Law Library Policies, Procedures and Rules

Overview

The Law Library’s primary mission is to support the teaching and research activities of the UMC School of Law. The collection is also available to the University community, attorneys, and other persons who have a need for legal materials. However, due to limited seating, non-law students may not use the Law Library except when doing legal research.

Suggestions

Suggestions and ideas for improvements of library services or the library’s collection are welcome. Suggestions may be sent to the Access Services Librarian by e-mail or given to any librarian.

Service Hours

Law Library service hours are subject to change; check current hours. After 5 p.m. on weekdays and on weekends, Law Library use is monitored. Persons entering the Law Library during these times must sign in at the circulation desk and leave a form of identification. During examination periods, access to the Law Library by non-law school patrons is restricted.

Card Key Access

The west and courtyard law school entrance doors and the automatic library door are controlled by a card key access system. This system allows law students, faculty, and staff to enter the law school building and Law Library after-hours with their University ID.

New law students' cards are encoded during orientation. If you lose your ID card, take your new ID to the Conley Avenue Garage key shop to have it encoded. Then notify Kathy Smith, Room 226, and she will give you access under your new card. Questions about use of the card key access system should be addressed to Kathy.

Rules of Conduct

To promote and ensure access to Law Library collections and facilities, the following behaviors are prohibited:

Use and Protection of the Collections

Removing or attempting to remove library materials, equipment or property without proper checkout or library authorization.
Failing to either renew or return library materials when due.
Concealing library materials in the Law Library for the exclusive use of an individual or group.
Mutilating library materials by marking, underlining, removing pages or portions of pages, removing pocket parts and not replacing them in their correct volume, removing binding or labeling, or in any other way damaging or defacing library materials.
Violating library food, beverage and smoking rules.

Use and Protection of the Building and Library Equipment

Being in unauthorized areas of the Law Library, remaining in the Law Library when requested to leave during emergency situations/drills, or not abiding by Card Key access procedures relating to after-hours access.
Opening emergency exits except in emergency situations.
Vandalizing or defacing the Law Library’s building, furniture or equipment.
Maliciously accessing, altering, or deleting damaging or destroying any computer system, network, computer program or data.
Failing to observe University and Law School computer lab use policies.

Beverages, Food, and Tobacco

Beverages and non-odiferous food items are generally allowed except:
- in the computer lab,
- at computer terminals
- in the library stacks.
Please report spills immediately to the circulation desk.
Packaged snack foods such as candy, chips, pretzels, crackers, and cookies are allowed. Please dispose of wrappers promptly.
Other common food items (e.g., fruits, salads, sandwiches etc.) will generally be allowed if handled and disposed of properly. Pizza, burgers, fries, etc. are not allowed in the library. This food policy aims to strike a reasonable balance in providing an inviting and flexible study environment but also in allowing for your classmates’ enjoyment of a clean, well-kept facility without strong or lingering food smells and also to prevent damage to the collection. All open, unattended food items in the law library are subject to removal and disposal by the staff.
Failure of students to handle or dispose of beverage or food properly may cause the policy to be revised.
Smoking or other use of tobacco products is prohibited in the law library.

Additionally, beverages and food are prohibited in the stacks, the computer lab or at any computer terminal. Beverages or food found in prohibited areas or which present a risk of damaging library materials must be removed. Failure of students to handle or dispose of beverage or food properly may cause the policy to be revised.

Carrel/study room privileges may be forfeited after a student has received one warning for violation of the food, beverages, and tobacco policy.

Noise

All areas where study rooms and carrels are located are "Quiet Zones." Students with assigned spaces who fail to abide by the "Quiet Zone" rules will forfeit their spaces. All patrons seated in these areas are expected to abide by the following rules on conversations and noise:

No unnecessary conversation or noise is allowed.
If you must communicate with another person, please whisper.
Anyone observing a "quiet zone" violation may report it to the circulation desk. A warning will be issued when necessary by a librarian or library staff member.
Carrel/study room privileges may be forfeited after a student has received one warning for "quiet zone" rule violations.
Portable phones may not be used in the library; please turn the ringer off when entering the library and leave the library if you need to use them.

The Law Library Environment

Causing a disturbance or engaging in any behavior that interferes with the quiet and safe enjoyment of the Law Library’s facilities and services is prohibited. Proscribed behavior includes (but is not limited to) excessive noise, verbal abuse, threats of violence, or sexual harassment directed at another person on library premises.

Law Library Fees

Failing to pay library fees may result in loss of library privileges.

Any patron who violates any of the Rules of Conduct listed above is subject to sanctions, including: being asked to leave Law Library premises; being reported to the police; and legal prosecution. Offenders are subject to loss of library privileges and may be in violation of the law school’s Honor Code.

Personal Belongings

Personal property and study materials should not be left unattended on study tables or workstations when the owner leaves the library to attend class or for other extended periods. Library staff may remove these materials to maximize limited study space and computer access for all patrons.
The Law Library is not responsible for personal books, papers, laptops or other items left in the library. Tables are cleared daily. Assigned carrels and study rooms are cleared at the end of each semester.
Thefts occur in the library. Please safeguard your belongings. Report thefts immediately to the circulation desk.

Use of Library Materials

Please reshelve your books.
Most Law Library books do not circulate. Please call missing or damaged books to the attention of a staff member so that they can be repaired or replaced.