Law Library User's Guide

Hours

The Law Library is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.
Library services are available at the following times:

Circulation Desk:

Reference

Hours vary during examination periods, holidays and summer months.

A Few Reminders

• The Law Library is primarily for the use of the Law School students and faculty. Other members of the University community, the legal profession, and the general public are also permitted access to the collection.
• Access to electronic databases is governed by the associated license agreement. Contractual provisions may restrict access to law students and law faculty.Most law databases are IP authenticated for access.  This means that students and faculty must be physically present in the law library or use The Stable for access.  Westlaw, Lexis and Bloomberg Law are accessed using individual passwords.  Passwords are issued at matriculation and are valid for three years subject to certain limitations.  
• Entry doors to the building require card access from the late evening through early morning hours.
• No smoking is permitted in the building.
• No alcohol is permitted in the building unless permission has been obtained from the Dean or an Associate Dean.
• Computing resources are supplied for the use of University students, faculty, and staff. Others must yield the equipment when it is needed by such users. Scanners may be used subject to the same copyright warnings posted at the copy machines.
• Copy machines, which accept University cards as well as coins and bills, are located on the Main and Upper Stacks levels of the library.

Guide to the Levels

Main Floor (3)
Law Library Administrative Office
Circulation
Reserve
Open Reserve
Current Periodicals
Reference
Acquisition/Cataloging
Media Services
Technology Services

Reading Room (3A)
Federal Statutes and Regulations
Federal Reporters
Tax Materials
4th Circuit and Delaware Codes
South Eastern Reporter
South Eastern Digest
Virginia Materials
Microforms

Level 2 - Quiet Carrels

Carrels 258-327 are within a designated Quiet Zone. 

Upper Stacks (1)
Classified Treatises A-KF1090
Bound Periodicals
Powell Archives

Lower Stacks (1A)
Classified Treatises KF1091-Z
State Materials KFA-KFW
Federal Documents

Circulation Regulations

Stacking and Circulation of Materials  

"Stacking" refers to the practice of leaving library and other study materials in common library spaces for ongoing use by a patron.  Stacking is permitted in all areas of the library except on level three.  The Law Library reserves the right to revoke the stacking privilege. Personal items are to be stored in your carrel or locker.   Items such as computers, printers, clothing, bedding, food, and beverages are not protected by a stacking permit and should not be left in common library spaces.    Patrons who wish to stack materials should place their stacking permit - initialed with the current date - on top of the materials in use.  The Law Library will honor stacking permits for a period of two days.  Stacking permits with a date older than two days are subject to removal by the Law Library.  Please be respectful of your fellow students. Library space is limited and demand is high. The stacking privilege is not permission to "homestead" or monopolize space in the Law Library.  Stacking permits are not required for materials in a student's carrel.  

Circulation of Materials

Certain materials in the Law Library may not be removed from the building. Items in this category include: loose-leaf services, session laws, codes, digests, and volumes in the reference collection. Faculty, staff, and students should use their University Card to check out materials.

Circulation periods for W&L students are, in general:

Items must be returned when recalled and must be returned or renewed by the expiration of the loan period. Generally, items may be renewed twice. Once the maximum number of renewals is exceeded, the item must be returned before it can be checked out again.

All items checked out for longer than 4 hours through Annie are subject to recall by the Library staff. Annie determines the due date based on the item and the category, as well as the classification of user who is checking out the item. Adjustments to some circulation periods will occur at exam times.

If a law student has overdue items checked out through Annie, then no library materials may be circulated out of the building, or out of the reserve collections, to that user.

The Law Library respects each library user's rights to privacy and confidentiality regarding information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted, or services provided.

Fees for lost and excessively overdue materials

Circulating Books in the General Collection and Escape Hatch

First – Third Notices - Fees are waived if the material is returned within 21 days of the original due date ("the Grace Period").

Upon the expiration of the Grace Period, accrued fees (50 cents per day) retroactive to the original due date will be owed.

A Final Notice will be issued after the expiration of the Grace Period plus 7 days at which point accrued fees plus the actual replacement cost of the material will be due.

Open Reserve, Closed Reserve, and Audio/Videotapes & DVDs (except Escape Hatch Videos/DVDs)

Fees are waived if material is returned within 24 hours of the original due date ("the Grace Period").

Upon the expiration of the Grace Period, accrued fees ($1.00 per hour) retroactive to the original due date will be owed.  A Final Notice will be issued after the expiration of the Grace Period plus 24 hours at which point accrued fees plus the actual replacement cost of the material will be due.  

Please contact Bonnie Gates at gatesb@wlu.edu to make arrnagements if circumstances prevent the timely return of materials.  

Library Resources

Library Catalog

W&L's on-line catalog provides access comprehensive access to materials in both the Law Library and in Leyburn Library and its departmental satellites. All forms of materials held by the libraries are included. Computer access is available on every level of the library.

Online Databases

Search or browse the library's online resources

Collections

A description of the library's collections is available here.

Interlibrary Loans

Books and copies of articles not available in the Law Library may be obtained through interlibrary loan. Questions about interlibrary loans should be directed to Linda Newell (newelll@wlu.edu).

Download the Library User's Guide