About Us

The Sonoma County Law Library is a state local government agency separate from the county government (much like fire or water districts). County government is required by statute to provide the Law Library space, utilities and maintenance. The Law Library is governed by its own Board of Trustees consisting of five judges, one representative of the Board of Supervisors and one representative of the Bar Association. Law Library operations are financed primarily by a portion of civil filing fees. The Library does not receive general fund (property tax) revenue. Law Library filing fee revenue for Fiscal Year 1991/92 was $328,000; fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2003/04 is projected to be $325,000. Filing fee revenue is declining statewide due to factors including in forma pauperis filings and an increase in alternative dispute resolution; in both situations, no filing fees are paid. During this time period law book prices have skyrocketed.

SCPLL is a public library operating pursuant to B&P Code 6300 et seq. County law libraries are mandated to provide public access to legal materials. Approximately half of library users are not attorneys; about 30 percent of users are members of the general public who are doing legal research or representing themselves in court.