Access : Using the Law Library

• Law Library Services Office
• Access Policy
  • Students
  • Faculty
  • Sponsored Guests
  • Alumni
  • Attorneys, Paralegals & Business Persons
  • Pro Se Patrons
  • Government Documents Depository Users
  • Bar Study
  • Summer Access Rules for Students
• Directions to the Library
• Services Available to Visitors
 

Law Library Services Office

All requests for access to the Law Library must be made through the Law Library Services Office.  Arrangements, including payments,  may only be made during Office hours - no evenings or weekends.

Location:         Law Library Services Office
                        40 Washington Square South
                        Vanderbilt Hall, Room 102
                        New York, NY 10012
                       
Office Hours:                        Monday - Friday
                                            9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Hours for Issuing Passes:    Monday - Friday
                                             10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
                      
Access Officer:  Ruthé Rosa
                         Voice: (212) 998-6306 
                         Fax: (212) 995-4559
                         Email: ruthe.rosa@nyu.edu

Services Available to Visitors

• Use of the collection, both open stacks and Reserve
• Use of electronic resources on Library PCs that are not being used by law students
• Reference assistance - directional and basic catalog assistance  
• Visitors may not borrow library materials
• Visitors DO NOT have internet access through their personal laptop    computers
• Visitors, including alumni,  may use LexisNexis or Westlaw only if they supply their own password. 
• This pass DOES NOT include access to other Law School or University facilities
• Patrons with special needs who have questions about accommodations may contact Marina Highland, Library Manager at 212-998-6321. All personal information is kept strictly confidential. The Vanderbilt Hall building, where the Law Library is located, is wheelchair accessible by ramps. All levels of the Law Library are wheelchair accessible either by a ramp or by an elevator. The Law Library has two wheelchair accessible restrooms, one on the B1 Level and another in the Brown Atrium.

Access Policy

Access to use the Law Library may be granted to the following categories of visitors. All access passes and permissions expire at the start of the Restricted Access Period (see Library Hours), prior to examinations each semester.

Students

Law Students (NYC area) - must bring one of :
• Green Form - Weekdays, 9am - 5pm
• Library Metro Card - Weekdays, 9am - 5pm; Graduate Students Only
• Mercer or D'Agostino Dormitory Pass
Note: Columbia Law & Fordham Law students do not need to show this identification.  They are included on the Nellco/RLG Reciprocity Listing, and thus have access through that affiliation.
•  These rules apply only during the academic year.  For access during the Summer for bar study or for other purposes, Summer Access Rules apply.

Students (outside NYC area) - must bring one of :
• Valid, current ID from their school which is part of the Nellco/RLG Reciprocity Listing
• Letter of introduction from librarian or professor describing the research project, the need for legal materials, and the requested dates of access
• The Library reserves the right to limit or deny access as required by the needs of the Law School.
• These rules apply only during the academic year.  For access during the Summer for bar study or for other purposes, Summer Access Rules apply.

NYU Non-Law Students
 

NYU non-law students may only use the Law Library when legal material in the Law Library’s collection is needed for academic work.

There is no general-purpose access to the Law Library for NYU non-law students absent a need to use legal materials.

 The student will have to specify the needed material.

Professors may send class lists to the Access Officer when legal material is needed for course work.

During the restricted access period (at the end of each semester) NYU non-law students who satisfy the above requirement will not be able to enter the Law Library on Sundays before 3:00pm.

NYU Paralegal Students are not subject to the Sunday limitation.

Prospective Students
Prospective students must obtain a day pass from the Information Desk located in Furman Hall, which allows them access to the library and classrooms.  This pass is date-stamped and recognized by the Security Officers.

Prospective students should bring this day pass to the Law Library Services Office.

Foreign (non-US) Students & Scholars
• Valid, current student or faculty ID, AND
• Letter of introduction from librarian or professor describing the research project, the need for legal materials, and the requested dates of access

Those requiring certification letters by a notary for their visit should contact Ruthe Rosa.  We do not certify letters prior to a visit, only after.

Faculty

Law Faculty outside NYU - must bring one of:
• Valid, current faculty ID
• Letter of introduction from librarian or professor describing the research project, the need for legal materials, and the requested dates of access

Sponsored Guests

Guests of NYU law faculty
• Complete a Sponsored Access Request Form

Guests of NYU law students
A current NYU law student may bring one guest into the library on an occasional basis, when the guest needs to be with the student (e.g., an out-of town visitor). NYU law students may not bring a guest into the library during the Restricted Access Period (see Library Hours).

These arrangements may only be made during Office hours - no evenings or weekends.

Alumni

NYU Law Alumni
Must purchase an alumni card through the Alumni Relations & Development Office.

Alumni wishing to use Lexis/Nexis or Westlaw in the Law Library MUST SUPPLY THEIR OWN PASSWORD.   The Law School is contractually prohibited by both Lexis/Nexis and Westlaw from issuing passwords to anyone who is not a CURRENTLY ENROLLED STUDENT.

Please note:  Alumni cards issued prior to October 2004 have been replaced, and current cards must be obtained from the Alumni Office.

Attorneys, Paralegals & Business Persons

Attorneys & Paralegals Working for Governmental or Not-For-Profit (Pro Bono) Organizations 
• Valid, current business ID, AND
• Dated letter of introduction on organizational letterhead with legal need description

Visitors Pass/Corporate Guest Card Purchasers

• Visitors must be affiliated with a business organization which requires their use of legal materials, and be able to produce an ID demonstrating such affiliation, AND

• Visitors must be able to do legal research with minimal assistance.

Access Fees Individual Guest Card
1 day	$ 20
1 week (7 consecutive days)	$ 80
Calendar month	$ 250
3 calendar months	$ 500
6 calendar months	$ 750
1 year	$1000
Access Fees Corporate Guest Card for Organizations
Three corporate guest cards are issued to each organization. Although the users of the cards need not be attorneys, organizations should only send personnel who are able to use legal materials with minimal assistance. Users of corporate guest cards are required to present current corporate ID and the corporate guest card when using the library.
1 year	$1500

Payment may be made in cash or check payable to New York University Law Library, during regular business hours. 

Passes are unavailable for LSAT study. 

Pro Se Patrons

Pro Se patrons DO NOT have access to the Law Library. They may use other law collections which are available to the public.

Government Documents Depository Users
The United States government documents depository materials and the European Union depository materials are available for public use during normal library hours. It is highly recommended that documents users visit during the hours when assistance is available at the Reference Desk. For their own convenience, depository users may also wish to contact the Access Office in advance of their visit .

Bar Study

Bar Study Passes are $50, and are valid for 2 months, June/July.  They will be sold from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm beginning May 20.

Summer Access Rules for Students

Legal Research Unrelated to Bar Study
Students who need to use the Library for research unrelated to bar study need to bring a letter from a professor or librarian at their school requesting access.