An Introduction to the Dougherty County Law Library
Dougherty County Law Library has been a cornerstone of legal information services in the county for over 30 years. Established to serve the residents, the library strives to promote open access and understanding of the legal system through its print resources, electronic databases, and professional staff.
The law library is on the ground floor of Municipal Court in Government Center next to the clerk’s office and close to Superior Court. The DLG is a member of the Georgia Legal Services Program, the Georgia Council of Public Libraries , and the American Association of Law Libraries. The Albany law library is also a participant in the Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts’ Georgia Law Library Consortium (GALILEO).
The law library allows for all users (county residents, attorneys, and other interested people) not only access to current local and out-of-state legal resources in printed form but also access to a wide range of electronic databases. Additionally, it subscribes to a number of local, state, and federal court dockets, the Georgia Council of Professional Regulators, and a selection of periodical publications.
Law Library Services
The Dougherty County Law Library is dedicated to providing a range of services that meet the needs of its varied user community. The following are just some of the resources and services available to the public: Legal Research Assistance: Law library staff members are available to assist the public with research. State, local, and federal law resources are organized and readily accessible. Public terminals with access to Westlaw Next and PACER are also available for use by library patrons at no cost. In addition to public terminal access, law library staff offers one-on-one training on Westlaw, PACER, and library resources. Public Computer Access: Law library patrons enjoy free access to computers with high-speed internet access. Printers, a public fax machine, and a photocopier are also available to the public at no cost. Forms Access: Law library patrons can access a variety of legal forms on-site, ranging from basic court forms to forms that require companion manuals and practice guides. Forms sets offered through the law library vary from year to year depending on law library staffing levels and other factors. A current listing of forms available will be included on our website. Legal Reference Librarian Services: A law library employee will be available Monday through Friday to answer questions, provide navigation assistance, and offer research support to law library patrons.
Getting to the Library: Visiting Hours and Directions
The Dougherty County Law Library is conveniently located within the Albany Municipal Court in the heart of downtown Albany at 225 Pine Ave, Albany, GA 31701. The Library is accessible Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The library is closed on weekends and during Federal holidays. Ample public parking is also available on site, both in front of and along the sides of the building. Additionally, on-street metered parking is available along Pine Avenue in addition to the courthouse parking garage which has limited visitor parking to the rear of the Building. Public transportation from various locations in the Albany, Georgia area is also available through the Albany Transit System. All visitors will need to present a valid form of identification upon entering the building.
Law Library Resources
The Dougherty County Law Library provides invaluable resources for legal research including an extensive collection of legal texts, journals, databases, and digital materials. Access to case law, statutes, regulations and attorney general opinions is a click away thanks to their Westlaw subscription. "We still get print, and the patrons still peruse the print," says Beth Hines, Law Librarian. "We still get the print practice materials; they’re not using those near as much, because Westlaw has everything." Non-legal texts are also available for checkout.
Currently, the Law Library offers:
Georgia Annotated, a comprehensive set of statutes, codes, and other essential legal texts.
United States Code Annotated, the federal government’s statutory publication.
Georgia Digest, a compilation of Georgia case law in a digest format.
Georgia Reporter, including state court opinions from the Supreme Court to the Court of Appeals.
Georgia Reports, including Supreme Court opinions dating back to 1735 through 1969.
Federal Reporter, a compilation of United States Court of Claims opinions spanning 1880 to 1975.
Federal Supplement, including federal district court opinions from 1880 to present.
Georgia Administrative Procedure Act, and a cumulative index covering 1996 to present.
Best’s Digest of Property & Casualty Insurers and Key Rating Guide of Life/Health Insurers, used to determine insurance company strength; important to know about before litigation
Georgia Civil Procedure, an essential text for any litigator.
Georgia Law of Torts, Georgia Family Law, and Georgia Criminal Law, all essential for practitioners in those fields.
Law Library books and print journals are available for checkout by anyone with a valid credit card. Password protected databases, including Westlaw, Westlaw Practical Law, Law Practice Advisor, ProView eBooks and ProView Suite, are available to attorneys with active bars in Georgia. Physical books and materials are available to anyone who comes to the library during open hours.
Who Can Use the Law Library
The Dougherty County Law Library caters to a diverse clientele. While the judiciary, administrative divisions, and various chamber personnel dedicate their time to legal matters on a regular basis, students are also frequent patrons. Whether they are pursuing a law degree at Albany State University or are an aspiring paralegal enrolled in a local technical college, they can benefit from the materials and information offered at the library. The general public also finds the library essential for their research and legal needs. The citizens of Albany, Lee County, Terrell County, Worth County , and Dougherty County can access the information they need for both personal and business endeavors.
Legal professionals in the area are also among the library’s most frequent patrons. They can find information on court procedures and forms, including civil filings and family law matters, through the library’s collection. In addition, they can research cases using the extensive database of online legal resources. In fact, many professionals in related areas also visit the library to further their knowledge. This includes professionals in banking, insurance, and real estate.
Community Programs and Activities
Dougherty County Law Library offers a variety of community outreach initiatives and events throughout the year. The law library periodically hosts educational seminars and workshops on various legal topics, such as estate planning, landlord-tenant law, and small claims procedures. These programs aim to provide valuable information to the public on common legal issues, as well as offer a forum for legal professionals to share their expertise and insight with the community.
In addition to seminars, the law library also conducts legal aid clinics, which provide free or low-cost legal assistance to individuals who may not be able to afford traditional legal services. These clinics typically cover specific areas of the law, such as family law or consumer rights, and are led by experienced attorneys who volunteer their time and expertise to help others in the community.
Dougherty County Law Library is committed to serving the legal needs of the community and providing access to legal resources and information to all who may need it. The law library’s outreach programs and events are designed to fulfill that commitment by offering support and assistance to those who may be facing legal challenges.
If you are interested in attending an upcoming program or event, please check the law library’s website or contact the library staff directly for more information.
How to Support the Law Library
Dougherty County Law Library welcomes and appreciates support from the public. The library accepts and encourages donations of money, books and equipment to help strengthen library collections and services for the community.
The library has compiled a list of items that would be helpful contributions: The library accepts donations or gifts of "like new" books or media in these subjects: The library is happy to accept tax-deductible financial contributions as well. We will use these contributions to support special library projects for the benefit of our library users; however , financial contributions are not used for day-to-day operations.
As a public library, we aim to provide citizens of Doughtery County with the materials, information and services they need to freely and fairly access the justice system. In order to accomplish this, it is important to have an active citizenry that is informed, involved and interested in how the Library is governed and funded. Citizens can contribute to to what the library is trying to achieve by attending regularly scheduled library Board of Trustees meetings and serving on the Library Board of Trustees.