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Bounds Law Library Handbook 2004-2005
The Library Collection
Page Contents
The library's collection of approximately 362,000 volumes is located on two levels. The majority of these books are classified according to the Library of Congress (LC) classification scheme. However, some library materials are still arranged by another, older classification method. Those books are currently being reclassified into the LC scheme. Ask a library staff member if you have difficulty in locating any materials.
The Library's main floor contains all U.S. and federal materials (cases, statutes, regulations), the National Reporter System, digests, encyclopedias, some practice materials, the periodicals collection and accompanying indexes, government documents, selected Shepard's citators, tax materials, and the reserve and ready reference collections. State codes, legal monographs and treatises, and United Kingdom materials are located on the ground floor. Study carrels and tables are located on both floors. More comfortable seating is located near the entrance to the main floor. The furniture in this area was provided by the Farrah Law Society, a student organization.
ATTICUS:
The Library's Online Catalog
Terminals for ATTICUS, the Law Library's online catalog, are located throughout the library. ATTICUS contains records for the majority of the library's collection, with the exception of most government documents. Patrons can search library holdings by keyword, title, call number, author, or LC subject heading. Each professor's reserve list is also accessible through ATTICUS.
Guides to ATTICUS are located by each terminal. ATTICUS offers a number of features that may not be immediately apparent; please consult a Reference Librarian in order to learn more about this system.
ATTICUS is available on the Internet at the following URL:
Government Documents
The library is a selective depository for federal government documents; it receives some, but not all, of the documents issued by the Government Printing Office (GPO). Most government documents are shelved separately by their Superintendent of Documents (SUDOCS) number. ATTICUS does not display records for materials classified by SUDOCS numbers. An electronic index to some government documents is available through the Legal Trac terminal located in the library's main hallway.
The majority of the library's government documents holdings were published after 1976, the time at which the library received depository status. Documents that are not available in the Law Library usually can be obtained at Gorgas Library, a regional depository for GPO publications.
Government documents can be difficult to find in some circumstances. Anyone needing assistance should consult a Reference Librarian.
John C. Payne
Special Collections Room
The Law Library maintains a collection of rare and historical materials; many of these items are of special relevance to Alabama law and the history of the Law School. These materials are housed in the John C. Payne Special Collections Room, named for Professor John C. Payne, who taught at the School of Law from 1947 to 1983. Professor Payne contributed significantly to establishing the Library's collection in the areas of British and Commonwealth law, legal history, and property law.
Materials kept in this room include the papers of Senator Howell C. Heflin. This collection consists of more than 900 cubic feet of manuscripts, documents, tapes, scrapbooks, memorabilia, and other items accumulated by Senator Heflin during his tenures as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court (1971-1977) and as United States Senator (1979-1996).
Use of these resources is limited in most instances to weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Food and drink in any form or in any container are strictly prohibited in the Special Collections area. Additional guidelines regarding the use of these collections may be obtained from Paul Pruitt; his office number is 348-1107. For more information, see the library's Special Collections Website.
Justice Hugo Black
Library
The library also houses a replica of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black's study in Alexandria, Virginia. This collection consists of books from Justice Black's personal library as well as some of his furniture and personal effects. The study was dedicated in May, 1978, during ceremonies that marked the opening of the Law Center. The collection consists of over one thousand volumes shelved alphabetically by author.
Howell C. Heflin
Conference Room
The Howell C. Heflin Conference Room is available for use by students. Furnished with the kind assistance of Senator Heflin, the room is a reminder of his many years of service as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court (1970-1976) and as United States Senator (1979-1996). On the walls of the Heflin Room and in the surrounding outer hallways are exhibits of photographs, awards, plaques, and other materials illustrating his distinguished career.
Microforms
and Microcards
Microfilm and microfiche materials are located in the Computer Lab, along with readers and printers. A microcard reader for Readex materials is located in the John C. Payne Special Collections Room. Patrons who need assistance in locating or operating the equipment should consult a member of the Circulation staff. The library charges ten cents per page for copies made from microforms; payment is received at the Circulation Desk.
Please email any comments, questions or suggestions for this website to cmiller@law.ua.edu.
Copyright © 1999 Bounds Law Library,
University of Alabama School of Law
Last Modified: Thursday, August 4, 2005 8:55 AM
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