Cleveland Law Library Weblog

Librarians are the "Human Google"

A recent article and video from CBS News calls librarians at the New York Public Library the "human Google." The article points out that librarians are still a trusted source for finding accurate information, and they use both both private resources that are not on the Internet and Google in a pinch to help their patrons. One librarian at NYPL is quoted as saying a patron told her: "Thank God I reached a human being." 

Library of Congress Has a New Librarian-Its First Female and African American Chief

The United States Senate has just confirmed Carla Hayden as the new Librarian of Congress. She is the first female and African American Librarian to hold the position, and, according to a local news article, she is also the first professional librarian to be in charge of the LOC in over 60 years. Ms. Hayden holds a Ph.D. in Library Science and is known for her work with the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore. Ms. Hayden will serve as the 14th Librarian of Congress.

The Cleveland Public Library is hosting a program on "Patents and Trademarks: Get the Information You Need to Protect Your Intellectual Property"

Tuesday, May 10 • 10:00 a.m. -5:45 p.m.
Main Library, Louis Stokes Wing Auditorium

 
"United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) staff members Michael Hydorn and Robert Berry will explain patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Presentations in the afternoon by staff from the USPTO Midwest Regional Office in Detroit, the Department of Justice for the Northern District of Ohio, Customs and Border Patrol, and the Federal Trade Commission will discuss their agencies’ work in assisting people in safeguarding their inventions, designs, and products. Space is limited; pre-registration is required."

 

Register at here or call (216) 623-2932.

Cleveland Law Library Creates Virtual Display on Prominent Female Lawyers in Ohio and Cleveland History

In honor of Women's History Month in March, our Library, the Cleveland Law Library, launched its first virtual display highlighting "Prominent Female Lawyers in Ohio and Cleveland History." This display highlights many firsts for Ohio women lawyers, including these:

• Nettie Cronise Lutes, 1st female member of the Ohio Bar
• Blanche Krupansky, 1st woman to serve on the Ohio Court of Appeals
• Lillian W. Burke, 1st African American female judge appointed in Ohio
• Sara J. Harper, 1st African American woman appointed to sit on the Ohio Supreme Court
• Betty Montgomery, 1st female Ohio Attorney General and 1st female Ohio Auditor of State
• Maureen O’Connor, 1st female Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court
• Kathleen B. Burke, 1st female OSBA President

The Cleveland Law Library is Hosting a Series of 8 Legal Research Webinars for CLE Credit Starting Fri. March 4th

This year, the Cleveland Law Library is hosting a series of 8 legal research webinars for CLE credit starting this Friday, March 4, 2016. The Ohio Supreme Court has approved each program for 1 hour of general CLE credit. The topic for this Friday's program is 

Debtor-Creditor Law: Research Tools, Legal Claims, and Potential Causes of Action.

This program will run from 10-11:00 a.m. and costs $25.00 for members or $30.00 for non-members. Anyone who is interested in this or one of our other programs should check out our online course catalog for more information and online registration. All programs will be held live on 2 separate dates. 

 

 

CLE Video Replays at the Cleveland Law Library in December

The Cleveland Law Library is offering video replays of its 4 Fall 2015 CLE's this December:

• Quantum of Harm: Obtaining or Surviving Summary Judgment in Employment Discrimination Cases, Thursday December 17th
• Current Appellate Practice in the 8th District, Thursday December 17th
• Legal Needs of Custodial Grandparents, Friday December 18th
• Professional Conduct for Lawyers 2015, Friday December 18th

All programs will be replayed in the Main Reading Room of the Cleveland Law Library.

Click here for brochures containing more information and registration forms.

Room to Read Builds Libraries and Schools and Provides Books in 10 Countries

BBC News just published an amazing article on Room to Read, an NGO that builds libraries and schools and provides books to children in 10 countries around the world. It was started 15 years ago by former Microsoft executive John Wood, who quit his job after seeing the need on a trek through Nepal. In the last 15 years, Wood's organization has built 17,500 libraries and 1,000 schools. He has been compared to Andrew Carnegie, who built 2,500 spectacular libraries, including a few in Cleveland. Click here to read more about the libraries.

OSBA Access to Justice Final Report Suggests Role for Law Libraries

The OSBA held an Access to Justice Summit in April 2015 to discuss 4 major topics:

• Access to Justice with or without a Lawyer
• Innovations in Pro Bono Legal Services
• The Crisis in Legal Aid Funding
• Effective Tools for Assisting Pro Se Parties: Forms and Beyond

The Final Report has been issued, and it contains many recommendations for reform. In particular, several comments describe the role which law libraries can play:

"Participants also raised that law libraries and public libraries could also play a significant role in providing access to legal services. Libraries could hold “legal hours” where legal aid/pro bono attorneys are available to assist with filling out forms or even just talking through problems so people know that the legal system might have help for them.,,,Open up law libraries for public access on specific days and times during the week....Self-help centers are good and SHOULD utilize LAW LIBRARIES...Law libraries are a great resource and the Ohio Association of Law Libraries is an eager and willing partner • They can expand their functions to help provide information; access; and support...Better information at law libraries."

Look for the Cleveland Public Library "Book Bike" This Summer

The Cleveland Public Library is adding to its community outreach efforts with a "Book Bike" this summer. According to Scene, the "Book Bike" will be a "traveling library, complete with a checkout station, WiFi access, and a display for informational materials." According to CPL, the "Book Bike" will allow patrons to "check out books, sign up for library cards, and look up books in the catalog." This Summer, the "Book Bike" will join Cleveland Public Library's Book Box at Wade Oval Wednesdays and make appearances at local festivals and parades. For more information, read the Cleveland Public Library's press release.

Law Library is Hosting CLE on Ethics & Professional Conduct Tomorrow, 11/21/14

Just a reminder that our Library, the Cleveland Law Library, is hosting a 2.5 hour CLE program on Ethics & Professional Conduct for Lawyers tomorrow. Registration begins at 1:00 p.m., and the program runs from 1:30-4:15 p.m. The price is $80.00 for members and $90 for non-members. Click here for the Registration form and additional information about speakers and topics.