Law Library FAQ: You’ve Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers. (Part One — Library Services)

*Beginning May 1st, the law library is undergoing an 8–12 week closure of the main level north stacks and the mezzanine in order to make critical repairs to the library’s fire suppression system. The Main Reading Room area is still open.* Click here for full details.

*During this time, library users and staff will not have any access to books in the construction zone. While we have pulled as many books as possible from this area ahead of the closure, we were not able to pull all of them. Please stop by the reference desk or contact library staff at library.requests@courts.wa.gov or 360–357–2136 if you need assistance finding materials during the closure.***

As librarians, we get a lot of great questions here at the law library reference desk. Some questions we get asked frequently, so we thought we would take to the blog to provide answers. In part one we will cover library services. Part two will cover legal research. However, we only have so much room here, so we encourage you to contact us at the reference desk at 360–357–2136 or library.requests@courts.wa.gov for all of your legal research or library service questions.

Let’s get started!

Isn’t all this stuff online?

This is by far the question we hear most often in the library. The short answer is no. With all due respect to the famous ghostbuster, Dr. Egon Spengler, print is NOT dead. We regularly receive new books on a wide range of legal topics. And while there is a lot of legal research material available on the open web, much of it is only available on a commercial database such as Westlaw or Lexis. (We will cover this in more detail in part two.) In addition, most of the older library material (such as superseded court rules) is not available online. However, if you can’t come into the library, check out our blog post on online case research for tips and suggestions.

So, why the empty shelves?

The library has to save room for a growing collection (aka “growth room”). As new cases and laws are printed, we must have space to put them.

I came to return my books at 4:30 pm and the law library was closed. Now, what?

We’ve got you covered. Our book drop is located just inside the north doors of the Temple of Justice (facing the parking lot and law enforcement memorial/lake). You can use the book drop to return books M-F, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. You can also return books via mail.

My books are overdue. Do I have to pay a fine?

The law library does not charge overdue fines. However, we will send you a bill for the entire book if you don’t return it, and your account will be locked until the books are returned. This means that you can’t check out additional books or put books on hold. The bill will be cancelled if you return the book in good condition and all account restrictions will be dropped. It’s important to remember that other patrons need to use the books too. Please use one of the return options to get your books back to the library on time. That being said, we know that life happens. If you are having difficulty with returning books, please contact the reference desk at 360–357–2136 or library.requests@courts.wa.gov.

You don’t have the book or article that I need. Can you help?

There are several ways we can help you if the material you need is not available in the library collection. If you are court staff, an attorney, or a Washington State employee, we can get materials for you via interlibrary loan (ILL). Attorneys will need to pick up ILL book loans in person at the library.

If you are a public patron, we can help you locate the book at another library and provide information about interlibrary loan services at your public library. We can also help you locate materials from open sources, such as Google Scholar or HathiTrust.

I am a lawyer who works too far from the library to come in to check out a book. What are my options?

Confirmed WSBA members who practice in Washington can request to have a book mailed to their law office, free of charge (you will be responsible for covering the return mailing cost). Your book might also be available on our eBook platform. Additionally, we can email sections or chapters (per copyright guidelines) or help you find the title at a library closer to home.

I am not a lawyer, and I live too far away to come in to check out a book. What are my options?

While we can’t mail books to our public patrons, we can lend books out to your public library through interlibrary loan. We can provide you with all the information you need to take to your library to make the request. We can also help you locate libraries in your area that might have the title you are looking for. Many public libraries carry some legal research titles, such as the NOLO self-help series. We also suggest checking our eBook platform to see if there are eBooks that will help with your research.

The catalog says that the book I need is on the lower level in the closed stacks. Does this mean I can’t check out the book?

If a book is listed as “circulating” in the library catalog, it’s available to check out to anyone with a library account, no matter the location of the book. Librarians will need to retrieve any books located on the lower level. For the least amount of wait time, we recommend using the online catalog to place a hold on the book or calling or emailing us to pull the book in advance of your visit. All circulation happens at the reference desk in the main reading room.

Can I just come in and study or work in the library, or do I have to be doing legal research? Do you have meeting rooms?

Come on in! The library is a great place to study or work. The quietest areas of the library can be found on the north side of the main level and in the Mezzanine. These areas have electrical outlets for charging devices. We also have plenty of tables in the main reading area. Unfortunately, the library does not have meeting rooms. Be sure to check out our Plan Your Visit page before you head to the Temple of Justice.

Is there a charge for making photocopies or printouts?

The law library does not charge for photocopies or printouts; however, patrons are limited to 200 pages per visit. Our copiers and printers are available for legal research-related printing and copying only. If you prefer not to print materials, you can also download or scan to a thumb (USB) drive. The library only provides USB drives to court staff, so please bring your own if you want to scan or download during your library visit. Librarians can also email materials to you. Keep in mind that copyright restrictions apply to all printing and scanning.

My family member is incarcerated. What services can you offer them? Do you offer these services to patients at Eastern or Western State Hospitals?

The law library provides legal research services for individuals incarcerated in city, county, state, and federal correctional facilities, as well as to patients at Eastern and Western State Hospitals. Incarcerated individuals and patients may send a letter to the library’s mailing address, or you may contact the library on their behalf to request research assistance. We recommend carefully reviewing our guides for services to state prisons and county or city jails. The law library does not accept phone calls directly from correctional facilities or Eastern and Western State Hospitals.

Can I take photos in the library?

The library’s main reading room is a very “instagrammable” space. You are welcome to take photos in the library for personal use. If you want to use the library for professional photos such as senior portraits or headshots, please visit the reference desk or contact us for a facilities use request form.

I sent in a reference request. When can I expect an answer?

Depending on the complexity of the request, you can expect a reply from library staff within two business days. If you don’t hear from us after that time window, please contact the reference desk to ensure that we received your message and that we have the correct contact information for you.

Stay tuned for part two of our FAQ list, covering legal research topics and tips! (LE)