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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. When is the library open?
  2. Do students have extended access?
  3. When are books due?
  4. How do I find a book?
  5. How do I check out a book?
  6. I looked for my book on the shelf, but it's not there. Now what do I do?
  7. Can we borrow books from other libraries?
  8. How do I print?
  9. Are there any study carrels available for student use?
  10. Can I reserve a room for study purposes?
  11. I have to watch a video for class. Where can I do that in the library?
  12. Where are the lockers and what are they for?

Circulation Desk Hours

Academic Semesters

Monday - Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Fall/Spring Breaks, Interims & Holidays

Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Sunday: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (note: the library will be closed on Sundays during summer 2026 due to staffing shortages) 

The Law School doors are locked weekends, and weekdays after 7:00 p.m. Students have W&M ID access when the doors are locked. Card readers to the right of the law school front doors, and outside the library doors. Report any access problems to the Circulation Desk.

During breaks and holidays, evening, weekend, and holiday desk hours are scheduled according to the availability of staff and students. Patrons should call 757-221-3260 to determine exact opening and closing times. Reduced desk hours are usually posted on doors and on this website.

The Law Library is closed Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July Fourth, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Extended Access

Law students have extended access to the library during the reading and exam periods.

Borrowing Privileges

The Law School Community

  • Faculty - The faculty of the Law School may check out circulating books and journals for one year with renewals. Reference, reserve and special subject materials are checked out for one week, unless a special request is made for an extension. Document delivery provides a courier service for picking up and returning materials from other William & Mary campus libraries.
  • Students - Law students may check out most books for thirty days. Reserve items are checked out for four hours or one day, depending upon the specific item. 
  • Staff - Staff of the law school and library may check out circulating books for thirty days and selected non-circulating items for one day. Reserve items are checked out for four hours or one day, depending upon material type.

The William & Mary Community

  • Faculty - University faculty may check out circulating books for 120 days. Reserve items are checked out for four hours or one day, depending upon material type.
  • Students - William & Mary undergraduate and graduate students may check out circulating books for thirty days. Reserve items are checked out for four hours or one day, depending upon material type.
  • Staff - University staff may check out circulating books for thirty days. Reserve items are checked out for four hours or one day, depending upon material type.

The Virginia Bench and Bar

  • Attorneys and Judges in Virginia - Active members of the Virginia Bar may obtain a law library borrower's card. With this card, patrons may check out circulating books for thirty days. Reserve items check out for four hours or one day, depending upon material type. In addition, Document Delivery Services are available for patrons interested in obtaining copies from materials owned by the library. Copies are sent via email, fax, or U.S. mail, with a bill for the copies mailed later.

Residents of Williamsburg, James City County, and York County

  • Residents - Williamsburg, James City County and York County residents may obtain a law library borrower's card with valid Virginia State I.D. With this card, patrons may check out circulating books for thirty days. Reserve items check out for four hours or one day, depending upon material type. In addition, Document Delivery Services are available for patrons interested in obtaining copies from materials owned by the library. Copies are sent via email, fax, or U.S. mail, with a bill for the copies mailed later.

The General Public

  • Members of the general public are welcome to use library materials within the library. As a federal government document selected depository, members of the public are welcomed to use depository materials received by the library. Patrons who are not in one of the above categories and want to borrow a circulating book should contact the interlibrary loan department of their public library. Any questions about borrowing privileges may be directed to the circulation staff.

Checking Out Library Materials

Loan Periods

The standard student loan period for circulating materials is thirty days.

Reserve Materials 

The reserve collection, located behind the Circulation Desk, includes study aids such as hornbooks, nutshells, Examples and Explanations, the Roadmap series, frequently used treatises, a number of current Virginia treatises, and audio and video materials. Class readings placed on temporary reserve by law faculty are also available at the Circulation Desk. Reserve materials, both permanent and class reserves, normally circulate for four hours. Some, like videos/DVDs, circulate for one day. Reserves are discoverable in the library's online catalog. 

Materials which may be used only within the library:

  • Reporters and statutes
  • Reference materials and finding aids (citators, encyclopedias, indexes, digests)
  • Non-print media
  • Individual volumes from multi-volume sets
  • Periodicals, both bound and unbound
  • All other material labeled "does not circulate."

Fines/Lost Books

Reserve materials: one dollar per hour with a maximum fine of $25.00 per item.

Circulating materials: patrons who do not return library materials after overdue notices are sent will be charged the cost of replacing the book, if still in print, and a $20.00 handling fee. For out of print books a fee of $60.00 plus a $20.00 handling fee is charged.

Library Catalog

The William & Mary Libraries online catalog allows patrons to search library materials owned by the law library, Swem Library (main college library), and other university libraries. Public computers are located behind the Reference Desk on the first floor of the library. Questions may be addressed to the Circulation or Reference staff.

When a Book Is Not on The Shelf

When the catalog indicates that a book status is available (i.e., in the "STACKS"), but it is not on the shelf, or when an unclassified book (one without a call number label), such as case reporters, federal codes, etc., is not on the shelf, report the title to the circulation staff. There are a number of possible places to check:

  • New Books - New books are held in the Technical Services Department following processing for approximately one month. New books may be checked out early when a patron requests the title. 
  • Law Faculty Check Out - Many library materials may be checked out by law faculty to their office. Materials in faculty offices display in the catalog as checked out. For these books, we may be able to retrieve the title for a brief cite check or to allow a student to photocopy an article.
  • Bindery Books - Books or periodical issues may be at the bindery. There is a list of titles currently at the bindery located at the circulation desk. If the book or periodical issue is still in processing students may request that circulation staff retrieve the title for them to copy an article or check a cite.
  • Books in Technical Services for Processing - At times a title is removed from the shelf and taken to Technical Services for brief periods. It may be possible to retrieve the book for a quick check, or request the book when it is returned.

"Search/Hold" Forms - If necessary, a "search/hold form" should be completed and left at the circulation desk. Staff will search to determine if the book is misshelved or actually missing from the collection. Someone will contact you and let you know whether the book was located or is actually missing.

Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan services are offered only to William & Mary School of Law faculty, staff and students. These services consist of borrowing books and obtaining materials unavailable at this library or missing from the collection that are required for academic and research purposes, and lending materials to other libraries. All such services are pursuant to the stipulations specified within the Interlibrary Loan Code of the American Library Association.

Non-law students and other patrons are requested to contact their own academic or public libraries for similar services.

Use an ILL request form to start the ILL process. Requests should be filled in as completely as possible.

Please allow 7-10 days for the receipt of books from Virginia libraries. Books requested from out-of-state locations may take longer. Upon receipt, interlibrary loans will be retained on the "hold" shelf in Room L111. Most books are lent for 3-4 weeks, with renewals at the discretion of the lending library.

Upon pickup, the recipient is required to sign for the item and pay any costs incurred from the lending library. Although we are a free reciprocal library, some out-of-state libraries impose charges for both books and photocopies, and usually for fax services. When possible, we try to borrow materials free of charge. We will notify you before asking other libraries for your requested materials if there will be a cost to you for doing so.

Printing

The library uses Wēpa for lab printing. Print release stations are located on the First Floor and Second Floor of the library. Please see our Printing page for more information on how to set up funds and print from your device. 

 

Study Carrels

Study carrels are available on the Ground and Second Floor of the library on a first come, first served basis. Please do not leave personal items in carrels. 

Group Study Rooms

There are 12 study group rooms located in the library. See the library maps for locations of each room.

You can reserve a room via LibCal. Instructions for logging in are on the library's Services page.

Video Viewing Rooms

Many of the study rooms have TVs and HDMI cables which can be hooked up to your laptop. 

Library Lockers

Storage lockers for personal items are located in the lounge and hallway of the ground floor, the lounge on the main floor, and in the lounge and stacks areas of the top floor of the Library. Law students may reserve a locker for the school year by registering at the circulation desk on the first day of class. Lockers are assigned on a first come, first served basis. Students may request a particular number and location if they wish. There is a $10.00 replacement charge for lost locker keys.