Illinois to Increase Court Access Through Local Libraries

Illinois to Increase Court Access Through Local Libraries

Secretary of State, Supreme Court and The Chicago Bar Foundation Partner to Help Guide Litigants Through Legal System

A new pilot program utilizing the state’s public libraries to improve court access will 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.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office partnered with the Illinois Supreme Court’s Commission on Access to Justice and The Chicago Bar Foundation to establish Court Access Library Centers in selected public libraries that offer 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.

“Our libraries have always served as a hub for learning and finding answers. Adding legal guidance as a supplement to the knowledge already available just makes sense,” Giannoulias said. “Bringing services directly to the people has been a top priority of my administration, and we will continue to find innovative ways to work toward that goal.”

“This impactful statewide partnership will significantly enhance access to justice, enabling many individuals to meaningfully engage in their court cases,” said Lake County Judge Jorge Ortiz, Chair of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice. “This is particularly vital for those who face barriers such as limited access to legal services, technology, or transportation to the courthouse. We are thrilled to collaborate with the Illinois Secretary of State and The Chicago Bar Foundation in this important initiative.”

“Libraries have long been a trusted place where people can find help right in their own community,” said Bob Glaves, Executive Director of The Chicago Bar Foundation. “We are thrilled to be part of this innovative partnership with the Secretary of State and the Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice to expand the information and resources that libraries already offer their communities so they can better assist people facing legal problems on their own.”

Using a data-driven approach, 18 libraries across the state were selected for the pilot phase based on the volume of litigants without lawyers, geographic and/or transportation limitations to local courthouses, broadband internet access constraints and interest from public libraries in the area.


Each pilot location has been provided with court access training for the librarians who volunteer. Additionally, some librarians will be trained as certified “Court Library Navigators” to offer more customized legal information to patrons. The Court Library Navigators’ training sessions will focus on specific types of cases, including: divorce and child custody; domestic violence; wills, trusts and estates; housing; and consumer debt.

For more information about Court Access Library Center locations and resources, litigants are encouraged to call Illinois Court Help at (833) 411-1121.

Court Access Library Center Locations:

Chicago

1st Municipal District

Harold Washington Library Center

Phone: (312) 747-4300

Email: hwlc@chipublib.org

Address: 400 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60605

Website: https://www.chipublib.org/


Legler Regional Library

Phone: (312) 746-7730

Email: legler@chipublib.org

Address: 115 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60624

Website: https://www.chipublib.org/

Sulzer Regional Library

Phone: (312) 744-7616

Email: sulzerregional@chipublib.org

Address: 4455 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL 60625

Website: https://www.chipublib.org/


Woodson Regional Library

Phone: (312) 747-6900

Email: woodsonregional@chipublib.org

Address: 9525 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60628

Website: https://www.chipublib.org/


Cook County Suburbs

2nd Municipal District

Glenview Public Library

Phone: (847) 729-7500

Email: info@glenviewpl.org

Address: 1930 Glenview Road, Glenview, IL 60025

Website: https://glenviewpl.org/


3rd Municipal District

Indian Trails Public Library District

Phone: (847) 459-4100

Address: 355 Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling, IL 60090

Website: https://www.indiantrailslibrary.org/

4th Municipal District

Northlake Public Library District

Phone: (708) 562-2301

Email: askus@northlakelibrary.org

Address: 231 N. Wolf Road, Northlake, IL 60164

Website: https://www.northlakelibrary.org/


5th Municipal District

Prairie Trails Public Library District

Phone: (708) 430-3688

Email: pts@prairietrailslibrary.org

Address: 8449 Moody Ave., Burbank, IL 60459

Website: https://prairietrailslibrary.org/


6th Municipal District

Calumet City Public Library

Phone: (708) 862-6220

Email: info@calumetcitypl.org

Address: 660 Manistee Ave., Calumet City, IL 60409

Website: https://www.calumetcitypl.org/


Flossmoor Public Library

Phone: (708) 798-3600

Email: flosslib@flossmoorlibrary.org

Address: 1000 Sterling Ave., Flossmoor, IL 60422

Website: https://www.flossmoorlibrary.org/


Collar counties

16th Judicial Circuit – Kane County

Aurora Public Library – Santori Library

Phone: (630) 264-4117

Address: 101 S. River St., Aurora, IL 60506

Website: https://www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/SantoriLibrary-13452

18th Judicial Circuit – DuPage County


Addison Public Library

Phone: (630) 459-3426

Email: adultservices@addisonlibrary.org

Address: 4 Friendship Plaza, Addison, IL 60101

Website: https://www.addisonlibrary.org/

19th Judicial Circuit – Lake County


Wauconda Area Public Library District

Phone: (847) 526-6225

Email: patronservices@wauclib.org

Address: 801 N. Main St., Wauconda, IL 60084

Website: https://www.wauclib.org/

22nd Judicial Circuit – McHenry County


McHenry Public Library District

Phone: (815) 385-0036

Email: mplref@mchenrylibrary.org

Address: 809 Front St. (RT 31) McHenry, IL 60050

Website: https://mchenrylibrary.org/


Central Illinois

6th Judicial Circuit – Champaign County

Rantoul Public Library

Phone: (217) 893-3955

Email: rantoullib@gmail.com

Address: 106 W. Flessner Ave., Rantoul, IL 61866

Website: https://rantoul.lib.il.us/


10th Judicial Circuit – Peoria County

Peoria Public Library – Main Library

Phone: (309) 497-2000

Email: pplrooms@ppl.peoria.lib.il.us

Address: 107 N.E. Monroe, Peoria, IL 61602

Website: https://peoriapubliclibrary.org/


Metro East

20th Judicial Circuit – St. Clair County

O’Fallon Public Library

Phone: (618) 632-3783

Email: reference@ofpl.info

Address: 120 Civic Plaza, O’Fallon, IL 62269

Website: https://www.ofpl.info/


Southern Illinois

1st Judicial Circuit – Jackson County

Carbondale Public Library

Phone: (618) 457-0354

Email: cpllib@carbondale.lib.il.us

Address: 405 West Main St., Carbondale, IL 62901

Website: https://carbondalepubliclibrary.org/



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