Patron Base

How does the public law library successfully meet its very challenging mandate to provide legal resources to all who enter its doors? The quick answer is "with difficulty." The more in-depth answer is: By understanding the needs of each patron group the library is obligated to serve, and by establishing policies, procedures, and an atmosphere that allows the library's staff the most flexibility possible to meet the conflicting missions, multiple goals, and varying objectives. Before tackling the practicalities of the public law library's organizational and supervisory options, this chapter examines the library's patron base, the expectations of the various groups, the types of resources most appropriate to their needs, the diverse library types filling the public law library role, and how a multiple mission is likely to affect a public law library's ability to provide adequate services to its assorted service populations.