Effective January 1st 2012, the Legal Resource Centre has changed its operating name to the Centre for Public Legal Education of Alberta (CPLEA).
We believe our new name better reflects our identity and purpose as a public legal education (PLE) organization.
Visit us at our new location in the Ironwood building at:
#800, 10050 - 112 Street
Edmonton, AB T5K 2J1
The Legal Resource Centre (LRC) was a recipient of Service Alberta’s Consumer Champion Award of Merit at a ceremony at Government House on March 8, 2010. Along with our partners from the Strathcona County and Fort Saskatchewan public libraries, the LRC received the award for the Law for Seniors in Alberta: Library Training Project – a project designed to increase the legal knowledge of seniors, their families, and those who work with them
The project included a series of 8-10 training sessions that focused on how public libraries can meet the legal information needs of seniors in Alberta, as well as public information sessions conducted at libraries and seniors centres. These sessions were supplemented by the creation of legal information booklets and checklists targeting seniors and older adults, their families, and service providers who work closely with them. The plain language booklets on wills, powers of attorney, personal directives, consumer protection, and grandparents’ rights are also available online. Interest in, and requests for the booklets, has continued long beyond the end of the project.
A project advisory group, consisting of public librarians, two seniors, and representatives from local seniors’ organizations provided advice and assistance about legal topics to be covered, the format of resources, and general feedback on the project. The library partners conducted surveys with their publics on what legal topics should be covered by the project. The advisory group and library partners also participated in the final evaluation of activities.
The resulting information tools and booklets from this project have broad implications as they are available to all public libraries in Alberta on the web and in printable formats. A list of suggested acquisitions has been generated for public libraries to use as a guide for building their print collection of legal information materials for seniors in Alberta. This list is available online on the Older Adult Knowledge Network (www.oak-net.org).
Funding for this one-year project was provided through the Public Library Development Initiative (PLDI) of Alberta Municipal Affairs, with additional support coming from the City of Edmonton.
For more information about the resources produced, visit the Older Adult Knowledge Network at http://www.oak-net.org or contact your local library or the Legal Resource Centre at info@legalresourcecentre.ca
From L-R: Angela Kublik, Director Fort Saskatchewan Public Library; Heather Klimchuk, Minister of Service Alberta; Diane Rhyason, Executive Director of the Legal Resource Centre; Kirsten Wurmann, Librarian at the LRC; and Heide Blackmore, Adult Services Librarian from Strathcona County
Supported by:
