Target Audience: Law librarians who serve pro se litigants and need to understand the role of statewide committees that advance partnerships and strategies for enhancing access-to-justice initiatives at a policy/program level; law librarians who consider Access to Justice (A2J) committees as critical advocates for the preservation of library programs
Learning Outcomes:
1) Attendees will be able to describe the impact of A2J committees in the preservation of law library services.
2) Attendees will learn how they can connect with these committees in their respective states to expand the law librarian’s role in access-to-justice initiatives.
Engaging with key organizations can help law librarians broaden their base of support and increase their effectiveness. This program will give an overview of A2J committees around the country. Participants will learn how the committees work and about their importance for the preservation of law libraries and access to legal information. Very few law librarians are currently members of A2J committees, but law librarians who are A2J members in Washington and Maryland will describe the ways their committee connections strengthen partnerships with courts, legal aid organizations, and bar associations. Speakers will explain how connections to A2J committees help promote law libraries and how they create mutually beneficial opportunities to expand A2J. A short question-and-answer period will invite audience participants to offer input regarding their local A2J and advocacy efforts.
