Library Fact Sheet (printer format-pdf)
The Pappas Law Library is one of the largest law school research collections in the United States. The law library has 675,000 volumes and volume equivalents. In addition, the library provides access to an extensive collection of law and law-related electronic resources. Access to the collection is provided through Millennium, Primo, WorldCat Local, and research guides on the library website. The Pappas Law Library is staffed by highly trained professionals, who provide the knowledge and expertise necessary for the optimal use of these research resources.
Housed in three floors of the Law School Tower and two floors of the Law Annex adjacent to the Tower, the Pappas Law Library provides a variety of spaces for individual and collaborative study including individual study carrels and small group discussion rooms. Research computers are available in the Pappas and Annex reading rooms, as well as in the two library classrooms located on the third floor of the Law Tower. A wireless network is available throughout Pappas, the Annex, and the Law Tower.
The library provides access to free and licensed electronic resources, including LexisNexis, Westlaw, HeinOnline, BNA Premier, and other major research platforms. Off-campus access to licensed resources is provided by EZproxy technology. The library’s classrooms and research computers also provide access to Microsoft Office applications as well as traditional printing. Wireless printing is available from all library floors. Scanning and photocopy machines are located in room 207 and in the Annex.
The library's resources include state and federal case law, statutes, legislative history, regulations and administrative law materials, all significant legal periodicals, and a major collection of legal treatises. The library has developed an extensive
international law collection with emphasis upon materials dealing with the European Union, the United Nations, international trade, and human rights. Additionally, in support of the law school's various specialized curricula and journals, the library has developed substantial collections in intellectual property law, health law, banking and financial law, and tax law.
The law library is a member of major local, national and international resource sharing groups. Memberships in OCLC SHARES, the Boston Library Consortium, the Association of Boston Law Librarians, and the New England Law Library Consortium open the resources of many other libraries to Boston University law students. In many instances, materials can be obtained on an expedited basis. Interlibrary loan service is also available for materials held by Boston University's Medical Library, not located on the university's main campus.
The legal information librarians have both law and library degrees and considerable experience in legal research instruction, including teaching required research classes to all new law students. The librarians also offer orientations, library tours, individual research consultations, and teach specialized legal research classes and a popular “Certificate in Research Skills for Practice” program. The library has extensive reference hours to provide daily assistance in the use of its rich and varied collections. Virtual reference services include LiveChat, SMS/Text and email reference.
The law library website provides research guides, tutorials and portals, links to useful online sources, news, and more information on services and research classes. Please visit our website at http://www.bu.edu/lawlibrary.August 2011