Library Use Policies

Patron Conduct Policy

All Law Library patrons are expected to adhere to the rules outlined below. These rules are designed to ensure the library remains a safe, quiet, and comfortable space for all.  Patrons who do not follow these policies may be asked to leave the library. For serious or repeated violations, the University of Illinois Police may be contacted, potentially resulting in a ban or no-trespass order from the Law Library and College of Law.

Patron Rules

  • Threatening, harassing, assaulting, and/or intimidating library faculty, staff, or patrons is strictly prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, engaging in disruptive behavior directed toward one or more individuals in the library that seriously interferes with the work of others. The Library has a zero tolerance policy for harassment and patrons engaging in such conduct will be asked to leave the library.
  • Maintain minimal noise levels. The reading room is a designated quiet area. Study rooms are available for law students for group discussions. Patrons must use headphones or earbuds when listening to audio on electronic devices.
  • Handle library materials with care and refrain from causing damage to library equipment. It is a College of Law Honor Code violation to steal, hide, or vandalize library materials or University property.
  • The Law Library is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Do not leave computers or other personal items unattended in the Library. Library staff will not supervise your belongings under any circumstances.
  • Patrons may not remove library materials from the library unless the materials have been properly checked out at the circulation desk.
  • Individuals may not reserve library tables or carrels. Library materials left overnight on tables may be removed and reshelved; we do not honor “Save” or “Do Not Disturb” requests.
  • Do not remove staplers, hole punchers, paper cutters, scissors, or tape dispensers from the supply area in the library foyer.
  • Patrons may not enter non-public areas of the library without permission from library staff. These areas include spaces behind the circulation desk and librarian offices.
  • Patrons must follow requests from library staff when those requests are made to protect the peace and quiet of the library space.

Cell Phone Usage

Phones must be on silent or vibrate while in the library. Do not watch videos or play audio within the library unless you are using headphones or earbuds. You may not make or receive phone calls in the library, including in the foyer next to the circulation desk, as this may be disruptive to patrons and staff. All phone calls should take place outside the library.

Patrons violating these policies may be asked by library staff to quiet their devices or to leave the library. Failure to follow requests from library staff may result in loss of library use privileges.

Food and Drink

We expect all patrons to use good judgment and respect other patrons, the collection, and the facilities when bringing food into the library. Patrons are welcome to eat snacks in the library, so long as they are not disruptive to other patrons and are not likely to damage the collection or the facilities. Do not bring in foods that are noisy, smelly, sticky, greasy, drippy, messy, etc. Outside delivery of food to the library is not allowed.

Only beverages in covered containers are allowed in the library.

Smoking, vaping, and drinking alcohol are prohibited in the library and the College of Law building.

Lost and Found

Check the lost and found in the Dean’s Suite for personal items lost in the Library. The Library is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Please do not leave computers or other valuable items unattended. Library staff will not supervise your belongings under any circumstances.

Library Seating and Carrels

Individuals may not reserve library tables and materials. Tables in the current journals area may be reserved for one-time or ongoing use by College of Law journal organizations only.

Library materials left overnight on tables may be removed and reshelved; we do not honor “Save” or “Do Not Disturb” requests.

Law students, faculty, and other patrons using the collection will be accommodated ahead of patrons not using law materials.

Scanning Services

There are no printers or copiers available at the library. There is a scanner, however, so that patrons may make copies for themselves and have them delivered to their e-mail address.

Microforms

U.S. Supreme Court records and briefs, Illinois General Assembly debates, back issues of legal newspapers, federal documents, and foreign publications are just some of the materials available on microform. Lists by cabinet/drawer number and by title are on top of the cabinets in the microforms room on the lower level.

One microform reader-scanner is located in the microforms room. Files should be saved to a usb memory stick – patrons must provide their own, as the library does not loan these. In the event that a memory stick is not available, files can be saved to the desktop and emailed, provided that the file is not too large. For assistance with the microforms machine, please see a reference librarian.