Lassen County Law Library

The Lassen County Law Library is organized under California Business and Professions Code sections 6300, et seq. and formed under the Bylaws of The Lassen County Law Library. The Law Library is required to have a Board of Trustees to make decisions regarding the policies of the library and expenditures of the money received from a portion of Lassen Superior Court filing fees.

The members of the Board of Trustees serve without compensation. Monthly board meetings are typically held on the third Thursday of every month at 3:00 PM in the Sierra Conference Room on the first floor of the Hall of Justice, 2610 Riverside Drive in Susanville.

The meetings are open to the public and the agenda and meeting minutes are available below.

Current Trustees:

• Hon. Mark Nareau (President), Presiding Judge, Lassen Superior Court
• Aaron Albaugh (Trustee), District 4 Supervisor, Lassen County Board of Supervisors
• Lucy Niemeyer (Secretary), Court Support Coordinator/Law Librarian, Lassen Superior Court
• Teresa Stalter (Member of the County), Court Executive Officer, Lassen Superior Court

Unless otherwise noted, the Law Library Board of Trustees meets the third Thursday of each month at 3:00 PM in the Sierra Conference Room at the Hall of Justice, 2016 Riverside Drive in Susanville. The public is welcome to attend.

2024 Scheduled Meetings

Contact Us for any archived agendas or minutes not listed below.

The Lassen County Law Library was established by ordinance of the Lassen County Board of Supervisors on November 13, 1908.

California County Law Libraries Early History

From the CCCLL Trustees Manual, Fourth Edition

In 1891, the Legislature enacted statutes mandating that a public law library be located in each California county. Prior to that time, San Francisco and San Jose already had success in establishing their law libraries. In California, the first attempt at creating a law library for general use occurred in 1853. San Francisco attorney William B. Olds purchased a law book collection for $20,000, and housed it in the San Francisco City Hall. He believed that his investment would be returned by voluntary donations to the library by the San Francisco Bar Association members. Mr. Olds' efforts were recognized by the San Francisco Bar Association, and he was given depository status for the library; through no financial contributions. He then attempted a subscription system, but to no avail. with the hope of recouping his investment, Mr. Olds offered the collection to the State of California. By 1856, the legislature authorized the purchase of Mr. Olds' collection for $17,250. The legislature then gave the collection to the newly organized State Library to establish the California State Library.

The second attempts to establish a permanent funding source for the San Francisco Law Library was more successful. In 1865, the San Francisco Law Library Association was formed and a collection was purchased through membership. Once again, the space was donated by the City and County of San Francisco. The association quickly learned that memberships could not maintain the collection or hire a librarian. They did find there were enough votes in the State Legislature from San Francisco to pass the San Francisco Law Library Act on March 9, 1870. The act codified many of the pre-existing practices of the San Francisco Law Library Association, such as the following: requiring the City and County of San Francisco to provide facilities and services at no charge; mandating access to the library by the citizens of the City and County of San Francisco. In addition, there was the requirement that a fixed share of the filing fee for every civil suit be set aside for the law library. Thus, California became the first western state to use portions of the filing fee income to finance a public law library.

In 1874, the San Jose Law Library was established by state statute. It was similar to the San Franscisco Law Library in that it received funding by a share of civil filing fees, remained open to the public, and was housed by the city and operated by a board of trustees.

The next law library statute passed by the legislature was different. Rather than having special legislation for one jurisdiction, general legislation allowed for all counties to use filing fees towards law libraries. Los Angeles attorneys, following the footsteps of their San Francisco colleagues, attempted to operate a law library first by membership fees and then by selling shared. When both attempts failed to generate sufficient operating income, much less a profit for the shareholders, Los Angeles assemblyman, General John R. Mathews was solicited to introduce a bill. It is not documented as to why the bill was not special legislation—when compared to the San Francisco and San Jose Law Library legislation. In his article, "Origins of California's Law Library System," Benjamin Watson hypothesized that:

"White was acutely aware of the numerical disadvantage of Southern Californians in the legislature, and of the temporary disadvantage of the Democrats. A statewide plan, which could be set in motion without expending state monies, could be approved, where a local, partisan proposal might well be resisted."

Although the bill allowed for law libraries in every county, the Senate added a provision that made the establishment of local law libraries discretionary. On March 31, 1891, the law library bill thus became law with the Governor's signature.

By the end of the year, twenty-three counties established law libraries. By 1900, another twenty law libraries were established.

• The Law Library is a reference library only, therefore materials may not be removed from the Law Library at any time.
• Books must be returned to proper shelves after use.
• Avoid extended or loud conversations and silence cell phones.
• Be aware of your personal property. The Law Library is not responsible for items that are lost, stolen, or damaged in the Law Library/Access to Justice Center.
• The Law Library reserves the right to have Court Security inspect briefcases, backpacks, purses, packages, and outer garments for library materials at any time.
• The Law Library is monitored by video surveillance equipment and all activity is recorded.

Public Access Computers

The Law Library has five public access computers. Each computer has access to:

• Lassen Superior Court's Public Access Portal
• LexisNexis Patron Access
• DissoMaster
• Judicial Council Websites for accessing forms and information
• Limited internet access to approved legal and research websites

Printing and Photocopies

Printers for printing forms and information from the Public Access Computers are available in the Law Library. Copies of documents and from case files and form packets are available at the Clerk's Window. Print and copy charges may apply as follows:

• Copies of Case Files & Forms from Clerk's Window: 50¢ per page