As librarians and library staff, we are able to provide legal information to our patrons - not legal advice. This distinction can be a little tricky and sometimes it's not easy to communicate.
Whenever I do training sessions, I always like to reserve a little space to discuss the differences between legal information and legal advice.
Providing legal information is a wonderful thing - it can help our patrons better understand their legal issues (or if they have a legal issue in the first place!) and empower them to make informed decisions about their next steps. However, there are some things we can't help with: We are not legally trained and cannot offer legal advice.
So what is the difference?
I've put together a 2 page PDF that describes some of the things we can and can't do and also some tips and ways you can communicate your boundaries.
Download: A Quick Guide to Legal Information & Legal Advice for BC Librarians & Library Staff