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On March 16, 2020 Alberta Law Libraries (ALL) closed our doors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. During our closure ALL continued to focus on meeting the legal research and legal information needs of Albertans. Our library staff worked hard to connect remotely with users by email and telephone which included our “Ask a Law Librarian” service. ALL, like many other organizations, had to immediately pivot through a pandemic - in order to continue to serve our users, while keeping them safe. This included suspension of fees for document delivery and remote access to databases typically only available onsite in the library. We continually updated our Stay Current blog with COVID-19 news, specific to Alberta Courts, federal and provincial legislation, health orders, as well as a COVID-19 Research Guide. On August 31, 2020, in alignment with Courthouse guidelines and public health measures, ALL reopened our physical space for all our users. Today, you are able to:
Throughout this experience, ALL worked to ensure that the best quality of service available was delivered to the public in an effective manner. For more information, reach out to us at lawlibrary@just.gov.ab.ca or follow our Stay Current blog. To better understand how ALL can assist you please refer to our FAQ section below. Frequently Asked Questions
Can I enter the library? First time users are often unsure if this space is for them. This space is for anyone researching a legal matter – whether it is accessing and filling out court forms, printing/photocopying legal documents, accessing legal information through our print and electronic collection. Our Edmonton and Calgary courthouse locations are open Monday to Friday, 8:15 to 4:00pm. For our other courthouse locations, please refer to our website for hours of operation. Am I able to borrow the items in your collection? You are able to access any of our resources available in the courthouse libraries, which includes physical print material as well as access to legal research databases only available within the library. Borrowing physical items is restricted to members of the Law Society of Alberta. Please do not hesitate to talk to a library staff member about the various ways you are able to access legal information. Our scanning is free and we ask that you respect copyright laws. Our legal research databases allow you to email yourself the information you find related to your legal research/information need. Do you have printers/photocopiers? Printing and photocopying are available in Edmonton and Calgary, for .25/page. We only accept credit and debit with a minimum $2.00 charge. Services may vary by location outside of Edmonton and Calgary so please contact your closest library directly should you want more information. How can Alberta Law Libraries help me as a self-represented litigant? Alberta Law Libraries has an extensive print and electronic collection that anyone is able to access. There are numerous resources in the library that can help you prepare for court and gain a better understanding of your particular situation. Our trained staff will assist you in locating the most relevant text books and databases to assist you in your research. Can you tell me what court form to use and how to fill it out? Alberta Law Libraries cannot advise you on the form required to proceed in your matter, nor can we assist you in filling it out. That said, if you know the form you are looking for then the library staff can work with you to locate it. We have computers available to fill out the form and printers to make hard copies. Our library has a number of resources that may be of use to you in filling out your forms. Can library staff provide me with the same help as a lawyer? Alberta Law Libraries staff are not lawyers and are therefore unable to provide legal advice. Our trained staff are available to guide you to find the legal information you require. Often receiving the right legal information will help you to determine if you need to obtain legal advice on your matter. Our library is open for you to research your legal matter to gain a better understanding of your situation. If you would like to obtain legal advice then we have a Research Guide called Finding Legal Help, it provides a variety of resources for legal assistance, self-representative resources and information on legal clinics and workshops. How to contact the Library The best way to reach the library with your legal information questions is to email us at LawLibrary@just.gov.ab.ca and we will do our best to respond to your question in a timely fashion.
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