Legal Reference and Beyond for Public Librarians
A Webinar Presented by the Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries

Through a partnership with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and the Social Law Library, the Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries are offering a webinar designed to provide public librarians with the tools to do basic legal reference, and go one step beyond.

The presentation will introduce you to the 15 Trial Court Law Libraries located across Massachusetts and familiarize you with the vast range of resources and services they offer to you on behalf of your patrons.

Robin Bates from the Essex Law Library in Salem, Kathy Ludwig from the Franklin Law Library in Greenfield, and Barbara Schneider from the Berkshire Law Library in Pittsfield will give you practical guidance on general legal-reference questions of the kind most frequently posed to public librarians and familiarize you with the types and sources of legal materials that address such everyday legal situations.

The tutorial will provide a primer on the kinds of everyday cases that commonly come before seven Trial Court Departments. For context, the webinar will follow a traffic ticket challenge through the various courts, thereby showing how an ordinary case works through the system.

Finally, you will not only learn the fundamental difference between providing legal information and giving legal advice, but also how, and when, to seek the advice and assistance of Trial Court Law Libraries to help you serve the legal-information needs of your users.

Register today for Legal Reference and Beyond for Public Librarians. The webinar will be offered on Oct. 30, 2018 and again on Nov. 8, 2018 for those who cannot make the first date. Both sessions will be presented by Robin Bates from the Essex Law Library in Salem, Kathy Ludwig from the Franklin Law Library in Greenfield, and Barbara Schneider from the Berkshire Law Library in Pittsfield.