Orange
County Public Law Library
REFERENCE POLICY
Reference
librarians and staff are located at the Public Services desk in the main
facility and also in the Courthouse annex. The reference staff is
available to help patrons define research questions and to make reference to
pertinent library materials.
However,
it is against Library policy for the reference staff to give legal advice or to
do anything which might constitute the unauthorized practice of law.
The staff is unable to interpret statutes, cases, or
regulations, or advise patrons regarding their legal rights. They may not
recommend which legal forms a person should use or assist persons in filling out
legal forms. The staff will, however, help laymen with legal terminology
and the meaning of legal citations and fulfill their primary function, which is
to help patrons find the materials they need so that patrons may do their own
research. Within these limits, the staff will provide assistance wherever
possible to meet the reference needs of patrons, whether laymen or attorneys,
but patrons should not expect the library staff to do research.
October 2000