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Law Library Student Services

Information for UW Law students about the services we offer.

Accessing Your Library Account

You can tell what you have checked out, when it is due, and renew materials by logging into your library account using your UW Net ID and password. You can access your account via the "My Library Account" link on the library's home page (see below). Information about fines and fees, including appeals, is on the UW Libraries Library Account Services Fines page. 

Checking Out Books

Search for your book using the catalog. Log in to request it directly from the catalog. 

How to use the self-check-out machine

Law Library Materials

Loan Periods for UW Law Students
Law Library Location Loan Period for UW Law Students
Classified Stacks, L1 & L2 12 weeks, subject to recall
Compact Stacks, L2 12 weeks, subject to recall
Course Reserves, Reference Area L1 GATES HALL USE ONLY--4 hours
Equipment, Circ Desk L1 GATES HALL USE ONLY--end of the day
Good Reads, L1 12 weeks, subject to recall
Microfiche & Microfilm, Reference Area L1 12 weeks, subject to recall
Reference Area, L1 2 weeks, subject to recall
Wordbook, Reference Area L1  2 weeks, subject to recall

Other UW Libraries

Request materials from other UW Libraries through the catalog or visit the library in person to check materials out. Map of all UW Libraries. Most UW Libraries materials are checked out for 12 weeks, subject to recall.

Summit Libraries Materials

You can find materials at other Pacific Northwest academic institutions ("Summit Libraries") through the catalog. Log in to request that these materials be delivered for you to the hold shelf near the Circ Desk. Most Summit materials are checked out for 12 weeks, subject to recall. Summit items are allowed one renewal. 

Interlibrary Loan & Scanning Services

We provide Interlibrary Loan borrowing services for materials needed for academic purposes that are not available at the Law Library or through the combined catalog. Request books and articles with your user account via the Interlibrary Loan page.

Hold Shelf

When you request items using the library catalog "Request UW Item", "Request Summit Item", or make an interlibrary loan request, your items will be placed on the hold shelf in the law library, located in the small bookcase near the water fountain, across from the Circ Desk on L1. 

  • How long do books take to arrive after being requested? Approximate times:
    • Law Library items: by the next open morning
    • UW Libraries items: 1-4 days
    • Summit items: 3-5 days
    • Interlibrary Loan: 2-3 weeks
  • Hold shelf items expire: Most items generally stay on the hold shelf for two weeks after which your hold will expire.
  • Email notification: You will receive an email when the item arrives at the desk.
  • Check out your items: Check out using self-checkout machines or by asking staff at the desk. 

Requesting UW Libraries' Books

To locate Gallagher and UW Library books, go to the Law Library Catalog and simply find the title you want in the library catalog and then follow these steps:

(1) Make sure that you are logged in. If not, you'll see a green banner with a link for you to log in for all services:

Select the green bar that says "Current UW Students, Faculty, and staff. Log in for all services"

(2) Click on the "Request UW item" button

Select the purple box that says "Request UW Item"

(3) Select "Gallagher Law Library" as the Pickup/delivery location and then click "Submit"

Under the Delivery Information/ Pickup/delivery location section, select "Gallagher Law Library" from the dropdown arrow.

That's it! You will receive an email notification once the book is received and available for you to pick up at the Law Library's Circulation Desk. If you are UW Law Faculty or staff, the library will deliver the item to your mailbox. 

Requesting Summit Items

To request a book via Summit, you first need to go to the Law Library Catalog and be logged in. You can do so using the link available in the catalog entry for the book you want to request as shown below (if you are already logged in, you won't see the "Log in" option and can proceed to the next step:

Green box that says" Current UW students, faculty, and staff, Log in for all services"

Next, click on the "Request via Summit" button:

Purple box that says "Request via Summit"

Tip: If there is an option to select the item from UW LIbraries, follow the instructions above. You will receive the item UW Libraries items within 1-2 business days, whereas a Summit item may take between 5-7 business days. 

From the Pickup/delivery location drop-down that appears, select "Gallagher Law Library" and press "Submit":

Section that says "Delivery Information" select the Pickup/delivery location by using the dropdown arrow. Then click the purple submit button.

That's it! You will receive an email notification once the book is received and available for you to pick up at the Law Library's Circulation Desk. If you are UW Law Faculty or staff, the library will deliver the item to your mailbox. 

Returning Books

Please return library items to any book drop located on a UW Seattle, Bothell, or Tacoma campus. All UW Libraries book returns can be found here

Gallagher Law Library has four book drops: 

  • Two at the Circ Desk (one inside the library & one outside the library entrance)
  • At the entrance of the law school facing Memorial Way
  • At the back entrance of the law school on 15th Ave

Fines & Fees

You can renew the books that are checked out to you via your library account. Overdue materials need to come back to us in person before we can renew them. 

The law library does not charge daily overdue fines for law library materials. UW Libraries does not charge overdue fines for renewable items. Materials that cannot be renewed:

  • Books more than 21 days overdue ("lost")
  • Books that have been requested by another user
  • Summit items

Course Reserve materials incur hourly overdue fines. Course Reserve policies can be found here.

Materials that incur daily overdue fines:

  • UW Libraries books that have been requested by another user
  • Summit items

If an item becomes more than 21 days overdue, you will be billed for the the item

  • $55.00 non-refundable fine plus $150.00 - $300.00 item replacement fee. Item replacement fee is refundable if item is returned
  • Pay fees and fines through UW Library Account Services online. 
  • If you have lost or damaged a book, please contact us at lawref@uw.edu.

The Law Library cannot overturn a fine or fee you have accrued on your library account.

To appeal a charge on your account due to error or special circumstance, see the UW Libraries Appeal of Library Charges page.