The Lincoln Township Public Library is preparing to launch a new legal service for residents. Library Director Joelle Wake tells us it’s all thanks to an $81,000 grant from Michigan Legal Help.
“It will allow us to establish mobile legal self-help services throughout the community,” Wake said. “It’s also getting us two dedicated self-help stations inside the library, which are just computers set up that are specifically dedicated to using their Michigan Legal Help website.”
Wake says residents could get assistance with things like housing, wills, and employment questions.
The library staff is being trained now to show people how to use the self-help kiosks and Michigan Legal Help website. The library has also obtained a van to travel around the community educating people.
“A van would be a great way to have a staff person go out, meet people where they’re at, go to different social service organizations, community centers, and kind of hang out for a couple hours and then help people as they come in or even work with other libraries nearby.”
The van is being prepped now.
Wake says people do come into the library seeking information about everything from housing to employment to divorce law. She notes the Van Buren District Library in Paw Paw received a similar grant previously.
The legal self-help program at the Lincoln Township Public Library is expected to launch in May.
