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PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS STUDENTS ALUMNI/AE LIBRARY FACULTY ACADEMICS

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Services for Students

At the University of Connecticut School of Law Library, our first commitment is to service. Our goal is to be a premiere academic law library that meets the needs of the law school, and also the bench, bar and public throughout the State of Connecticut. Our first priority in building our collection is to ensure that we have the materials needed to support the Law School curriculum. We are continuously improving our ability to serve a broader range of study and research needs for all our users. In the meantime, if we cannot provide a service ourselves, we will make every effort to direct you to someone who can.

Library Hours

Detailed information about library hours (such as deviations from the above schedule due to holidays and intersession periods) can be found on the annual calendar.

Borrowing Privileges

Legal research materials work together like a complex machine: for the whole to function, all of the parts must be there. For that reason, most of the collection is non-circulating, and must remain in the library for all to use.

Items that do not circulate include: primary sources such as statutes, case reporters and administrative regulations; looseleaf services, digests, citators, reference materials, periodicals, and individual volumes of multi-volume sets. Items that do not fall into the above categories may be checked out to law students for a ninety day loan period. Items may be renewed once, unless a hold or recall has been requested by another law school-affiliated patron. Fines will be charged for overdue items.

Photocopying

Students can make photocopies two ways in the library. Your HuskyBucks ID card operates the copiers on all floors in the library. We also have two photocopiers which accept coin and paper money on the 3rd and 1st floors of the library if you do not have your ID with you. The library will not be able to provide change, so kindly plan accordingly. Money can be added to your HuskyBucks ID card three ways on campus:

  • One Card website - accepts credit card deposits (with $1 admin fee)
  • 3rd floor copy room in Law School Library - cash transactions only
  • Law School Business Office - 2nd floor of Hartfranft Hall - by mail, in person, or call 570-5139 or 570-5140

Exams

The library is actively working towards providing students online access to our collection of previously administered exams. Using your NetID, you can view the archive of exams we currently have available.

Reference Assistance

Reference assistance is available seven days a week during the academic year. The Reference Desk is located on the third (main) floor of the library. Reference staff will be on call or at the desk during the following hours when classes are in session: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Thursday; 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Friday; and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM Saturday and Sunday. Between semesters and during July and August there is no evening or weekend reference service.

Questions about reference services should be directed to the Associate Director for Library Services, Simon Canick (860-570-5098). Questions about foreign, comparative, and international law may be directed to the Foreign, Comparative, and International Law Librarian, Sarah Cox  (860-570-5167).  Questions about Insurance Law may be directed to the Insurance Law Librarian, Yan Hong, (860-570-5081).

Reserve Collection

The Reserve Collection, located behind the Circulation desk, includes the following: hornbooks, nutshells, current editions of Examples and Explanations and Emanuel Outline Series, current periodicals, selected Connecticut materials, sample exams, course evaluations, class assignments, headphones, audiocassette players, and remote controls for the library's TVs, VCRs, and DVD players. It also includes materials placed on course reserve by a professor. Reserve materials may be checked out for two hours during the day and overnight. For overnight loans, the course reserve material must be charged out within one hour of the library closing and be returned within one hour of the library opening. Law students must present a valid I.D. to check out reserve items.

Interlibrary Loan

Law students may use Interlibrary Loan Services to order materials that are not available in our collection. Please consult a reference librarian to verify that the item is not available through CLIPPER before submitting an ILL request.

Renewals

Books can be renewed with staff at the circulation desk or through the My Library Account feature in the online catalog. Once you're logged in, click on View/Renew Your Checked out Items. You can renew materials by clicking on either of the Renew All or Renew Selected Items buttons. If the book is renewable, the new due date will be displayed in the status column. Make sure to check the new due date.

Recalls

You can recall a book that is checked out to another patron two ways. You can fill out a Recall Request card at the Circulation Desk, or use the My Library Account feature in the online catalog. Simply select the item you want recalled, and click on the Request button at either the top or bottom of the screen. A message will appear confirming that your request was sent to the library. Whether you fill out a request card or use the online request feature, the Library staff will contact the person who has the book and notify you via email when it is returned.

Missing Items

Can't find an item that is supposed to be on the shelf? You can fill out a Missing Request Card at the Circulation Desk, and library staff will attempt to find the material for you. You will be notified via email when the material is found.

Overdue Notices and Fines

Law students may borrow circulating books from the general collection for a period of 90 days, and renew them for one additional 90 day period unless another member of the law school community has requested an item. We limit the number of renewals allowed on items because law library patrons tend to use materials that are immediately available, or that they locate by browsing the shelves. When books are away on an extended absence, they are not available for use by others in the community. We do charge fines for overdue itmes, but there is a 7 day grace period after the due date during which you can renew an item without being charged a fine. All overdue notices are sent via email. Overdue materials are subject to the following charges:

  • Over 7 days overdue: $10 fine,
  • Over 14 days overdue: $15 fine, and $100 replacement cost of the material.

Fines are not refundable. Privileges are subject to suspension pending returns, replacement, and payment of fines.

Online Services and Training

Use the Law Library's online catalog to access books, journals, magazines, newspapers, microfiche and microfilm. The catalog is designed to allow users to search the system with little or no previous instruction. However, if you need assistance please do not hesitate to ask one of the reference librarians. Students can access the catalog from their home or office via the Internet. Training or assistance with any of the library's electronic services will be provided. Request assistance at the Reference Desk. If you need an extended session, a reference librarian will be glad to make an appointment with you.

Legal Periodical Article Indexes

Use these databases to research law review articles. They cover most major law reviews, specialty law, and bar association journals.

LegalTrac (Legal Resource Index - coverage since 1980)
Index to Legal Periodicals (cover from 1918)

LEXIS and WESTLAW (Password Required)

LEXIS and Westlaw can be accessed via the World Wide Web. However, users must have their own account and password to use these services. Students are subject to discipline and/or revocation of their Westlaw or LEXIS privileges if they use their academic passwords to do research for anything except course-related work and training.

Research Databases

Students have access to many online databases obtained by University of Connecticut subscriptions.

World Wide Web

There are many valuable web resources containing legal information. Visit our Weblinks pages for links to key resources on the web.

Research Guides

The University of Connecticut School of Law librarians have prepared a number of guides to legal research. They are available in print in the literature rack beside the Reference Desk, and also on our web site.

Study Rooms

There are 10 reservable rooms in the library. The sheets in the reservation book are weekly, Monday through Sunday, and new sheets are put in the book every Monday morning. Students are welcome to make use of these spaces as long as they adhere to a few guidelines:

  1. Reservations of study rooms can only be made by members of the UCONN Law School community.
  2. If the person at the circulation desk does not recognize you as a student they may ask to see your ID before you can make a reservation.
  3. Sign-ups are for groups of three or more.
  4. Room reservations may not exceed four hours per day.
  5. A member of the group must sign up for a room in person at the circulation desk. No student room reservations will be made over the phone.

Course Evaluations

Copies of course evaluations filled out in prior semesters at the Law School are retained on reserve at the circulation desk. The most recent three semesters of each professor's classes are kept on file and can be borrowed for two hours at a time.

Contact

Please contact Simon Canick (570-5098) for questions about services not covered here, or to discuss any aspect of library policies.

      
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