Louis L. Biro Law Library
Law Library Access Policy
The UIC Law Library is open to:
- Current students, faculty (full time and adjunct), and staff of the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (UIC Law)
- Emeritus faculty of UIC Law
- Current students, faculty, and staff of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC); the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC); and the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS), and employees of the University of Illinois System (UI System)
- Alumni of the Law School (alumni borrowing card required to borrow materials; see identification requirements below)
- Alumni of UIC (subject to identification requirements below)
- Licensed Illinois attorneys (subject to identification requirements below)
- Current students and faculty of law schools that are members of the Chicago Legal Academic System (CLAS): IIT Chicago-Kent, University of Chicago, DePaul, Loyola, Northwestern, Marquette, Northern Illinois, Notre Dame, Southern Illinois, UIUC, University of Minnesota, and University of Wisconsin (subject to identification requirements below)
- Individuals who present a properly completed interlibrary loan form signed by a librarian (access is limited to retrieving the library materials listed on the form); please arrange visit with the Circulation Coordinator, catrinaw@uic.edu)
- Members of the public who desire to use the Law Library's federal depository documents collection (access is limited to use of the federal depository documents in the library); advance appointment recommended)
- Individuals who have received advance permission to use the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) collection (advance appointment required)
- Individuals who have received special authorization from the Law Library director or associate director to use the Law Library (e.g., to access materials available only at the Law Library; advance appointment required)
- Borrowers from I-Share member libraries who are picking up items delivered to the Law Library
- Individual students, faculty, and staff who are currently enrolled in or employed by CARLI Governing Member institutions (advance appointment recommended)
- Access under this policy is limited to Law Library 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.
- So that UIC Law’s Campus Safety & Security Office can be made aware of the visit, we strongly recommend, and in some cases require, advance appointments to visit the library. This will facilitate entry upon arrival. To make an appointment, please contact a librarian at law-library@uic.edu.
- 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; licensed Illinois attorneys; and CLAS members will be allowed access to the Law Library during these times. The Law Library reserves the right to further restrict access and hours of access to groups other than UIC Law students during reading and exam periods. All users are requested to respect studying students and maintain a quiet environment.
- Only UIC Law alumni and UIC alumni will be permitted to use the library for bar exam study.
- Questions about this access policy may be directed to the Law Library.
Identification
To enter UIC Law, patrons must swipe in at a security gate with a valid University of Illinois (UIC, UIUC, UIS, UI System) i-card or UIC Law photo ID card, or present other valid identification. UIC Law alumni must present a government-issued photo ID at the security desk, and security staff will verify their alumni status. (UIC Law no longer issues ID cards to alumni). UIC alumni (non-Law) must present an alumni borrowing card issued by the UIC University Library together with a government-issued photo ID for identity verification. Alumni of UIC and The John Marshall Law School may apply for a borrowing card online; a borrowing card is required to borrow circulating materials. Students, faculty, and staff who are permitted access under this policy (CLAS member law schools, I-Share member institutions, CARLI Governing Member institutions) must present a current school-issued photo ID card. Licensed attorneys must present a current Illinois ARDC card and government-issued photo ID at the security desk.
Members of the public who wish to access the federal depository documents must present valid identification at the security desk to gain entry to the Law Library. They will be directed to a reference librarian for assistance with the federal depository collection.
Visitors may be asked to sign in and out with UIC Law Campus Safety & Security. All guests and visitors will be checked into UIC Law’s visitor database by Campus Safety & Security.
Check-Out Privileges
Please visit our Circulation Services page for information on borrowing privileges and loan periods.
Use Policies
Use of the Law Library is a privilege extended to those who comply with its rules and procedures. Law Library privileges may be withdrawn from anyone breaking these rules or exhibiting disrespect for the Law Library, its staff, or its 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 for many of its users. 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 talking is not encouraged but, if necessary, should be very quiet.
- 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.) Study rooms can be booked online via the link on the Law Library's homepage. Some study rooms are available on a first come, first served basis and unavailable for reservation in advance. 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, strong smelling, or messy. Please be sure to properly dispose of all waste material.
- Failure to return overdue materials may result in lost item fees.
- Remote access to online databases is restricted to current UIC students, faculty, and staff. However, access to many law-related databases and e-books is further limited to current UIC Law students, faculty, and staff. Other patrons can access various subscription databases from dedicated terminals on the 6th floor of the library. Use of the guest terminals is on a first-come, first-served basis.
- 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 to show their ID card. 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, may be barred from using the Law Library; and may be subject to disciplinary action.
- UIC Law may amend these access policies, or further restrict access as situations warrant, at any time.
“This library is a congressionally designated depository for
U.S. Government documents. Public access to the government documents
collection is guaranteed by public law. (Title 44 United States Code)”
