Oregon’s County Law Libraries: Providing Legal Information and Reference Assistance Across the Miles

Abstract

In Oregon, all 36 counties are statutorily required to “operate a free law library that is convenient and available at reasonable hours; or provide free law library services at one or more locations that are convenient and available at reasonable hours” (Or. Rev. Stat. § 9.815). County law libraries have been around for more than a century in Oregon; however, what those libraries look like today and the depth of services or resources they offer vary dramatically statewide. In rural and small counties, especially, there may be limited (or nonexistent) resources, physical space, and staffing. Despite the challenges, many counties outside the Portland metropolitan area are striving to meet—and succeeding!—the legal information needs of both attorneys and non-attorneys through non-traditional service models, targeted outreach, staff training, and other endeavors. As a result, these libraries are helping to further “access to justice,” a national movement to ensure that everyone, regardless of economic means, has equitable access to the justice system, which includes legal protection, legal awareness, and legal counsel (United States Institute of Peace, 2009). Oregon county law libraries have a long, well-established history of skillfully providing legal research information, reference assistance, and referrals to the public, lawyers and non-lawyers alike. More than ever before, small and rural county law libraries are discovering and devising innovative ways to make big impacts on their community’s legal information needs. Nevertheless, significant room remains for growth and improvement. It is hoped that this article inspires some readers to investigate the public law library services currently offered in their own county, to evaluate the quality of those services, and to brainstorm ways in which the services could be improved or more widely appreciated and supported.