Law Library User's Guide
Hours
Click here for information on Law Library Hours
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. Entry doors
to the building require card access from the late evening through early morning hours.
No pets are allowed in the library.
No food or drinks are allowed in computer areas.
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
Acquisitions/Cataloging
Media Services
Reading Room (3A)
Federal and State Primary Sources
Microforms
Upper Stacks (1)
Classified Treatises A-KF1500
Bound Periodicals
Powell Archives
Lower Stacks (1A)
Classified Treatises KF1501-Z
State Materials KFA-KFW
Federal Documents
Tax Materials
Circulation Regulations
"Stacking" refers to the practice of leaving library and other materials
on tables for ongoing use by a student. Stacking is permitted on a limited
basis. Students are issued a stacking permit at the beginning of the year.
No stacking permit is required for a student carrel. However, students who
wish to utilize library space other than their carrel should place their
stacking permit - initialed with the current date - on top of the stacked
items. The Law Library will honor stacking permits for a period of seven
days. Items with stacking permits bearing a date older than seven days
are subject to removal by the Law Library.
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:
Circulating stacks books: 2 weeks
Unbound periodicals: 2 weeks
Open reserve books: 48 hours
Reserve books and photocopies: 4 hours
Past examinations: 4 hours
Audio/videotapes & DVDs: 48 hours
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.
Services and Collections
Annie
W&L's on-line catalog, "Annie," provides access to
over 1,019,898 items 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.
Internet
The W&L network provides access to a vast array of internet
information services. PCs throughout the Law School are able to connect to the
internet. Wireless access is available throughout the building.
Visitors may have access restrictions on some services.
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).
Government Publications
A U.S. government publications depository since 1978, the
Law Library holds administrative decisions, agency reports,
congressional publications, U.S. Supreme Court records and
briefs, state statutes in chronological order, congressional and
regulatory sources, and U.N. documents. Paper documents circulate,
and microform readers and printers are available.
Powell Archives
The papers of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Lewis F.
Powell, Jr. form the centerpiece of this unit. Use of the papers
requires advance permission of the Powell Archivist.
Among its holdings of other personal papers are those of
long-time faculty members Charles V. Laughlin and Wilfred Ritz.
The papers of voting rights activist Frank R. Parker, former
U.S. Sixth District Representative M. Caldwell Butler, and the
late Federal Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, Walter
E. Hoffman, are here as well. Butler's papers include extensive
documentation of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 and his
service on the Judiciary Committee during the Nixon impeachment
proceedings. All of these materials are open for research use.
The archives also hold the record copies of all extant law
school publications. Retired records of the School of Law
are also housed here.
The rare book collection includes the law library of Judge
Charles E. Burks of Lynchburg, VA. Noted alumnus John W. Davis
also gave volumes that are now part of this collection.
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