The Accidental Law Librarian: Legal Reference for Public Service Librarians

eLearning
Where can I find child support guidelines? What are the laws in Nevada on gun ownership? How do I copyright my name? Any librarian who serves the public is apt to get such questions. With no legal training, however, many librarians find such question daunting. This course will rectify that situation, offering proven techniques to turn anyone into an Accidental Law Librarian.

91´«Ã½

Where can I find child support guidelines? What are the laws in Nevada on gun ownership? Can you help me apply for a business license? How do I copyright my name? Legal questions are not unique to law libraries. In an era of rising self-representation and shrinking courthouse staff, all librarians are apt to receive legal question. Yet few MLS programs offer more than a single course on law librarianship. Some offer none at all. This course steps into that breach. It will cover the basics of legal publishing, how to understand and respond to legal questions, and which information sources are the go-to sources for any type of legal question. More broadly, the course will delve into the overwhelming need for free public law libraries.

By the end of this course, the participant will be able to:

  • Locate primary and secondary sources of law
  • Interpret legal citations
  • Discuss the issues around the unauthorized practice of law (UPL)
  • Conduct a legal reference interview

This four-week course is asynchronous with weekly live sessions on Wednesday from 12pm-1pm Central. The live sessions will be recorded and attendance is not required.

The instructor, Anthony Aycock, Legislative Librarian with the North Carolina General Assembly has 20+ years experience in public, private, and academic law librairies. Since 2017, he has been the library director for the North Carolina General Assembly - i.e, the legislative of the Tar Heel State. He also worked for the North Carolina Justice Academy and for Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, North Carolina's largest law firm. His education includes a B.A. in English from Mars Hill College, an M.L.I.S from the University of South Carolina, an M.F.A. from Queens University of Charlotte, and a master's in criminal justice from Methodist University. Anthony is also a freelance writer, publishing on libraries and other topics.

This course is co-sponsored by RUSA's

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Event tags:
Online
Programs & Services
Reference
eLearning
April 14 - May 12, 2025
All day
$209 General/$188.10 91´«Ã½ Member/$129.50 RUSA Member/$141.08 Student
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