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? 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 Federal and Armed Forces Libraries Interest Group.
How to Register
- Online
- By Email: download, complete and email form (PDF format) to registration@ala.org
- By Mail: download, complete and mail form (PDF Format) to American Library Association, ATTN: MACS/Online CE Registration, 225 N. Michigan Ave. Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60601
Credits
Continuing Education Credit - A certificate of completion will be sent to each participant upon successful completion of a course.
Although this course is not CEU-certified, many licensing boards will accept it for credit. Requirements vary by state and school district regarding certification and continuing education credits. The decision to grant CEU credits remains entirely up to your state or school district. If you are in need of credits, check with your state and/or school district before enrolling to determine eligibility. Some states will review your certificate of completion and course description to determine eligibility.
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