Georgetown Law Library

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About This

Carrel Policy - Williams Library

• Eligibility
• Etiquette
• Remember
• Procedure
• Eligible Materials

The Williams Library provides individual carrels where library materials may be held for an extended period of time. This privilege eliminates the frustration of constantly retrieving the same items while also providing an extended loan period. Come to the Williams library circulation desk for an application. Carrels available for assignment are located on the fourth and fifth floors. All carrels are equipped with data jacks for Law Center network access.

Eligibility

Carrels in the Williams Library are available to students writing papers for upper-level writing seminars, graduate papers, journal notes, and to authorized faculty research assistants. Carrels are assigned for an entire semester and may be extended if more time is necessary to complete the assigned research.

Any student who already has received a carrel assignment for the purpose of writing a paper will be eligible for an additional carrel assignment only if space is available. The library reserves the right to end these additional assignments with a 5 day notice if other eligible students request carrel space, have not had a prior carrel assignment, and there are no vacant assignable carrels.

Carrels may be in high demand so we ask that students end their reservation as soon as they no longer have a need for a carrel. Please ensure that your email address is correct, as almost all communication regarding carrels is done through email.

Etiquette

Only Georgetown Law library materials charged out to the carrel may be stored in a carrel and then, only on the top shelf of the carrel. Under no circumstances should material be left on the floor or piled higher than the top of the carrel. Students may not store interlibrary loan items, materials from other libraries such as Lauinger Library, or personal books in the carrel since the library cannot be responsible if non-library items are stolen. Under no circumstances may personal effects be left in the carrel. In addition to the security risks, all carrels should be left in a condition that does not prohibit others from using the space for study when the assignee is not present. Books not charged to the carrel and extraneous material will be removed by library staff. Non-library materials will be taken to the Public Safety booth in McDonough Hall.

Books checked out to a carrel have an extended loan period and are not due until the end of the semester. Other patrons may consult these books if needed, but they will be instructed to return the book to the assigned carrel. Please notify Williams Circulation staff if Law Library materials are removed from your carrel without authorization. Books may also be recalled for use by another patron. Recall notices will be placed in the carrel and if the item is not returned to the circulation desk within one week, it will be removed by library staff.

Remember

Failure to observe these policies and procedures may result in the revocation of carrel privileges.

Procedure

1. Bring eligible materials to the Circulation Desk (note some are not eligible- see list below).
2. The books will be charged to the Carrel, which is a different type of charge than one to an individual. Carrel books will not be desensitized and will trigger the security alarm at the library exit. If the material leaves the library, it must be checked out to an individual responsible for any fines or lost book fees. If you would like to keep books from the Wolff  library in your carrel and are eligible to borrow from the library, you would first have the items checked out to yourself at Wolff and then bring them to the Williams Circulation Desk to be checked out to your carrel. Until the item is checked out to the carrel, you are responsible for any fees. If you are not eligible to borrow directly, please go to the Circulation Desk for further assistance
3. Complete a blue carrel flag for each book, and keep the streamer in the book while it is stored in the carrel.
4. Return all books with the blue streamers to the Circulation Desk when finished.

Eligible Materials

Treatises and bound journals may be charged to carrels. The following may not be charged to carrels:

• Primary materials (codes, statutes, reporters, treaties, etc.)
• Reading Room materials
• Reserve materials
• Materials labeled "Library Use Only" (with the exception of bound journals)
• Audio and video materials
• Microform

Books charged to individuals may not be kept in carrels or simultaneously charged to a carrel. Faculty research assistants may not store books charged to a professor in an assigned carrel.

Note: Wolff Library policies differ. View the Wolff policies here.

Page last saved on 08/06/2010