San Mateo County Grand Jury
• 2015-2016
San Mateo County Law Library in Crisis Issue | Summary | Background | Discussion | Conclusion | Findings |
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 5 findings
F1
The San Mateo County Law Library provides a valuable and unique service to the residents of San Mateo County that cannot be replicated elsewhere in the County.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
At least half of those who use the San Mateo County Law Library are members of the general public including County and city employees and students. However, the Law Library receives no public funds beyond the minimal amount received from civil court filing fees.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
Due to a reduction in civil court filings and the increased granting of civil court filing fee waivers, San Mateo County Law Library revenues have declined by 52% over the past five years.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Grand Jury recommends that the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors promptly adopts a formal policy to mitigate the Law Library’s fiscal crisis, and establish ongoing supplemental funding for the Law Library commencing with the FY 2016-2017 County budget.
F4
Law library collections and services are expensive to maintain and support. In trying to maintain its legal services, the San Mateo County Law Library has cut back on hours and materials, reduced staffing, increased fund-raising efforts, and drawn down its dwindling reserve funds.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Grand Jury recommends that the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors promptly adopts a formal policy to mitigate the Law Library’s fiscal crisis, and establish ongoing supplemental funding for the Law Library commencing with the FY 2016-2017 County budget.
F5
The County of San Mateo is required by statute to provide adequate space and basic maintenance for its law library, but has no further state-mandated responsibility. The statutes governing law libraries, however, specifically authorize counties to provide additional annual allocations supporting their law libraries.
No recommendations for this finding
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 9The funding model for California’s law libraries created in the early twentieth century no longer works to properly maintain the San Mateo County Law Library. Law libraries are no longer just for lawyers but are instead a unique public asset frequented by residents of all backgrounds and needs. The 2015-2016 Grand Jury urges the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors to step up as a model for the state and take visionary action to ensure the San Mateo County Law Library continues to serve the residents of San Mateo County with current, relevant legal resources. 35 Ibid. 36 Response of San Mateo County Bar Association leadership to inquiry from San Mateo County Grand Jury, April 18, 2016.
No Responses Found 2
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
San Mateo County
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San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
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