Policies

The UW-Madison libraries are committed to providing access to all library facilities and collections for people with disabilities. Whenever possible, the libraries will select and acquire resources and technologies that are accessible to all in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. For those parts of the historical library collections that are not accessible, the libraries are committed to providing reasonable accommodations and timely access in appropriately reformatted media that are accessible to disabled library users.

For additional information and assistance, see the UW Madison Libraries Accessibility & Usability policy page.

Identification Needed to Borrow Items

• Wiscard (UW-Madison ID card)* or
• Memorial Fee Card or
• Law Library Card**

** Patrons with current photo identification and a permanent Wisconsin address may apply for a Law Library card.

The card will be mailed to verify the address. Up to three items may be charged while the Law Library card application is pending.

Loan Periods

UW Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Students

• Loans: Semester
• Reserves: 2 hours, 1 day, 3 days, 7 days (depends on the item)
• Renewals: Most semester loans will be automatically renewed until the maximum of 2 years is reached. You will receive an email after each auto-renewal, and be notified of an approaching due date if a loan cannot be renewed.
• Recalls: All items are subject to recall if needed for course reserves.

UW Undergraduate Students

• Loans: 28 days
• Reserves: 2 hours, 1 day, 3 days, 7 days (depends on the item)
• Renewals: Most 28-day loans will be automatically renewed until the maximum of 84 days is reached. You will receive an email after each auto-renewal, and be notified of an approaching due date if a loan cannot be renewed.
• Recalls: all items are subject to recall if needed for course reserves.

Community Patrons

• Loans: 28 days
• Reserves: 2 hours, 1 day, 3 days, 7 days (depends on the item)
• Renewals: Most 28-day loans will be automatically renewed until the maximum of 84 days is reached. You will receive an email after each auto-renewal, and be notified of an approaching due date if a loan cannot be renewed.
• Recalls: All items are subject to recall if needed for course reserves.
• The following services are not available for community patrons: Borrow UW System materials, UBorrow and Interlibrary Loan, Access to UW-Madison licensed online resources from off-campus, and distance services.

Fees and Account Blocks

Lost item fees are applied to loans if an item is not returned within 28 days of its due date. Most lost item fees are waived when an item is returned. However, there can be some exceptions. If you have any questions about fees on your account, please email circ@law.wisc.edu, stop by the Circulation Desk, or call 608-262-1128.

A block may be placed on your account if you have incurred lost item fees. An account block will prevent you from renewing loans or borrowing new materials.

Assistance

Ask at the Circulation Desk, call 608-262-1128, or email circ@law.wisc.edu.

UW-Madison Libraries Code of Conduct

The UW-Madison Libraries support the teaching, research, and outreach mission of the university by providing access to and delivery of information. The libraries endeavor to provide safe, respectful, and inclusive environments for collaborative and individual study and learning.

In order to provide these environments, patrons and staff who enter UW-Madison Libraries agree to abide by this Code of Conduct.

Expectations

Individuals will:

• Obey all federal, state, and local laws including Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter UWS 18 which governs conduct on university lands
• Comply with applicable university policies and with all library policies including, but not limited to, food and drink, noise, mobile device usage, and photography and filming
• Use computers, online resources, and all other library technology within the guidelines of the UW System Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources policy
• Adhere to policies governing appropriate use of university identification and present identification to library staff upon request
• Respond to alarms and other emergency or security situations as instructed by staff
• Limit use of the library to public areas and leave library spaces at closing
• Treat all library users and staff with respect

Individuals will not:

• Exhibit any threatening or intimidating behaviors, e.g., abusive language, threats of violence or harassment
• Engage in behavior that is potentially unsafe or harmful to self or others
• Create disturbances or disruptions, or behave in any manner that is inconsistent with the UW-Madison Libraries’ mission
• Engage in any sexual activities outside the limits of applicable laws
• Vend, peddle, solicit or petition in UW-Madison Libraries
• Post or distribute materials without permission in UW-Madison Libraries
• Misuse, misappropriate, damage, steal, deliberately misplace or obstruct use of library equipment, resources or facilities
• Violate copyright laws, including systematically downloading, printing, scanning or disseminating content in violation of copyright laws
• Deface or damage library materials including, but not limited to, underlining, highlighting, writing, removing pages or security devices
• Use library areas for prolonged sleeping or as living quarters

Enforcement

Any violation of our code of conduct is subject to sanctions, which include, but are not limited to:

• Being asked to leave the library premises
• Being reported to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (Division of Student Life)
• Having library privileges suspended or revoked
• Being banned from the UW-Madison Libraries or Campus
• Being reported to the police
• Legal prosecution

Law Library users deserve a clean and quiet atmosphere to study.  Therefore, food is not permitted anywhere in the library. Insects and rodents attracted by food pose a danger to the library collection.   Noisy food consumption also serves as a distraction to study and research.

Beverages in covered containers are allowed, but not near library computers or other equipment.

The Law Library’s mission is to foster research and learning. Our vision is to provide valued service to the UW Law School and University communities using our unique skills as information professionals.

In response to a request from the Student Bar Association to provide adequate study space for law students, access to the Law Library is limited during the exam period to law students, law faculty & staff, and individuals needing to do legal research or use Law Library materials, including our federal documents collection.

Limited access begins four full weekends before the first proctored law exam (Law School Academic Calendar). The policy remains in effect until shortly before the last law exam date. Extended hours, during which the library’s weekend hours are lengthened, begins three full weekends prior to the last exam. Limited access remains in effect during extended hours.

Law students are given a green gargoyle sticker to put on their Wiscard to identify themselves (stickers are available at the Law Library Circulation Desk).  During limited access hours, monitors posted outside the library entrance will ask law students to show their Wiscard with gargoyle sticker.  Non law students and those not needing access to the Law Library collection will be directed elsewhere.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation and regret any inconvenience that this might cause. If you have questions about the library’s policy on limited access, please submit them to the Law Library Suggestion Box.

Library material is available for use by all library patrons.  To make the collection accessible to all, please return materials on time and in the same condition as when you received them. Marking on or folding pages is considered damaging to library materials.

Damaged or lost materials may be subject to fines.  For more information, see the UW Madison Campus Libraries policy on Lost or Damaged Items.

Law Library users appreciate that the library serves as a quiet place to study. Please respect those around you by keeping noise and other distractions to a minimum. Talking in a loud voice, audible use of technological devices (cell phones, computers, etc.), food consumption, and other activities that may interfere with others’ ability to study are prohibited.

If you notice any distractions or inappropriate behavior in the library, please notify library staff right away so that we may promptly address the situation.

Study Rooms

These areas are designated for law students, faculty or staff who want to study together. Talking in low tones is allowed.

Study Lab

This collaborative workspace is designed for groups and talking in normal voices is allowed. Please be respectful of others that are working in the lab.

Quarles & Brady Reading Room

Because even small sounds are amplified due to the acoustics of the room, the Quarles & Brady Reading Room requires patrons to be as quiet as possible while studying. When using the adjacent study room (5350) for viewing videos, keep the volume low or use headphones which are available at the Circulation Desk.

There are several computer workstations in the Law Library which are available to the public for legal research purposes.

The Law Library asks that you respect the following policy on workstation use:

The public computer workstations have been furnished to facilitate research and provide access to library materials.  All other uses, including, but not limited to, email, chat, games, and recreational web use, are not permitted.

Reference assistance is intended primarily for current students, faculty and staff of the University of Wisconsin – Madison.Our staff can help you locate and use the print and online resources of the UW Law Library. Anyone may contact us, but we can only provide limited assistance to those outside of the campus community.

Here are ways to reach us:

• In person service at the reference desk includes evening and weekend hours during the fall and spring semesters. Check the UW Law Library Hoursfor complete schedule information.
• Chat questions are answered by the law librarians staffing the reference desk. Questions asked in person at the desk have priority over chat questions. If the chat dialogue box indicates that a librarian is available but you don’t receive an immediate response to your question, please try again in a few minutes. Questions requiring in-depth knowledge on a topic or resource may be referred to an appropriate subject specialist who will contact you as soon as possible.
• Telephone reference service is provided as time permits. Generally, this service is limited to questions requiring ready reference sources, such as inquiries on whether or not the library holds certain materials or a quick check of online websites or print material. We will not read any part of a statute, case, definition, etc. over the phone to patrons.
• Ask UW Law email questions typically receive a reply within 24 hours during the regular business week, Monday–Friday.

As librarians, we cannot provide legal advice or interpretation of the law because to do so would be considered the unauthorized practice of law, which is illegal. If you need someone who will research and interpret the law for you, consider talking to an attorney. For information on identifying and locating attorneys, please consult our Low Cost Legal Resources in Dane County Guide. The Wisconsin State Bar Lawyer Referral and Information Service, Findlaw, Justia, and Martindale.com are other options.

We encourage you to come into the Law Library where you may access books and databases in order to conduct your own research. If you cannot visit the Law Library, many resources including laws, cases, regulations and articles are now available on free, reliable Internet websites.See our Wisconsin Legal Information Sources Guide as a starting point for locating state legal resources. Many local public libraries also have the current Wisconsin Statutes in print.

Finally, we often are asked if the Law School offers services where people can get help with their legal questions. The University of Wisconsin Law School has numerous clinics through which law students obtain practical experience in delivering legal services. Whether these clinics can assist you will depend on your particular situation or problem, their current caseload, and the time of year (the clinics typically operate only when classes are in session). Most clinics do not take walk-in clients. The Reference Librarians will refer you to the appropriate clinic whenever it is feasible.

Reservations 

The Law Library’s twelve study rooms are available only to UW Law School students, faculty, and staff. Law students can reserve up to four hours of study room time per day, using the online reservation system or in-person at the Circulation Desk. Law faculty, staff, or student organizations who would like to make block reservations for a class, program, or special project, should contact circ@law.wisc.edu. 

Checking In 

Students will need a valid Wiscard to check out their study room key from the Circulation Desk. After a 15-minute grace period, if the key has not been checked out the library staff reserves the right to cancel the reservation and give it to another student who may be waiting. 

Room Usage 

The Library Code of Conduct applies to use of the study rooms. In particular, eating is not permitted. Beverages may be consumed from closed containers. 

Study rooms must be vacated 15 minutes before the library’s closing time. 

More Information 

For more information about study room locations, equipment, and using the online reservation system, please consult this page about study rooms. For any other questions, please contact circ@law.wisc.edu, call us at 608-262-1128, or ask at the Circulation Desk.