John W. King
New Hampshire Law Library
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LOCATION:
Supreme Court Building
One Charles Doe Drive
Concord, New Hampshire 03301
For directions to the NH Law Library.
HOURS:
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - Monday through Friday. Closed all court holidays.
EMAIL: lawlibrary@courts.state.nh.us
TELEPHONE: (603) 271 - 3777
FAX: (603) 513 - 5450.
The New Hampshire Law Library is the only public Law Library in the State of New Hampshire. Its mission is to advance the administration of justice by providing legal information and related services to the judicial, legislative, and executive branches of government, the legal communities of New Hampshire, and the people of the State.
We employ three people full time and are fortunate to have the able assistance of work-study students from the ParalegalStudies Program at the New Hampshire Technical Institute.
Mary S. Searles, Director, Cataloging msearles@courts.state.nh.us
Brian Haley, Reference, Interlibrary Loan bhaley@courts.state.nh.us
Erin Hubbard, Acquisitions, Technical Processing ehubbard@courts.state.nh.us
In 1716, a collection of law books belonging to the provincial government formed the first state library collection. After the State House was built in 1816, a room was set aside for the library. For a time, the Secretary of State also served as the State Librarian. In 1895, a separate building was constructed to house the State Library and the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
In1943, the State Library separated out its legal materials and created a Law Division of the State Library. It served as the Law Library for many years. In 1970, the current Supreme Court building was constructed, and the Law Division of the State Library moved, along with the New Hampshire Supreme Court, to the Supreme Court building.
In 1994, the legislature transferred administration of the Law Division of the State Library to the Judicial Branch, under the Supreme Court, thereby creating the New Hampshire Law Library.
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New Hampshire Law Librarian Mary Searles (center) accepting a collection of NH Reports from Charles Bass (left) as Justice Richard Galway (right) looks on.
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The New Hampshire Law Library has over 94,000 volumes of legal materials. None of the Library materials may be checked out. While the library specializes in New Hampshire legal materials, its collection includes material from all 50 states including statutes and court decisions, as well as federal court decisions and federal administrative agency materials.
The Law Library also has a collection of legal periodicals and books (known as treatises) on various legal subjects, from admiralty to zoning law. CD-ROM and other database searches are available for public use.
New Hampshire legal materials include: session laws, statutes, house and senate journals, bills, slip laws, constitutional conventions, regulations, judicial and agency decisions, court rules, governor's executive orders, attorney general opinions, and secondary source materials for New Hampshire legal practice.
Federal legal materials include: session laws, statutes, regulations, judicial and agency decisions, court rules, orders, and legal practice materials.
New England states’ legal materials include: statutes, cases, session laws, legislative services, court rules, and some legal practice materials.
Other states’ legal materials include: statutes and cases.
Canadian and British legal materials are retrospective (not current) only.
The New Hampshire Law Library also has federal and NH government depository documents.
New Hampshire legal CD-ROM products are available for searching.
SERVICES:
Wireless @ the New Hampshire Law Library...
The John W. King NH Law Library now provides free wireless access for personal laptop users. You don't need a plug or phone jack, just turn on your notebook/laptop computer or other wireless device (equipped with 802.11b or 802.11g wireless) and start surfing. The Library's network is open to all patrons and visitors free of charge and without filters. All you need to do is accept our Wireless Use Policy and you're all set.
The Library also has wired computers in the Computer Lab with free access to LexisNexis, Shepard's Online, Westlaw and KeyCite.
Public Computers and Internet Access
The Law Library has four public computers in the Computer Lab. The computers are for legal research and use of these computers is governed by the Public Computers and Internet Access
Policy. Word processing is not available.
Circulation Services
The Law Library is a research library. Materials generally do not circulate, thereby remaining available for general usage.
Reference Services
Your telephone or written questions will be answered to the fullest extent possible. The Law Library is unable to give legal advice, or legal opinions, or render legal research.
Document Delivery Services
All copying or fax requests over 30 pages are accepted at the staff’s discretion. The photocopiers accept coins, 1 and 5 dollar bills. The Library does not have a change machine.
Photocopying
Self Service: $0.10 per page.
Staff Service: $0.20 per page.
Facsimile
$0.35 per page.
Interlibrary Loan Services
Ask your local Library for interlibrary loan requests.
Microformat Services
Microfiche reader/printer available.
Is the Library open to the public?
Yes. The New Hampshire Law Library is the only public Law Library in the State.
May I check books out of the Library?
No. The Law Library is a research library. Materials generally do not circulate, thereby remaining available for general usage.
Will the librarians do legal research for me?
No. The librarians will be happy to teach you how to use the tools of legal research and your telephone or written questions will be answered to the fullest extent possible but we cannot give you legal advice, or legal opinions, or do legal research for you.
Does the Library have Internet access?
Yes. The Library has public access computers in its Computer Lab. Use of these computers is governed by the Public Computer and Internet Access
Policy. Word processing is not available.
Does the Library have Shepards?
Yes. The Library has Federal, United States, Regional Reporter, New England states, etc. citators published by
Shepards.
What about state statutes? State administrative rules?
The Library has state statutes for all 50 states, and administrative rules for New Hampshire.
What kinds of New Hampshire practice materials are available?
The Library collects continuing legal education material from the New Hampshire Bar Association and from the National Business Institute. Also available are legal periodicals for New Hampshire: the Bar News, the Bar Journal, and Trial Bar News. Treatises on various legal subjects, while general, augment New Hampshire practice materials, and are collected by the Library.
What about legislative history material?
The Library has the major sources available for New Hampshire legislative history.
