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Black History Month: A Collection of Online Resources

As we reflect upon and honor the many contributions that have made us a richer nation and region, here are a few suggestions to help celebrate this important month:

You Can Now Access Do-It-Yourself Legal Materials on the KCLL Website!

The King County Law Library is proud to announce that we are making the NOLO Press database of DIY (do-it-yourself) legal materials available for free to all King County Residents.

The books contain helpful guidance and sample forms on a number of very popular topics.  Titles include “Credit Repair,” “Neighbor Law,” and “The Quick & Legal Will Book” and many others.  These have always been powerful resources for patrons working on their own legal issues in the Library and we’re excited to now make them accessible from your home or office.

View the full news release HERE.

There will be also be a free webinar on Thursday, February 11th from 6pm-7pm that demonstrates how you can use NOLO and other remotely accessible Library materials to address common credit and money concerns.  You can read more and register HERE.

You can access the NOLO titles from our Remote Databases page HERE.

Learn Virtually with a MOOC!

MOOCs, or Massive Open Online Courses, are online courses in a variety of disciplines, including the law, which anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can attend. They are free and often less structured than traditional in-person courses. Both of our local public library systems, Seattle Public Library and the King County Library System, offer access to many prominent MOOC providers.

For more information about MOOCs aimed at lawyers or others interested in the law, see this excellent article from the Harris County Law Library.

While not MOOCs, KCLL does offer a variety of video training segments as well.  Check them out here!

Summary of Eviction Protections

In response to COVID-19, governments and agencies at various levels have instituted protections for both residents and small businesses.  Things such as eviction moratoria rental assistance programs continue to be extended and modified, but it’s sometimes hard to keep track of them all.  Local attorneys have created a helpful guide that summarizes what’s in place as of January 4, 2021.

The announcement and guide and be found HERE.

New Nonparental Custody Law Implementation Postposed

Significant changes were made to our State’s nonparental custody laws in 2020.  The new laws were set to take effect after December 31, 2020 but the King County Superior Court Clerk’s office has recently learned that the implementation of these new laws has been postponed.  For more details about how this impacts nonparental custody procedures in King County, read the Clerk’s announcement here.

Free 30-Minute Webinar: How to Use HeinOnline!

There is a wealth of legal and scholarly information in HeinOnline – one of the resources you can access from the Remote Databases page of our website.  It’s chock full of law review journals, historical documents, 50-state surveys, and much more.

Have you never used it?  Now is your chance to get your feet wet by learning the basics from a pro.  Lean how to navigate the website, locate documents and then print or download them!

Date:  Thursday, December 10th

Time: 11:00am PST

Length: 30 minutes

Learn more and register HERE.

If You’re Facing Eviction, You May Be Protected

A recent order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) prohibits evictions due to an inability to pay – under certain circumstances.  The Suffolk University Law School has created an interactive questionnaire to help people decide whether they qualify under the federal guidelines.  It also generates a declaration that you can share with your landlord.

To qualify, you must be under a certain income limit, be unable to pay housing costs due to a substantial loss of income, and not have a suitable housing alternative.

While most of the interactive forms are specific to Massachusetts state courts, the protections afforded by the CDC order apply nationally – including here in Washington State.

To see if you qualify, access the Eviction Moratorium Assistant HERE.

There is more information about the CDC eviction protections HERE.