Circulation Services

Access

The Pence Law Library is open to the public, and all patrons may be asked to show a photo ID and sign in when they enter the building. During the reading and exam periods in December and May access is limited to: WCL students, faculty, staff and alumni; American University students, faculty and staff; and Federal Government Depository patrons. Consult the Library Master Calendar for further information on Library hours and access. Parking is available in the garage at 4801 Massachusetts Ave., NW for a charge of $8.00. Please note that the District of Columbia requires that the Washington College of Law inform all of our visitors that they cannot park on nearby public streets. Those who do so may be subject to a $75.00 fine.

Contacting Circulation

The main phone number for Circulation is 202-274-4300 and you may also email the Circulation Staff at circ@wcl.american.edu

Borrowing

WCL students, faculty, alumni and staff may borrow materials from the Library as may American University students, faculty and staff. Public patrons and students from other schools may request circulating materials through their home institution's interlibrary loan office. For further information on interlibrary loan see http://library.wcl.american.edu/ill.cfm

Loan Rules

Most books in the collection circulate for six weeks. Some items, including loose-leafs, supplemented treatises, reporters, codes, statutes, and European Union materials circulate for three hours. Reserve books, journals and photocopied course materials also circulate for three hours. Audiovisual items circulate for 24 hours.

Reserve material may be checked out overnight when it is less than three hours before closing (six hours for audiovisual material). These items must be returned to the circulation desk within an hour of the library's opening the next day.

Renewals

Unless a hold has been placed on an item, renewals may be requested either in person at the Circulation Desk, by telephone at 202-274-4300 or online using the myLeagle link http://leagle.wcl.american.edu/patroninfo from the Library home page. Reserve material and loaner laptops must be renewed in person at the Circulation Desk.

Checking Your Library Record

Click on myLeagle http://leagle.wcl.american.edu/patroninfo from the Law Library home page to access your patron record, see what material you have checked out, when it is due, to renew items, whether you owe any fines and what titles you have placed on hold. Enter your name and your seven digit AU ID number and then click on the "Display My Library Record" button.

Late Fines/Replacement Charges

Late fines are charged to encourage fair and efficient use of Library materials and to provide the best service to all Library patrons. Overdue fines are $ .25 per day or, for reserve material, $1.00 per hour. The default cost of a lost or damaged book is $100 with a processing fee of $20.00. Fines and replacement charges must be paid by check or money order by the end of each semester or a University-wide stop will be placed on your account.

Overdue Notices

The Library notifies borrowers of overdue items within one day (1st notice) and 7 days (2nd notice) of the due date. Items are billed after being overdue for 14 days. Overdue notices and bills are sent via email.

Grace Period

There is a seven-day grace period when non-reserve late items may be returned without owing any fines. Books returned after the grace period has ended will be subject to fines accrued from the date the book was due.

Hold Requests

Except for reserve material, a hold may be placed on any item that is checked out to another patron by completing a "Hold Request" form at the Circulation Desk http://library.wcl.american.edu/pdf/HoldForm.pdf. Although placing a hold doesn't normally shorten the original loan period for the current borrower, that person will be prevented from renewing the item. Once the book is returned, the requestor is notified by phone that the item is being held for them at the Circulation Desk. Material on hold that is not picked up will be re-shelved.

Missing Books

If the catalog indicates that an item is "available," but it cannot be found on the shelf, you may complete a "Missing Book" form at the Circulation Desk http://library.wcl.american.edu/pdf/MissingLibraryMaterialsForm11-4-2005.pdf. Library staff will search for the book for approximately four weeks. If the book is found, you will be notified by phone that the item is being held for you at the circulation desk. WCL faculty members and current students with rush requests may obtain the material faster through interlibrary loan.

Copying & Printing

AU students may print and make copies using their AU ID card. An AU ID card is required for printing. Library patrons without an AU ID card who wish to make copies in the library must first purchase an EagleBucks card for $1.00; the card costs $0.50 and has $0.50 in copying credit. Single sided copies are $0.03/page and double sided copies are $0.04/page.

Laptop Computers

WCL students may borrow a laptop computer from the Library for a period of one week. These laptops are equipped with Word, WordPerfect and many other standard programs and are available on a first come, first served basis for registered WCL students only. See Laptop Loaner Program for more information.

Group Study Rooms

  • Group study rooms must be signed out at https://my.wcl.american.edu.
  • Use of group study rooms is limited to groups of WCL students. A group is defined as two or more students using the room concurrently.
  • Individual students may use empty rooms, but may not reserve rooms.
  • Students using a room without a reservation may be asked to leave the room by the group with a reservation.
  • Group study room use is limited to two hours per user per day to ensure availability for all users.
  • Reservations must be booked in contiguous time blocks up to 2 hours per day.
  • Furnishings from other parts of the Library may not be brought into group study rooms without Library authorization.
  • All Library and Washington College of Law policies apply to students using group study rooms.
  • Group study rooms are subject to availability and reservations may be modified at any time by Library staff.
  • These policies are subject to change.

Carrels

Upper class WCL students may reserve one of 62 study carrels in designated areas of the library on a semester by semester basis. Carrel assignments are made by lottery at the start of each semester. Eligible materials must be checked out to carrels by bringing them to the Circulation Desk, charging the item to the carrel, and completing a blue carrel flag for each book. Flags must be kept in the book while it is charged out to the carrel. Books stored in carrels that are not checked out or any Library material left in unreserved carrels will be re-shelved. If a carrel is not occupied, other patrons may use the carrel in the absence of the person who has reserved it.

View the full carrel policy.

Security System

The Law Library has a security system to remind patrons to check materials out. You will be asked to stop if the system beeps as you enter or leave. A Library staff member will make certain that all library materials have been properly checked out and desensitized.