Amnesty for Library Fines

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.

Winter Weather

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.

Swipe Cards & Access

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.

Inclement Weather Policy

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.

New Seating Policy

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.

Loaning Materials to Other Libraries - ILL

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

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.

Snow!!

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?

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

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

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.

Interlibrary Loan Options

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

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.

New Policies and Procedures

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.