By: Jill Roberts, Deputy Director, Access to Justice Division
On Friday, April 25, 2025, community partners gathered at the Glenview Public Library for an official launch of the Court Library Access Center Program. The program was first featured in September via this press release. Friday’s program was moderated by Bob Glaves, Executive Director of the Chicago Bar Foundation, and featured Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Rochford; Judge Jill Cerone Marise, Presiding Judge of Rolling Meadows, Circuit Court of Cook County; Cook County Commissioner Scott Britton; Judge Jorge Ortiz, Circuit Judge in the 19th Judicial Circuit and Chair of the Access to Justice Commission; and Lindsey Dorfman, Executive Director of the Glenview Public Library.
All speakers shared remarks about how essential libraries are to the community and that by training trusted librarians to provide court information at the libraries, more people can get needed information without having to travel to a courthouse.
The Court Library Access Center pilot program utilizes the state’s public libraries to improve court access to offer guidance for Illinoisans struggling to navigate the legal system on their own. The goal of the pilot is to help people without lawyers — who may have limited technology capabilities or transportation challenges — more easily access legal information and assistance at their local public library.
This program demonstrates the power of strong partnerships. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office and the State Library partnered with the Chicago Bar Foundation and the Illinois Supreme Court’s Commission on Access to Justice to establish Court Access Library Centers in 18 public libraries. As part of this program, each library offers space and dedicated equipment for residents without lawyers to appear in court remotely, obtain legal information and resources, and e-file and access court documents online.
The librarians at all pilot library locations have received training on Illinois Courts, Safe Harbor Policy (what is allowable legal information), e-filing, statewide standardized court forms, remote appearances, referrals, and resources. Librarians could also opt-in to be a certified Court Library Navigator. Court Library Navigators are receiving additional training on common SRL case types such as divorce and family law, protective orders, public benefits, probate, small claims, and more.
For more information, or to put your local library on a list for future expansion of the program, please reach out to Roya Samarghandi at the Chicago Bar Foundation at rsamarghandi@chicagobarfoundation.org.