Courthouse Libraries BC has lots to celebrate in 2025! Fifty years ago, on December 18, 1975, we became the Law Library Foundation of BC (and later the BC Courthouse Libraries Society). That’s after being part of the Law Society since 1869!
Our new status as an independent non-profit law library was significant because it allowed us to expand our reach beyond the legal community and to become what we are today, “BC's Public Law Library.”
Since 1975, we have strived to increase our impact in BC, not just in our own libraries and digital spaces, but also through public libraries, and the training of public library staff, advocates, and other community helpers who can connect people with the trustworthy legal resources they need.
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Some of the great things people say about us...
You all are so helpful with excellent information and a willingness to assist my journey. It really does mean so much …You are a credit to society.
~ Client
What an incredible wealth of information I was able to gather with your help. Furthermore, the searches you performed and the caselaw decisions you curated are very helpful.
~ Client
I now have a disability which impedes me from doing some things online. I had to find out if opposing counsel had received my [registered] letter and this lovely woman [at a courthouse library] was so helpful and kind to me and looked it up on the Canada Post website. It may appear to be a small thing, but to me it was huge.
~ Self-represented litigant
Thank you so much for your support with my client these past couple of months. You have truly gone above and beyond to reduce barriers for her, and it has made such a difference ... Your kindness and patience really show and that is really special.
~Advocate
What’s ahead for CLBC?
CLBC has always quickly adapted to an ever-changing social and legal landscape, such as the shift to digital tools and the new reality of self-represented litigants. In response, we brought in online services for legal professionals, hired more library staff, and re-focused our Clicklaw website to answer the common legal questions of the public.
And the future? We expect to continue adapting, working with our justice system partners to deliver more great legal resources through our 30 library locations and expand our ever-growing digital services. Always alert to what’s happening on the ground, we will be ready to respond!
We couldn’t have done it without you!
A big thank you to our funders, partners, and, especially, the wonderful employees of CLBC!