Save Our Law Libraries

Here is posted Stan Rosenberg's letter in defense of the Mass County Law Libraries. Although it helps, it doesn't go far enough. He asks Chief Justice Paula Carey, and Jonathan Williams, administrator of the Massachusetts Trial Courts to please consider retaining these works in some library in Western Massachusetts, such as Western New England College. Franklin Law Library in Greenfield, had the 5th oldest county law library in Massachusetts, founded in 1816, just one year after the first law library act (Act 177) was created, providing for the establishment of county law libraries. This makes it one of the oldest law libraries in the country. Any person, needing to access the law library for a trial or hearing could walk across the hall at a court recess and access any book of the 200 year old collection, or take it out to do research. Having the books an hour away at Western New England College, does not constitute timely access for legal research. Would a judge continue a c

Wendell Selectboard Letter to the Massachusetts Trial Courts, and the Trial Courts Response. Hi Everyone, Here is the letter written by the Wendell Selectboard to Chief Justice Paula Carey of the Massachusetts Trial Court, and Jonathan Williams, Administrator of the Executive Office of the Trial Court. Here is the Trial Court's response signed by Chief Justice Paula Carey, and Administrator Jonathan Williams. In their letter (the first direct response we have had from the decision makers for the Mass Trial Court Law Libraries  in the seven months since most of Franklin Law Library's books were shredded on February 6th, 7th, and 14th). They say that the selection process for "weeding" the books was "transparent". The Massachusetts judiciary is specifically exempted from the open meeting laws, and the public records law. There was therefore no advance public notice about the shredding of Franklin Law Library, nor any public meetings, nor any attempt t

Hi to All, On Feb 6, 7, 14th, 2017, most of the 30,000 volume Franklin Law Library was delivered to Northstar Pulp and Paper and shredded for 2¢/lb. Here is my most recent  Report on Franklin Law Library 8-8-17 . Of sixteen Mass county law libraries, 5 that we know of have had shreddings. Two, New Bedford and Fitchburg have been closed, 25% of Lawrence Law Library is gone, some part of Worcester Law Library, and some part of Hamden Law Library. The Massachusetts Judiciary is specifically exempt from open meeting laws, and public records laws. So even though these books belong to us, there has been no public prior notice, or request for public input  before the books are shredded. It is being done quietly without our knowledge. On Feb 6, 7, 14th, the vast majority of the 30,000 volume Franklin Law Library was delivered to Northstar Pulp and Paper and shredded for 2¢/lb. Only 15% of the 200 year old Franklin Law Library collection remains. Franklin Law Library was founded in 18