The first time I walked into a legal library, I felt as though I was venturing into very, very unfriendly foreign territory. The most I did was pick up a few pamphlets, stare a bit at the lady librarian who looked me up and down and then took no further notice of me, and then I escaped out the door.
After that, whenever someone tried to suggest I go to the law library, mostly the clerks I met when I went to ask about various procedures, (you know, just after they give you that line about how they aren't allowed to give you legal advice) I just shook my head and made a sour look.
I did go a few more times to make a few copies of documents on the one and only rattly, rattly copy machine in the library which required constant feeding from the change in my pockets. (See what I'm saying, not even a copy card!) That required, of course, going back to the mean looking librarian to ask for change for a dollar bill, which she handed out quarter by nickel, by dime one by one on her desk.
To be honest, I've never met such a mean looking bunch of librarians as I've met at law libraries. On the other hand, it is amazing what a reaction you get if you say to them something like, I'm interested in the meaning of probable cause as defined by Smith v. Martin Mechanics, L.L.C., then its like you've given a nice tasty bone to a chihuahua. They take you around, pile books in your arms, point out references, grab you a chair to help you take a look at Lois Law. It's amazing, almost like a whole new bunch of librarians.
So, don't count those law libraries out. They are an amazing resource, and there is nothing like that feeling of spending an hour or so to find an important reference, and then finding it and discovering you were right all along. Give it a try!
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