for Patron Access. Several free Lexis Advance training classes are scheduled…

Due to our current budget crisis, as of 3/31/2015, the San Diego Law Library no longer offers the Westlaw or WestlawNext Databases. We continue to offer Lexis, CEB Onlaw, and HeinOnline.   In May 2015, our Lexis service will be upgraded to Lexis Advance for Patron Access. Several free Lexis Advance training classes are scheduled…

Previously, we described how the Law Library receives the vast majority of its funding from filing fees and that this had declined by over 30% from 2009 to 2014.   During the current fiscal year, the revenue from filing fees has declined even further. Through February 2015, the Law Library has received $1,716,268. This projects…

Last month, we described how the Law Library receives the vast majority of its funding from filing fees and that this had declined by over 30% from 2009 to 2014. During the current fiscal year, the revenue from filing fees has declined even further. Through January 2015, the Law Library has received $1,528,334. This projects…

One of the most frequently asked questions about the San Diego Law Library is what is the source of our funding?  Contrary to popular belief, we do not receive any tax dollars.  Instead, law libraries receive a portion of the filing fee paid for the first filing made in superior court.  The amount of the…

Do Not Stand Alone! Partner!  Be it with the Legislature, Executive Branch, the Bar, legal services, or the law library — get together with others on other projects.  By reaching out, the court is building a good relationship with the other branches of government and legal entities,which is critical to giving it a higher profile in government and…

On Thursday I got a dog named Gloria, a 7 month old standard poodle who was a little bit shy.  She was also covered with fleas and had an umbilical hernia, but what do you expect for only 1/3 the asking price? Gloria was raised in the country with her sibs and a bunch of…

Tip #67: Get humble and acknowledge we need help.   Being part of the legal community, the Law Library knows that the Courts are hurting for money — and now that staff have been let go in record numbers, the Courts are even more overwhelmed with long delays and backlogs. Judge Trentacosta told us all…