Law Library Collections
The law library collection is located in two buildings: Pappas (three levels in the law tower with the entrance on the second floor), and the Annex (two levels in Mugar Library's basement, accessible only from the courtyard adjacent to the Law School).
Collections |
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Archives and Rare Books
The Pappas Law Library houses its Rare Book collection and the Archives collection of the School of Law in a secure location. A reference librarian or circulation staff member can arrange access to these materials 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Dictionaries
The dictionary collection is located to the right as you enter the Pappas Reading Room. The collection includes both legal and general dictionaries in English and other languages.
Dictionaries do not circulate.
Electronic Resources and other Media
The Law Library subscribes to a number of databases for legal and non-legal research. In addition to these databases, law library users have access to most databases licensed by the Boston University libraries. Many electronic resources may be accessed via the wireless network or from off-campus locations by current BU Law students, faculty, and staff. Due to licensing restrictions, LexisNexis and Westlaw passwords are only issued to current BULaw students, faculty and staff.
CD-rom titles in the library's collection have a location of Law Media in the online catalog. The CDs are stored in the media cabinet located at the top of the back stairwell in the Pappas Reading Room. All of the computer lab workstations are equipped with CD-rom drives.
Video (VHS and DVD) titles have a location of Law Video in the online catalog. The videos are stored in the media cabinet located at the top of the back stairwell in the Pappas Reading Room. Please check with Terri Geiger (tgeiger@bu.edu, room 206) to borrow these materials overnight.
International Law and Foreign Law Materials
Most international law and foreign law materials are located in the Annex. Titles are located behind the Annex circulation desk, in the periodicals section, and in the classified sections of the collection. See International Law Research for additional information and research strategies and sources in international law.
Looseleafs
The law library subscribes to approximately 500 looseleaf services. The major looseleaf services, with related bound volumes and transfer binders, are located on the lower level of Pappas and are shelved between the tax collection and the state materials. Items in the looseleaf section of Pappas are designated in the online catalog with the label "Law Looseleaf" before the call number. Foreign, international, and treatise-type looseleaf services are located in the lower level of the Annex. Looseleaf services do not circulate.
Massachusetts
Primary Massachusetts materials are located in the Pappas Reading Room. The collection includes session laws, statutes, court reports, attorney general reports, Shepard's citations, case digests, administrative codes, and selected Massachusetts practice materials. Other Massachusetts materials are located in Reserve and in the state collection on the lower level of Pappas. The library also receives microform copies of Massachusetts legislative documents and court records and briefs. The reference librarians have developed an online guide to Massachusetts Law Research with links to online sources.
Microforms & Microforms Guide
The law library has an extensive microform collection, including federal, state, international, and periodical materials.
The Microforms Guide, which is available on the web and in the microform areas describes each publication and includes location and holdings information. Much of the microform collection is also indexed in the online catalog . The location Law Micro/Law Annex Micro before the call number indicates that an item is available in micro format.
Photocopies can be made on micro reader/printers by using a copy card. These machines are located in the Pappas Reading Room and the lower level of the Annex.
Newsletters
Newsletters published by the American Bar Association and the American Bar Foundation are available on the ABA and ABF websites (current 3 years) and on the library's website (from 2007-). Access to the library website PDFs are restricted to current law faculty, staff and students.
Periodicals & Law Journals A-Z
The law library subscribes to over 3,000 law reviews, law-related journals, and newspapers. Law Journals A-Z lists the location and holdings of the library's print and electronic periodicals. Holdings may also be found in the online catalog .
| Periodical Type | Location |
|---|---|
| American law reviews (excluding international law) |
Pappas Reading Room |
| Topical periodicals | Annex |
| Foreign and international journals | Annex |
| Tax periodicals | Pappas Reading Room |
| Periodicals with call numbers | Annex lower level |
| Microform periodicals | Pappas Reading Room |
Several major American law reviews are also duplicated at the Annex. The library subscribes to a number of newspapers and popular magazines for pleasure reading. Daily newspapers can be found in the Pappas Reading Room, behind the Pappas Reserve desk, and in the Annex. A selection of current popular magazines is located in the magazine racks in Pappas and the Annex.
Primary Materials & Finding Tools
Most U.S. primary sources and finding tools (federal and state case reporters, digests, citators, statutes, and regulations) are located on the first two floors of Pappas. These materials are to be used for research purposes and do not circulate. Often these materials are also available in electronic format.
Reference
The reference collection is located to the left as you enter the Pappas Reading Room. Several of the more important titles are duplicated on the upper level of the Annex across from the circulation desk. The reference collections include legal and general encyclopedias and dictionaries, directories, placement and bar admission information, previous law school exams, form books and research guides. Items located in the Pappas or Annex reference sections are designated in the online catalog with the label "Law Reference."
Reference materials do not circulate.
Reserve
Course materials, hornbooks, major treatises, study aids, newspapers, and other frequently used items are kept on Reserve. The Pappas reserve collection is located behind the circulation desk on the second floor. The Annex reserve collection is located behind the circulation desk at the Annex.
Course reserve lists are available through the online catalog.
Tax Resources
The law library has an extensive collection of tax resources to support both the J.D. and LL.M. programs. Primary tax sources (cases, statutes, and regulations) and the major tax looseleaf services are shelved by call number in the Tax Library, Room 110, located on the lower level of Pappas. Tax journals are shelved alphabetically in the Pappas Reading Room. Additional tax materials are available in the library annex and online. See Federal Tax Research for research strategies and sources of tax law.
Treatises
Most cataloged and classified treatises (items with a call number), foreign and international law materials, and topical journals are located in the Annex. Some of the major American academic law reviews are also duplicated in the Annex.
U.S. Government Documents
The law library collects many U.S. government documents related to law and regulation, most of which are cataloged and located in appropriate subject areas on the lower level of the Annex. Many government documents also are available on federal government websites. The law library's Federal Legal Research has links to major government sites. For assistance in locating other government publications, see a reference librarian.