ABOUT THE LAW LIBRARY
History of the Law Library.
The Clark County Law Library was created by the enactment of Ordinance #1 of the Clark County Board of Commissioners on January 5th, 1923. For over 75 years the Clark County Law Library has served the legal research needs of the bench, bar, and public of Southern Nevada. The Clark County Law Library derives its income from a portion of the filing fees in civil cases heard in the District Court of Clark County. Therefore, the Law Library is supported by litigants, who derive the main benefit from the Library, rather than by general tax funds.
The Clark County Law Library is a public law library open to everyone and there is no fee to use the library. The Law Library maintains in its collection both state and federal statutes, regulations, and cases, as well as commentary (in the form of treatises and periodicals). The entire collection contains more than 48,000 volumes, over 260 periodical titles, nearly 150 topical loose-leaf services, and six computerized databases that total 35 CDs. Materials are available in a variety of formats: paper, microfiche, video, audiotape, and CD-ROM. Internet-based computer research is available on four computers and four computers are used for all CD database research. These computers are for the purpose of LEGAL RESEARCH ONLY. There is no fee to use the computers but you must sign in at the Reference desk and present a photo ID. The computers are available during normal business hours.
The Law Library is governed by the Law Library Board of Trustees--seven members drawn from the general public and the Clark County bench and bar. The Law Library is administered by the Law Library Director, Kevin L. Clanton.
How We Assist Our Patrons
Reference Assistance.
Reference Assistance is available at the Reference Desk. Library staff will happily aid in research by locating sources, explaining sources and their use, and other library functions that will aid a patron in performing their own legal research. Staff members CANNOT give legal advice, legal opinions, or provide legal assistance in any manner; patrons in need of professional legal assistance should consult a lawyer. It is the responsibility of the patron to do all of the necessary research needed to find the answers to their legal issues.
Here is a brief summary of what staff members CAN and CANNOT do:
Hours and Holiday Schedule.
The Clark County Law Library is open to the public Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The library is closed on Sundays. The library will keep the following schedule on major holidays for the year 2008:
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New Year's Day |
January 1, 2008 (Tuesday) |
Tuesday, January 1, 2008 |
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |
January 21, 2008 (Monday) |
Monday, January 21, 2008 |
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Presidents' Day |
February 18, 2008 (Monday) |
Monday, February 18, 2008 |
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Memorial Day |
May 26, 2008 (Monday) |
Monday, May 26, 2008 |
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Independence Day |
July 4, 2008 (Friday) |
Thursday, July 3, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. and
Friday, July 4, 2008 |
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Labor Day |
September 1, 2008 (Monday) |
Monday, September 1, 2008 |
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Nevada Day |
October 31, 2008 (Friday) |
Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. and
Friday, October 31, 2008 |
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Veterans Day |
November 11, 2008 (Tuesday) |
Monday, November 10, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. and
Tuesday, November 11, 2008 |
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Thanksgiving Day
Family Day |
November 27, 2008 (Thursday),
November 28, 2008 (Friday) |
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. and
Thursday, November 27, 2008 and
Friday, November 28, 2008 |
| Christmas Day |
December 25, 2008 (Thursday) |
Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. and
Thursday, December 25, 2008 |
Circulation Policy.
Circulation of library materials is limited to judges and their support staff, governmental agencies, and members of the bar. Law clerks and paralegals may obtain a circulation card if a letter of responsibility from an attorney accompanies the application. A circulation card is $50, renewable annually thereafter for $30 per year. Replacement of a lost card is $40, which also covers the cost of an annual renewal. Case reporters have a two day circulation period; treatises and periodicals circulate for seven. If no holds are placed on an item, two renewals are allowed, and renewals are accepted over the telephone. Reference materials, materials that are labeled "Copy 1", and items designated "non-circulating" do not circulate. Fines are $1.00 per day for each item past due.
Library Services.
PHOTOCOPIERS are available for use in the library. They are located in the photocopying room located directly behind, and to the right of, the Reference Desk. Photocopies at the library are $0.25 per page. There are copy cards available in $20.00 increments (20, 40, 80, etc.) that reduce the cost per copy to $0.16 per copy; they are recommended when a patron will make a large number of copies ($1.00 copy cards are available in the copyroom).
LIBRARY TOURS are offered to groups or classes who have an interest in becoming familiar with the Law Library. Group tours may be arranged by calling (702) 455-4696. Tours may be arranged for any hours in which the Library is open.
TYPEWRITERS are available at the Law Library. The nearest public library with typewriters is the Las Vegas Public Library located at 833 North Las Vegas Boulevard, opposite Cashman Field. The cost for using the typewriters is $1.25 per hour.
Additional Information.
Below you will find links to other pages that have more information about the Law Library. To go to that new page, just click on the blue hyperlink.
The Board and Staff- This page has the members of the Law Library Board of Trustees as well as the names of the staff of the library.
Directions and a Map to the Library -This page will show you how to get to the Law Library, where the public parking garage is located and it includes directions so you will know exactly how to find us!
A Floor Map of the Library -This page will show the layout of the materials here in the library. If you have a question about where something is located this map will answer it!