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Douglas County law library has evolved into a self‑help center serving thousands of unrepresented litigants
Summary
Judge Shelley Stratman and law library staff told the County Board the law library now functions mainly as a self‑help desk for people who cannot afford attorneys; the operation runs on a shrinking budget and relies on public computers, printing fees and one full‑time employee.
Judge Shelley Stratman told the Douglas County Board of Commissioners that the county law library now functions primarily as a self‑help desk for people who cannot afford attorneys or who have relatively simple legal matters.
The law library, dedicated as the Honorable Michael W. Amdorf Memorial Law Library, has shifted from a lawyer‑oriented reference collection to an access‑to‑justice resource that helps people navigate filings such as divorces, paternity actions and evictions, Stratman said. County staff who manage the library provide packets, laptop stations, and in‑person help for self‑represented litigants (SRLs).
Board members were shown recent usage and revenue figures to illustrate demand. The library’s current fiscal year budget is about $75,000,…
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