The Law Library is open to the public, the university community, and to the members of the local bar. Our top priority, however, is to provide service to our primary patrons, the law faculty and law students. As a result, our guidelines and policies are geared to the needs of our primary users.
Because the library is a research facility, most of our collection does not circulate.
Check-Out Privileges
All patrons must present a valid ACT Card or Bounds Community User Card in order to check out materials. The borrower is responsible for all materials checked out with their card, including the replacement of lost or damaged materials. Patrons must notify the library immediately if a card is lost.
The circulation period for most items in the library is two weeks.
Books checked out from the Law Library must be returned to the Law Library and not to another campus library. Likewise, materials checked out from another campus library must be returned to that same library, e.g. materials checked out from the Gorgas Library must be returned to the Gorgas Library.
The Circulation Desk is staffed all hours the library is open. To contact the Desk directly, dial 205-348-1113.
How to Check Out Books/Loan Period
Although much of our collection is non-circulating, some single volume treatises can be checked out. All check-out and check-in takes place at the Circulation Desk. To check out any item from the regular collection users should present a current Bounds Library card. General loan periods are two weeks. Please call the Circulation Desk at 205-348-1113, if you have a question regarding checkout. All users will be notified if their book(s) is overdue.
Lost Books
The charge to replace books not returned is $50.00 plus a $10.00 processing fee or the current cost of the book plus a $10.00 processing fee.
Unable to Locate a Book?
Library users who are unable to locate a particular book should notify a Circulation staff member. A missing status will be attached to the book’s record, and a periodic search will be done to locate the item. The Circulation staff will notify the user when the book is found.
Reserve Materials
Materials kept on reserve can be checked out by law students for four hours. Certain reserve materials, such as hornbooks and nutshells, may be checked out overnight. Overnight materials must be checked out no earlier than two hours prior to the library’s closing and must be returned the following day within one hour of the library’s opening. Fines are one dollar per hour per item.
Access to Westlaw and Lexis
Access to many of our databases, including Westlaw and Lexis, is restricted to UA Law School faculty, staff, and students.