Library Usage Statistics

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

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

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

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

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

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

Year-End Time Sheets

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!!!

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Good Luck on Exams!

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.