Hi, Sandra:
My situation is unique because the Warren County (Kentucky) Law Library is
also the Western Kentucky University Library. The law library is located on
the university campus, adjacent to our Government Documents section (59%
depository). To the best of my knowledge, we are only one of three county law
libraries in the nation that are merged with a university library at a place
the *does not* have a law school. (Of course, the University of
Arkansas-Little Rock and a few other law schools function as county law
libraries.) All three of these libraries are located in Kentucky (Murrey
State University and Eastern Kentucky University are the other two), and I
would like to hear from others if they are out there.
As a combined library, we of course have resources such as a computer lab.
The lab is open to anyone for use. This includes surfing, e-mail, and word
processing.
Any of the databases that we subscribe to are available for those who walk
in. Of course, we don't give out the passwords to anyone except for our
students, and Westlaw is only available to those who bring their own
passwords. Some databases are logged onto via IP address, and the rest the
librarian will put in the password.
Some of the law-related databases that we have available include Checkpoint
(RIA), Congressional Universe (CIS), Disclosure Global Access Compact D,
Edgar, PAIS, the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect
Information, and NCJRS (National Criminal Justice Reference Service
Abstracts). We also have several business databases that are applicable to
law, including ABI/Inform Global, Business Source Premier (part of EBSCOhost),
University Analyst Watch (Zacks Investment Research). The library also
provides access to CIS Government Periodicals Universe.
I hope that this information is helpful
> "Sandra L. Howell" wrote:
>
> We are interested in q & d data or anecdotal information about how public
> (especially county) law libraries handle Internet access for patrons. All
> those attorneys, paralegals, county employees on their lunch hour, pro se
> litigants, folks hanging out in library because they have nothing else to do
> and would love to surf the Internet for days, jurors who need to check in
> with their job, etc.
>
>
> As a starting point, do you..
>
> ____ Provide Internet access to the public in some form
>
> ____ Provide unlimited, unmonitored access to Internet
>
> ___Big Success! ____ Big Headache
>
> ____ Limit web access to Lexis, Westlaw, Lois, Shepard's or other legal
> research products (How did you do it?)
>
> ____ Provide access to certain subscription products as part of Library
> collection (What items?) but let patrons access any sites they need or want
>
> ____ Provide phone lines so visitor's can plug in their laptops and use
> their own accounts, but not make our account available to them
>
> ____ Allow visitors to use library account to pick up their e-mail
>
> ____ Have a policy for public use that you will send us
>
> ____ Not currently provide access but are thinking about it and making plans
>
> ____ Access is only for library staff and is used for reference and document
> retrieval
>
>
> Responses will be appreciated and I'll share information with any interested
> librarians.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Sandra Howell
> Fulton County Law Library
> Atlanta, Ga
>
> p.s. - if anyone sent me e-mail in the law two days but didn't get a
> response, please try again. We temporarily lost service due to a
> subcontractor problem.
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