Resources of the Middlesex Law Association Library

Founded in 1879, the Middlesex Law Association Library serves almost 800 members and is one of finest County Law Libraries in Ontario, both in terms of premises and collection size. The library is administered by an elected Board of Trustees and owes its success to continued support from both current and honourary members. The library's primary patrons are Class L1 and L2 LSUC members, the judiciary, courthouse staff and is not open to members of the public. The Mayer Lerner Lounge is accessible through the library and contains lounge seating plus a boardroom table, tv and vcr, and a kitchenette attached to it. The lounge can be reserved by completing an application form available from the librarians. The entire MLA suite also has wireless internet access.

Hours of Operation:
The library is staffed Monday to Friday from 8:30-4:30 and open to Class L1 and L2 LSUC members, their staff and articling students. After-hours access is arranged by signing in at the security desk on the main floor and Association members may purchase an access card for $20.00.

Reference and Information Services
Experienced librarians are available to answer reference questions, advise on research strategy, and provide assistance in locating and using library resources. Assistance can be obtained in person, by phone at 519-679-7046, by fax 519-672-5917, or email.  We can also be reached by phone toll-free at 1-866-556-5570 or through our MLA Chat Reference service, MLAChat.

The Print Collection
The collection is listed in the online catalogue, advoCAT, which can be accessed through the icon on the desktop of each workstation in the library or via our association website at http://www.middlaw.on.ca . Texts and government documents are shelved together in subject order using the Library of Congress classification scheme. A list of recent uncatalogued titles is available in print and these books are displayed in the front area of the library.

Law Reports
Canadian federal, provincial and subject reports from pre-Confederation to the present.
British reports and finding aids, including historical and current collection.

Texts
- 1,700 Canadian, British and U.S. titles 
- over 50 looseleaf services from all major Canadian publishers
- selected Canada and Ontario Law Reform Commission reports

Periodicals
- 55 periodical titles and a periodicals index

Legislation
- all up-to-date statutes and regulations from Canada and Ontario.
- current and historical statutes from all Canadian jurisdictions and Great Britain

Reference
- forms, precedents and dictionaries 
- Criminal Codes and Rules of Civil Procedure

Electronic Resources:
All of our electronic products are available free of charge to Class L1 and L2 LSUC members in good standing. Users are responsible for paying the print charge only, at .25 per page. Instruction and assistance is available from the Librarians and they can also do searches for a fee consisting of $1.00 per minute service charge ($5.00 minimum), plus print charge and GST.

All computers in the library are equipped with access to the LibraryCo. Toolkit of Legal Resources.  Included in this are:

• Criminal Spectrum, Premiere edition from Canada Law Book

• Canadian Quicklaw from LexisNexis

Other Electronic Products
The MLA Library also subscribes to O'Briens Encyclopedia of Forms Online.  This is available through a desktop icon on the user computers.

Borrowing and Returns
Materials may be borrowed by MLA members in good standing, or by visiting lawyers for court use.  In order to reduce loss of material and ensure availability for all members, library users must sign out all materials they wish to borrow and return them promptly. Most materials can be borrowed for 48 hours with the exception of law reports which are for court use only and periodicals and reference materials which are for library use only. All books have a sign out card on the inside front cover. Materials without a card should be signed out in the sign-out book on the book return bin at the front of the library. All material is subject to immediate recall when required. Materials should be returned to the book bin or left at the library information desk.

Services
A full-service photocopier/printer is available in the library.  Users can set up an account and debit from it for their printing and copying; a scanning service is also available.  There is telephone and a separate line available for library users at 679-7194.  We also offer a fax service for sending and receiving faxes at 672-5917. Visiting lawyers can obtain a key for the locker room from the library also.