Publications
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Select a frequently asked question below to jump to the answer.
- May I use the Alameda County Law Library?
- What types of materials does the law library have?
- Can you help me find a form? Can you help me fill out a form?
- What web services are available to the public inside the law library?
- How can I find a particular book or loose-leaf?
- How do I get a law library card?
- I had a library card many years ago. Is it still valid?
- I lost or cannot find my library card. Can I get a replacement?
- What may be borrowed?
- Are there materials I can check out for California MCLE credit? What is the cost?
- How many items can be checked out?
- What is the circulation period for materials? Are there renewals?
- What is the fine for an overdue item?
- What is the library's policy regarding access to public computers and/or the Internet?
- Does the Alameda County Law Library offer free wireless Internet access using my own wireless-enabled laptop computer?
- Can I access the Library Catalog and library databases in the library from my Internet-ready laptop?
- Can I print from my lap top in the library?
- Do I need a username or password to access the Library's wireless network?
- Is my information protected while using the Library's wireless network?
- Are there library web sites that give advice on connecting to wireless networks?
- Does the library guarantee an Internet connection? Will the library staff provide technical assistance?
- Are there any restrictions on wireless access?
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions received by the Alameda County Law Library. If your question is not included, please e-mail us or call the Reference Desk at 510-208-4832. Additional information and policies may be found on the Library's web site at http://www.acgov.org/law/about/circulation.htm.
- May I use the Alameda County Law Library?
All members of the public such as students, paralegals, attorneys, judges, government employees, elected officials, and persons who are preparing their own cases or are interested in the law may use the law library.
Back to Top - What types of materials does the law library have?
The law library's focus is on providing current, practice oriented California and some federal legal information such as codes, cases, citators, treatises, law reviews, self- help materials, practice guides, and manuals. These materials may be in print or on the web.
Back to Top - Can you help me find a form? Can you help me fill out a form?
The librarians can show you self-help books, practice guides, and form books. We can show you how to use the indexes to locate forms. Judicial Council forms are in print in the library and on the web at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/forms/ . Local forms are in the library and on the web at http://www.alameda.courts.ca.gov/courts/forms/index.shtml. We are not authorized to select a form for you or to fill out a form for you. The library staff is prohibited from providing legal advice.
Back to Top - What web services are available to the public inside the law library?
The library pays for subscription access inside the library to Westlaw (state and federal codes and cases), Shepard's, CEB's OnLAW (the Continuing Education of the Bar's books with forms), and HeinOnline (law reviews). Non-subscription (free) legal sites are accessible from the library's Internet workstation.
Back to Top - How can I find a particular book or loose-leaf?
You may call the Main Law Library in Oakland at 510-208-4832 or the Branch Law Library in Hayward at 510-670-5230 or ask at their respective reference desks. The libraries' web catalog is available both within the libraries and at http://202.sydneyplus.com on the web.
To begin a search select a field such as "Title", "Alternate Title", "Author", "Corporation", "Subject", "Publisher", "Call Number", and/or "year" and then enter the words you want to search for. For example, if you want all titles with the various forms of the word "contract" and published by the "Continuing Education of the Bar", select "title search" then type "contract*" into the search box, then select "publisher" and type "Continuing Education of the Bar" into the search box. Press the search button to search for anything related to "contract", including items with a similar root word and published by "Continuing Education of the Bar".
Using "law*" in a title search will return titles with variations on the word "law".
Examples:
Field Request: Possible Results
Title: law* law, laws
Title: surge* Surgery, Surgeries, Surgeon, Surgeons
Subject: wind* Wind, Winds, Windmills
Back to Top - How do I get a law library card?
You must fill out a registration card at the Main Library or Branch Library. Photo identification such as a California driver's license or California identification card is required; neither can have a P.O. Box without providing additional identification. Additional identification would include a recent electric, gas, water or garbage bill that shows the street address, city, and state. An attorney must also present a state bar card or, at a minimum, supply his bar number.
Persons wishing to register for a library card must present satisfactory proof of being a member of one of the categories listed below in order to register and may be required to present current proof when checking out library materials.- a. Judicial Borrowers
Any judge of a court located within Alameda County. Any administrative law judge who conducts judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings within Alameda County. Any judge or retired judge who resides within Alameda County. - b. Public Officials
Any elected or appointed federal, state, county or city official who maintains an office within Alameda County. - c. Registered Attorneys
Any member in good standing with the State Bar of California. The charge for the library card is $5.00. - d. Authorized Agents
Any person employed by a registered borrower in one of the above three categories who is authorized on the Law Library's authorization form and who borrows materials on behalf of the authorizing employer. Any borrowing by an Authorized Agent is to be limited to materials used with the scope of such employment. The employer signing the authorization form remains fully responsible for any materials borrowed and any overdue fines or other charges accrued by that agent. The maximum authorization period is one year. Authorizations are renewable. - e. Alameda County Residents
An adult resident of Alameda County must place a $60.00 cash security deposit with the Law Library to register for a library card. In addition there is a $1.00 fee for the library card. Deposit borrowers must maintain a current registration on file. Deposit borrowers may not authorize others to check materials out on their behalf or to register as an authorized agent.
Back to Top - a. Judicial Borrowers
- I had a library card many years ago. Is it still valid?
You can visit the Main Library at 125 Twelfth Street, Oakland, CA 94607 or the Branch Library at 224 W. Winton Avenue, Room 162, Hayward, CA 94544. The circulation assistant or a reference librarian will check the library's records to determine if you are still registered.
Back to Top - I lost or cannot find my library card. Can I get a replacement?
A replacement card can be purchased for $1.00 at either the Main Library at 125 Twelfth Street, Oakland, CA 94607 or the Branch Library at 224 W. Winton Avenue, Room 162, Hayward, CA 94544. Photo identification such as a California driver's license or a California identification card may be required. See the information under "How do I get a law library card?" to find out what forms of identification are accepted.
Back to Top - What may be borrowed?
Items may be borrowed only for the personal use of the borrower, or for the use of professional associates or employees. Violation of this rule will constitute grounds for the revocation of borrowing privileges.
Only those materials which have been bar coded and processed may be checked out. There are no exceptions to this rule. Non-circulating items include but are not limited to loose-leaf sets, reference books, digests, citators and rare books. Books and materials ordinarily subject to borrowing may, at the discretion of a Librarian, be withdrawn from circulation at times and for periods determined by a Librarian.
Back to Top - Are there materials I can check out for California MCLE credit? What is the cost?
There are CDs and tapes that provide California MCLE credit. The emphasis is on the required topics of elimination of bias, ethics, and substance abuse. The checkout period is one week. The library charges a rental fee of $15.00 per credit hour for MCLE materials checked out from the library, and a fee of $7.50 per credit hour for materials used in the library.
Back to Top - How many items can be checked out?
Judicial borrowers, Public Officials, Attorneys and Authorized Agents may check out a maximum of eight items at a time. Deposit Borrowers may have a total maximum of two items (including sets of tapes) checked out at any one time. No borrower may have more than two sets of tapes checked out at any one time.
Back to Top - What is the circulation period for materials? Are there renewals?
Circulating materials may be borrowed for a period of fourteen days: CDs and tapes may be borrowed for a week. There are no renewals. Once an item has been checked in, two days must elapse before the last borrower can check it out again.
Back to Top - What is the fine for an overdue item?
A fine of one dollar per day per overdue item shall be charged (a volume and a supplement are treated as two separate items.) Overdue fines and other charges will not be cumulated and must be paid before additional materials may be checked out. No fine shall exceed the replacement cost of the item plus $50.00. If the overdue period exceeds sixty days, the item shall be deemed lost, and the borrower shall be charged a $50.00 service charge plus the replacement cost or the value of the lost item.
A substantially damaged or defaced item shall be deemed lost unless it can be suitably repaired. In that event, the repair cost shall be charged to the responsible borrower.
All fines and replacement charges must be paid as follows: Overdue book fines must be paid within thirty day after being billed for the amount due. Borrowers who lose an item or in whose custody an item is irreparably damaged shall pay the replacement cost plus a $50.00 service charge within fifteen days after being billed for the amount.
Back to Top - What is the library's policy regarding access to public computers and/or the Internet?
The Alameda County Law Library provides public computer and Internet access for the purpose of researching the law and preparing legal documents.
In order to preserve the security and integrity of its computers and to ensure equitable access to computer resources for all patrons, the Library may place limitations on the time and manner in which these resources are used.
Patrons may be asked to leave a computer:- If staff determines that the computer is not being used to conduct legal research or to draft legal documents.
- In order to ensure equitable access to computer resources for all patrons.
Back to Top - Does the Alameda County Law Library offer free wireless Internet access using my own wireless-enabled laptop computer?
Free wireless Internet access using your own laptop is available at both the Main Library at 125 Twelfth Street, Oakland, and at the Branch Library at 224 W. Winton Avenue, room 162, Hayward.
Back to Top - Can I access the Library Catalog and library databases in the library from my Internet-ready laptop?
You can access the Library Catalog from the Library's main page at http://www.acgov.org/law/ by choosing Catalog from within or outside the library. You can access some of the library's databases within the library by going to http://www.acgov.org/law/services.htm#1 and choosing HeinOnline's, LLMC's, and OnLAW's URLs within the Main Library.
Back to Top - Can I print from my lap top in the library?
At this time it is not possible to print from your laptop to the library's printers.
Back to Top - Do I need a username or password to access the Library's wireless network?
No, there is no username or password required.
Back to Top - Is my information protected while using the Library's wireless network?
No, your information is not protected while using wireless. Keep this in mind if you are accessing sensitive business or personal information.
Protecting your computer is your responsibility. An up to date personal firewall and up-to-date Antivirus/Antispam software may help protect your computer.
The Library assumes no responsibility for the safety of equipment or for laptop configurations, security, or data files resulting from connection to the Library's wireless network.
Back to Top - Are there library web sites that give advice on connecting to wireless networks?
Yes, the New York Public Library at http://www.nypl.org/branch/services/wifi.html gives the following advice:
Hardware Requirements
You will need a WiFi-compliant 802.11b wireless Ethernet device installed in your laptop or a laptop with built-in WiFi capability.
Software Requirements
Use a web browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape.
Set your TCP client software to obtain addresses automatically from a server.
Install and configure TCP/IP software by opening the Network icon in the Control Panel. Under Protocol settings, add TCP/IP. Set the IP address to obtain an IP address automatically. Leave all other fields blank. Restart the laptop for the changes to take effect.
Troubleshooting Windows NT, XP, and Windows 2000 Systems
Go to Start, Run and type: CMD. Click OK. A command prompt window will appear.
Type the following in the command prompt window:
ipconfig/all: Displays the full configuration information
ipconfig/release: Releases the IP address
ipconfig/renew: Renews the IP address
Troubleshooting Windows 95 and Windows 98 Systems
Go to Start, Run and type: WINIPCFG. Click OK. The IP configuration window will appear.
Click on the More Info button.
If you are having an IP conflict, click on the Release All button to release the current IP and then click on the Renew All button.
Troubleshooting Apple Macintosh Powerbooks or iBooks
Your laptop must have the MacTCP Control Panel installed. This control panel comes with recent versions of the system software and should be pre-installed.
If you have other MacTCP configurations that you would like to save, MacTCP Switcher is a useful utility for storing several set-ups.
To configure your MacTCP, choose to Connect via Ethernet.
Back to Top - Does the library guarantee an Internet connection? Will the library staff provide technical assistance?
Library staff is not able to provide technical assistance and no guarantee can be provided that you will be able to make a wireless connection. The Library assumes no responsibility for the safety of equipment or for laptop configurations, security, or data files resulting from connection to the Library's network.
Back to Top - Are there any restrictions on wireless access?
The Alameda County Law Library reserves the right to prohibit an individual from accessing the wireless network if that individual is violating any of the policies or guidelines of the Law Library. A warning will be issued if such a violation occurs. If after a warning, an individual is again found to be violating the Library's policies or guidelines, he or she will be banned from accessing the wireless network at the Alameda County Law Library.
Use of the wireless network for criminal activity is prohibited. Efforts to damage the network are prohibited.
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