Navigating Legal Landscapes, Librarians Lead the Way

Imagine hearing news that you have inherited property in Russia, but have no idea how to go about claiming it. What would you do? For one resident in Rivne oblast, Ukraine, the solution was clear: she went to her local library.

Not only did the visit to the Dovgoshyi Public and School Library save her the 48 kilometer trip she would have had to make to find legal counsel, but she also received assistance free of charge from her local librarian. Librarian Inna Melnychuk helped the patron find several specialized web sites with the information on the relevant laws and procedures in the Russian Federation. The patron went on to prepare all the necessary documents for her case.

Access to legal information is becoming an increasingly popular service at Bibliomist-equipped libraries, especially those in smaller towns and villages. And for a good reason, according to Melnychuk: “If you live in a village, where do you search for answers? Newspapers and magazines don’t normally publish this sort of information. The internet gives you a thread to untangle your problem.” Several librarians note that people over 30 tend to be the most active users, with the scope of inquiries ranging from Ukrainian labor law concerning maternity leave to the calculation of pensions.

For instance, Rayisa Koroteyeva, herself a retired librarian, used library services to investigate a question related to her pension. She initially filed a request for her pension calculation to account for 10 years of previous employment in Russia several decades ago. However, there was no response from the employer to the Pension Fund’s formal inquiry for seven months. She then contacted city library staff who were able to help . While the case is currently under consideration, the patron shared: “The most important part for me is the fact that the library and the internet helped me to prepare the necessary documents.”

More and more libraries are designing services to provide access to legal resources. The Artemivsk Central City Library partnered with the City Department of Justice and launched a Community Counseling Office in January 2011. In October 2010, Chernihiv Oblast Universal Scientific Library (OUSL) inaugurated its Center of Legal Information. The center cooperates with the City Department of Justice and the Institute of Law, a local higher education institution. Through the center, officials provide consultations to the patrons both personally and online, and student volunteers help the users search for information on the government websites, specialized blogs, and forums. According to the library staff, the legal services are especially popular among low-income visitors.

Chornomorske Central Raion Library engaged in a similar project, providing weekly sessions on legal matters for free. Several libraries joined USAID’s Parliamentary Development Project II and currently host information centers and a website as part of the Citizen Access Points (CAPs) initiative. This helps patrons follow government information more closely and promotes feedback from the citizens to their legislators and policy makers.

Some libraries also developed strategies for making their services accessible for people with disabilities. Chornomorske Library, for instance, allows its patrons to seek legal advice on the phone. Rivne OUSL, famous for its advanced technologies for patrons with disabilities, recently organized an online conference with several raion libraries to address legislation concerning people with special needs. Sumy City Branch Library number 17 partnered with several NGOs to launch a portal called “Information Resource Center for People with Special Needs." The site provides links to articles and legal documents which can be accessed by anyone in Ukraine or abroad.

Chernihiv librarians like to share the story of an elderly couple who brought a bottle of champagne and other treats to the library to celebrate after their pensions were accurately recalculated. With additional libraries set to be equipped through Bibliomist this year, more citizens will soon have access to similar resources.

Bibliomist – Global Libraries Ukraine is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and implemented by IREX.