This is an ongoing battle and we’ve been talking to a US law librarian or two about an ongoing in depth investigative report on the subject.
The silent black death of court and state law libraries around the USA is going on unnoticed and as this story relates it the absolute lack of knowledge by some of those doing the active dismantling that’s losing the states and the country extremely important historical legal documents of record and of note.
Many USA legal information professionals in the public sector are getting increasingly worried by these developments which almost have the air of active and wanton destruction. Now where have we seen that recently !
The Exponent Telegram reports on a minor victory in an ocean of defeat.
CLARKSBURG — The Harrison County Commission held a short regular meeting Wednesday before going into executive session for personnel and legal matters.
Harrison Chief Judge James Matish and Circuit Judges Thomas Bedell and Chris McCarthy attended in support of keeping the Law Library on the courthouse’s fifth floor.
The library lost its regional library status and its librarian as of July 11. The state Supreme Court informed the judges they could place the books they wanted in their chambers.
After consulting with the state law librarian and administrative director, it was decided that all the books and research materials could remain in the library, Matish said.
“It is very important to keep the library intact. It contains books of historical value, some dating back to the 1800s,” Matish said. “If you give that space up, it will be very disruptive for the judges. It has been library space since the turn of the century and is part of the court space.”
Matish said he understood the need for more space for everyone in the courthouse.
“We are all just trying to make do with the space we have until there is a judicial complex,” he said.
Commissioner Bernie Fazzini said he understood there is historical value to some of the books and said the law library will remain until there is a judicial building.
In other business, Sam Madia of Shaffer Madia Law requested an executive session to discuss strategy regarding pending opioid litigation against pharmaceutical distributors.
The commission is pursuing costs incurred because of the opioid epidemic. Shaffer Madia Law is working with Fitzsimmons Law to represent the county.
Also, a personnel hearing for a Harrison-Taylor 911 employee was held during the executive session.
County Administrator Willie Parker recommended suspension without pay for two weeks rather than termination following the closed session
