NU Law Library: First Year FAQ's

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LAW LIBRARY

Law Library FAQ's

What are the library's hours?
How do I gain access to the library?
How do I check out a book? How long do I get?
What if I need to photocopy?
Do I have access to old exams
How can I reserve a study room?
What if I have a reference question?
What other libraries may I use?
What if I need an interlibrary loan?
What kinds of items are on reserve?
Are there any jobs in the library?
What if I have questions about the computer lab?
How do I check my Northeastern e-mail account?
What are LEXIS and WESTLAW?
What about disability access?

What are the library's hours?
Check out our current hours at Law Library Hours
You can also view the law library's schedule for the academic year at Law Library Master Calendar

How do I gain access to the library?
Persons wishing to use the Law Library after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and during the weekend must present proper identification to proctors who monitor the law school's security system at the Richardson Plaza entrance. Just bring your Northeastern I.D.

How do I check out a book? How long do I get? What if I return it late?
Many items included in the Law Library's collection may be borrowed. Northeastern law students may borrow library materials for a four-week period with one renewal allowed. Circulating materials may be returned in the book drop located at the Circulation Desk. The library does not impose fines upon members of the law school community, but it does charge for lost books. All library books must be returned and lost book charges paid before students are allowed to graduate.

What if I need to photocopy?
Photocopiers are located on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors of the library. They accept coins, bills and copy cards. Copy cards may be purchased from a machine across from the circulation desk.

Do I have access to old exams?
Samples of old exams are available through the library catalog's NuCat course reserves option. Some exams are also kept on reserve at the circulation desk. You will need your NU ID.

How can I reserve a study room?
Sign up at the Circulation Desk.

What if I have a reference question?
Professional reference librarians are available to assist library users with manual and online legal research, questions about the collection and interlibrary loans. Reference assistance is generally available weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hours are usually extended in the fall to assist first year students with their Legal Practice assignments.

Which other libraries may I use?
Members of the law school community have access to all of the resources of the Snell library, which serves the general university community. The Law Library and Snell library use the same online library catalog, known as NuCat.

The library is a member of NELLCO (New England Law Libraries Consortium), the Boston Library Consortium and the Boston Regional Library System. As a member of the Northeastern community, you have library privileges to use the collections at other consortium libraries. Please consult a reference librarian for information about access to other area libraries.

What if I need an interlibrary loan?
Interlibrary loan request forms are available at the Circulation Desk. Contact Warren Yee or James Lucas regarding questions about interlibrary loan service at x3332.

What kinds of items are on reserve?
Frequently used materials are kept on reserve. These materials include course materials, past law school exams, hornbooks, nutshells, selected treatises and casebooks, legal research and writing materials, computer aids, CALR materials, videotapes and the Martindale Hubbell Law Directory. Reserve items may be checked out for two hours with a valid student identification card. Reserve materials may also be checked out overnight within two hours of library closing. Overnight materials must be returned the following day within one hour of opening. Borrowers who repeatedly fail to return reserve materials within these time frames will have their circulation privileges revoked for remainder of the quarter.

Are there any jobs in the library?
The library hires Work-Study students to help staff the circulation desk, file loose-leaf materials and serve as faculty pages. Students may obtain employment applications at the circulation desk. All current Northeastern University students are eligible for employment. Inquire at the circulation desk or call x3332.

What if I have questions about the computer lab?
If you have questions about the computer labs or e-mail check out the Computer Services web page.

How do I check my Northeastern e-mail account?
You can check your Northeastern e-mail account from anywhere you have access to the Internet. Click here to check e-mail.

What is LEXIS and WESTLAW?
LEXIS and WESTLAW are proprietary systems that contain vast databases of legal materials including case law, state and federal statutes, full text of law review articles, federal and state regulations as well as a variety of other legal and news resources. These two systems are accessible by Northeastern Law students only by password. First year students will not receive their password or receive training on either system until October. This training is done in conjunction with the Legal Practice classes and is mandatory for all students to attend. If you have any additional questions regarding these two systems you can take a look at the LEXIS FAQ and the WESTLAW FAQ

What about disability access?
The law school building is wheelchair accessible and elevators run to the library on the 3rd floor. An elevator inside the library runs to all of the library floors. A private study room on the 4th floor (room 403) houses a computer using voice recognition software. This computer is available for use by visually impaired patrons. The computer software uses an internal software speech synthesizer along with the computerÌs sound card to read aloud information from the computer screen. A TTY machine is also available at the Circulation Desk.

Last Updated - February 1, 2006
Northeastern University School of Law, 400 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115