About the Fineman & Pappas Law Libraries

The Fineman & Pappas Law Libraries are a private law library serving Boston University students, faculty, staff, and alumni. We hold one of the largest law school research collections in the United States, boasting more than one million volumes in digital and print formats, as well as access to a wide array of databases, indexes, and e-journals. 

Housed in the Law Complex, the libraries are staffed by highly trained professionals, with deep research expertise and knowledge. Our legal information librarians have both law and library degrees and teach required research classes to all new law students, as well as offer individual consultations. Ample individual and group study spaces, including individual study carrels and small group study rooms, provide a comfortable setting to stimulate your mind and expand your horizons. Computers for research and study are available in the instructional classroom on the third floor of the Fineman Library and in the Pappas reading room. Printing and wifi are available throughout the library.

Access to the collection is provided through BU Law Library Search, WorldCat, and research guides on the library website. The library provides access to free and licensed electronic resources, including Bloomberg Law, HeinOnline, Lexis+, Westlaw Edge, and other major research platforms. Off-campus access to licensed resources is provided by EZproxy technology. The library’s classrooms and research computers provide access to Microsoft Office, Adobe Professional, Zotero, and other software supporting law school study.

The library’s resources include state and federal case law, statutes, legislative history, regulations and administrative law materials, significant legal periodicals, and a major collection of legal treatises. The library has developed an international law collection with emphasis on 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 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.

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 and email reference.

The Fineman and Pappas Law Libraries are committed to making the library accessible to all users. Please inform Anna Lawless-Collins if you encounter any accessibility issues and notify her of any accommodations you need to use the library or its resources.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to be a vibrant community center at the core of the student experience at BUSL and provide a foundation for successful faculty teaching and scholarship.  We partner with the law school to create a dynamic and thriving community of learning and study.

In supporting students, we provide innovative programming, instruction, and excellent personal service in a welcoming, twenty-first century, student-centered space.

In supporting faculty, we proactively provide expert research services and expansive, curated resources for their scholarship and teaching.

We strive to be a leader in providing excellent service without boundaries to our students, faculty, and the broader BU community.

Annual Reports