Mission Statement

Allegheny County Law Library Mission Statement

The mission of the Allegheny County Law Library (ACLL or Library), the only public law library in the County, is to be a vibrant legal information center for its User Communities. Its Communities consist of all Allegheny County residents, members of the legal profession (the Bar), and the judiciary (the Bench),– irrespective of age, ability, or physical location. ACLL will continue to provide a welcoming environment for legal research and learning; a collection of legal information resources designed to meet the needs of the Community; and innovative and user-centered services. ACLL offers both free access to legal information and fee-based tailored services.

The three main avenues to achieve this mission in the next five years require:

  • Raising awareness of the ACLL’s informational role and services. 

  • Continuing education and cross-training of the staff.   

  • Assuring healthy finances to digitize ACLL services as needed by its User Communities.

The annual organizational plan will further detail the ways in which:

  • The Library empowers its users to access legal resources and services.  

  • The Library advances legal knowledge within its Communities by providing customized, excellent services.

  • The Library strengthens its User Communities through targeted legal information literacy resources and legal education programs.

Values

ACLL is committed to organizational excellence; its staff approaches their work with a mindset of continuous improvement which includes the adoption of the latest information technologies.

ACLL’s work is characterized by integrity, respect, care, transparency, and efficiency.

Unifying Themes

Budget Sustainability

ACLL’s budget needs to reflect the escalating costs of legal research information resources. ACLL administers its fiscal resources carefully by making informed choices, systematically reviewing expenditures for cost savings, and projecting future costs and needs.

Assessment

ACLL shall prioritize developing data-driven methods of assessing its services to guide decision-making and to better articulate its value. Furthermore, ACLL will survey and assess Community satisfaction with its legal information services.  

Partnerships

ACLL’s resources and services require flexible partnerships with others, including its technology partners, Duquesne University Center for Legal Information, the other public libraries within the community, as well as various professional organizations.

The Allegheny County Residents Community  

ACLL plays a critical role in fostering a vibrant, legally literate Community. Its physical and digital spaces provide an ever-changing environment for learning, research, and collaboration.

 
The Bench Community  

ACLL strives to offer the most up-to-date legal information resources to pro-se litigants and all Community members in need of legal services, so they better understand their rights and duties when engaged in litigation. 

 
The Allegheny Bar (Legal Profession) Community  

ACLL strives to offer services to support all members of the legal profession within Allegheny County. 

 
The Fee-Based Membership Community  

ACLL strives to provide additional services to its members, with the same goal of informational empowerment. 

 

Professionalism

The ACLL librarians and staff members are Duquesne University library faculty and staff; the ACLL director is a Duquesne University School of Law non-tenured faculty member. They pursue continuing legal information education, and professional skills training to ensure the most up-to-date expertise and skills when they provide innovative information services to the Community.

Priorities

Priority 1  

Secure consistent and sufficient financial support to fulfill the ACLL’s mission.

 
Priority 2   

Support the ACLL’s staff continuing education and access to
the latest advances in information technologies.

 
Priority 3   

Support its User Communities with access to the most up-to-
date legal information in the most efficient and productive way.

 
Priority 5   

Create a structure for data-driven assessment of the ACLL's
operation, resources, and services.

 
Priority 6  

Maximize the ACLL’s operational effectiveness.