General Provisions - Law Libraries - Business & Professions - CA

Section § 6360

This California law section states that law libraries are free to use for judges, state and county officials, State Bar members, and county residents, for reading books and materials on-site. The library's trustees can decide if books can be taken out, set rules on how they're returned, and require security from borrowers other than judges or officials. They can charge fines for rule violations or fees for special services like photocopying or events. Non-judiciary and non-officials might need to pay dues to borrow books, and the trustees can charge bar members for this privilege, but it can't be more than the service costs.

(a) A law library established under this chapter shall be free to the judiciary, to state and county officials, to members of the State Bar of California, and to all residents of the county, for the examination of books and other publications at the library or its branches.

(b) The board of law library trustees may permit the removal of the books and other publications from the library and its branches as it considers proper, subject to those rules, and, in its discretion, the giving of security, as it may provide to ensure the safekeeping and prompt return thereof, but security shall not be required of members of the judiciary or county officials. The board may provide for the levying of fines and charges for violation of the rules, and may make charges for special services, such as the making of photocopies of pages of library books, electronic delivery, messenger and other delivery services, educational programs, special events, and provision of supplies or food services.

(c) The board of law library trustees may require persons other than members of the judiciary, county officials, and members of the bar resident in the county, to pay dues as the board may fix for the privilege of removing books and other publications from the library. With the approval of the board of supervisors, the board of law library trustees may charge individual members of the bar resident in the county fees for the removal of books and other publications from the library. These fees shall not exceed the cost of providing the service.

law library access library trustees book removal

Section § 6361

In each county where there's a law library, the county's supervisors must provide proper space for the library if the library's board asks for it. However, if the library has enough extra money beyond its basic expenses, it can handle its own space needs. The provided space should include furniture, lighting, heating, and necessary services like phone and cleaning.

The board of supervisors of the county in which the law library is established shall provide sufficient quarters for the use of the library upon request of the board of law library trustees, except that the board of supervisors need not provide such quarters when the board of law library trustees determines it has sufficient funds, over and above those necessary for operation and maintenance expenses, to provide its own quarters. Such provision may include, with the room or rooms provided, suitable furniture, window shades, floor coverings, lighting, heat and telephone and janitor service.

county board of supervisors law library trustees library funding

Section § 6362.5

The State Librarian is responsible for regularly providing law libraries, upon request, with updates on new publications to help them choose new materials for their collections.

The State Librarian shall periodically supply to each law library established under the provisions of this chapter, and requesting the same, information regarding newly published materials to aid such libraries in their selection of new materials.

State Librarian law libraries newly published materials

Section § 6363

This section ensures that if there's an existing law library governed by a board of trustees under a separate law in any county or city within the state, the introduction of this new law doesn’t cancel out the previous one. Instead, it adds additional benefits from specific sections of the new law to those libraries.

Whenever a law library, and a board of trustees to govern the same, is in existence under the provisions of any law, other than the law superseded by this chapter, in any county, or city and county, in this State, this chapter shall not be considered a repeal of any legislation under which such library was established and is now governed, but shall be deemed to confer upon such library the benefits of Sections 6321, 6322, 6322.1, 6326, 6341, 6345, 6346, 6346.5, and 6347.

law library board of trustees existing libraries