- Current students, faculty, and staff with a valid University of Illionis I-Card from any University of Illinois campus;
- UIC Law and UIC alumni with a UIC alumni card, as well as John Marshall Law School alumni;
- Licensed Illinois attorneys;
- Students, faculty, and borrowers from I-Share member libraries and CARLI Governing Member institutions;
- Members of the public who wish to use the Law Library’s federal depository documents collection (access limited to use of the federal depository documents in the library.
Patrons with I-Cards can access the law library without an appointment. Everyone else should complete this Appointment Request form.
What Kind of Access is Allowed?
- Access under this policy is limited to floors 6, 9, and 10 of the 300 S. State St. building. The Collaboration Commons on the 8th floor is accessible only to UIC Law students, faculty, and staff under a separate access policy. Access to other parts of campus are governed by UIC Law Campus Safety & Security policies.
- Advance appointments must be made for access to the law library for anyone who does not have an I-Card.
- During fall and spring reading periods and final examinations, access to the Law Library is restricted so that UIC Law students can study and take exams. Only UIC Law and UIC students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and licensed Illinois attorneys members are permitted to enter the Law Library during these times. The Law Library reserves the right to further restrict access and the hours of access to individuals other than UIC Law students during reading and exam periods. During these periods, all library users are asked to respect students who are studying and maintain a quiet environment.
- Only UIC Law alumni and UIC alumni are permitted to use the Law Library for bar exam study.
- Questions about this access policy may be directed to law-library@uic.edu or the circulation desk at (312) 427-2737, ext. 29710.
Do I need to present identification for access?
Yes. Everyone must present a form of identification to access the law library. All visitors will be asked to sign in and out with UIC Law Campus Safety & Security at the 300 S. State St. security desk. The names of all guests and visitors will be entered into UIC Law’s visitor database.
- Current students, faculty and staff from a University of Illinois system university can provide a valid University of Illinois I-Card for access.
- UIC Law and John Marshall Law School alumni must present a government-issued photo ID at the security desk and security staff will verify their alumni status.
- Licensed attorneys must present a current Illinois ARDC card and government-issued photo ID.
- Students, faculty, and staff from I-Share member institutions and CARLI Governing Member institutions) must present a current school-issued photo ID.
- Members of the public who wish to access federal depository documents must present valid identification at the 300 S. State St. security desk to gain entry to the Law Library. These patrons will be directed to a reference librarian on the 6th floor for assistance with the federal depository collection.
May I borrow Law Library materials?
Please visit the Law Library’s Circulation Services page for information on borrowing privileges and loan periods. If you wish to borrow materials, UIC Law alumni, John Marshall Law School alumni and UIC alumni must present an alumni borrowing card issued by the UIC University Library to the law library circulation desk. Patrons from I-Share or CARLI organizations may borrow materials under the interlibrary loan policy.
What are the Law Library’s Use Policies?
Use of the Louis L. Biro Law Library is a privilege extended to those who comply with the Law Library’s rules and procedures. Law Library privileges may be withdrawn from anyone breaking these rules or exhibiting disrespect for the Law Library, its staff, or patrons. Serious violations of Law Library rules will be reported to the appropriate disciplinary body or authorities.
The Law Library serves as a quiet place of study. Please respect other users by keeping noise to a minimum, including adhering to the following policies:
- Please adhere to Law Library rules regarding talking. The 6th floor is designated as a group study area where quiet talking is allowed. The 9th floor is an absolute no-talking zone reserved for silent, individual study. The 10th floor is a designated research floor where quiet talking is allowed but not encouraged.
- Study rooms are available in the Law Library for UIC Law students who would like to quietly study as a group, work collaboratively, or study independently. Please reserve larger study rooms for group use only. Some study rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis (Rooms 601 and 903). Only current UIC Law students may use the Law Library’s group study rooms.
- Technological devices (computers, cell phones, tablet devices, headphones, etc.) should be kept quiet and not be audible to other patrons.
- Talking on mobile phones is not permitted in the Law Library. Please leave the Law Library or go to a stairwell to talk on your phone.
- The Law Library permits drinks in covered containers, including plastic bottles and cups with lids. Food may be brought into the Law Library, but please be respectful of fellow patrons and do not bring in food that is noisy, has a strong odor, or is messy. Please be sure to properly dispose of all waste material.
- Failure to return overdue materials may result in lost-item fees.
- Law Library staff will not attempt to locate patrons in the Law Library.
- Patrons may be asked by a Law Library staff member or UIC Law Campus Safety & Security staff to show their ID. Refusal to do so is a violation of Law Library use policies.
- Individuals who violate these policies may be asked to leave the Law Library; for serious or repeated violations, individuals may be barred from using the Law Library and may be subject to disciplinary action.
- UIC Law may amend these access policies at any time or further restrict access as situations warrant.