The text version of the above visualization is provided below.
In 1869, the founders of the Law Society of BC resolved to open the province’s first law library, located in Victoria. This was quickly followed by New Westminster and Vancouver locations.
Over the years, the library system expanded throughout the province and by the early 1950s Vancouver was established as the main courthouse library.
In 1975, the Law Society decided that law libraries were better managed by an independent organization, and the BC Law Library Foundation was born. In 1984, the foundation became the British Columbia Courthouse Library Society, which is still our legal name, but later became more commonly known as Courthouse Libraries BC.
Timeline
1869
The first law library in BC is opened by the Law Society in Victoria.
1890
A law library is established in New Westminster.
1893
Vancouver gets its own law library.
1975
- The BC Law Library Foundation is formed, replacing the Law Society libraries.
- Library branches continue to open across the province.
1979
Vancouver library and offices move into the new courthouse on Smithe Street.
1984
The BC Law Library Foundation name changes to the BC Courthouse Library Society.
1989
The first computer network is established; used for accounting, word processing, and database searching.
1993
Employees can access the internet on behalf of library users for the first time.
1994
The first National Resource Sharing Agreement is signed to allow law libraries to share items from their collections, which continues to this day.
1995
It becomes possible to search library catalogues online.
1996
CLBC introduces computer workstations in the Vancouver law library, where patrons can access the catalogue and use CD-ROMs.
1999
CLBC’s website is re-designed with enhanced features so that users can find what they need more easily.
2000
Clients can now access the intranet in the Vancouver courthouse library to do their own legal research.
2001
Computer workstations for clients roll out across 25 libraries.
2007
- The BC Courthouse Library Society is rebranded as Courthouse Libraries BC.
- The service now known as Our Legal Knowledge Base goes public, providing handy references and answers to hard-to-find legal research questions.
2008
The LawMatters Program for public libraries is officially launched.
2009
The Clicklaw website is launched, containing plain language legal resources for the public.
2010
CLBC launches its popular online Legal Research Course for Law Society of BC members.
2012
- CLBC “opens” the Reading Room, later renamed Remote Access to Subscription Databases, providing lawyers with online legal databases without having to come into a courthouse library.
- Clicklaw Wikibooks is launched, allowing for the collaborative development of plain language legal publications.
2013
- The Book-in-a-Box service starts, lending legal texts to lawyers wherever they are in BC.
- “JP Boyd on Family Law” is published; Clicklaw Wikibooks’ flagship title, now in its 4th edition.
2015
CLBC plays a leading role in the creation of Access to Justice BC in response to a national call for action to make family and civil justice more accessible.
2017
Our online community platform called Lawbster is created, allowing legal professionals to share information in a secure environment.
2018
CLBC updates its Legal Research Course for lawyers.
2019
The LawMatters Program is expanded with increased funding amounts for legal collections that improve access to legal information at 71 public library systems in BC.
2020
- CLBC keeps courthouse libraries open during the covid pandemic (with safety precautions in place) to ensure access to justice is maintained.
- Clients no longer pay fees to order legal documents from CLBC.
2024
- The next evolution of Clicklaw is launched, our trusted online resource for people looking for self-help guidance on their legal journey.
- Received $2M Law Foundation Grant to enhance collection resources and accessibility.
- Received $1M each from the Law Foundation and Notary Foundation for IT and digital services.
2025
- CLBC celebrates its 50th anniversary as a public law library -- connecting people to trusted legal resources!
- The public access computers located in all our libraries get updated for a better client experience.
- Worked with Indigenous Justice Centres to identify key legal titles for their new law libraries.