This increase in reports will result in a further increase in the number of cases being assigned for services. In response to Chair Bohnsack's inquiry, Ms. Brumfield stated that early intervention continues to be key. Most families in crisis are willing to accept help if it is offered, and preventing maltreatment is one of our primary goals. Commissioner Marschall advised that Minnesota law require a county law library be open to use by judges, city and county officials, members of the bar, and the inhabitants of the County. Currently, our law library is only minimally accessible and contains little or no information appropriate to lay people.
Statistics show that legal self-representation is increasing as legal fees increase.
Staff of the local libraries receives frequent requests for direction and information sources regarding legal matters. The Law library Board entered into discussions with Janet Williams, Scott County Library Director, and the Scott County Library Board regarding hiring and supervising a law librarian and managing the law library under an agreement similar to those the County has with the municipal libraries. Funding for this agreement shall come from the law library fund. In this manner, the law library may become a real resource for the County, providing instruction to residents regarding use of the law library's resources and increasing those resources, including self-help books, offsite collections, and access to local libraries. Ms. WiIlliams noted that Scott County will become the first law library to be operated by the County Library System.