West Virginia Supreme Court and Library Commission
Opening Pilot Legal Research Centers

      Charleston, W. Va. - The West Virginia Supreme Court and the West Virginia Library Commission have selected locations and are in the process of opening nine pilot legal research centers in public and circuit court law libraries throughout West Virginia.

      The locations selected for the legal research centers are: the Clarksburg-Harrison County Public Library; the Hampshire County Public Library; the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library; the McClintic Public Library in Marlinton; the McDowell County Public Library; the Raleigh County Public Library; and circuit court law libraries in Cabell, Ohio, and Wood counties.

      The legal research centers in the three circuit court libraries opened this month. The centers in the six public libraries will open by late November.

      As part of the legal research centers’ services, trained librarians will assist members of the public with legal research questions. Patrons also can use legal research computer database and written legal materials. "Public libraries have limited funds to purchase legal research materials and many of our patrons have legal research questions," West Virginia Library Commission Secretary J.D. Waggoner said.

      Supreme Court Chief Justice Larry Starcher also described the partnership between the West Virginia court and library systems as mutually beneficial. "A librarian’s job is to help people find information," Chief Justice Starcher said. "Placing legal research centers in libraries is logical because we can serve the largest number of people in a comfortable setting."

      The Supreme Court received a $45,000 grant from the State Justice Institute (SJI Grant Number SJI-03-N-107) in late July to fund the legal research centers for one year. If the project is successful, the Court may apply for more funding to continue and expand the project.

      The State Justice Institute is a non-profit organization established by federal law to award grants to improve the quality of justice in state courts nationwide, facilitate better coordination between state and federal courts, and foster innovative, efficient solutions to common problems all courts face. More information about SJI is available at www.statejustice.org.