GMU Law Library Circulation Blog

Inclement Weather Policy

2010-02-04T11:21:00.001-05:00

Just a reminder about the law school's policy on inclement weather. Important note: The law school and the rest of the university do not always respond to a weather event in the same way. As a result, you should rely on communication from the law school to learn the operating status of the law school and the law library. Do not rely on public announcements made by the media or by the university because those announcements might not apply to the law school. The law school's official policy on inclement weather appears below.

If you are scheduled to work and the library is open, you are expected to arrive on time. Please call me, Mike or Maya if weather conditions will make it impossible to show up for your shift. Please be sure you have our home and cell phone numbers with you. In the event of inclement weather, we will communicate information about the operating status of the law school and the law library in three ways: 1) E-mail notice via the law school listservs, 2) Notice on the law school web site, and 3) Recording on the law school main telephone number (703-993-8000). For a weather event that develops overnight, we will try to make a decision and have it communicated before 7:30 a.m. the next morning.

Welcome New Circulation Assistant

2009-10-06T10:23:00.002-04:00

Please welcome Kristen Kanaskie, 1L - Penn State: BA Public Relations, to the law library!

Welcome New Circulation Assistants

2009-09-02T08:24:00.002-04:00

We have a few new faces at the circulation desk.  Welcome to the law library!

Sean Clerget, 1L-Wasbash College: BA Political Science

Raquel Duron, Interdisciplinary Studies (Religion, Culture, and Values)-Univ. of California: BA History

Megan Marinos, 1L-George Washington Univ: BA Communication

Jason Smith, 1L-Ouachita Baptist Univ: Political Science, History, and Spanish

Welcome Back!

2009-08-11T14:54:00.002-04:00

Well, it's that time of year! Welcome back to those of you who are returning and welcome to those of you who are just joining us. You are the public face of the law library, and we are delighted to have you on board! For those of you who do not know me, I am Larry Reeves, the associate director of the law library. There have been a few organizational changes among the library staff over the summer. Christine is now the instructional services librarian, and I will have responsibililty for managing public services, which includes circulation. Mike and Maya will continue as your direct supervisors, but please feel free to come to me with any questions or concerns you may have. I will also be responsible for approving your time sheets. I will try to stop by and introduce myself for those of you I haven't met, but you should also feel free to stop by my office on the second floor and introduce yourself. I wish you all a happy and successful school year!

The Library Will Be Closed This Weekend

2009-07-29T15:38:00.001-04:00

Due to a scheduled power outage, the library will close at 5pm on Friday, July 31 and will reopen on Monday, August 3 at 10am. No one will be admitted to Hazel Hall during this time.

BarBri Students

2009-05-20T11:35:00.001-04:00

Non-GMU BarBri (Bar review) students must present their BarBri ID to use the law library. They do not have to sign the guestbook.

BarBri has been given a special code so that the students can use the wireless network. Questions about accessing the network should be directed to the Law School's Computing Services unit in room 362 of the law library. If you have any questions, please see Christine, Maya, or Mike. Thank you.

Welcome New Circulation Assistant

2009-05-12T11:24:00.001-04:00

Dan Donahue has joined the circulation staff. He is a 2008 GMUSL graduate who will begin the Masters in Library Science program at Catholic University this summer.

Goodbye and Good Luck

2009-04-22T10:11:00.002-04:00

Best of luck on your final exams and summer jobs.

A special congratulations to our graduates: Cheryl, Emily, Lauren, Joan, and Zach.

Amnesty for Library Fines

2009-04-10T13:32:00.000-04:00

In honor of National Library Week (April 13-17), we will forgive fines of up to $10, provided that the books/materials have been returned. If a fine appears on a patron record when they are checking out materials, please let them know. Graduating students will not receive their diplomas until they've paid all fines. Please contact Mike, Maya, or Christine if you have questions.

Survey Says . . .

2009-03-13T09:44:00.003-04:00

Beginning on Monday, March 16, the library will conduct a survey of all patrons. We are trying to learn which sources are used most often, so we will ask people what materials they use and we will keep track of books that are off the shelf. This information will be useful as we make decisions about what to add to and subtract from our collection. The survey will run for two weeks.

Thanks for your help as we try to determine how best to serve the students, faculty, and public patrons that visit the library.

Welcome New Circulation Assistants

2009-01-28T14:09:00.004-05:00

We have a few new faces at the circulation desk.  Welcome to the law library!

Kasey Clemans, 1L-Brigham Young Univ: BA International Relations/Russian

Richard Peterson, 1L-Brigham Young Univ: BA Humanities-French Literature

Rachel Talbot, 2L-George Washington Univ: BA Business Administration

Winter Weather

2009-01-26T15:19:00.001-05:00

Just a reminder about the law school's policy on inclement weather.

Important note: The law school and the rest of the university do not always respond to a weather event in the same way. As a result, you should rely on communication from the law school to learn the operating status of the law school and the law library. Do not rely on public announcements made by the media or by the university because those announcements might not apply to the law school.

The law school's official policy on inclement weather appears below. If you are scheduled to work and the library is open, you are expected to arrive on time. Please call me, Maya, or Mike to let us know whether you will be able to make it here for your shift. Please be sure you have our home and cell phone numbers with you.

In the event of inclement weather, we will communicate information about the operating status of the law school and the law library in three ways:
E-mail notice via the law school listservs
Notice on the law school web site
Recording on the law school main telephone number (703-993-8000).

For a weather event that develops overnight, we will try to make a decision and have it communicated before 7:30 a.m. the next morning.

Scholarly Writing Papers

2009-01-23T11:13:00.000-05:00

There is a collection box behind the circulation desk for these with my name on it. Students will drop off their papers here. Please do not put the box on the counter, but instead keep it behind the desk. Thanks!

Inauguration Day - Updated

2009-01-07T15:09:00.004-05:00

The Provost has decided to close the Arlington campus on Inauguration Day. A make-up day has been scheduled for April 23, when we will observe a Tuesday class schedule.

Good Luck on Exams!

2008-12-08T11:10:00.002-05:00

And thank you very much for your hard work at the circulation desk. There is a small token of our appreciation waiting behind the circ desk.

Very best wishes for the holidays!

New Student Circulation Assistant

2008-09-26T08:50:00.003-04:00

Please welcome Alison Lanni, 1L - St. John Fisher College: BA Political Science/Pre-Law, to the law library!

ILL Direct Request

2008-09-17T13:37:00.002-04:00

No more paper ILL forms to fill out! Now, you can make ILL (interlibrary loan) requests directly through WorldCat. For details and instructions, see Borrowing Materials Using WorldCat on the law library website: http://www.law.gmu.edu/library/guides/ill. Refer any questions to Mike, Christine, or Maya. Thanks!

Podium Keys

2008-08-29T09:30:00.003-04:00

Inside the black key box, at the circulation desk, are two podium keys. Keys fit all podium drawers in the 1st and 2nd floor classrooms. Both keys are identical. They are attached to identical silver Mason keyrings and barcoded.

Podium keys can only be checked out to faculty and staff. If a student picks up a key for a professor, please check out the key to the professor. Thank you.

2008-08-27T08:18:00.002-04:00

New Student Circulation Assistant

Please welcome Zach Martin, 3L - Patrick Henry College: BA Public Policy, to the law library!

PAST Program

2008-07-03T09:21:00.000-04:00

PAST is a summer program here at the law school. These students are not regular enrollees and will not have the usual IDs. They DO have access to the computer labs.

Please verify their names on the enrollee list and give them a visitor code.

Questions?

2008-06-11T11:54:00.002-04:00

Questions about policies and procedures should be directed to one of the circulation supervisors - Mike, Maya, or me. With Maya off for the next few weeks, please call me or Mike at home if necessary. I would much rather that you call me with questions than hear about a problem after the fact, so please do not hesitate. Thank you!

Welcome New Circulation Assistants

2008-05-28T12:19:00.003-04:00

We have two new faces at the circulation desk this summer. Welcome to the law library!

Kathryn Boylan, 2L-UNC Chapel Hill: BS Business Adminstration

Joan Rothenberg, 4E-Rutgers Univ: MS Food Science; Central Michigan Univ: MA Business Management; Univ of Florida: BS Agriculture/Food Science

Summer Hours

2008-05-19T09:35:00.003-04:00

Hours have changed for the summer semester. We open at 9am instead of 8am during the week, and close earlier on Friday and Saturday nights. Current hours are listed on the law library's web site.

Peak Usage for Study Rooms

2008-04-15T10:00:00.000-04:00

Exams are coming . . . effective Friday, April 18, peak usage rules apply:

The smaller study rooms require a minimum of 2 people; the larger ones require a minimum of 4 people.
Rooms may not be reserved for more than 4 hours at a time.
A group of students may not collectively sign up a room for more than 4 hours per day.
Study rooms can be reserved up to one week in advance.
We do take reservations over the phone.
These rules apply to all students, including the ones who work at the Circulation Desk.

Swipe Cards & Access

2008-04-02T15:03:00.002-04:00

Just a reminder: student workers may use their swipe cards only when they are working. Student workers must use the main doors at all other times.

In addition, after-hours access is not permitted for student workers. When responsible for closing the library, you should be out of the library no more than 15 minutes after the closing time.

As always, if you have questions or comments about library policies, please see me, Maya, or Mike.

First Year Moot Court Competition

2008-03-31T08:57:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to our very own Tyler Brannon for advancing to the next round of the First Year Competition. Well done!!

Paychecks & Daylight Saving Time

2008-03-06T09:22:00.002-05:00

Daylight Saving Time begins this weekend at 2:00 am Sunday, March 9. Please don't forget to turn your clocks forward (especially if you are working on Sunday!)

Also, please fill in your time sheet via Patriot Web before you leave for spring break. HR no longer accepts paper time sheets so if you don't use Patriot Web, I can't pay you.

Have a safe but fun spring break! I hope you get to take some time off and relax.

Special Hours for Spring Break

2008-02-27T11:54:00.004-05:00

Just a reminder that hours change over spring break, Saturday, March 8 to Saturday, March 15.

Sunday: noon to 11pm
Mon. - Thurs.: 8am to 11pm
Friday: 8am to 6pm
Saturday: noon to 6pm

Normal hours resume on Sunday, March 16.

Inclement Weather Policy

2008-01-26T15:30:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder about the law school's policy on inclement weather.

Important note: The law school and the rest of the university do not always respond to a weather event in the same way. As a result, you should rely on communication from the law school to learn the operating status of the law school and the law library. Do not rely on public announcements made by the media or by the university because those announcements might not apply to the law school.

The law school's official policy on inclement weather appears below. If you are scheduled to work and the library is open, you are expected to arrive on time. Please call me, Maya, or Mike to let us know whether you will be able to make it here for your shift. Please be sure you have our home and cell phone numbers with you.

In the event of inclement weather, we will communicate information about the operating status of the law school and the law library in three ways:
E-mail notice via the law school listservs
Notice on the law school web site
Recording on the law school main telephone number (703-993-8000).

For a weather event that develops overnight, we will try to make a decision and have it communicated before 7:30 a.m. the next morning.

Welcome Back

2008-01-04T15:13:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! I hope you had a joyous holiday.

We have extended the library hours on Saturday evenings and will now be open until 10pm.

Thank you all for your hard work and support. We could not run the library without you.

Extended Hours for the Exam Period

2007-11-30T11:07:00.000-05:00

Good luck on your exams!!

Exams: Friday, Nov. 30 - Wednesday, Dec. 19

Sunday	10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Monday - Friday	8:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Saturday	9:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Make-Up Exams: Thursday, Dec. 20 - Friday, Dec. 21

Thursday	8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday	8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Study Rooms

2007-11-12T14:06:00.000-05:00

As exams approach, demand for study rooms increases significantly. Beginning on Sunday, November 25, we will observe peak usage rules for the group study rooms.

A minimum of two users is required for the smaller study rooms, and four users are required for the larger study rooms (248 and 356). Use is limited to one four hour period per day, per group.

Thanksgiving Hours

2007-11-12T13:39:00.000-05:00

We will be closed on Thursday and Friday for the holiday, and open shorter hours on Wednesday and Saturday.

Wednesday, Nov. 21	8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday, Nov. 22	CLOSED
Friday, Nov. 23	CLOSED
Saturday, Nov. 24	Noon - 6:00 PM
Sunday, Nov. 25	11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

LRWA Research

2007-10-11T10:13:00.000-04:00

The LRWA open memo project involves four jurisdictions:

Florida
Illinois
Maryland
North Carolina

When shelving, please pay special attention to these jurisdictions, as well as to the general legal research materials:

American Jurisprudence
Corpus Juris Secundum
American Law Reports

Thanks for you help.

Banned Books Week

2007-10-02T09:17:00.000-04:00

September 29 to October 6 is Banned Books Week. This annual event is sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA). In 2006, the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) received a total of 546 challenges. A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school, requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness. Public libraries, schools and school libraries report the majority of challenges to OIF.

Celebrate your freedom to read! Click here for more information on books that have been banned or challenged.

“If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.” ---- Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, Jr., in Texas v. Johnson

Welcome New Circulation Assistants

2007-09-13T11:34:00.000-04:00

We have several new faces at the circulation desk.  Welcome to the law library!

Tyler Brannon, 1L-Auburn Univ: BA Economics

George Ingham, 1L-William & Mary: BA Economics

Joann Kim, Int'l Commerce and Policy-GMU: BA Global Affairs

Ashley Lyon, 1L-Univ. of Missouri: BS Agriculture Economics

Seth Whitaker, 2L-Brigham Young: BA Political Science

Welcome Back

2007-08-22T14:34:00.000-04:00

Just a quick note to say how happy I am to have you all back working the Circulation Desk. The peace and quiet of summer gets a little lonely.

Mike and Maya are reviewing applications now and we expect to hire several new students in the coming weeks. Also, Emily has been hired as a permanent part-time circulation assistant and will be covering several shifts each week.

Best of luck in your studies!

Library Privileges for Recent Graduates

2007-06-08T13:23:00.001-04:00

Law students who graduated last month retain their library privileges through the summer. They may borrow books and use study rooms until their IDs expire on September 30, 2007.

BARBRI Students

2007-05-21T12:50:00.000-04:00

BARBRI classes are being offered here at Mason. These students are given IDs by BARBRI and so long as they are wearing their ID tags, there is no need for them to sign in at the Circulation desk to use the library. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Goodbye and Good Luck

2007-05-01T13:00:00.000-04:00

Best of luck on your final exams and summer jobs.

A special congratulations to our graduates: Erick Helenihi, Ron Hur, and Mark McNally. You did it!

Library Usage Statistics

2007-04-23T13:10:00.000-04:00

We would like to keep track of the number of people using the Library during the early morning and evening hours.

I've posted a chart by the study-room sign up sheet. Please fill it in for the times listed that take place during your shift. We also want to track usage mid-day during the weekends.

Questions? Comments? Let me know - thanks!!

Library Fine Amnesty Week

2007-04-16T10:20:00.000-04:00

In honor of National Library Week, April 16-20, we will forgive up to $10 in fines per patron. To qualify, they MUST have returned all overdue books.

Please contact me, Mike, or Maya for help with forgiving fines. You will need to use the supervisor's access code.

ABA Site Visit

2007-03-21T12:22:00.000-04:00

The American Bar Association visits each fully-accredited law school once every seven years. They will be here at Mason from Sunday, March 25 to Wednesday, March 28.

Please pay special attention to the condition of the library as you shelve over the next week. We want to ensure that everything is as neat and orderly as possible. Thank you.

Please Don't Make Me Yell at You

2007-03-16T09:11:00.000-04:00

Some of you are diligent about recording your time in the binder and on Patriot Web, and for that I am very grateful. Your attention to detail makes the circulation desk run smoothly.

As for the rest of you . . . . .

Please, every time you work a shift, fill out your time sheet both in print and on Patriot Web. It will take 5 minutes, and remove the need for nagging reminders. Thanks.

Spring Break

2007-02-26T08:44:00.000-05:00

This year, spring break is March 10 to March 17. Please let us know immediately whether you can work your normally-scheduled shifts. We will assume that you can, unless we hear otherwise. Thanks.

Time sheets are due Friday

2007-01-30T10:09:00.000-05:00

Please submit your time sheets (paper and on PatriotWeb) before noon on Friday, February 16.

Year-End Time Sheets

2006-12-12T12:04:00.000-05:00

Your hours for the last pay period of 2006 (12/10 - 12/23) MUST be entered into PatriotWeb by 11:59 am on MONDAY, 12/18. Filling out the paper time sheet at the circulation desk is not a substitute for entry into PatriotWeb.

Because it is the last pay period of the year, I cannot accept any late submissions, so please be on time.

Good Luck on Your Exams!!!

2006-11-29T14:59:00.000-05:00

This time of year, we get questions on study rooms and old exams. A couple of things to keep in mind:

Old exams - We have a small collection of old exams given by our professors. The most recent exams are located in the course reserves filing cabinet. The older exams (pre-1999) are located in bound books at the bottom of the audio reserves shelves.

Study rooms - During exams, peak usage rules apply. Use of the seven smaller rooms requires a minimum of two users, while the two large conference rooms require at least four. These rooms must be reserved in advance, and we do take reservations over the phone.

After hours study halls - Although they are not run by the library, we get questions about this. Rooms 120 & 121 are available until 2:00 am. Students must be in the building before 11:00 pm (when the building closes), and must have a current GMUSL ID card with them.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2006-11-21T10:47:00.000-05:00

As you know, the library will be closed Wednesday - Friday for the Thanksgiving break. We will reopen on Saturday at noon and resume normal hours on Sunday.

Thank you all for the good work that you do. Have a safe and joyous holiday.

Westlaw Classes

2006-10-30T09:50:00.000-05:00

The librarians are teaching Westlaw to the 1Ls this week. Classes are at noon, 4:00 and 8:00 pm. All classes meet in room 222 - the electronic classroom outside the library. Questions about registration should be directed to Iva or Paul.

Motivational CPR

2006-10-13T09:51:00.000-04:00

This time of year is particularly tough on law students in their second or third years. The 1L newness has worn off, you're tired, and there is waaaaaaaay too much to do. This article on mid-semester doldrums has lots of useful tips to address boredom and burn-out, and keep yourself motivated and healthy. Hang in there!

New Seating Policy

2006-10-03T08:42:00.000-04:00

Due to increased demand for seating in the Library, carrels are now reserved for law student use only. Non-GMUSL patrons should use the tables instead of the carrels.

Library Classes for 1Ls

2006-09-21T10:26:00.000-04:00

This week, the librarians are teaching case research to 1Ls as part of their LRWA class. See the schedule here.

Please pay particular attention to the second floor when shelving this week; they will be using the digests and reporters.

Celebrate Intellectual Freedom

2006-09-21T09:02:00.000-04:00

September 23 kicks off Banned Books Week. This annual event, sponsored by the American Library Association, raises awareness of books that are challenged or banned.

20th Century classics such as To Kill a Mockingbird, The Grapes of Wrath, All the King's Men, and The Lord of the Rings have been banned or challenged.

Celebrate your fREADom and read a banned book!

Another New Face at the Circulation Desk

2006-09-11T14:42:00.000-04:00

Tracy Connor is the newest addition to the circ. staff. She received her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania (2000) and B.A. in Psychology from Cornell (1996). Tracy is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Social Work here at George Mason. Please join me in welcoming her to the law library.

Library Classes on Secondary Sources

2006-08-28T09:22:00.000-04:00

This week, the Librarians are teaching classes on using secondary sources. These sessions are for 1Ls as part of their LRWA class.

When shelving this week, please pay particular attention to the first floor, especially CJS and the Restatements. Students will use these sets for in-class exercises. Thanks!

All classes meet in Room 222 (outside the Library)

Monday: 12 noon - 1:30, 4: 00 – 5:30

Tuesday: 12 noon - 1:30, 4: 00 – 5:30, 8:00pm – 9:30pm

Wednesday: 12 noon - 1:30, 4: 00 – 5:30, 8:00pm – 9:30pm

Thursday: 12 noon - 1:30, 4: 00 – 5:30

Welcome Back

2006-08-16T11:25:00.000-04:00

And welcome to our new student workers! Emily Lengerich and Megan Mittelstaedt joined us over the summer.

Emily is starting her second year here at Mason. She is a 2005 grad of Tulane.

Megan is a 2005 graduate of Gonzaga in Spokane. She is also starting her second year.

If you notice a new face at the desk, please stop by and introduce yourself.

Loaning Materials to Other Libraries - ILL

2006-05-17T09:33:00.000-04:00

All requests from non-GMU affiliates to borrow our materials should be directed to the reference staff. We loan only to other universities. We do not loan to public libraries or to private firms.

Study Room Policy

2006-05-15T08:10:00.000-04:00

Please review the policy for study rooms, below. They are available only to LAW students, faculty, and staff. Please check the status of the patron in Voyager before making a reservation for a study room. Thanks!

The library has nine group study rooms for GMUSL students, staff, and faculty use only. Use of the seven smaller rooms generally requires a minimum of two users, while the two large conference rooms requires at least four. A sign-up book is kept at the circulation desk, and these rooms may be reserved up to a week in advance. During non-peak study periods, two-person study rooms are available for individual walk-ins for one non-renewable four hour period and cannot reserved in advance. Non-peak study periods end two weeks before the exams begin.

Good Luck on Exams!

2006-05-03T11:32:00.000-04:00

We wish you all the very best success on your exams. Thanks for all of your hard work this year. We could not run the library without you.

Online Calendar

2006-04-13T13:54:00.000-04:00

We are experimenting with an online schedule, to eventually replace the white board behind the circ desk. This will allow all of us to view the schedule from anywhere. Just follow the link at left. Please let me know what you think. We expect to phase out the white board sometime over the summer.

It's National Library Week!

2006-04-03T15:05:00.000-04:00

National Library Week is the time each year that communities nationwide celebrate and promote the contributions of our libraries and librarians.
Every day, all over the country, libraries connect millions of people with a remarkable wealth of resources. Despite the Internet and downloadable media, the number of items circulated in the nation’s public libraries has grown every year since annual figures became available in 1990. If you haven't been to your public library in a while, go check it out.

Here at Mason, we are offering two programs this week. On Tuesday at noon, it's Summer Survival Skills and on Wednesday at 5:00, Preparing to Practice in Virginia. Please join us. Evaluation forms for these programs will be returned to the circulation desk. Please forward these to Mike and Maya. Thanks!

Redesigned Web Site

2006-03-31T09:24:00.000-05:00

The Law School's web site is newly revised. Take a look!

Welcome Back

2006-03-20T10:46:00.002-05:00

I hope you enjoyed your spring break and got at least a little bit of rest.

Please be mindful of the deadlines for payroll. In order to get paid, you must fill in the paper time sheet and submit your time electronically. Mike and Maya verify your paper time sheet against the circ schedule and forward them to me. Based on these paper time sheets, I use PatriotWeb to approve your time and submit it to payroll. Thanks for your cooperation.

Spring Break

2006-02-20T08:53:00.000-05:00

We will be open fewer hours during spring break, Saturday March 11 - Saturday, March 18. Please see Maya's e-mail for details concerning your work schedule.

Spring Break Hours:
Sunday Noon - 11:00pm
Monday-Thursday 8am-11:00pm
Friday 8am-6:00pm
Saturday Noon-6:00pm

Snow!!

2006-02-10T12:18:00.000-05:00

The weather is supposed to turn nasty this weekend. Please review the law school's official policy on inclement weather, which appears below. If you are scheduled to work and the library is open, you are expected to arrive on time. Please call me, Maya, or Mike to let us know whether you will be able to make it here for your shift. Please be sure you have our home and cell phone numbers with you. If the library closes, we will call you and let you know.

In the event of inclement weather, we will communicate information about the operating status of the law school and the law library in three ways:
E-mail notice via the law school listservs
Notice on the law school web site
Recording on the law school main telephone number (703-993-8000).

For a weather event that develops overnight, we will try to make a decision and have it communicated before 7:30 a.m. the next morning. Important note: The law school and the rest of the university do not always respond to a weather event in the same way. As a result, you should rely on one of the aforementioned means of communication from the law school to learn the operating status of the law school and the law library. Do not rely on public announcements made by the media or by the university because those announcements might not apply to the law school.

Is it Circulation? Or is it Reference?

2006-02-06T14:37:00.000-05:00

Many library patrons do not distinguish between circulation help and reference help. Consequently, you may get some reference questions while sitting at the Circulation Desk. Please be very careful to refer ALL reference questions to the Reference Desk. If no librarian is on duty, tell the patron to call or come back during reference hours. Under no circumstances are the student workers to answer reference questions, even if you feel able to do so.

There are several reasons for the policy. The reference librarians are educated and highly trained for this work. They are skilled in conducting reference interviews to ensure the patron receives the correct information. They are also well aware of the restrictions against unauthorized practice of law and trained in ways to help patrons without violating these restrictions.

So, how do you tell the difference? Circulation questions include those wanting to know whether we have a book or other material, or where something is kept. Questions about how to use a code, how to look up a case, where to find rules about a legal topic - these are all reference questions. If you have any doubts, please ask a reference librarian. Thanks!

Change to Loan Periods

2006-01-31T11:42:00.000-05:00

As you know, students may borrow most library materials for a period of 3 weeks. One notable exception is CD-ROMs, which are loaned for only 1 week.

There are some books in the general collection that have a CD included, so currently these items have different due dates, even though they are part of a set. We have decided to be change this policy so that CDs which are part of a book can be borrowed for the full 3 weeks. Note, this does NOT affect the CD-ROMs that are not part of a book set. That lending period will remain at 1 week.

These changes will be made through the catalog/circulation system, so you will not need to take any special steps. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Inclement Weather Policy

2005-12-02T12:12:00.000-05:00

The law school's official policy on inclement weather appears below. If you are scheduled to work and the library is open, you are expected to arrive on time. Please call me, Maya, or Mike to let us know whether you will be able to make it here for your shift. Please be sure you have our home and cell phone numbers with you.

In the event of inclement weather, we will communicate information about the operating status of the law school and the law library in three ways:
E-mail notice via the law school listservs
Notice on the law school web site
Recording on the law school main telephone number (703-993-8000).

For a weather event that develops overnight, we will try to make a decision and have it communicated before 7:30 a.m. the next morning.

Important note: The law school and the rest of the university do not always respond to a weather event in the same way. As a result, you should rely on one of the aforementioned means of communication from the law school to learn the operating status of the law school and the law library. Do not rely on public announcements made by the media or by the university because those announcements might not apply to the law school.

Happy Thanksgiving

2005-11-22T13:47:00.000-05:00

Have a safe and happy holiday. No matter how much work you have to do before exams, take a break and enjoy some time with family and friends.

We will be closing tomorrow (Wednesday) at 6:00 and reopening Saturday from noon to 6:00. Normal hours resume on Sunday, November 27.

Old Exams

2005-11-21T13:08:00.000-05:00

We have a small collection of old exams given by our professors. The most recent exams are located in the course reserves filing cabinet. The older exams (pre-1999) are located in bound books at the bottom of the audio reserves shelves.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Audiovisual Equipment for the Atrium

2005-11-11T11:22:00.000-05:00

There is new equipment and a new procedure.

Event planners may check out the following items at the Circulation desk: Key to the Atrium a/v closet (room 110); Microphones (one handheld and one lavaliere), and Microphone Stand. All items are barcoded and kept in/near the filing cabinet behind the Circulation desk.

Patrons wishing to borrow any of these items must show a copy of their event confirmation form. Check out is handled the same as for any other library item.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Exams are Coming!

2005-11-08T10:57:00.000-05:00

A couple of things to keep in mind:

Study rooms - beginning on Saturday, November 19, peak usage rules apply. Use of the seven smaller rooms requires a minimum of two users, while the two large conference rooms require at least four. These rooms must be reserved in advance, and we do take reservations over the phone.

After hours study halls - Although they are not run by the library, we get questions about this. Rooms 120 & 121 are available until 2:00 am. Students must be in the building before 11:00 pm (when the building closes), and must have a current GMUSL ID card with them.

Please start thinking about your work schedules for exams and the holidays. Maya and Mike will be in touch with details. Thank you all for keeping the library running so smoothly!

Punctuality

2005-10-28T15:48:00.000-04:00

Being on time for work is important. Please make every effort to be punctual. If you are going to be late, please call the Circ Desk at 703-993-8120 or the supervisors at 703-993-8237/8. Traffic is not an acceptable excuse for being late on a regular basis; please plan ahead.

Discharging Items

2005-10-28T15:47:00.000-04:00

Please be sure to discharge all items that have barcodes, especially study room keys and reserve items. Remember, fines for these items accrue by the minute.

Columbus Day & LRWA

2005-10-07T09:59:00.000-04:00

Although there are no classes, the library will be open as usual on Monday, Oct. 10 (8 am to 11pm).

Next week, the first year students begin working with the state materials on the second floor. Please pay special attention to shelving and shelf reading in these areas, as they will get a lot of usage over the next few weeks.

Getting Paid!

2005-10-04T11:31:00.000-04:00

In order to get paid, you must submit your hours both on paper and online. Get in the habit of recording your time in both places during each shift you work. Please be mindful of the deadlines for submitting wage hours - alternate Tuesdays before noon. The next due date is October 18. See the complete calendar here - http://hr.gmu.edu/time/calendar.html.

LRWA Exercises

2005-09-26T12:54:00.000-04:00

First year students will be turning in their homework for the secondary source classes at the Circulation Desk. There is a box on the shelves behind the desk for this purpose. I will pick them up. Thanks!

Research Classes Begin Next Week

2005-09-23T08:52:00.000-04:00

Next week, Rae Best and I will be teaching the first year students how to use secondary sources. The students will use AmJur, CJS, ALR, & the Restatements to answer several questions. These collections will get a lot of use over the next two weeks, so please shelf read these areas during your shift, and ensure that everything is shelved properly. Thanks!

Time for a little levity

2005-09-15T10:31:00.000-04:00

It looks as if the a/c & power issues have been resolved. Thanks for your patience & help during this weird week.

And now, something that never fails to make me smile, no matter what kind of a day I'm having (provided I can get my PC to work!): http://www.millikin.edu/staley/fluff/peep_research.html

Interlibrary Loan Options

2005-09-13T12:54:00.000-04:00

There are 3 possibilities for borrowing materials not owned by the GMU Law Library. 1) First check our catalog to determine if another GMU library owns the item. If so, use the Intercampus Lending online forms to request the item. 2) Second, check the WRLC catalog, Aladin. The Washington Research Library Consortium is comprised of DC-area university libraries and requests are made directly through Aladin. 3) Finally, if the requested item is not available through GMU or WRLC, submit a request for Interlibrary Loan to the Reference Desk. Our ILL specialist will locate the materials and contact you.

The forms, along with full details on these options are posted on the law library web page at http://law.gmu.edu/libtech/ill.html. Questions? Contact one of the reference librarians: Christine, Iva, or Paul.

Assistive Technology

2005-09-07T11:04:00.000-04:00

Equipment to assist patrons with disabilities is available at the Arlington Campus Library (in the original building). Here is a link to the equipment available: http://library.gmu.edu/libinfo/Assistive.PDF

Law library patrons may check out our materials (even if they normally do not circulate) and take them over to the Arlington library for use. Public patrons must leave a current photo ID at the law library circulation desk while using these materials.

As always, please let me, Maya, or Mike know if you have questions.

CALI CDs

2005-09-07T08:56:00.000-04:00

Starting today, CDs with the complete CALI lessons will be available to first year law students. There will be a list of all 1L students; please check off their names when you give them a CD.

In a few weeks, the remaining CDs will be available to all other law students.

Pay Increases

2005-09-06T15:43:00.000-04:00

For those of you employed at GMU before May 25, 2005, a 3% pay increase will take effect on November 27, 2005. The increase will appear on your December 23 paychecks.

New Policies and Procedures

2005-08-23T11:07:00.000-04:00

Computer Lab Access Codes – codes are pre-assigned ONLY to new LAW students (1Ls, transfers, foreign exchange students, LLMs). Returning students will be assigned a code at their request. Visitors will be assigned a code at their request, and visitor codes are not valid for a semester (instead of a month). Everyone must complete an Access Code Agreement. Please see the instructions posted by the lab code boxes and binders.

After Hours Study Hall - the law school has arranged with campus police to provide an after-hours study hall to accommodate those students who wish to remain in the building after the law library has closed. The study hall will be confined to rooms 120/121 on the ground level. After the doors to the building have been locked at 11:00pm, students who are already in the building will be allowed to use the study hall until 2:00am. They must be in the building by 11:00pm, the police will not let them into the building after the doors have been locked. This service will be available 7 days a week. As a change from last year, no passes or pre-registration are needed. Instead, students need only show their current GMU ID. Persons without a current GMU ID will be asked to leave.

We will send out an e-mail to all students reminding them of study hall availability.

Welcome Back!

2005-08-18T13:31:00.000-04:00

We've missed you over the summer. You will notice some changes upon your arrival. First and foremost is the addition of Michael Queen as our new daytime Circulation Manager.

Second is the creation of this blog. This will be the primary mechanism by which Maya, Michael, and I will communicate with you, so please check in often and share your thoughts with us.

As we kick off the new school year, I want to thank each of you for your hard work and dedication. Your work at the circulation desk is essential to the smooth operation of the library and we all appreciate your efforts.