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Clerk of Circuit Court urges board to fund full-time law library position to keep facility open
Summary
Paul Ferguson, Clerk of the Circuit Court, asked the board to fund a full-time law librarian position — estimated at about $115,000 total cost — to keep the courthouse law library open and support self-represented litigants.
Clerk of Circuit Court Paul Ferguson asked the County Board to consider funding a second, full-time law library position so the courthouse law library can remain open consistently.
Ferguson said the library provides free public access to case information and legal materials and is used by self-represented litigants and justice partners. He told the board that past arrangements had allowed multiple employees to keep the library staffed but current staffing levels leave the library closed when the single allocated position is out on leave.
Nut graf: Ferguson presented a DMF cost estimate for a fully funded position at market salary and benefits, which the county's budget office calculated at about $115,000. He said a consistent staffing presence would allow the library to expand services for self-represented litigants and to provide multilingual support if a second hire were bilingual.
Ferguson asked the board to consider the request as a priority for future budget cycles, saying the library is a key access-to-justice resource for residents who cannot otherwise obtain legal assistance.
Ending: Several board members expressed support and suggested exploring whether library staff from other county departments could provide temporary coverage while a long-term funding decision is considered.
