Library’s Shelves Full Of Law, History

North Florida’s largest collection of state law includes reference materials dating back more than 170 years.

Along with more than 10,000 volumes of bound books and other printed documents, online legal research and one-to-one technical assistance are available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.

And like all public libraries, it’s free and open to everyone.

“The intent is to provide the most comprehensive, complete collection of Florida law available,” said Bud Maurer, director of the Duval County Law Library on the second floor at the Duval County Courthouse.

The library’s operating budget — about $280,000 this year — is derived from a portion of the $65 fee imposed by the court on anyone who pleads guilty or nolo contendere (no contest) to, or is found guilty of, any felony, misdemeanor or criminal traffic offense under the laws of the state.

On the shelves are volumes of state cases and statutory law as far back as 1845, the year Florida became the 27th state. Also available are business and legal forms, pleading and practice guides and forms and legal topic treatises.

On average, more than 1,000 people visit the library each month, Maurer said. About 25 percent are attorneys who prefer to open a law book to do their research instead of logging on to the internet.

“I think a lot of people want to see the real book,” Maurer said. “The older attorneys want the books. The younger attorneys are more adept with technology.”

For those who prefer to point and click instead of turn pages, the library has free access to the WestLawNext and Lexis Advanced online legal research services as well as the HeinOnline collection of college law journals.

Seventy-five percent of the library’s patrons are pro se litigants: people who wish to — or have to — represent themselves when initiating or responding to a legal action.

“It’s people who are filing their own lawsuit and they need help,” said Maurer.

Although he and another of his staff members have law degrees, they aren’t practicing attorneys and do not offer any form of legal advice to patrons or prepare legal forms.

“We’re here to guide, facilitate and educate,” said Carol Forbes, the library’s assistant director of research services.

“We point them to the resources and help them find what they’re looking for,” said Assistant Director of Technical Services Tracey Murphy.

For a small fee, the library can provide photocopies of documents and legal forms. Fax service also is available.

There’s a CD collection of the most requested continuing legal education programs from The Florida Bar available for attorneys in good standing to borrow for a $30 fee.

Maurer, who’s been director of the library since 2000, said that out of the 67 counties in the state, Duval is one of 17 that maintain a physical law library. He’s confident that if Duval’s isn’t the No. 1 public law library, it’s behind only Miami-Dade County.

That’s because the South Florida court hears more cases and therefore, collects more fees from defendants and that equates to a larger budget, he said.