Services

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The reference desk which is located across from the circulation desk as you enter the Law Library is staffed daily except Saturdays. The Reference Desk hours are:

Monday - Thursday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday 12:00 AM - 4:00 PM

All of our reference librarians have either a J.D., a Masters of Library Science, or both. The types of questions that our librarians can help you with include:

• Legal research
• Locational
• Lexis/Westlaw/Internet/CD-ROM searching
• Using the library online catalog
• Some non-legal research

The reference area includes many legal and non-legal reference sources including dictionaries, encyclopedias, citation guides etc. Nearby computer terminals also provide access to the online catalog and two terminals in the reference area are available for searching CD-ROM databases, Lexis, Westlaw, the Internet or for using CALI exercises (For more information on this see the "Computers" section). The Circulation Desk is located just inside the main doors of the library. Library staff and student workers are available at the desk to check books in and out of the library (including course reserve material); answer directional questions; check access cards; and accept requests for interlibrary loans and the paging of stored materials. Access to the online catalog is provided on the Plaza Level at computer terminals that are located past the Circulation Desk to the left, on the Basement Level near the law reviews, and in the Micrographics Room - B-2. These terminals also provide access to the catalogs of other local law libraries and university libraries, allow students to search Legaltrac (which indexes law review articles), Hein Online, CCH Omnitax, United Nations Treaty Collection, and Matthew Bender's Authority. If you need assistance with any of the online catalogs or databases, ask at the Reference Desk.

Laptop Computer Access

Most of the study carrels on the Plaza Level are wired with an Ethernet connection for Internet access from your laptop. To use these ports, laptops must have an Ethernet connection or an Ethernet card, PCMIA, and a CAT 5 cable, which may be purchased from any computer supply retailer.

Wireless access for laptops is available for up to 134 concurrent users on the Plaza Level. To use the wireless network, laptops must have a wireless card (standard: 802.11b) and be registered and configured by our Law Library Lab Coordinator. The following recommended cards may be purchased from any computer retailer:

Cisco 350 PC Card 11 MBPS Wireless
Linksys PC Card 11 MBPS Wirless
Apple Airport Card (for Mac users only)

Computer Labs

The Law Library has a computer lab on the Plaza Level with 15 PCs and 3 Macs and a lab downstairs in room B-4 with 13 stations. Both labs are equipped with dedicated Lexis and Westlaw printers. Programs available on these machines include Microsoft Office; Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint, Corel WordPerfect, Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) (see below), GGU On-Line, and access to the Internet. Those persons affiliated with the law school may see the Electronic Services Librarian with any questions about the lab operations or password access for Westlaw and Lexis. Stationary typewriters are available in both labs. Only currently registered law students may use the labs. No food or drinks are allowed in the labs. Diskette, Zip disk or memory stick must be used to save all documents. *Please note: we do not support Microsoft Works Suite nor Lotus 1-2-3.

Computer-Assisted Legal Research

LEXIS and Westlaw are available through web-based access from all lab computers as well as with personal laptops that connect to the Internet at a hard-wired port or with a wireless connection. All law students are given limited access passwords to both systems during orientation. After completion of the first semester of Legal Research and Writing, students are provided with mandatory, hands-on training for both Lexis and Westlaw and thereafter enjoy unlimited access for educational purposes during their law school careers. In addition to the library reference staff, student representatives are available on a regular basis in the labs to help students with search strategy and to troubleshoot database problems.

Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI)

CALI exercises are designed to enhance knowledge of various substantive areas of the law, from contracts to wills. Students may access CALI lessons at www2.cali.org after obtaining the password from either the Reference Librarian on duty or the Electronic Services Librarian. Additionally, a number of CALI CD's are available at the Circulation Desk for 24-hour check-out. See the Electronic Services Librarian with any questions.