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ABOUT US
• About the Law Library
• Law Library Policies
• Law Library Services
• Law Library Staff
• Board of Trustees
About the Law Library
The San Mateo County Law Library was established in 1916 with the help of the San Mateo County Bar Association. At the time, the Law Library consisted of a small room containing a few hundred law books in the County Courthouse. There was no librarian, the room was locked and each member of the County Bar Association was given a key for access.Since that time, the Law Library has grown considerably. In 1986, the Law Library moved into its current location in downtown Redwood City, an old Wells Fargo Bank building. Today, the Law Library is fully staffed by full-time and part-time librarians, holds over 36,000 volumes, and offers patrons the latest legal electronic resources.
The San Mateo County Law Library is governed by a Board of Trustees and is one of 58 county law libraries in the State of California. Despite the large population of San Mateo County, the Law Library is classified as a “smaller” size law library, especially as compared to the county law libraries of Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, Sacramento, Alameda, San Francisco, and Santa Clara for example. The most similarly sized law libraries to San Mateo County Law Library are those of smaller counties: Ventura, Contra Costa, and Fresno.
The Law Library is open to all members of the public, free of charge, and is funded almost exclusively from court filing fees.
Law Library Policies
San Mateo County Law Library strictly enforces basic common sense and generally accepted social etiquettes!PROHIBITED ACTIVITES POLICY:
The following are not permitted in the Law Library:
- Harassing patrons or staff;
- Use of cell phones: please, silence your phone and if you have to talk, go outside;
- Alcohol, marijuana, illegal drugs, and smoking or vaping paraphernalia;
- Offensive bodily odor/hygiene;
- Excessive noise;
- Unauthorized use of the conference room;
- Use of the library materials and computers for purposes other than legal research;
- Soliciting of patrons or staff;
- Sleeping or socializing;
- Bringing in pets;
- Eating food or drinks with no lid;
- Entering with excess baggage, modes of transportation, suitcases, and other large personal items. They may be left by the entrance - we are not responsible for their safety;
- Unattended small personal items - we are not responsible for their safety;
- Any illegal activity;
- Weapons; and
- Taking photographs or videos.
BOOK CHECK OUT POLICY:
Only attorneys who are in good standing with the California Bar Association are permitted to check out materials from the Law Library. Most books in the collection are available for a 1 week check out period. Reserve items, however, are available for a 24 hour period with a charge of $10 per item. All CEB MCLE audio CDs are available for a 1 week loan period with a charge of $5 per title. All items have a $1 per day per item overdue charge. 24 hours items, however, have a $10 per day per item overdue charge.CONFERENCE ROOM POLICY:
$40 per hour of use (excepting student groups or classes) or $200 per day. You may call at (650) 363-4913 to find out availability and to book time in the conference room. If you book time in the conference room we have a 24 hour cancellation policy. We accept cash, check or credit cards as payment.COMPUTER USE POLICY:
Computer use is limited to a free 90 consecutive minutes per day. If you need additional time on our computers there will be a charge of $10 per extra hour after the free 90 minutes. Note, if you leave the Law Library before the 90 minutes are up, you won't be able to come back and use your remaining time unless you are willing to pay. Computers are to be used for legal research only.
Law Library Services
Though they cannot give you legal advice, our reference librarians can help you find and use all of the Library's resources. So, drop in and let them help you find the legal answers you need. In addition, the Law Library also offers the following services:CONFERENCE ROOM RENTAL
The Law Library has one conference room available to rent. The table seats 10 people, and the room capacity is 15 people maximum. There is a $40 charge per hour for use of the conference room or $200 for the day. Please note that there is a 24 hour cancellation policy. The Law Library accepts cash, check, or credit card, and when booked in advance, sending a check ahead of time is advised. To reserve the conference room, call the Law Library at (650) 363-4913 to check for availability.PHOTOCOPYING
The San Mateo County Law Library offers a self-serve photocopier. The photocopy machine offers black and white as well as in color. In addition, it also collates and staples. The cost to photocopy is 25 cents per black and white page and 50 cents per color page.
Law Library Staff
Our staff consists of:Caroline Bracco
Law Library DirectorAntonella Conventini
Assistant Law Library DirectorMarcia Woods
Reference LibrarianRuth Brill
Program CoordinatorLarry Blake
Library AssistantPaula Edmondson
Bookkeeper
Board of Trustees
The San Mateo County Law Library is governed by a seven member Board of Trustees, and meets each 4th Thursday of the month at 12:15pm in the Law Library conference room. The meetings are open to the public. The agenda for all Board of Trustee meetings will be available on this website 72 hours prior to the meeting.Upcoming Meetings:
Time: 12:15pm
Date: May 23, 2024
Location: San Mateo County Superior Court - Training Room
Agenda will be available here online 72 hours in advance of the meeting.Past Agendas and Minutes (2016 to the Present)
For Agendas and Minutes prior to 2016, please contact the Law Library at (650)363-4913.Members:
Board President
Steven Schaiman, Esq.
Court Appointment
Date of Appointment: March 1986The Honorable Raymond V. Swope
Court Appointment
Date of Appointment: April 2012The Honorable Lisa Novak
Court Appointment
Date of Appointment: January 2023Paul Wilkins, Esq.
Court Appointment
Date of Appointment: January 2018Jacqueline Brown, Esq.
Board of Supervisor Appointment
Date of Appointment: June 2013San Mateo Board Supervisor Warren Slocum
Supervisor Appointment
Date of Appointment: January 2023
9am to 3pm Monday through Friday
11am to 3pm on Saturday
San Mateo County Law Library
710 Hamilton Street
Redwood City, California 94063
(650) 363-4913
sanmateolawlibrary@gmail.com
