OVERVIEW

The Library started as a small building purchased in 1979 on San Ramon Road located near the Superior Court of Guam in Hagåtña. The first addition was built in 1980, then a second building in 1988. The original building was razed in 1991 and a new wing was built and remodeling of the entire facility was completed in January 1993.

Besides the main facility we also maintain the Judicial Center Library located on the second floor of the Guam Judicial Center. This facility is used exclusively by the law clerks of the Superior and Supreme Courts. We also maintain the small collection in the various chamber libraries for each judge and justice.

A nine member Board of Trustees administers the Guam Law Library pursuant to Title 7 Guam Code Annotated § 9203. The Trustees are representatives of a broad cross section of the Guam legal community. The Judicial Council, the Superior Court, Supreme Court and District Court of Guam each appoint a trustee. One trustee is appointed by the Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary of the Guam Legislature; one appointed by the Governor of Guam; the President of the Guam Bar Association appoints two trustees and the Territorial Librarian for Guam serves as an ex-officio trustee. All the trustees except for the Territorial Librarian must either be members of the Guam Bar, the Judiciary or a Law Clerk for Guam courts. Some consideration is given to insure that government attorneys from both the Attorney Generals Office and U.S. Attorney Office are represented on the Board. This may broaden the viewpoint and provide additional input regarding library services on local and federal aspects of the law.

Since 1979, five persons have held the position of Territorial Law Librarian or Director, the first two having graduate degrees in librarianship and the last three having both degrees in librarianship and law. The last Territorial Law Librarian/Director resigned in December 1997 and the position has been vacant since that time.

For the year 2002, the proposed budget for the operation of the Library is approximately $460,838.00. A $50.00 annual fee from each active member of the Guam Bar Association supports the library. A lump sum contribution is sent to the law library after Bar dues are collected in January of each year. Major funding source is received from filing fees and certain penal fines collected by the Superior Court of Guam.