About the Library
“No profession is so dependent on the book for its life”
-A. Rosemary McCormick, Chief Librarian of the LSUC, 1978
The NCLA Library serves approximately 100 lawyers in the Northumberland County area, It is a private library for the use of its members, and lawyers of the Law Society of Ontario, in good standing, only. We are dedicated to assisting library patrons by facilitating access to the onsite holdings of print and electronic resources, and by providing assistance when needed.
The Library respects the privacy of individuals and will safeguard their personal information and research requests. Library staff will not discuss reading tastes, or items borrowed by library patrons with third parties, as per the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.56.
NOTE: THE LIBRARIAN DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE OR LAWYER RECOMMENDATIONS.
Location & Key Contact
Cobourg Courthouse
Main Floor
860 William Street
Cobourg ON K9A 3A9
905.372.1382
1.866.214.8450
Ciara Ward
Library Director
Monday - Thursday
8:30am - 3:30pm
Friday
8:30am- 1:00pm
Circulation Policy
Books may be signed out by NCLA members only for 3 weeks at a time. Overdue books will be subject to fines and/or reduced Library and NCLA Member privileges. Visiting counsel may use the collection on-site.
Items marked with a “Library Use Only” sticker are non-circulating; special arrangements may be made with the Librarian to borrow non-circulating items, on a case-by-case basis.
The library participates in interlibrary loans with other county and district law libraries. Members are encourages to contact the librarians if needed materials are not available on-site in the NCLA's collection; the librarian may be able to acquire items via interlibrary loan.
Research Services
The Librarian is available during regular hours to answer reference questions, advise on research, and provide assistance in locating and using library resources. For assistance, members may contact the library in person, or via phone or email.
The Librarian is available to provide answers to questions requiring a direct answer, such as requests for cases, legislation, or assistance in locating relevant legal resources. While able to advise on a research strategy and assist in locating research materials, the Librarian does not provide legal advice.
Electronic Resources
The NCLA Library has four reference computers available to members. Computers are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure equitable access to the Internet and efficient use of resources, the Library has developed service use guidelines, which are available to members. If you prefer to use your own device, please ask the librarian for the WIFI password.
LiRN’s e-LiRN suite provides Ontario courthouse libraries with free access to top legal research tools, including Lexis+ Canada, Westlaw Canada, vLex, HeinOnline, Rangefindr, and LSO CPD Search. These resources offer case law, legal texts, CPD materials, and AI research tools. Additionally the NCLA Library has subscriptions to Lexis+'s Pleadings, Motions and Facta database, Lexis+ Context, Law360, O'Brien's Division I, IV, and V.
Note that HeinOnline, vLex, and Rangefindr.ca are also available remotely to Ontario lawyers.
Equipment & Amenities
There is a photocopier/scanner available to members in the library. The cost is $0.30/per copy, and members are invoiced quarterly for copy charges. New members are issued photocopy codes when they join. Any violation of copyright is the responsibility of the copy machine user. Visitors may use the photocopier at the rate of $0.30/per copy, and may be invoiced and can pay via cash, cheque, or eTransfer. Currently the library is not equipped to accept payments via credit card.
Headphones, external CD-drives, speakers, wireless chargers, and other office supplies are available to library users in limited supply - ask the librarian for assistance.
The members' lounge is located in the library - there is self-serve coffee, tea and water available, as well as granola bars. Please note there are no food services available on site.