Circulation and Overdue Policies

A law library is primarily a reference library, where the entire working collection must remain intact if meaningful research is to be accomplished. In order to serve the majority of users, the bulk of the Library collection is for "Reference Use Only."

"Reference Use Only" materials may be taken from the Library only with the authorization of Library staff.

If you have any questions about our circulation policy please call the Circulation Desk at 503.768.6676 or email . More information about the Library is available at our Library Info pages.

Library Card

The bar code on the student I.D. card is used as the library card. All students must register at the Circulation Desk. Thereafter, law students must validate their registration information at the beginning of each academic year. These policies also apply to Lewis & Clark College students, faculty and staff, and U of O and Willamette law students.  Lewis & Clark College, U of O and Willamette law students will also need to provide verification of their status as a currently enrolled student.

Attorneys and Law School alumni may be issued a Library card after registering at the Circulation Desk and paying an annual fee based on the following schedule:

Lewis & Clark Law School alumni: Free

Non-alumni attorneys: $40.00

Attorneys may renew their Library card each year upon payment of the annual fee.

No Library materials may leave the building without a Library card. Library users other than Lewis & Clark Law School students may use a driver's license to check out Reserve materials for use in the Library. Reserve materials are behind the Circulation Desk and are available on a three (3) hour basis. Borrowing privileges may be suspended for failure to observe Library policies.

Circulation / Overdue Policies

1. Reserve materials may by checked out from the Circulation Desk for a period of three hours. Reserve materials may be checked out overnight beginning 3 hours before closing time. These materials are due back within one hour of the library opening (i.e., at 8:00 AM Monday - Friday, 10:00 AM Saturday and Sunday.) Failure to return Reserve materials promptly will result in the user's loss of Library privileges. A fine of $1.00 per hour will be assessed after the material is one hour overdue. This fine doubles during finals. The borrower maybe billed the replacement cost of the item, a $30.00 non-refundable fine and the overdue charges if the material is not returned within 24 hours. Reserve items may be renewed at the discretion of the circulation staff.

2. General circulating materials may be checked out by Lewis & Clark students, U of 0 and Willamette law students for 28 days. There is a maximum of 4 renewals of 28 days each. L&C law students may check out reference use only materials for three hours. They accrue the same fines as reserve materials. Attorneys and L&C alumni may check out a maximum of five generally circulating items for 14 days. There is a maximum of 2 renewals of 14 days each.

3. In the event circulating materials are not returned by the stated due date, the overdue process will be initiated. For L&C law students, there is no fine for general circulating material until the book is 5 weeks overdue. At that time a fine of $15.60 in overdues, a $10.00 billing fee and a $60.00 book replacement charge will be assessed against the student account. Attorneys, alumni, L&C College students will be assessed $.20 per day. An overdue notice will be initiated every seventh day, with the fines accruing at the rate of $.20 per day. On the 5th week, the same billing amounts will be assessed as for L&C law students.

4. Summit books borrowed by L&C law students cannot be renewed and have a fine of $.50 per day.

Renewals

Reserve materials may be renewed at the discretion of the Reader Services staff. General circulation materials may be renewed for an additional loan period unless the material has been requested by another person. Renewals may be made in person or by telephone (768-6676 or 768-6776). Attorneys may renew materials for a 14 day period, with a maximum of 2 renewal periods.

Library Materials in Wood Hall

All Library materials must be checked out before entering Wood Hall. Law students may check out "Reference Use Only" materials such as Reporters, Law Reviews, and Statutes for a 3-hour period. Please be sure to return materials promptly though, because the "Reference Use Only" materials incur fines of $1.00 per hour.

Retrieval From Watzek Library

Circulating materials from the Watzek Library can be requested through the library catalog and can be picked up at the Law Library Circulation desk daily by 3:00 PM Requests made on the week-ends will be retrieved on Monday. The patron will receive an email when the book is at the law library. Photocopy requests will be fulfilled for law faculty only.