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Borrowing and locating materials

Ask a librarian

Reference department

The reference department offices are located in Reserve. See the library home page for specific hours. The reference department is staffed by experienced reference librarians who are available to answer questions about research, database searching, and library services. You can also contact a reference librarian by emailing lawreference@seattleu.edu.

Borrowing and locating materials

Borrowing from the Law Library

Search the law library catalog and check out materials with your ID card at the circulation desk on the second floor of the library or at the self-checkout machine at the circulation desk. Be sure to turn in materials on time as loan periods vary. See our borrowing policies.

Borrowing from Lemieux Library

Search the Lemieux Library catalog and check out materials with your ID card at the Lemieux Library circulation desk. Be sure to turn in materials on time as loan periods vary and as fines do accrue. See Lemieux Library's borrowing policies.

Casebooks

The law library strives to acquire one copy of all required textbooks. See our guide:

Exams

The Law Library does not have a collection of recent course exams. Some professors place copies of prior exams on their TWEN or Canvas site. For more resources on exam taking, contact a reference librarian or consult the following:

Locations

Confused by all our different collections and locations? Consult our Locations Guide for help or ask for assistance at the circulation desk.

Micromedia materials

The Micromedia Room (Room 201M in Reserve) houses the Law Library’s collection of microforms (microfiche and microfilm). Microform holdings include international, federal, and state materials; bar journals; briefs from the U.S. Supreme Court, Washington State Supreme Court, and the Washington Court of Appeals; and much more.

Microform materials are listed in the catalog as located in "micromedia." The Micromedia Room online guide provides an overview of the collection.

  • Circulation: Microforms may only be used in the Law Library
  • Microform reader/printer is available in Room 201M

Research a topic

Our law librarians maintain research guides on a variety of topics. Our guides provide student researchers with resources and strategies for effective research.

Computers and copying

Computers and laptops

Those without laptops may use library computers to access the library's online resources.

Laptops may be used throughout the library. All carrels and tables in the library are wired with power as well as data connections for access to the law school network and the Internet. Questions about laptops, network information, printing, and email accounts should be directed to the technology staff.

Internet access

Internet access is available to faculty, staff and current students. Questions about laptops, network information, printing, and email accounts should be directed to the technology staff.

Bloomberg Law, Lexis, and Westlaw

Bloomberg Law, Lexis and Westlaw are available to law students, faculty and staff through the library's educational contracts with the companies. Review the user agreements with each system for additional information.

Bloomberg Law, Lexis and Westlaw require registration and passwords. Students receive registration information during orientation or from the reference department during the year. Faculty and staff can obtain passwords from lawreference@seattleu.edu.

Bloomberg Law, Lexis and Westlaw instruction for students is initially provided during their first year; advanced and refresher courses for all students are scheduled throughout the year. For training, contact a reference librarian by emailing lawreference@seattleu.edu or contact the vendor representatives:

Photocopying and scanning

The library does not have an in-house copy center; patrons are responsible for their own scanning and photocopying. The library has one self-service scanner/copy machine located in Document Delivery Center on the 2nd floor. Patrons can make photocopies, scan to email, scan to a USB drive, or print files stored on a USB drive.

Contact the circulation staff if you encounter any problems with the copy machine. Circulation staff can add paper but cannot repair the machine. Staff will place a service call if required.

 

Printing

The Document Delivery Center (DDC) is located next to the circulation desk. You can pick up your printouts at the DDC or at the printers located on the south (the flagpole) side of the 3rd floor of the library.

Other useful information

Topic selection

Current awareness sources like topical newsletters (e.g. BNA reports) and legal newspapers (e.g. National Law Journal) are very useful. See our Journal Staff Legal Research Guide, specifically Finding an Article Topic and Preemption Checks. You may also want to check out these useful books:

  • Scholarly Writing for Law Students, Reserve KF250.F34
  • Academic Legal Writing, Reserve KF250.V65