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About
Knowledge and Information Services
Knowledge
and Information Services (KIS) was created in early
2000 when the NCSC's Library,
Information
Service, and Technology Information
Service were melded together under one umbrella .
The primary focus of KIS is to gather and disseminate
court-related information both externally among our
constituents and internally within the Center. In
addition to responding to over 2000 information requests
annually, KIS products and services also includes the CourTopics
database, an annual Report on Trends in the State
Courts, a semi-annual Judicial Salary
Survey, an
extensive Library Catalog and a court specific listserv,
Court2Court. The
staff consists primarily of research analysts,
specialists, and librarians.
CourTopics
Database
The
CourTopics Database, unveiled in March 2002, is a
content-rich collection of knowledge directed towards the
state justice community.
Destined to become one of the most comprehensive
compilations of court information in the world, this
one-of-a-kind Web site is a product of the NCSC’s unique
position in the state court arena.
KIS
Analysts
In
addition to providing the knowledge and expertise for the development
of KIS products, KIS Analysts contribute significantly to the
NCSC's goal to facilitate the sharing and dissemination of information about courts and the administration of justice.
Supported primarily by assessments from the 50 states,
analysts research
information on a
multitude of topics in the field of judicial administration,
including topics such as judicial
selection, judicial compensation, alternative dispute resolution,
court structure and unification, family violence, and court
technology. The analysts
also are instrumental in facilitating communication and collaboration among
divisions within the Center and serve on the Center’s
various Communities of Practice and
Strategic Initiatives. KIS Analysts are from diverse
backgrounds and disciplined in several fields including law,
social science, library science, and technology.
Analysts
traditionally provide tailored responses to specific information requests annually . The majority of these requests come from the state court community--appellate and
trial judges, state court administrators and their staffs, trial court
clerks and administrators, and various trial court personnel. In
accordance with our Service
Policy, such constituents are the department's first priority and are
provided information without charge. As resources permit the
analysts may also provide basic information services to
court-related requests from state legislative and executive personnel;
local officials; national, state, and local bar associations; the news
media; members of court organizations; state justice system task
forces; other research organizations, and the general public.
Our History
Library
The NCSC's Library is an important member of the KIS team,
and
the library’s
online catalog, is the gateway to the
world's largest collection of resources on judicial
administration. The
library’s collection contains nearly 30,000 volumes,
including books, periodicals, and videos.
Information
Service
From the founding of the National Center in 1971, the Information Service, in its
various incarnations, dedicated itself to providing the best available information to
the state courts in a timely manner. The Information Service handled inquiries on most
topics in the field of judicial administration with the exception of those involving court
technology, most of which were deferred to its counterparts in the Technology Information Service.
From 1987 to 2000, the Information
Service function was supported by assessments from the 50 states, grants from the State
Justice Institute, and individual contributions. Responding to information
requests and providing special reports on selected topics
remain as central functions of KIS.
Technology
Information Service
From 1989 to 1999 the Technology Information Service (TIS),
under a grant from the State Justice Institute (SJI), provided court technology information
to court managers, judges, technology
professionals, attorneys, vendors, and private citizens. The service responded
to over 3000 requests annually. In 2000 the Technology Information
Exchange Service of which TIS was a part, was awarded the prestigious
Howell Heflin Award from SJI
Court2Court
ListServ
In December 1995, the Information Service initiated a listserv--a
free, on-line forum--on which subscribers might post questions and exchange information
related to the operation of courts. This listserv, appropriately
called "Court2Court," as of March
2003 has approximately 770 subscribers, including judges,
clerks, and court administrators from state and federal courts; National Center staff; consultants;
academicians; and even some internationals. Instructions on how to become a subscriber
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