History of the Law Library

The Clark County Law Library was created by the enactment of Ordinance #1 of the Clark County Board of Commissioners on January 5th, 1923.  For over 80 years the Clark County Law Library has served the legal research needs of the bench, bar, and public of Southern Nevada.  The Clark County Law Library derives its income from a portion of the filing fees in civil cases heard in the District Court of Clark County.  Therefore, the Law Library is supported by litigants, who derive the main benefit from the Library, rather than by general tax funds.

The Clark County Law Library is a public law library open to everyone and there is no fee to use the library.  The Law Library maintains in its collection both state and federal statutes, regulations, and cases, as well as commentary (in the form of treatises and periodicals).  The entire collection contains more than 70,000 volumes, over 260 periodical titles, nearly 150 topical loose-leaf services, and six computerized databases that total 35 CDs.  Materials are available in a variety of formats: paper, microfiche, video, audiotape, and CD-ROM.  Internet-based computer research is available on four computers and four computers are used for all CD database research.  These computers are for the purpose of LEGAL RESEARCH ONLY.  There is no fee to use the computers, but you must sign in at the Reference desk and present a photo ID.  The computers are available during normal business hours.

The Law Library is governed by the Law Library Board of Trustees--seven members drawn from the general public and the Clark County bench and bar.  The Law Library is administered by the Law Library Director, Kevin L. Clanton.
 
How We Assist Our Patrons
 
Reference Assistance Reference Assistance is available at the Reference Desk.  Library staff will happily aid in research by locating sources, explaining sources and their use, and other library functions that will aid a patron in performing their own legal research.  Staff members CANNOT give legal advice, legal opinions, or provide legal assistance in any manner; patrons in need of professional legal assistance should consult a lawyer.  It is the responsibility of the patron to do all of the necessary research needed to find the answers to their legal issues. 

Here is a brief summary of what staff members CAN and CANNOT do: 
   

WHAT WE CAN DO:	WHAT WE CANNOT DO:
Make referrals to proper agencies	Give legal advice
Direct public to sources of law and forms	Interpret statutes, cases, or regulations
Instruct in usage of legal materials	Answer telephone inquiries
Explain format requirements for pleadings	State opinions on legal issues
Locate informative reading materials	Select specific forms and/or choose the language for forms

Holiday Schedule

The Clark County Law Library is open to the public Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The library is closed on Sundays.

The Clark County Law Library observes all Federal, State and County holidays.

Circulation Policy

Circulation of library materials is limited to judges and their support staff, governmental agencies, and members of the bar.  Law clerks and paralegals may obtain a circulation card if a letter of responsibility from an attorney accompanies the application.  A circulation card is $50, renewable annually thereafter for $30 per year.  Replacement of a lost card is $40, which also covers the cost of an annual renewal.  Case reporters have a two-day circulation period; treatises and periodicals circulate for seven.  If no holds are placed on an item, two renewals are allowed and renewals are accepted over the telephone.  Reference materials, materials that are labeled "Copy 1", and items designated "non-circulating" do not circulate.  Fines are $1.00 per day for each item past due.  

Patron Code of Conduct

The Law Library is intended for use by persons engaged in law-related research or procedures.  The Patron Code of Conduct ensures the preservation of an environment conducive to legal study.

Additional Information

Below you will find links to other pages that have more information about the Law Library.  To go to that new page, click the blue hyperlink.

The Board and Staff - This page has the members of the Law Library Board of Trustees as well as the names of the staff of the library.


A Floor Map of the Library - This page will show the layout of the materials here in the library.  If you have a question about where something is located this map will answer it!