Alberta Law Libraries, through its legal information resources, supports the administration of justice and the rule of law in the Province of Alberta. The Libraries’ comprehensive collection of primary and secondary legal sources, in print and electronic media, is open to the legal profession (lawyers, articling students, law students), judiciary and public. Single copies of library materials, required for the purposes of research, review, private study and criticism, as well as for use in court, tribunal, legislative and government proceedings, may be provided to the Libraries’ clients.
This service supports clients who require access to legal materials while respecting the copyright holders of such materials, in keeping with the fair dealing provisions in Section 27 of the Canadian Copyright Act.
Guidelines to Access
The Access to the Law service provides single copies for specific purposes, identified in advance to employees of the libraries.
- The specific purposes are research, review, private study and criticism, as well as use in court, tribunal, and government proceedings. Any doubt concerning the legitimacy of the request for these purposes will be referred to the team lead in the appropriate library.
- A client must identify him/herself and the purpose of the copying at the time of the request. The client will request Document Delivery using our Ask a Law Librarian form.
- Discretion must be used regarding the amount of copying. No copies will be made for any purpose other than that specifically set out on the Request Form. Ordinarily, requests for a copy of one case, one article or one statutory reference will be satisfied as a matter of routine. Requests for substantial copying from secondary sources (e.g. in excess of 5% of the volume or more than two citations from one volume) will be referred to the team lead and may ultimately be refused.
This service is provided on a not-for-profit basis. Any fee charged for this service is intended to cover costs incurred by the Libraries in providing the service.