Introduction

The George Mason University Law Library is an academic research center which supports the information needs of the faculty and students of the George Mason University School of Law. This guide introduces the resources and services available at the Law Library.

Hours

During the fall and spring academic semesters, the Law Library's hours are:

Special hours for holidays, exams, summer semester, and intersession periods will be posted at the entrance to the library and on the web in advance. For a recording of the library hours, please call the Law Library Information Line at (703) 993-8100.

Access

The Law Library is maintained primarily for use by George Mason University law students and law faculty. The library is also open to the general public. ALL visitors must sign in and may be asked to present a picture ID. Persons who are using the library for activities other than research or educational purposes will be asked to leave.

The Law Library participates in the Federal Government Documents Depository system, and material received through this program is available for public use within the library.

Members of the general public should note that throughout the academic year the Law Library's hours and staffing levels will vary depending on the needs of the students and faculty. Many other libraries in the area have legal research materials and are open to the general public, including three bar libraries and a large public library located nearby. A list of area libraries that are open to the public is available on this web site and at the Reference Desk.

Web Addresses

Information about the George Mason University School of Law, the Law Library, and its collections may be found at the following Internet sites:

Library Services

Bindery List

The library staff prepares loose issues of law reviews and other periodicals to be sent to the bindery. If a volume/issue cannot be located, please ask the Circulation Desk attendant to check the bindery list. Turn-around time is usually three weeks.

Book Search Requests

When a particular item is not on the shelves and cannot be found with a cursory search of the library tables, patrons should ask at the Circulation Desk if the materials have been checked out. If there is no record to indicate that the material is in use, a search request form may be filled out and returned to the Circulation Desk. A staff member will search for the missing item and notify the user of the results. If the item is not found, GMUSL students and faculty may request the item through interlibrary loan.

Seating

Carrels and Tables

Lighted  carrels with single seats and tables that seat four, are available to all library users. GMUSL students and faculty have priority. Both carrels and tables are wired for power and most have active data connections as well.  Materials left in carrels or on tables after closing will be removed.

Group Study Rooms

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.

Circulation

The Law Library is first and foremost an academic research library, with a goal of having legal research materials available for use within the library. In order to provide full access to the collection and to prevent the loss of books, most library materials do not circulate outside of the library.

The following is a summary of the George Mason University Law Library circulation policy:

1. GMU students may borrow certain books from the treatise collection. Materials that are in a looseleaf format or that are part of a multi-volume set (more than 2 volumes) do not circulate.
2. GMUSL faculty may use library materials in their offices provided that items are properly checked out at the Circulation Desk. Full-time faculty members from other GMU campuses may borrow treatises for a two-week period with a current ID or may request materials via interlibrary loan (ILL).
3. All other patrons, including GMU part-time faculty, students from other schools, attorneys, and member of the general public may borrow treatises only through interlibrary loan. Patrons should check with ILL services located at their own library for information on borrowing procedures.
4. See Patron Checkout Privileges & Fines for a complete list of patron categories, check-out policies, and loan periods.
5. Late fees are imposed on all library items returned after the posted due date. For a complete list of late fees, see Patron Checkout Privileges & Fines.

Borrowing Books from Other Libraries/Interlibrary Loan

The Law Library maintains an interlibrary loan service for the faculty and students of GMUSL. If material that is needed is not available in the library's collection, library staff will attempt to borrow it from another institution. Interlibrary loan forms may be obtained at the Circulation/Reserve Desk or online. George Mason graduate or undergraduate students should use the interlibrary loan service provided by the GMU University Libraries at Fairfax. For more information, see Borrowing Books from Other Libraries .

Lost and Found

There is a small "lost and found" area behind the Circulation Desk. Valuable items and items left unclaimed will be turned over to the University Police, Arlington Campus Office, located on B-1.

Messages

Library staff cannot attempt to locate anyone using the library except in cases of emergency. There is no paging system and patrons should not give the library's telephone number for messages.

Photocopying

There are two photocopiers for patron use. Copies are ten cents per copy. The copiers are located in room 136 (Microforms) on the first floor and in the second floor alcove, near stairwell # 2 ( Fairfax Drive side of the building).  They are maintained by Print Services which is located in room 134. The photocopy machines operate by using either a GMU Mason Money Card, which may be purchased from the card vending machine located in front of Print Services, or by putting money on a GMU ID. Several copiers also accept one and five dollar bills.

Any malfunctions should be reported to the Print Services staff member on duty. Although the copiers are physically within the library, the library staff has no control over their repair, nor does the library or Print Services supply change. Patrons should be aware that the photocopy room closes 15 minutes before the library closes and may have hours that differ from the library's during exams, intersessions and holidays.

For more information, see GMU Arlington Campus Copy Center.

Two microform reader/printers are available for patron use in the Microform Room and maintained by the Law Library.

Reference

Reference Librarians are available during the academic year at the following times:

Reference Hours:   

The Reference Desk is located on the first floor of the library in Room 141. Reference hours will vary during holidays, exams, summer semester, and intersession periods. Please note that although the reference librarians are happy to assist users who need information, a reference librarian will not research or interpret the law for any patron.

Reserve

Reserve materials are kept behind the Circulation Desk and must be requested from the desk attendant. Reserve items fall into two categories:

1. Permanent Reserve
   
   
2. Faculty Course Reserve

Permanent reserve material includes hornbooks, restatements, bound volumes of old exams, and other high-use materials such as the Virginia and DC volumes of Martindale-Hubbell.

Reserve items may be checked out for use in the library for a two-hour period. Items may be renewed if not requested by others. Non-GMU patrons must leave a picture ID at the Circulation Desk when borrowing reserve materials.

Services for the Disabled

Specially-marked parking spaces in B1 and B2 are reserved for those with disabilities. The Law Library is distributed among three floors, and there is an elevator behind the Circulation Desk. The elevator only allows access within the library and does not go to the parking garages. The law school building also has an elevator for patron use which does go to both parking garages. If the library elevator is out of order or if the patron needs other assistance, the library circulation staff will be glad to help.

Library Collection

Materials in a law library's collection are divided into three major categories:

1. Primary materials, such as statutes, codes, regulations, and court records;
2. Secondary materials, such as treatises, looseleafs, periodicals, encyclopedias, and restatements;
3. Finding aids, such as indexes, digests, and citators.

The library's holdings are listed in the George Mason University Online Library Catalog. There are several computers with access to the online library catalog located across from the circulation desk. There are additional computers with access to the online library catalog on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the library near the photocopiers. Internet access is not available from these stations. The  GMU catalog contains the holdings of the Law Library, indicated by the symbol LL, as well as holdings from the University Libraries.

Treatises and periodicals in the Law Library's collection are arranged according to the Library of Congress classification system. A list of the LC subject headings and the corresponding LC call number is posted near the online catalogs. Most government publications are arranged by their special government documents number. Please ask for assistance at Circulation or Reference if an item cannot be located.

Administrative Regulations

The current editions of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and the Federal Register are in the federal section. A complete set of all prior years of both the Federal Register and CFR is in the Microform Room.

The library has state administrative materials from Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, including the Virginia Administrative Code, the Virginia Register and the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations.

Court Reports

The Law Library receives most of the published opinions of state and federal courts in the United States. British and Canadian reports are also available. The library receives slip opinions for the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the Virginia Supreme Court.

Government Publications

The Law Library has been a selective depository for U.S. government publications since 1981. Administrative decisions, executive agency reports, and other documents are received regularly. These publications may be found in the federal section, the government publications section, and the Microforms Room. Many government documents are cataloged on the online library catalog. Please see the  reference librarians for further assistance, or see the Law Library's Government Documents Guide.

International and Foreign Law Collection

The library maintains a small British and Canadian law section. International law treatises are also included in the classified collection. The library's collection includes such compilations as the League of Nations Treaty Series, the United States Treaties and other International Agreements, United Nations Treaty Series, and the Consolidated Treaty Series. Also available are selected documents from the International Court of Justice and United Nations. Please consult a reference librarian for assistance in locating international and foreign law materials.

Legal Periodicals

The library subscribes to most major legal periodicals, including law reviews and bar journals. Most of these titles are in print format, with the current year's unbound issues kept in ranges 110-111 on the first floor and the older bound editions on the third floor in compact shelving.  Some titles, especially the bar journals, are available on microfiche in the Microforms Room.

The online version of Index to Periodicals and Books is available on the first floor across from the circulation desk.

Multi-Media

The library has several portable TV/VCR's and DVD players available to students for viewing videotapes and DVD's from the collection. The library also receives various CD-ROM products and public access is available in the reference office. Due to equipment and licensing restrictions, library patrons not affiliated with GMUSL do not have access to all CD-ROM products.

Newspapers

The library maintains a very small newspaper collection located on the east side of the library. Recent copies of the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times can be found there. Other papers, such as the Legal Times, National Law Journal, and Virginia Lawyers Weekly are kept behind the Circulation Desk. Back issues of newspapers are not retained.

Records and Briefs

Records and briefs for the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit and the Fourth Circuit are available on microfiche in the Microforms Room. Records and briefs for Virginia Supreme Court cases are bound and filed by docket number in the Virginia section.

Statutes and Codes

Copies of the United States Code, United States Code Annotated, United States Code Service and Statutes at Large are in the federal section on the first floor. Codes for all 50 states and the District of Columbia are in the state section on the second flor, with superseded volumes available in the microform room. An additional set of the Virginia Code is on reserve. State session laws are on microfiche. Current slip laws for the United States are filed immediately after United States Statutes at Large.

Treatises

The treatise collection contains both law and non-law books relevant to the law school curriculum. The library's collection is particularly strong in the areas of law and economics, business, economic theory and history, ethics and philosophy, tax, patents, and banking. Most of the treatises are located on the third floor of the library. Some of the more frequently used treatises and hornbooks are kept on permanent reserve at the Circulation Desk.

Reference Materials

General legal and non-legal reference books can be found in the reference collection. Included are encyclopedias, almanacs, directories, indexes, and dictionaries. The library also maintains a collection of legal encyclopedias, including Corpus Juris Secundum (CJS), American Jurisprudence (AmJur), and Words and Phrases.

Virginia Collection

At the end of the state section is the Virginia Collection, which includes Michie's Jurisprudence of Virginia and West Virginia, Virginia Code, Virginia/West Virginia Digest, Virginia Reports, Acts of Assembly, House and Senate Documents, and current legislative information. A collection of bound records and briefs of the Supreme Court of Virginia is also maintained. In addition, Virginia treatises and practice materials are housed in this section. Another smaller collection of Virginia materials is located on the first floor.

Policies, Rules & Other Information

Computer-Assisted Legal Research Systems

There are two major full-text computer-assisted legal research systems: LEXIS and WESTLAW. They are both available to the law students and law faculty of George Mason University for educational research purposes. Although the systems differ in some respects, each includes the full-text of judicial opinions, statutory material, administrative regulations and decisions, and other legal and non-legal resource material.

Both WESTLAW and LEXIS offer individual passwords to GMUSL students and faculty members. The passwords allow users to access the systems on home computers as well as on the computers located in the library's labs. Formal training is offered by the GMUSL librarians as part of the first year legal research program.

Because these computer-assisted legal research services are provided to GMUSL through a special educational contract, use is limited to George Mason University law students and law faculty doing research for educational purposes. Attorneys and students from other schools who have their own passwords may not use George Mason University terminals to access these services.

Computer Labs

The Law Library maintains two computer labs for the students of George Mason University School of Law. A current GMU ID card must be presented at the Circulation Desk in order to gain access to these labs. There are no exceptions to this policy. For more information, see FAQ for Computer Labs in the Law School.

Rules and Regulations

The Law Library strictly enforces the following rules and regulations concerning the use of the library:

• ALL visitors must sign in at the Circulation Desk and present a photo ID. The library is to be used only for research or educational purposes.
• Food is not permitted in the library. Drinks must be in covered containers. See detailed policy, including illustrations.
• Smoking is prohibited
• Cell phone use inside of the library is prohibited. Library telephones are for staff only.
• Personal items left unattended anywhere in the library will be removed and turned over to the GMU Police.
• No one is permitted to remain in the library after closing. Computer labs close 15 minutes prior to the library's closing.
• Books to be re-shelved should be placed in designated re-shelving areas on each floor.
• The unauthorized removal, mutilation, or abuse of library equipment or materials is prohibited under §§42.1-72 - 42.1-74 of the Code of Virginia which provide penalties under law for destruction, mutilation and theft of library materials..
• Patrons who engage in inappropriate conduct, including using a loud voice, rude or abusive behavior, or any interference with other patrons' use will be asked to leave.
• Patrons who violate any of the above rules and regulations will be asked to leave the library and may be restricted from future access to the Law Library.