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Library Services

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Reference and
Research Assistance

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Phone: (205) 348-1114
Email: refdesk@law.edu

The library's five Reference Librarians have more than 60 years of experience assisting library patrons with finding information and in developing research strategies. Anyone with questions about the library and the use of its materials should feel free to consult a Reference Librarian.

The Reference Desk is staffed at the following times:

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 Monday - Thursday:

 9:00 am - 4:45 pm

 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

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 Friday:

 9:00 am - 4:45 pm

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The Reference Desk hours will vary during holidays, semester breaks, and the summer.

The Reference Desk's E-mail address is refdesk@law.ua.edu. When school is in session, this E-mail account is checked several times every weekday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:45 p.m.

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Circulation Services

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Because the library is a research facility, most of its collection does not circulate. Books in the categories listed below are examples of noncirculating materials:

In addition, many loose-leaf volumes do not circulate.

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Check-Out Privileges

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All patrons must present valid library cards in order to check out materials. The borrower is responsible for all materials checked out with his or her card, including the replacement of lost or damaged materials. Patrons must notify the library immediately if a card is lost.

The circulation period for most items in the library is 4 weeks. Exceptions are noted in the following sections of this handbook.

Books checked out from the Law Library must be returned to the Law Library and not to another campus library. Likewise, materials checked out from another campus library must be returned to that same library, e.g. materials checked out from the Gorgas Library must be returned to the Gorgas Library.

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Reserve Materials

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Materials kept on reserve can be checked out by law students for four hours. Certain reserve materials, such as hornbooks and nutshells, may be checked out overnight. Overnight materials must be checked out no earlier than two hours prior to the library's closing and must be returned the following day within one hour of the library's opening. Fines are one dollar per hour per item.

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Videotape Collection

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The majority of the library's videotape collection is housed in room 203D, which is located at the end of the main floor's hallway. The tapes can be borrowed at any time, but must be returned the following day within one hour of the library's opening. The remaining videotapes are kept on reserve and can be checked out for use within the library for four hours. Circulation of the videotape collection is limited to the local legal community (law school faculty, staff, students, and Tuscaloosa attorneys and their employees). Fines for failure to return a tape are one dollar per item per hour.

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Interlibrary Loans

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Materials that are unavailable from the Law Library or elsewhere on the University of Alabama campus may be requested from other libraries through interlibrary loan. These materials are generally received within one to two weeks. Since we are dependent upon other libraries to fulfill these requests, we cannot guarantee when an interlibrary loan request will be filled. For that reason, researchers who need this service must submit requests early in the research process. These forms are available at the Circulation Desk. The lending library may charge for this service; the requestor is responsible for these charges.

Law students, faculty, and staff should direct interlibrary loan requests to the Law Library rather than to other campus libraries.

The Law Library will not accept requests that exceed Copyright Act guidelines.

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Legal Research Training

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Law students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to take advantage of the legal research training sessions that are periodically conducted by the Law Library staff. Small group sessions in the use of various legal research sources are held throughout the year. Recent topics include a review of CD-ROM products designed specifically for Alabama practitioners and advanced Westlaw and Lexis training. Students also can request additional training in a particular field of law; interested students should contact a Reference Librarian.

Students desiring refresher training in legal research prior to summer employment should check with Robert Marshall at 348-6426.

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Lost & Found

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A lost and found area is maintained at the Circulation Desk. Please inquire here if you have lost an item in the library. Students with missing possessions may also check with the housekeepers and at the Records Office. A lost and found box for diskettes is kept in the Computer Lab.

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Missing Book Searches

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If you cannot locate a book that is listed as available in the library's catalog, please consult a Circulation staff person. A thorough search for the book will then be conducted.

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Photocopying Services

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There are three photocopiers for student use. Two photocopy machines are located near the Circulation Desk in Room 228; a third machine is downstairs in the suite of offices adjoining the Student Lounge. These machines require a copy card, which may be purchased from the dispenser on the wall outside Room 228. Copy cards purchased at other locations on campus will not work with the School of Law's photocopiers.

Copy cards for School of Law organizations and law firms are issued by Peggy McIntosh in Room 218 of the Law Library. Anyone who wishes to purchase or add value to a copy card should consult Ms. McIntosh between 8:00 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Monday-Friday. Occasionally, there may be a delay between the request and the receipt of the card. Please allow time for a card to be processed.

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Study Carrels

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Law students may reserve study carrels through a sign-up process held at the beginning of the fall semester. The following rules and procedures regarding the use of carrels should be followed:

• Any library books kept in a carrel should be checked out. Otherwise, the books will be reshelved.
  
  
• DO NOT leave any valuable items, such as purses, wallets, or electronic equipment in a carrel. No security is provided for student property.
  
  
• Students must remove all items from their carrels by the end of the spring semester. Any items left in carrels at that time will be discarded.
  
  
• Food, tobacco products, and drinks in non-approved containers are strictly prohibited.

Several study carrels are wired for direct connection to the School of Law's network; a notice that identifies these carrels is located next to the carrel number. In order to access the network through these connections, a laptop must be equipped with a network interface. These carrels are currently available on a first-come, first-served basis. However, all materials are removed from these carrels every Monday morning.