Classroom Resources at the Law Library: Homework Help Here
By Jean Holcomb
No one is surprised to find students of all ages using the resources of their public library. We understand from personal experience the traditional role public libraries play as a source for homework help. For a nation of lifetime learners, the definition of homework now includes learning opportunities in settings that extend beyond formal classroom environments.
Yet, the notion that students would turn to a public law library for homework help might come as a surprise to many.
Homework itself now comes in many guises. Homework might be the preparations you must make before participating as a panelist on a CLE offering. Homework might be the quest you’ve begun to answer the questions brought to you in a social or family setting about a topic that’s outside your practice area of expertise. Homework might be the assignment you’ve been given by a senior member of the firm.
Regardless of the setting in which you received your homework assignment, a public law library like ours will have resources to help you find the answers. The www.kcll.org website contains research guides with direct links to online resources of both primary and secondary sources. The e-mail and live chat functions that operate on the website put you in touch with a reference librarian who can get you started on your assignment. The Legal Research and Training Center in the Seattle library provides a regular schedule of classes.
Staff at both library locations offer point of need training. Library staff export their expertise by conducting training sessions at the home base of the student. Specialized training programs can be designed to fit a particular research task. The conference rooms in the downtown library serve as settings for small group instruction.
The next time you’re looking for some help with your homework, consider contacting the reference desks in Seattle at (206) 296.0940 or at the RJC at (206) 205-2900. Think of the library’s web site as a virtual classroom resource. Don’t overlook the option of asking for customized training.
We’re always interested in suggestions about new ways KCLL can help you with your homework assignments.
Internet class topic: The Seattle Law Library Internet lunch-break class for web users will be held on the third Thursday of the month on the sixth floor of the County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue. On June 16, the class will cover tips and tricks for effective use of the www.LegalWA.org web site. For information about the training and to register, contact Rita Kaiser at (206) 296-0940. This Internet training class will not be held in July or August, but will resume on September 15. For information about additional training opportunities, view the monthly training calendar on the library’s web page at www.kcll.org.
Gifts: The library appreciates a gift made to the collection by Dorsey & Whitney.
Recent Acquisitions, King County Law Library: Civil Procedure: Mastering Voir Dire and Jury Selection: Gain an Edge in Questioning and Selecting Your Jury; Discovery Problems and their Solutions; Model Jury Instructions: Patent Litigation; Testimonial Privileges; Contracts: The ABCs of the UCC-Amended Article 2A: Leases; The Restatement of Suretyship and Guaranty: A Translation for the Practitioner; Guide to Fixed-Price Supply Subcontract Terms and Conditions; Alternative Dispute Resolution: A Practical Guide for Resolving Government Contract Controversies; Intellectual Property: Patent Basics for the Non-Specialist; Intellectual Property Valuation: A Primer for Identifying and Determining Value; Labor Law: EEOC Litigation and Charge Resolution; Practice of Law: The Legal Opinion Committee Work-shop, 2005; Tax Law: Recent Deferred Comp. Changes: You’ve Heard from Treasury-What it Means to You; Tech-nology: Roadmap to an Enterprise Security Program. n
Jean Holcomb is the King County Law Librarian. She welcomes your comments. Call her at (206) 296-0940,
or email her at jean.holcomb@metrokc.gov.
