The Texas State Law Library and Harris County Law Library have partnered to expand digital services for all Texans.

Beginning on Law Day, May 1, law librarians from both libraries will offer expanded chat services in English and Spanish Monday through Friday. Anyone who needs assistance with legal research can contact a law librarian through either library website.

“We are excited to expand access to legal information with our partners at the State Law Library,” Harris County Law Library Director Mariann Sears said in a news release. “Each library has unique resources to support self-represented litigants, attorneys, and the judiciary. Through this partnership, we can make more of these resources to help ensure continued access as we stay home and work safe.”

Both law libraries suspended in-person services in March and expanded virtual services.

“This partnership is a great opportunity for the State Law Library to serve more Texans, especially in Harris County,” Texas State Law Library Assistant Director Amy Small said in a news release. “With a third of the Texas legal community and the state’s busiest courts, the Houston metro area has the most potential users of the State Law Library’s expansive digital collections. Working with law librarians at the Harris County Law Library and drawing on their expertise will help us connect more Texans with needed legal resources.”

This partnership will serve as a pilot program with the goal of expanding opportunities for collaboration to other Texas public law libraries. Libraries interested in participating can contact the Texas State Law Library.

For more information about the Texas State Law Library, go to sll.texas.gov. For more information about the Harris County Law Library, go to harriscountylawlibrary.org.