Pence Law Library Carrel Policy
August 2009
The lottery will take place on September 2, 2009 at 12:00 Noon.
In an effort to best serve the needs of our students in the Spring and Fall semesters, 62 carrels are available for reservation by any 2L, 3L, 4L, or LLM WCL student who is currently enrolled in and pursuing an upper level writing credit or any member of a WCL law review or publication who is writing an article, comment or note due in the current semester. Both part- and full-time students may participate in the carrel lottery provided they meet the criteria for eligibility.
During the Summer semester only, reserved carrels are available to any WCL student who is enrolled in classes during the summer semester, and graduates of the current academic year who are studying for the July Bar Exam.
Carrels will be assigned by lottery at the start of each semester. Information regarding the lottery will be posted on the Pence Law Library web site, included in the Docket, and distributed via email to all eligible students. Eligible students who wish to participate in the lottery must register for the lottery using the online form available on the Pence Law Library's home page http://library.wcl.american.edu. Students will be assigned carrels in the order they are selected in the lottery and notified by email of their assigned carrel. Carrels are non-transferable. A waiting list will be maintained for those not able to be accommodated at the time of the lottery.
Carrels will be assigned for the duration of the semester, and all items must be removed from the carrel prior to the library closing on the last day of exams. No extensions will be granted, but students may participate in the carrel lottery in subsequent semesters if they meet the eligibility criteria.
In the event a student completes and submits their writing requirement, article, or comment before the end of the semester, they should notify the Circulation Desk staff at circ@wcl.american.edu and vacate the carrel to allow students on the carrel waiting list space to work.
When a reserved carrel is not being used by the person to whom it is assigned, other library users may the use the carrel. Because of this, please do not store any personal or valuable items in your carrel. Non-assigned users should surrender the carrel upon request. Please notify the Circulation Desk if problems arise.
Procedure for charging material to the carrel
- All library material kept in a carrel must be checked out to the carrel.
Any library material EXCEPT the following types may be checked out the carrel:
- Primary materials, e.g., codes, digests, reporters and state and federal administrative law materials
- Unbound periodicals
- Newspapers
- Reserve materials
- Rare Books
- Loose-leaf Binders
- Microform material
- Audio and Visual materials
- If you wish to keep eligible materials in your carrel, bring the items to the Circulation Desk, complete a blue carrel flag for each item, and have the items checked out to your carrel. Keep the flag in the book visible while it is charged out to your carrel. Items without blue flags/not charged to the carrel will be returned to the collection.
- Please return all books with the blue flags to the Circulation Desk when you are finished using the material or prior to the end the semester when the carrel reservation expires. Any items remaining in carrels after the last day of exams will be returned to the collection or brought to lost and found at the security desk in the lobby.
- Books charged to carrels will trigger the security alarm at the library exit. Materials charged to a carrel that a user wishes to take out of the library must be brought to the Circulation Desk and charged to an individual before they can removed from the library. Regular loan rules apply to these items when charged to students.
Additional information relating to carrels
Because of the possibility of fire code violations carrel holders may not use their own lamps in their carrels. Any lamp found on a desk will be removed and given to lost and found at the security desk
Library chairs are for all library users. Carrel holders may not reserve chairs or affix them in any fashion to their carrels. Any carrel holder who violates this rule may forfeit their carrel.
Food or beverages of any type may not be stored in carrels. Any food or beverage found in carrels will be discarded.
The Library reserves the right to remove any book charged to a carrel if it is needed for immediate Library use. If a book is removed, library staff will notify the student via email indicating the item removed.
Any material kept in an unreserved carrel will be removed daily; books will be returned to the collection, and personal items will be given to lost and found at the Security Desk in the lobby.
These policies may be modified at any time.
If you have any questions, please contact John Smith, Access Services Librarian at jasmith@wcl.american.edu.