OLA 2016

As of September 2015, the State of Oregon Law Library (SOLL) is providing statewide access (accessible via any browser anywhere in Oregon) to two vital legal research databases: Fastcase allows users to search cases, statutes, and regulations for both state and federal courts within the US 9th Circuit (Alaska, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington) which can support or contradict a researcher's legal argument; Ebsco's Legal Information Reference Center contains Nolo self-help legal information books and a nationwide database of sample legal forms on such topics as landlord/tenant law, estate planning issues, and family law matters. In this session, get an overview of what these free resources have to offer, how to navigate them, and learn why and when to direct patrons to each (and, conversely, when to refer patrons to a law librarian!). Taught by experienced public and academic law librarians, attendees will gain the skills necessary to confidently utilize and recommend these unique SOLL-hosted databases.