Law library funding issues were discussed several times over the course of the year, but in the end they were largely overshadowed by the Judicial Branch's decision to close three courthouses. Last week was the first time that also put a specific number on the number of libraries to be shuttered.
From the Judicial Branch's standpoint, those most affected will be self-represented parties, solo attorneys and small law firms that can't afford to pay the several hundreds, or sometimes thousands, of dollars needed to subscribe to online research programs like Westlaw and LexisNexis.
"From our perspective, it's a big deal," Quinn told the Connecticut Law Tribune last week. "Who it hits the hardest are self-represented parties who receive help from the librarians."
As of June, there were 27 full-time law librarian staff members. For fiscal year 2008-09, the branch spent $1.93 million in salaries. Quinn said staffers in closed libraries would be transferred to other libraries.
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