Oregon Council of
County Law Libraries

MISSION of THE OREGON COUNCIL OF COUNTY LAW LIBRARIES

OCCLL was founded in 1975 to form a network of the Oregon county law libraries:

- to improve the overall quality of the county law libraries in the state through sharing resources and exchanging information;

- to foster communication and cooperation among all the state's law libraries;

- to present educational professional programs and materials;

- to evaluate collections for county administrators;

- to assist with the development of collections;

- to develop methods and standards for the operation of the Oregon county law library.

SHORT HISTORY of
OREGON COUNTY LAW LIBRARIES

The Oregon Legislature by statute authorized the establishment of county law libraries and provided for their funding through the imposition of a portion of the litigant filing fee. (1907 Oregon Laws, Chapter 239: 1927 Oregon Laws, Chapter 222).

Historically, in the more populated counties, the county maintained a law library for public use as well as a judge's library in the judge's chambers or courtroom, while in the less populated counties, the law library was often the small library located in or near the judge's chambers or courtroom. In the instances where the law library was located in the judge's chambers or courtroom, the judge's staff performed the duties of the librarian.

In 1981, the Legislature declared that in the best interests of the people of the state that the state judicial branch take over from the counties the administration of the court system, including all court personnel. However, the county law library and the courthouse remained a facility managed by each county. (1981 Oregon Laws, Special. Sess., Chapter 3). As facilities of the county, the judge's staff were no longer permitted to attend to the law library. Consequently, the administration and maintenance of the county law library shifted to different departments within each county, including the County Administrative Officer, the County Attorney's office, the District Attorney's office, County Archives, and in some cases, the County's Public Library system. A 1983 OCCLL Survey stated that "variety is a fact of life for county law libraries."

Today, every Oregon county law library is funded by a percentage of the litigant filing fee, and the administration and maintenance of the law library varies from county to county. However, because of OCCLL's involvement and unifying effect, the overall quality of the county law libraries is greatly improved and continually improving.