What’s Happening with Illinois Court Access Library Centers?

“How do I get my case into mediation?”

“What does this document I got from the court mean?”

“I’m having a problem with my homeowners' association. Who can I talk to?”

Questions like these fill a law librarian’s day. Patrons may think these questions are straightforward, but they are surprisingly complex—like most legal reference questions. In many instances, I end up telling the patron something they don’t want to hear: What they need is not a librarian but a lawyer.

A 2019 report from the World Justice Project, a nonprofit focused on advancing the rule of law around the world, found that 5.1 billion people worldwide lack basic access to justice. For many, this includes a lack of access to legal representation. The ranks of self-represented, or pro se (Latin for “for oneself”), litigants are growing. An estimated 30 million people each year are reported to lack legal representation in US state courts. US federal courts saw a 20 percent increase in pro se filings from 2010 to 2019.

According to a 2022 Legal Services Corporation report, “Low-income Americans do not get any or enough legal help for 92% of their civil legal problems.” The reason for the representation gap is often financial — the average person can’t afford a lawyer — but not always. Even in wealthy countries, there are often large geographical areas with few or no lawyers. Moreover, some people who could hire a lawyer may not do so due to “a widespread view that the customer service [lawyers] provide is often fairly poor,” particularly regarding their “lack of transparency over cost.”

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Where, then, can people turn for legal help?

The internet is one place. There are many free legal websites of varying quality. Many countries offer a free or low-cost legal aid service, but eligibility requirements can be rigid. In the United States, for example, a family must be living at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines to qualify.

Libraries, of course, are another place.

In recent years, some public library systems have been partnering with court self-help centers, where judicial staff help pro se litigants understand and manage the legal process without giving lawyerly advice. According to the National Center for State Courts, self-help centers “play a pivotal role in expanding access and bridging the justice gap.” They “empower litigants and benefit the courts by reducing reliance on clerks, improving legal filings, and enhancing litigant preparedness.”

Libraries are the perfect ally. We are accustomed to dealing with all manner of questions and problems. The drive to help patrons find and understand useful information is deeply rooted in the profession. If we know the answer to a question or the solution to a problem, we’re inclined to offer it up without hesitation.

One recent alliance comes out of Illinois. In 2024, I reported on the announcement by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias that it would establish a pilot program to work with the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice and the Chicago Bar Foundation “to establish Court Access Library Centers in [18] selected public libraries.” The goal of the pilot was to help pro se litigants more easily access legal information and assistance at their local public library. This would especially benefit patrons with technological or transportation challenges.

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As part of this program, each library has offered space and dedicated equipment for residents without lawyers to appear in court remotely, obtain legal information and resources, and e-file and access court documents online. The librarians at all pilot library locations were trained on the Illinois court system, e-filing procedures, statewide standardized court forms, remote appearances, referrals, resources, and the state’s Safe Harbor Policy (i.e., what types of services nonlawyers can legally offer).

Librarians can also opt in to become certified Court Library Navigators, a program that has existed since 2021. Court Library Navigators are trained on

• developing plain language forms and instructions,
• creating and pushing out informational public relations pieces,
• recognizing various mental health issues and the best avenues of communication with individuals exhibiting such,
• dealing with unconscious bias,
• responding to “informed trauma,” and
• understanding a day in the life of someone living on the brink of poverty.

How has the program fared over the last two years?

Roya Samarghandi, chief advocacy and innovation officer with the Chicago Bar Foundation, says that hundreds of patrons have utilized the centers, enough that the program is on the verge of transitioning out of the pilot phase.

Of the most successful program outlets, the Bar Foundation has noticed two major themes. “First,” says Samarghandi, “it’s incredibly important to have a champion for the project in each library.” Some locations have struggled with staffing changes, resulting in the loss of key individuals who were invested in the program.

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The other theme is that “there is no one-size-fits-all approach to marketing. We’ve had to pivot a bit in terms of publicizing the program.” Libraries that have been the most successful have had “robust Adult Services programs already established in their libraries and have had active communication methods for their patrons—newsletters, Facebook pages, etc. We have also utilized posters and table tents for some libraries who found that was the best way to share the information.”

One example is the Aurora Public Library District. Aurora is the second-most populous city in Illinois, with a population of around 180,000. The library has a central location, two branches, and a bookmobile, bringing its total service population to 200,000 people. Though nearby Kane County has a law library, the Aurora Court Access Library Center stays busy, providing private rooms and computer equipment for litigants to attend Zoom court hearings. Library staff also offer one-on-one appointments for

• finding and e-filing court forms,
• understanding court rules and procedures, and
• locating other legal resources.

Patrons can also show up on the second Tuesday of each month for a free fifteen-minute consultation with an attorney.

There are currently plans to expand the program to other locations. “We have several public libraries that have already expressed interest in hosting a Court Access Library Center,” says Samarghandi. Here’s hoping this program continues to thrive, delivering much-needed legal assistance to pro se litigants throughout the state.

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