Welcome
Welcome From the Director
The San Diego Public Law Library welcomes all users
and readily accepts referrals from other public libraries, the courts,
and other public agencies. The Law Library is open to the general
public and anyone may use our print and electronic resources free
of charge. Our user group includes county residents, attorneys,
paralegals, law firm librarians, and judges. Book and materials
loan privileges, however, are reserved for library members. Library
membership is available to San Diego County residents. An annual
membership fee, as well as a refundable security deposit, is assessed.
The Law Library strives to provide a collection of legal materials that enables
our users to find the law that addresses their situations. Patrons can depend
on the San Diego County Public Law Library for legal resources that they otherwise
could not afford. The Library’s highly trained and professional legal reference
staff can assist users from all skill levels to access its resources quickly and
conveniently. Offering this service extends beyond the capability of any other
public library in San Diego and beyond the mission of any academic law library.
The Public Law Library and its staff follow the Codes
of Ethics of the American
Association of Law Libraries and the American
Library Association. The Library and its staff maintain a neutral
stance with regard to all parties of litigation and endeavor to
maintain their confidentiality as best as possible. However, the
Law Library cannot provide legal advice. Those patrons needing legal
assistance are referred to outside public agencies or lawyer referral
services that fit their particular needs.
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History of the Law Library
The San Diego County Public Law Library has been serving the legal community
and citizens of San Diego County since 1891. In 1895 the Library’s book
collection numbered 1,500 volumes and was housed in the judges’ chambers
in the Courthouse. This arrangement continued until 1900, when a small room was
set aside in the Courthouse for the Law Library, and in 1903 Henry W. Talcott,
a local attorney was appointed the first Law Librarian. Two more rooms were assigned
to the Law Library in 1920, and in 1923 the Library was moved to the ground floor
of the Courthouse Annex.
By 1935, the book collection totaled about 25,000 volumes. In 1951, Leland
G. Stanford, (distantly related to the Stanford University “Stanfords”),
an attorney and founder of the Balboa Law School (now California Western School
of Law), was appointed Law Librarian. Under Mr. Stanford’s leadership, the
Library’s collection grew to 50,000 volumes by 1955 and tripled to 150,000
volumes by 1971, when he retired. During this time, the present building located
at 1105 Front Street was planned, built and dedicated in 1958.
After Mr. Stanford’s retirement in 1971, O. James Werner, Assistant Professor
and Law Librarian at the University of Oklahoma College of Law, was appointed
Library Director. Under Mr. Werner, the collection was cataloged and classified
by Library of Congress standards. The Library began computerization of its records
in 1982 and by 1987 all of the Library’s major files were computerized.
The first branch of the San Diego County Law Library was opened in September
1973 at the North County Courthouse in Vista. Additional branches at the Courthouses
in Chula Vista and El Cajon were established in 1982 and 1983, respectively.
Mr. Werner retired in June, 1987, and was succeeded
by Charles R. Dyer, formerly Associate Professor of Law and Law
Librarian at the University of Missouri – Kansas City School
of Law. In 2005, Robert E. Riger succeeded Mr. Dyer as the Director
of San Diego County Public Law Library.
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Library Governance and the Board of Trustees
The San Diego County Public Law Library is an independent public agency, organized
under California Business and Professions Code sections 6300, et seq., and funded
primarily from a portion of civil court filings fees. The Law Library Board of
Trustees controls a budget in excess of $3 million. More than half of this budget
is spent on personnel and more than one quarter is spent on book materials. These
funds are deposited with the San Diego County Treasurer in a “Law Library
Trust Fund.” The Board of Trustees has the exclusive power of expenditure
of money in that fund and other funds belonging to the Public Law Library. Thus,
the Board of Trustees is an administrative board, rather than an advisory board.
The County of San Diego is required to provide housing, maintenance, and utilities
for the Public Law Library and selects three of the Board members. In all other
regards, the Board of Trustees has the administrative control of the activities
of the Public Law Library. The Board is composed of four judges elected from the
Superior Court and three attorneys appointed by the San Diego County Board of
Supervisors.
Board members serve without compensation. Meetings are held monthly (usually
on the fourth Wednesday of the month), and are open to the public. Agendas and
notices are posted at all the branches of the Law Library. The Chief Executive
Officer reporting to the Board of Trustees is the Director of Libraries, John Adkins, who also serves as a non-voting secretary to the Board. Mr. Riger prepares
the agendas for the Board’s meetings. Board members do put items on the
agenda, but most items come from the Director of Libraries and his staff or in
response to inquiry from Board members.
2009
Board of Trustees
Revised May 26, 2010, Subject to change
Judge Julia Craig Kelety, President
San Diego Superior Court
Term ends: December 31, 2012
Judge Robert F. O'Neill, Vice-President, Treasurer
& Assistant Secretary
San Diego Superior Court
Term ends: December 31, 2010
Jeffrey D. Cawdrey, Esq.
District 4
Term ends: December 31, 2012
Judge Albert T. Harutunian, III
San Diego Superior Court
Term ends: December 31, 2012
Judge David M. Gill, Ex Officio
San Diego Superior Court
Term ends: December 31, 2012
Linda Ludwig, Esq., Ex Officio
District 1
Term ends: December 31, 2011
Carolyn Brock, Esq., Ex Officio
District 2
Term ends: December 31, 2012
Nathan L. Low
Interim Board of Trustees Member
Term ends: December 31, 2013
John Adkins, Secretary (Non-voting)
Director of Libraries
San Diego County Public Law Library
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The Law Library Justice Foundation
The Law Library Justice Foundation of San
Diego is a non-profit corporation affiliated with the San Diego County Public
Law Library. The general purpose of the Foundation is to aid the San Diego County
Law Library and to seek improvements in the administration of justice, particularly
in San Diego County. The Foundation is recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization
established for scientific and educational purposes by the IRS.
The Law Library Justice Foundation was created in November of 1961, shortly
after the Law Library moved into its present building at 1105 Front Street. The
initial purpose was to create a mechanism by which the Law Library could more
easily accept donations of money and materials in kind (books) and maintain the
wishes of the donors. Although the Law Library as a public agency, can accept
tax-deductible gifts, the commingling of such funds with public funds places many
restrictions on its use. The Foundation can also maintain assets in a greater
variety of investments than those allowed for public funds and can receive and
sell securities and properties.
The Foundation’s Board of Trustees consist of eighteen members who serve
without compensation, three of whom also serve as trustees for the Law Library
and fifteen who are chosen by the Foundation Board. The Law Library’s Director
serves as non-voting Secretary, and its Financial Administrator serves as non-voting
Assistant Financial Officer.
The Foundation has contributed many books and considerable equipment to the
Law Library over the years. and since its founding, the Foundation has expended
over fifty special purpose funds, mostly for books in special subject areas. It
has sponsored the publication of several books, mostly on the history of the local
bar, and has administered grants for charitable purposes.
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