TULSA COUNTY LAW LIBRARY SERVICES POLICY

COPY SERVICE:

Library staff shall copy any and all library materials and/or personal documents as requested by patrons. Patrons must pay for any and all copies upon receipt.

Library staff shall copy library materials as requested by a licensed attorney or law firm either by fax or by telephone. The attorney/law firm will be invoiced accordingly when the copy order is to be returned by fax or by mail. Payment is due upon receipt.

Library staff will give a refund or credit against a future copy order only when:
(a.) text portion of the copies made is illegible; (b.) library staff copies the wrong material; or (c.) staff copies materials contrary to request by patron.

Library staff will not give a refund or credit against a future copy order when:
(a.) Patron mistakenly requests copies of unwanted materials; (b.) Patron changes request after copies are made; (c.) Patron furnishes an illegible original to be copied. (d) Patron mistakenly prints unwanted computer documents.

Library staff shall offer licensed attorneys and law firms the opportunity to open monthly charge accounts. Charges totaling less than $1.00 will not be accepted. Outstanding invoices are totaled and a statement sent by the first day of each month. All invoices must be paid in full by the 10th of each month. If account is not cleared by the 11th day of the month, all services on account will be suspended until payment is received. If full payment is not received by the last business day of the month, all future services on account will be suspended permanently.

Copy Service closes at 4:55 p.m. daily.

Patrons may use the self-serve photocopy machine at any time the library is open. Patrons shall use the machine at their own risk. The library is not responsible for any unwanted copies made by the patron. If the self-serve machine does not photocopy materials correctly due to a machine malfunction, the library staff shall reimburse the patron either by giving the patron money, making copies at the regular photocopy machine, or using the bypass key for the coin-op.

FAX SERVICE:

Library staff will transmit via facsimile machine any and all documents as requested by patrons. Library staff may furnish a cover sheet without cost to patrons upon request. Patrons must pay for transmission of cover sheet. Patrons may also receive documents via facsimile machine. Patrons must pay for any and all facsimiles sent and/or received upon receipt.

Fax Service closes at 4:55 p.m. daily.

OS Title 12, Sec. 2005 provides for the service and filing of legal documents:
Paragraph (E)(2) authorizes filing of facsimile copies in lieu of original documents.
Paragraph (E)(3) details filing with the court by facsimile transmission. [Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(e)]

NOTE: Statute states that the courts must accept facsimile filings, NOT that the Law Library must provide this service.

FILE-BY-FAX SERVICE:

Library will accept documents for filing via facsimile transmission from only a licensed attorney. The library cannot advance court costs or fees. Incomplete requests will not be processed.

Library staff will copy the filed document for delivery to the judge, if applicable. The staff will return by fax a file-stamped copy when requested. Staff will return by fax an invoice to the attorney for prompt payment. File-by-fax services may not be charged to a monthly account.

Library staff will file documents within two hours of receipt of the last page to be filed. Rush filing charges will be in effect after 4:00 p.m.

New filings will not be accepted on accounts more than 30 days past due. The Law Library reserves the right to suspend all services until payment is received. The Law Library reserves the right to permanently suspend all services for frequently overdue accounts. The Law Library reserves the right to permanently suspend all services to anyone not complying with any Law Library policy.

File-by-Fax Service closes at 4:45 p.m. daily per court clerk's request.

INTERNET SERVICE:

Law Library offers free access to Internet Search Engines, enhancing patron access to legal materials. It is impossible to monitor, control, or guarantee accuracy of any data accessed via the Internet.

Law Library does not block access to material on the Internet which users might find offensive. Many sites carry sexually explicit and other types of information which may be considered controversial or inappropriate. While the Library does not act as the conscience of its patrons, it discourages improper access and display of material harmful to minors which would be in violation of 21 O.S. Supp.1996, Section 1040.76.

Patrons may print information accessed via the Internet. Patrons are charged the regular copy fee for any material printed. Patrons may not download information to a disk.

All Internet services close at 4:55 p.m. daily.



REFERENCE SERVICE:

The Library staff shall instruct patrons on the proper usage of the library materials; direct patrons to the appropriate resources; advise patrons on research strategies and sources; and, refer patrons to other libraries or agencies. The Library staff does not Shepardize cases.

The Library staff does not give patrons the answer.

The Library staff does not offer legal advice, legal counseling, legal guidance, or any legal opinions to patrons. The Library staff does not interpret the law or read definitions, statutes, or cases over the telephone. Patrons who call the library with legal questions are encouraged to come to the library to consult the legal materials themselves.

Classes are offered periodically for patrons who require instruction on the usage of the CD-ROMs and the Internet.


CD-ROM SERVICE:

The Library offers free access to the following CD-ROM products: West’s Oklahoma Library which includes jury instructions, attorney general opinions, statutes and decisions. Patrons may copy materials from these CD-ROMs which are printed behind the counter. These copies are also $.20 a page and are subject to the Library’s “Copy Service Policy.”



NOTICE WARNING CONCERNING COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS

COPYRIGHT LAW OF THE UNITED STATES (TITLE 17 USC) GOVERNS THE MAKING OF PHOTOCOPIES OR OTHER REPRODUCTION OF COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL.

UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THE LAW, LIBRARIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO FURNISH A PHOTOCOPY OR OTHER REPRODUCTION. ONE OF THESE SPECIFIED CONDITIONS IS THAT THE PHOTOCOPY IS NOT TO BE “USED FOR ANY PURPOSE OTHER THAN PRIVATE STUDY, SCHOLARSHIP, OR RESEARCH.” IF A USER MAKES A REQUEST FOR, OR LATER USES, A PHOTOCOPY FOR PURPOSES IN EXCESS OF “FAIR USE”, THAT USER MAY BE LIABLE FOR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT.

THIS INSTITUTION RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO ACCEPT A COPYING ORDER IF, IN ITS JUDGMENT, FULFILLMENT OF THE ORDER WOULD INVOLVE VIOLATION OF COPYRIGHT LAW.