Services
Home
Updated:9/17/07
 Reference
Materials
Membership & Circulation
Extended Services
Online Database Searches
Interlibrary Loan
Method of Payment
Internet Access for Legal Research
Classes and Tours
Photocopying
Typewriters
Parking
Reference
Reference librarians at the Law Library are available to help you do your research. They
can help you find cases, codes, treatises, practice guides, and other materials
that may help you complete your research. However, they are unable to interpret
statutes, cases, or regulations, advise you on your legal rights, or help you
fill out forms.
E-Mail Reference: questions may be submitted
to the reference librarians via e-mail by clicking here
Note: although students are welcome to
use the libraries, reference service is limited, as it is the obligation of their
educational institutions to provide such training.
Access to court records for individual
cases can only be obtained directly from the court clerks’ offices.
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Materials
The Main Library houses an in-depth legal collection and primarily serves the
needs of most people using the downtown courts and adjacent area.
The three branch libraries house core collections that serve the needs of most
people using the three regional courthouses. Branch libraries can borrow materials
from the Main Library for use at the branches, and the Main Library can borrow
from the branches for use at the Main Library.
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Membership &
Circulation
Although the Law Library is open to the public, membership is required to borrow
materials. For more information about Library
Membership, see our borrower rules, which
can be viewed online using Acrobat® Reader® software,
or call any one of the San Diego County Public Law
Library's four locations.
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Extended Services
San Diego County Public Law Library's fee-based document delivery services, also
known as Extended Services, are a method of providing access to information in
a manner beyond the services traditionally offered by public libraries. All of
our fee-based services are available to both library and non-library members.
Requests must be made at the Main Law Library. To request an item, please contact
our Access Services Staff by phone at (619) 531-3900.
Document Delivery Services Costs*: Prices are based on the
time frame in which the request is needed, the number of books required to fill
the request, the number of pages to be photocopied, and the method of delivery.
Prices are subject to change, so call Access Services at (619) 531-3900
for the most up-to-date information.
Standard Service: $5.00/item pulled from the shelf. Request filled no
later than the following day.
30 Minute Service: $25.00/item pulled from the shelf. Request filled
in 30 minutes or less.
Rush Service: $10.00/item pulled from the shelf. Request filled in three
hours or less.
Photocopy Fee: in addition to the pull fee, the cost of having
our staff make photocopies to fulfill extended services requests is $0.20/page
($0.40/page for microform copies).
Delivery Costs:
Fax: Local (within SD County): $1.00/page
Long
Distance (outside SD County): $2.00/page
Receiving: $1.00/page
Mail: First Class US mail + $0.50
handling
Pick-up: No fee
*Note: Patrons may make their own copies in the
library at a cost of $0.15 per page, or have our copy center make the needed copies
for $0.20 per page.
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Online Database
Searches:
Patrons may use Westlaw and Lexis to conduct their own research at no charge
in the library. Materials available online include but are not limited to cases
and statutes from all fifty states, regulations, and court rules. The library
also has CEB OnLAW, where patrons can use the computer to quickly navigate through
the CEB practice books. Additionally, Hein Online is available at no charge to
patrons who want to conduct their own research in the library. Reference librarians
are available to conduct mediated online databases searches for a fee. These searches
are limited to locating specific documents and Shepardizing.
For information regarding pricing, contact our Reference Staff at (619) 685-6552.
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Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Requests:
Items that are not part of the Library’s collection can be requested from
another library. ILL is available for members only.
Charges: $7.00 + any charges incurred from the lending library, in addition
to postage and handling. ILL request must be made at the Main Law Library.
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Methods of Payment:
Service requests must be paid by credit card (American Express, MasterCard, or
Visa), check, or cash at the time the request is made. Regular users may wish
to open an Extended Services Account, which requires a $150.00 deposit. With an
Extended Services Account, a user may be invoiced for service charges. For further
information regarding Extended Services Accounts, contact Access Services at (619)
531-3900.
Note: extended services charges will no longer be deducted from
the deposit; rather, invoices will be mailed out on a monthly basis.
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Internet Access for Legal Research Purposes:
The Law Library provides free access to the Internet for legal research
purposes only. No e-mail access is allowed. Click here
to view our Internet Use Policy online using Acrobat® Reader®
software.
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Classes and Tours:
The Library offers various legal research classes and hosts special speakers on
a variety of legally related topics. See Classes and
Special Events for more information
Library Tours: Appointments may be scheduled for group tours of the
Library's collection. Instructors scheduling tours must accompany their students.
Please call the location you wish to tour for more information.
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Making Photocopies
Photocopiers are available at all libraries, and photocopies cost $.15/page.
Copy cards are available for purchase.
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Typewriters
We have a typewriter available for public use in each San Diego County Public
Law Library location. Patrons must provide their own paper.
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Parking
There is no free parking available at the downtown Main Library. However, there
are numerous parking lots within easy walking distance. Also, the Main Library
is only two blocks west of the Civic Center trolley station and is accessible
by bus. The branches are also accessible by both trolley and bus.
Users of the branch libraries may park in visitor spaces at the county regional
centers.
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