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Circulation Policies

Georgetown Law Center consists of two separate libraries, Edward Bennett Williams and John Wolff and each has its own Circulation Desk that is staffed at all times when the Libraries are open.  In general, treatises and selected reports and documents may be checked out by Georgetown University students, faculty, and staff. Materials that are checked out can be returned at the library that is most convenient, regardless of where the material was charged out from.

The following materials may not be removed from either library:

  • Reading Room and Reference materials (except from the William's Popular Reading Collection)
  • Primary materials (e.g., statutes, treaties, court reports)
  • Periodicals
  • Microforms
  • Looseleaf services
  • Materials labeled "Library Use"
  • Reserve materials

Georgetown University Law Center students may check out books from the general collection for six weeks; reserve materials for two hours; and videotapes for three days.

Georgetown Law Students, Faculty and Staff have borrowing privileges from Georgetown's main campus Lauinger Library and the medical library Dahlgren. Students from the Main Campus and the Medical Center have similar circulation privileges here at the Law Center. Georgetown University faculty and staff have long-term circulation privileges. A valid Georgetown University ID card must be presented at the time of check-out for all patrons.

The records of all circulating materials are kept in a central system, and the Circulation Staff of both libraries can access information about circulating materials for purposes of verification, renewal, or recall, all transactions involving fines for overdue material must be addressed at the Williams Circulation Desk. All interlibrary loans must be requested through the Library's central Interlibrary Loan Service, either through the Library's web site or by contacting the Interlibrary Loan office at 202-662-9154 for more information.

Reserves

Both Circulation Desks maintain separate Reserve collections. All course reserve items are at the Williams Library. The Wolff Library maintains the collection of international titles, while Williams Library maintains the reserves for all other law related materials. This collection includes unbound journals and nutshells which may be checked out for a period of two hours. An item may be renewed if a hold request has not been placed it. These items must remain within the library form which they are checked out in. Please note that all course reserve are located in the Williams Library only and lists are maintained on GULLiver, the online catalogue, and may be retrieved by course name or professor.

Search Requests

If a particular item cannot be found on the shelves, please contact either Circulation Desk for recently returned items. In some cases, the GULLiver Library Catalogue may show that the material is charged out. If there is no record that the material is in use, a search request should be completed at either Circulation Desk. A Library staff member will search for the missing book. Patrons will receive a response via email. Materials may also be "paged" from Gulliver and delivered to either library where they will be held at the Circulation Desk for you to pick up.

Materials checked out from the Library are subject to recall by another patron. Each patron has a guaranteed two-week period of possession for an item checked out from the general collection before that item can be recalled by another patron. After that initial two-week period, due dates may be revised to an earlier date. A notice is sent to the borrowing patron stating the revised due date. If a recalled item is not returned by the revised due date, fines will be charged.

Circulation fine information can be found under Circulation - Fines.

Public Patrons and students from other law schools do not have borrowing privileges, but may be able to obtain circulating materials through their home institution's interlibrary loan office.

The Circulation Desk closes 15 minutes before the Library closes. All transactions must be completed at that time.

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