Md. Admin. Order of 2015-09-28 (Conference of Maryland Court Law Library Directors)

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF MARYLAND

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER ON THE

CONFERENCE OF MARYLAND COURT LAW LIBRARY DIRECTORS

WHEREAS, Law Libraries supported by professional Law Librarians have been an

integral part of Maryland Courts for more than 100 years in some jurisdictions, by

providing legal information and research support to the bench, bar, and citizens of

Maryland; and

WHEREAS, A Conference of Maryland Court Law Library Directors has existed

since February 2008, whose purpose is to provide a forum for policy discussion,

information exchange, professional development, and to assist and advise as needed the

Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, the Judicial Council, the Conference of Circuit

Judges, the Administ rative Office of the Courts, the Conference of Circuit Court Clerks,

and the Conference of Circuit Court Administrators in matters affecting court law libraries;

and

WHEREAS, It is appropriat e to harmonize the structure of the Conference of

Maryland Court Law Library Directors within the governance structure adopted by the

Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals;

NOW THEREFORE, I, Mary Ellen Barbera, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals

and admini strative head of the Judicial Branch, pursuant to the authority conferred by

Article IV, § 18 of the Constitution, do hereby order this 28th day of September 2015,

effective immediately, that:

(A) Membership. The Conference shall consist of each Court Law Library

Director, the Director of the Maryland State Law Library, the Outreach

Services Librarian of the Maryland State Law Library, who will act as a

representative for those libraries without a professional law library director,

and, ex officio, the Director of the Department of Access to Justice within the

Administrative Office of the Courts.

(B) Officers; Terms. The Conference shall select a Chair and Vice-Chair every

two years. In the absence of the Chair, the Vice-Chair shall act as the Chair.

(C) Quorum; Meetings.

(1) A majority of the Conference members constitutes a quorum.

(2) The conference shall meet at least three times a year. At least one of

these meetings shall be held in Annapolis. One or more of these

meetings will include a prog ram for staff of all Maryland court law

libraries.

(D) Duties. The Conference shall meet to:

(1) Exchange ideas and views on matters relating to the operation,

management, and leadership of the court law libraries including, but

not limited to:

(a) court law library standards,

(b) coordination of collection development and acquisitions,

(c) retention and disposal of court law library resources,

(d) court law library funding,

(e) service to the public, and

(f) access to justice through education and the provision of legal

information;

(2) Consider and make recommendations to the Chief Judge of the Court

of Appeals, the Judicial Council, the Conference of Circuit Judges,

the Conference of Circuit Court Clerks, the Conference of Circuit

Court Administrators, and the State Court Administrator, regarding

legislation and policies affecting Maryland court law libraries;

(3) Provide advice on such other matters as the Chief Judge of the Court

of Appeals, the Judicial Council, the Conference of Circuit Judges,

the Conference of Circuit Court Clerks, the Conference of Circuit

Court Administrators, and the State Court Administrator, may request

from time to time;

(4) Consider and make recommendations to the Education Committee of

the Judicial Council regarding the professional development of Court

Law Library Directors; and

(5) Provide a forum for mentoring of Court Law Library Directors.

(E) The Administrative Order Creating the Conference of Maryland Court Law

Library Directors, filed February 21, 2008, shall be and hereby is rescinded.

/s/ Mary Ellen Barbera

Mary Ellen Barbera

Chief Judge

Court of Appeals of Maryland

Filed: September 28, 2015

/s/ Bessie M. Decker

Bessie M. Decker

Clerk

Court of Appeals of Maryland