Law Library

Policies

Law Library Access Policy

The primary function of the Georgia State University Law Library is to serve the teaching, research and scholarly activities of faculty, students and staff. To best fulfill this mission, access controls and restrictions are in effect.

The Georgia State University Law Library is open to visitors during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday.

Access to the Law Library outside of regular business hours is limited to:

  • Currently enrolled Georgia State University students (with PantherCard Id) and their families
  • Faculty and staff (with PantherCard ID) and their families
  • Members of the bar with valid State Bar Card
  • Librarians with valid employee ID
  • Visitors from University System of Georgia schools , and ARCHE schools with a valid college ID
  • Georgia State Alumni Association members with Alumni Association ID
  • Employees of the State of Georgia with valid employee ID cards
  • ABA accredited law school members with law school ID

Visitors that do not belong to one of these groups will be required to exit the library at the close of regular business hours.

Anyone with a PantherCard is required to show it to gain admittance. All other visitors must present a photo ID at the security guard station at the Law Library entrance, sign-in and state the reason for the visit. All visitors must sign out upon exiting the building.

For further information about access to the Georgia State University Law Library, please contact Library Administration at 404-413-9140.

Law Library Exam Period Access Policy

The Law Library will institute a restricted access policy during the law school final exam period, from November 30th to December 18th, 2009. During the law school final exam period access will be restricted to:

  • Currently enrolled Georgia State University students (with PantherCard Id) and their families
  • Faculty and staff (with PantherCard ID) and their families
  • Members of the bar with valid State Bar Card
  • Librarians with valid employee ID
  • Visitors from University System of Georgia schools , and ARCHE schools with a valid college ID
  • Georgia State Alumni Association members with Alumni Association ID
  • Employees of the State of Georgia with valid employee ID cards
  • ABA accredited law school members with law school ID

During that time, other researchers can use the Fulton County Law Library located at 185 Central Avenue, on the 7th floor of the Justice Center Tower. Their hours of Operation are from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Note: you may enter from 141 Pryor Street or 185 Central Avenue.

Law Library Conduct Policy

Patrons of the Law Library have the right to expect:

  • A quiet and pleasant library environment conducive to research and scholarship and free of disruptive activity.
  • Reasonable access to library materials.

To ensure Library patrons' rights, the Law Library strictly enforces Federal, State, local, and University rules governing behavior in public spaces. In addition, the Law Library has established Library-specific policies to protect patrons' rights within the Law Library. All patrons of the Law Library will refrain from the activities listed below:

  1. Creating a disturbance or behaving in any manner that interferes with normal use of the Law Library, or that affects the staff's ability to provide service (including, but not limited to, rowdiness, noise, loitering, panhandling and offensive behavior).
  2. Having bodily hygiene so offensive as to constitute a nuisance to others.
  3. Bringing in personal belongings not essential to the research undertaking or placing personal belongings or Library materials so as to impede access. Bringing in large or inappropriate personal items, including, but not limited to, luggage, bicycles, skateboards, bedrolls, carts, frame backpacks, and large duffle bags.
  4. Leaving children unattended in the Law Library. Parents or guardians are responsible for their children's behavior while in the Library. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent at all times. Unattended children under the age of 16 will be escorted to security.
  5. Removing or attempting to remove library materials or property without checking them out or without proper authorization.
  6. Mutilating library materials; removing or attempting to remove electronic theft detection devices; misuse of, defacing or destruction of library materials or property, including furniture or equipment, in any way.
  7. Concealing library materials in the Library for the exclusive use of an individual or group.
  8. Being in an unauthorized area of the Law Library or remaining in the Library after closing or when requested to leave during emergency situations.
  9. Selling, peddling and/or soliciting of merchandise or services, including legal representation, to patrons while in the Law Library.
  10. Conducting unauthorized surveys, photography, or audio/video recording within the Law Library. Authorization must be pre-approved by the appropriate Library administrator.
  11. Using restroom facilities for activity other than the intended purpose for the facilities.
  12. Violating the No Food policy.

For violation of Federal, State, local policies for conduct in public spaces, or violation of the University Code of Conduct, Honor Code, or the Law Library Conduct Policy, whether a member of the Georgia State University community or not, appropriate action will be taken.

Circulation Period

Law Library circulating materials generally circulate for four weeks. The due date is stamped or written on a bookmark provided when the item is checked out.

Materials checked out to GSU Faculty are due at the end of the academic year they originally circulated (June 15).

Overdue Materials / Fines

The Library charges the following fines for those materials kept past their due date:

  • 10¢/minute for study room key
  • 25¢/day for three week circulating items
  • 50¢/day for recalled three week circulating items
  • 50¢/hour for reserve items

GSU faculty do not pay fines for overdue Law Library items

Patrons are blocked if they have either $10.00 in fines or three or more items overdue.

Beginning the first full week the items are overdue, an overdue notice is sent to the patron. Two additional notices are sent at 14 day intervals if the items are still not returned.

If the items are not returned within one month of the due date, an invoice is sent to the patron. The invoice will list charges for the overdue fine, replacement cost of the item, and a $20.00 processing fee.

If the overdue item is not returned after the fourth and final notice or if the overdue charge has not been paid by the end of the quarter or semester in which the item was borrowed, the patron's academic records will be blocked through the Registrar's Office.

Renewals

Materials may be renewed if no one else has placed a hold on the items:


Reserve Materials

Items placed on reserve are listed on GIL by their class number and professor.

Reserve items can be checked out for three hours at a time. Only two Reserve items may be checked out in a three hour period. The items can be renewed after the three hours expires, if no one has requested the item.

GSU students must use their student IDs to check out Reserve materials.

Other patrons must present a driver's licenses or other valid form of identification. Attach their driver's license to the blue card in the back of the Reserve item, or to a note containing information on the item. Also note the time and date the item was checked out.

Reserve books and audio tapes can be checked out for overnight use, two hours prior to closing. Items are due back the next day an hour after the Library opens.

Holds

Any patron with borrowing privileges may place a hold on an item that is checked out. When the item is returned, Circulation notifies the patron with the hold request. The held item is placed on the hold shelf for one week for the patron to pick up.