Circulation of Library Items and Loan Policy
The Law Library is open to all faculty, staff and students of St. Thomas University, and to St. Thomas Law alumni, visiting scholars and researchers and current students and faculty of other law schools or paralegal programs. The Law Library is not open to the general public. Any patron who does not observe the rules of the Law Library will be asked to leave.
Policies
Primary source materials, loose-leaf services, multi-volume sets and books in the Reference Collection do not circulate.
Single-volume texts and treatises, as well as the Reserve and the Study Aids do circulate.
All Students must present their current St. Thomas IDs to check materials out from the library. If the ID is unavailable other picture ID may be substituted, as long as the student is already in the STU Law Library system. ID cards are not transferable. Materials will not be checked out for anyone other than the owner of the ID.
Law Library materials have differing periods of circulation depending on the material being circulated. A chart arranged by Patron Type and Type of Material, noting the periods of time for which materials may be borrowed, is available below. This schedule is subject to change at any time and it is the patron’s duty to check their account online via the library catalog to determine the date and time the material is due back at the library.
Recalls of properly checked out materials during the period of circulation are issued whenever the material is needed by a professor for the Reserve collection, or if the material is overdue. When items are recalled they are due immediately upon notification. Failure to return the material within a reasonable time will result in the user’s account being suspended indefinitely or until the items are returned.
Patrons can check out materials for the length of time indicated on the chart below.
Items listed in the Circulating Materials column can be checked out depending on the patron type for the specified amount of time. Items listed in the Non-Circulating Materials column cannot be checked out by that patron type. Exceptions to these guidelines can only be granted by the Law Library Director or the Director’s designee.
| Patron Type | Circulating Materials | Non-Circulating Materials |
|---|---|---|
| Law Students / LL.M. Students | General Collection – 2 weeks Permanent Reserve – 4 hours Audio-Visual – 7 days Study Aids – 24 hours Audio-Visual Study Aids – 3 days Keys – 2 hours | Unclassified collection Multi-volume sets Loose-leaf volumes Periodicals Microforms |
| Law Faculty | Media Equipment – 4 hours Keys – 24 hours Permanent Reserve – 4 hours All other library material – 1 term | Study Aids |
| Law Library Staff | General Collection – 1 term Permanent Reserve – 4 hours Audio-Visual – 7 days Study Aids – 24 hours Media Equipment – 4 hours | All other categories (unless authorized by the Library Director) |
| Law School Staff | General Collection – 2 weeks Media Center Equipment – 4 hours Keys – 2 hours | All other categories (unless authorized by the Library Director) |
| Alumni/ae | General Collection – 2 weeks Audiovisual Material – 7 days | All other categories (unless authorized by the Library Director) |
| Attorneys / Bar Members | Audiovisual Material – 7 days | All other categories (unless authorized by the Library Director) |
| University Students | General Collection – 2 weeks | All other categories (unless authorized by the Library Director) |
| University Staff | General Collection – 2 weeks | All other categories (unless authorized by the Library Director) |
| University Faculty | General Collection – 1 term | All other categories (unless authorized by the Library Director) |
Permanent Reserves
Permanent Reserves may circulate for a period of four (4) hours. Permanent Reserve items may be checked out overnight if checked out less than two hours prior to the library’s closing. Overnight checkouts are due within 60 minutes of the Law Library opening on the following day. Permanent Reserve items will not be renewed.
Study Aids
Study Aids are held in the North Reading Room and may circulate for a period of twenty-four (24) hours. Media related Study Aids (CDs or DVDs) circulate for a period of 24 hours.
Lost or Damaged Materials
If a book or audio-visual piece is not returned, or is returned damaged, a fine will be assessed equal to the replacement cost of the material PLUS a processing fee of $50.00. If the item is incapable of being replaced due to being out of print or out of stock, a fee of $150.00 will be assessed.
Procedures
Patrons must bring all materials to the Circulation Desk of the Law Library to borrow any item. Patrons must provide their St. Thomas University ID or other valid identification based on our Library Access Policy.
Patrons may renew materials, if eligible, by using their My Library Account or by bringing the materials to the Circulation Desk.
Recalls of properly checked out materials during the period of circulation are issued whenever the material is needed by a professor for the Reserve collection, or if the material is overdue. When items are recalled they are due immediately upon notification. Failure to return the material within a reasonable time will result in the user’s account being suspended indefinitely or until the items are returned.
Overdue Items
Patrons library account may be suspended for: excessive numbers of overdue items, long overdue items (those overdue in excess of 100% of the original loan period), or for a pattern of repeated overdue items. Repeated violations may result in a suspension of library privileges for one (1) week. Please be sure to return or renew your library items in a timely manner.
Study Areas and Group Study Rooms
Carrels and tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis. All books and papers must be removed from the carrel when you have completed your research for the day. Library Staff reserve the right to remove materials from any carrel or table if it is apparent the patron has left the library. Items will be available for pick-up at the Circulation Desk. Please secure your possessions if you have to step away – this might include using a security cable for a laptop. The Law Library is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
The second floor level has reading room/study areas and group study rooms. Please maintain quiet in all areas.
Group Study Room Policy
Group Study
The Group Study Rooms are for group study of 2 or more students and may be reserved for a maximum of two (2) hours. Study Rooms may be reserved for additional two (2) hour periods after the expiration of each reservation period contingent upon availability of said room. Groups that do not make or do not renew a reservation must make way for a Group with a reservation. Single individuals may use the rooms at will, but must always make way for any group that has made a reservation.
Group Study Rooms
The Law Library has fourteen (14) group study rooms. Room 1-11 accomodate 4-5 people. Rooms 12-14 accomodate 6-8 people and include wireless-connected displays.
Rooms 1 through 4 are located on the south-west corner of the second floor. Rooms 5 through 7 are located in the southeast corner of the second floor. Rooms 8 through 11 are located west side of the second floor. Rooms 12 through 14 are located in the north-west corner of the second floor.
All rooms are subject to preemption by the College of Law Registrar for exams. It can reasonably be expected that all study rooms will be unavailable between Library opening and 6:00 PM Monday to Saturday during midterm and final exams. Please be aware that students may be asked to leave, even if those students had reserved the room. The exact schedule will be kept at the Circulation Desk during the relevant weeks and updated as it is provided by the College of Law Registrar.
Reservations
- Rooms MUST be reserved at the Circulation Desk and MUST be done in person. No phone or email requests for reservations will be honored.
- Room reservations can be made for the same-day only; no advanced reservations will be accepted.
- Room reservations for times beginning before 1:00pm may be requested as soon as the library is open for the day. Reservations for rooms beginning 1:00pm and later each day can only be made after Noon (12:00pm).
- If your group has not arrived within fifteen (15) minutes after the beginning of the reservation time, the room will be forfeited to the next group.
- If a study room is left unattended at any time for more than fifteen (15) minutes or with fewer than 2 individuals (other than the times noted above), the room is subject to forfeit and any personal items left behind will be removed to the Circulation desk for later pickup.
Noise
Please be courteous to and mindful of your fellow students and other library patrons. While conversation is allowed and expected inside the group study rooms, please be aware that the rooms are not sound proof and patrons seated in the areas outside of study room may be disturbed by excessive noise. Creating excess noise or disturbances may be cause for the Law Library staff to ask a patron to leave. Repeated infractions can result in suspension of study room and/or other library privileges.
Study Rooms close fifteen (15) minutes prior to the Law Library closing.