Legal kiosks put law in law library

Legal do-it-yourselfers have a new tool to help raise the “bar” for research and forms available from the Douglas County Public Library.

Residents can do research, find resources and forms for all sorts of transactions through the courts through the Legal Kiosk Project that has provided two computers to the Minden Branch of the Douglas County Public Library.

The kiosk is part of the Douglas County Law Library and is supported by Nevada Legal Services.

Douglas is one of nearly 30 locations across the state to have installed the kiosks for those without access to a computer or broadband.

Last week, Library Director Tim DeGhelder demonstrated the kiosk, which has an interface designed to guide users in their searches.

DeGhelder said the library is seeing two patrons a day using the kiosks.

He suggested a legal open house for the whole law library, which is housed in the Minden Branch after July 1.

“We want to help get the word out that we have the law library here and here’s why we have it,” he said.

Work on the kiosk started last fall and was supplemented by the installation of a hardwire to aid its speed.

“The project’s intent is to address the digital divide exposed by the pandemic, which disproportionately affected seniors and those without adequate access to technology, by making legal information more available to older Nevadans, underserved communities, and all those with questions,” Project Manager Susan Myers said. “The kiosks offer free printing for legal forms. Users also can participate in virtual court hearings or meetings with their attorneys via Zoom through the kiosk.”

Myers said the kiosks were funded through the Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division.

Those with internet access can visit nv.legalkiosks.com to interact with the interface, which covers a dozen categories. Menus include information about different services from applying to social security to estate planning.