KCLL Klues: Washington State Legal Research

 SEATTLE  -    The King County Law Library Board has announced Rita Dermody as the Interim Librarian and Director of the King County Law Library, effective February 1, 2010. As Interim Director, Dermody will oversee operations and direct all activities of the Library.

“This is a welcome opportunity to serve the Library and the legal community,” said Dermody, “and I am honored by the encouragement I have received.”

“I am delighted with Rita’s appointment and confident that we’re in good hands. We’re fortunate to have someone with her strong experience and long history with the County in this leadership position.  The Board of Trustees believes Rita is the right person to guide the Library through this transition,” said Judge Mary Yu, Chair of the King County Law Library Board.

Dermody joined the Law Library as branch librarian in 1998. Since 1999, she has served as Collection Access Services Librarian, managing the Technical Services Department budgets, acquisitions, and collection development.  Ms. Dermody earned her Master’s Degree in Library Science from the University of Illinois.  She is an active participant in the King County law library community as a committee and task force member in the Law Librarians of Puget Sound (LLOPS) and the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), among others.

Dermody will be supported in her responsibilities by newly appointed Assistant Interim Director Richard Stroup.  Former Patron Access Service Librarian for King County since 1988, Stroup is also an active member of AALL and past president of LLOPS, where he twice received the President’s Excellence Award.

The King County Law Library serves the legal and law related information needs of the county, including judges, county officials, members of the bar, and other residents. The Library is open to the public and has a knowledgeable staff available to assist with legal research needs.

 A search for a permanent director will be undertaken in the next 12 months.  For further information, contact Judge Mary Yu, President of the King County Law Library Board of Trustees at 206.296.9275.

Interviews with Rita Dermody may be arranged by calling her directly at 206.205.6101. 

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Firms and individuals who join KCLL’s annual Subscriber Program are entitled to check out materials from our Seattle and MRJC branches and receive discounts on additional library services.  Each year during the first week of February, we close out accounts from the previous year that have not renewed for the current year.  This process is happening right now so if you or your firm were members in 2009 and haven’t returned the 2010 renewal materials we mailed to you in early December, please do so immediately to prevent a lapse in your borrowing privileges.  If you have any questions about the Subscriber Program or the status of your account, please contact us at (206) 296-0940.

FREE E-Filing classes from the King County Law Library are coming to the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent!

Thursday, March 4th 11:30am-1pm
E-Filing: The Basics

• Navigate the E-Filing site
• Setting up an account
• Beginning a new case
• Adding files to an existing case   
• Troubleshooting and scanning

Thursday, March 11th 11:30am-1pm
E-Filing: Advanced Features

• Submitting working papers
• Checking your Status tab
• Setting up E-Service
• Submitting electronically filed ex-parte documents

Class Location:
Community Room, Detention Building
Maleng Regional Justice Center
401 4th Avenue, North
Kent, Washington

Registration:
Space is limited and pre-registration is required.
Call 206-296-0940 or 206-205-2900 to register.

Due to staffing needs, the King County Law Library Kent branch at the Maleng Regional Justice Center will be CLOSED on Thursday, December 24th.  The Seattle library will be open regular hours (8am to 5pm). 

There is NOT be a drop box available at the MRJC library – you must return materials during business hours.  If you have library materials that are stamped due on December 24th, please let a library staff member know when you return them and you will be credited for that day. 

Both libraries will be closed on Friday, December 25th.

Call the Library at 206-296-0940 today for a free two-part class about E-Filing in the King County Superior Court! 

Part 1:
Wednesday, January 13^th                                    12:15 pm-1:00 pm
Wednesday, January 20^th                                     5:15-6:00 pm

Part 2:
Friday, January 15^th                                              12:15 pm-1:00 pm
Friday, January 22^nd                                               5:15-6:00 pm

Part One
Navigating around the E-Filing site
Setting up an account
Beginning a new case

Part Two
Adding files to an existing case
Technical issues concerning document preparation
Troubleshooting

Following each 45-minute session, there will be 15 minutes for optional hands-on practice and questions.  All class  sessions will be held at the Seattle Library.

We are currently accepting applications for a part-time library technician position at the King County Law Library branch located inside the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.  Click here to learn more.

The King County Council voted unanimously (9-0) today to restore funding to the King County Law Library for operation of the sole branch of the library located at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.  The Law Library received a 50% cut in funding for 2009 and now this funding is restored in the 2010 Budget year.

The commitment of the Council to this issue is clear through the language in the Budget Ordinance:

“Superior court and Judicial Administration: This budget allocates funding from the MIDD sales tax to sustain vital services in the superior court.  This budget allows for the continued operation of the second King County Law Library at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, as law libraries are vital services for citizens without attorneys, known as pro se defendants, and their families.” 

Thanks go out to everyone who spoke up on our behalf at public hearings or wrote e-mails and letters to their Councilmembers.   We could not have done it without your support!  As our KCLL Board of Trustees President, Judge Yu stated: “We firmly believe that as long as there are court hearings being held in this courthouse, there needs to be a law library.” 

We received critical support from the Washington State Bar Association, K ing County Bar Association, Minority Bar Associations and many members of the public and legal community.  

One of our Pro Se patrons testified at the Public Hearing in Kent and I believe she said it best: “The Library is not a luxury but a necessity of life.  It is a place to obtain information and as Thomas Jefferson said ‘Information is the currency of democracy.’”  

2010  Budget Ordinance for King County

In this episode of KCLL’s Sidebar, Rick talks about the process of e-filing in King County Superior Court and the most frequent questions the library receives regarding this new system.  Craig, in his “Reel Verdict” segment, reviews a documentary he recently watched called “The Trials of Law School”.  This movie follows the lives of law students as they negotiate the theories and practice of law in a school setting.

We are developing a two-part class to provide training on how to use the King County Superior Court’s E-Filing system.  There will be two 45-minute sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays beginning December 2^nd.  Part One will cover how to navigate around the E-Filing site, how to set up an account, how to begin a new case and related topics.  Part Two will go over how to add files to an existing case, technical issues concerning document preparation, and other troubleshooting topics.  Following each 45-minute session, there will be 15 minutes for optional hands-on practice and questions. 

 The class is free of charge.  Due to limited seating, pre-registration is required.    All class sessions will be held in the Legal Research and Training Center in the Seattle library on the sixth floor of the King County Courthouse at 516 3^rd Avenue, Suite W621.  Call the Library at 206-296-0940 to sign up.

Part 1:
Wednesday, December 2^nd         12:15 pm-1:00 pm (Class is full)
Wednesday, December 9^th          5:15-6:00 pm
Wednesday, December 16^th        12:15 pm-1:00 pm

Part 2:
Friday, December 4^th                   12:15 pm-1:00 pm
Friday, December 11^th                 5:15-6:00 pm
Friday, December 18^th                 12:15 pm-1:00 pm

The November schedule has been posted for classes that we will be teaching at the Seattle branch of KCLL.  Classes include Civil Procedure in 90 Minutes, Skip Tracing and a new class called Suing Mad, which teaches those in attendance about commencing an action in Superior Court.  You can view a link to our classes here.   To sign up for one of our free classes, all you need to do is call the library at 206-296-0940.