Library Hours
The Law Library is normally open from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM on weekdays, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Saturdays, and 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Sundays. The Law Library’s hours of operation vary during holiday and semester break periods. Law Library hours are posted on the website at http://www.law.uc.edu/library/home/library-hours.
After-Hours Access
The Law Library extends 24-hour key-card access to all students at the College of Law. Your UC photo I.D. authorizes you to remain in the library after closing, or enter the library when it is closed. To enter the library when it is closed, swipe your I.D. card through the key-card reader mounted outside the library entrance located across from Classroom 302.
To report unauthorized persons in the Law Library after hours, or to report any personal or facility-related emergency, please call UC Public Safety at 556-1111. Feel free to use the telephones at the Circulation Desk (dial 6-1111). Report any problem you experience with the key-card access function of your I.D. card to Victoria Fleischer, Head of Access Services.
Reference Hours
Reference hours are generally 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday – Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Friday, and 2:00 – 6:00PM on Sundays when classes are in session.
Circulation & Reserves
Circulation and Reserves services are available at the Circulation Desk which is immediately on right as you enter the library. Victoria Fleischer is our Head of Access Services. Her office is located behind the Circulation Desk, next to the reserve room, and her phone number is 556-1332.
Reserves are located in a room behind the Circulation Desk, and may be checked out for a two-hour period. Typical reserve items are Nutshells, the Understanding Series, Examples & Explanation, Concise Hornbooks and Hornbooks.
A computer for ready access to UCLID, our online library catalog, is located at the Information Desk. Other UCLID stations are located near the Ohio Forms collection and on the library's second floor near the bottom of the stairs. You can access UCLID from any computer connected to the Internet whether on-campus or off-campus.
Much of the law library collection does not circulate because it consists of multi-volume sets, loose-leaf services, or other materials that must be regularly updated and readily available to all library users. For those materials that do circulate, primarily treatises, the lending period runs until the end of the semester (or quarter for non-law students). Renewals may be made in person, through the online catalog, or by telephone at 556-3016.
Students may place online requests to obtain most books located at other UC libraries without using traditional interlibrary loan methods or filling out a form. When you find a title through UCLID that is owned by another library click on the Request button. Enter your username and password and select Law Library as your pick-up library and click on the Submit button. The book will be delivered to the Law Library and you will be notified when it comes. Please remember that all library communications are sent to your UC email account so be sure and check it regularly or forward it to an email account that you do check regularly.
If a book you want is not available at UC, you may be able to find and borrow it through the OhioLINK system or ILL (interlibrary loan). OhioLINK is accessible through UCLID (click the search OhioLink button), and enables you to request books (not periodicals) from other Ohio academic libraries with delivery to our circulation desk normally within three or four business days. Books from OhioLINK may be borrowed for three weeks, with four renewals allowed. For materials not available through UCLID or OhioLINK, you will need to fill out an ILL form. Please see a reference librarian for assistance.
For specific circulation or interlibrary loan questions:
Vicki Fleischer
Head of Access Services
513-556-1332
316A (office)
victoria.fleischer@uc.edu
Some online resources are restricted to “in the library” use only due to the vendor’s licensing agreement, but many of the Library’s databases may be accessed remotely. See http://www.libraries.uc.edu/information/access.html for authentication information. Another method of authentication is to log in through a VPN (Virtual Private Network). This allows your computer to be recognized as if you were on campus. Additional information on using VPN is at http://www.uc.edu/ucit/internet/offcampus.html.
Reference
Reference librarians can help you with formulating research strategies and using research tools. The law librarians have written guides that we post on the Law Library’s website. We also link to research guides that others have created. See, Research Resources, http://www.law.uc.edu/library/guides. For interdisciplinary subjects, check one of the UC Library Subject Guides, http://www.libraries.uc.edu/research/subject_resources/index.html. Our educational goal is to help you find the answers for yourself, not to tell you what the answers are!
Reference Librarians:
Susan Boland
Associate Director for Public and Research Services
513-556-4407
315 (office)
susan.boland@uc.edu
Jim Hart
Senior Reference Librarian
513-556-0160
310D (office)
james.hart@uc.edu
Ron Jones
Electronic Resources & Instructional Services Librarian
513-556-0158
314C (office)
ronald.jones@uc.edu
Shannon Kemen
Reference Librarian
513-556-6407
310F (office)
shannon.kemen@uc.edu
Carrels & Study Rooms
Students can use any carrel or table in the library as long as it is unoccupied. Carrels can also be reserved and materials checked out to a carrel. Please see Vicki Fleischer, Head of Access Services, for more information on carrels.
Group study rooms are available on the fourth floor. The Rare book room can also be used. Students should reserve a study room through http://taft.law.uc.edu/mrbs or contact the Head of Access Services. Students can sign up for three hour blocks, if no one is signed up after the three hours; they are permitted to stay until the next reserved period. Keys to the rooms are available so students can lock them if they need to leave but will need to be returned at closing. An ID needs to be left in exchange for a key. Personal items and materials should not be left in study rooms.
Computer Services
In general, computing facilities in the Law Library are reserved for UC College of Law students. The Law School has two computer labs for student use – one on the third floor and one on the Mezzanine level. To use the computers, you will have to login with a username and password. Please see http://www.law.uc.edu/library/it-computing/computing-orientation-fall-2010 for more information. The third floor computer lab has a special resume printer and a scanner.
For technology questions:
Alan Wheeler
Computer Support Specialist
513-556-4419
2M30C (office)
j.alan.wheeler@uc.edu
Bill Kimbelton
Systems Administrator
513-556-0430
2M30B (office)
william.kimbelton@uc.edu
John Hopkins
Associate Director for Information Technology
513-556-0153
314A (office)
john.hopkins@uc.edu
A/V and Multimedia Support Specialist
513-556-0161
210C (office)
law_av_supt@ucmail.uc.edu
UCit Help Desk
513-556-3785
helpdesk@uc.edu
Online Help Request Form
Printers, Photocopiers, & Faxes
General printing is available for law students from law school printers in the computer labs. Each student enrolled in the College of Law receives 1600 subsidized printed pages per year. After that, the cost per printed page is $.07. You can add value to your UC I.D. Card at the charging machine in TUC (Tangeman University Center) or with a credit card via the web at http://www.uc.edu/bearcatcard. Please see http://www.law.uc.edu/library/it-computing/computing-orientation-fall-2010 for more information. Printing on the Lexis and Westlaw printers is free. Microform readers and reader printers are available for patrons to use at no charge.
Two photocopiers are available for your use. They are located across from the administrative offices, to your right beyond the Information Desk as you enter the library. Copies are 10 cents each, and the machines accept coins and one dollar and five dollar bills. Photocopy cards, available for $1.00 at the Information Desk, reduce the per-copy cost to 7 cents. The cards are issued with a zero balance, and value may be added at any copier. Our cards do not work in any other UC library, and cards from other UC libraries will not work in our copiers.
Law students faxing anything that is related to their law careers need to use the fax at the Office of Professional Development. Otherwise, please contact the Head of Access Services.
Food & Beverages
Beverages in containers with lids are permitted in the Library. No food is permitted in the Computer Labs. Packaged snack foods such as candy, chips, pretzels, crackers, and cookies; as well as other non-odiferous, non-messy foods are allowed in the Library’s open areas. Please dispose of wrappers and containers promptly. This food policy aims to strike a reasonable balance in providing an inviting and flexible study environment but also in allowing for your classmates’ enjoyment of a clean, well-kept facility without strong or lingering food smells. It also prevents damage to library resources. All unattended food items in the law library are subject to removal and disposal by the staff. Failure of students to handle or dispose of beverage or food properly may cause the policy to be revised.
Restrooms
The only public restrooms within the Library are located at the far end of the first floor. The nearest restrooms outside of the Library are on the third floor of the building, across from the Moot Court office (Room 304). You must swipe your UC I.D. card through the key-card reader mounted outside of the restroom to enter.
Security
We do try to provide a safe and secure environment for research and study. However, we cannot be responsible for books and personal belongings left unattended. Materials left unattended for any length of time without special arrangements (see Victoria Fleischer) may be reshelved or placed in lost & found at the library staff's discretion.
Lost & Found
The library maintains a lost and found area at the Information Desk. After a reasonable period of time, unclaimed tems are turned over to the UC Department of Public Safety.
Noise
Please avoid loud or lengthy conversations in open areas of the Law Library, and any other conduct that disturbs others or disrupts their work.