General Information

The Library entrance is on the 6th floor of the Law School. Access to the Library is available through the Law School building at 315 S. Plymouth and also through a walkway on the 6th floor of the CBA building at 321 S. Plymouth. The walkway is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more detailed descriptions of the Library’s services, holdings, policies and hours, visit our website at http://www.jmls.edu/library.

Library Hours
8:00 am to 11:00 pm    Monday - Thursday
8:00 am to 8:00 pm      Friday
9:00 am to 8:00 pm      Saturday
9:00 am to 10:00 pm    Sunday

Reference Desk Hours
9:00 am to 7:00 pm            Monday - Thursday
9:00 am to 5:00 pm            Friday
9:00 am to 4:00 pm            Saturday and Sunday

Library hours are subject to change during holiday and break periods. Upcoming changes in hours, including closures, are noted on the Library homepage at http://www.jmls.edu/library and announced in advance to CBA members.

Telephone Numbers

To reach the library by phone, call the Law School’s general number (312)427-2737 and press x710 for Circulation or x729 for Reference. The Circulation Desk also has a direct number, (312)987-1413.

Library Access & Privileges

The John Marshall Law Library connects patrons to the world of legal information. The physical Library serves as a commons for patrons to use print items and electronic resources.

1. CBA members must have a JMLS photo i.d. card to use the automatic entrances to the Law School, Library and CBA walkway. Please complete a Library Usage Agreement and pay a one time fee of $10 for the card. The card remains valid for as long as you are a CBA member in good standing. I.d. cards may be purchased at the Library entrance M-F, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Your JMLS photo i.d. card gives you automatic access to the library during all hours that the Library is open.
   
   
2. You must have a JMLS photo i.d. card in order to check out Library materials, which circulate.
   
   
3. You can also use your card to make copies and print at the Library. A vending machine in the 6th floor copy room allows you to add money to your card for copying and printing.
   
   
4. Sharing a JMLS photo i.d. card is a violation of the Law School’s security policy. Please do not lend you card to anyone. There is a $25 replacement fee for lost cards.
   
   
5. You may also obtain an i.d. card for your law clerk(s). Please provide the name(s) of your clerks under the authorization portion of the Library Usage Agreement and pay $10 for each clerk’s card. The clerk’s card allows your law clerk to use the Library and also check out materials on your behalf. Clerk’s cards remain valid for 6 months and may be renewed for an additional $10 fee.
   
   
6. The Library allows tightly covered drink containers, including plastic bottles and cardboard coffee cups. If you bring food into the Library, please be respectful of fellow patrons.
   
   
7. Please set cell phone ringers on silent or vibrate when entering the Library. The use of portable telephones is not permitted in the Library. Please leave the Library or go to a stairwell before using such a device.
   
   
8. Please leave your books on a book truck (i.e. in the Library stairwell) when you are done using them. If you do not want your books shelved, please leave a note to that effect. We will honor your request for one day.
   
   
9. You are welcome to use your laptops in the Library. Please do not leave laptops or any other valuables unattended. Storage lockers are on 6 next to the photocopy machine. 

Collections

6th Floor
The 6th Floor is the central commons of the Library. On 6, you can find:

• circulation services
• reference services
• the reference collection
• basic research materials (including statutes and encyclopedias)
• computer terminals and printers
• Popular reading section
• Government Documents
• Microforms

6M Floor
The 6M floor contains Illinois legal research materials, including statutes, reporters, and digests.

7th Floor
The 7th floor contains our non-legal and international law collection. Also on 7 are two computer terminals provided by the CBA for the exclusive use of CBA members.

7M Floor
The 7M Floor contains the CBA Collection. This is a non-circulating collection intended for practicing attorneys.

8th Floor
This floor contains our bound journals and federal primary materials. Journals are arranged in alphabetical order. Recently received unbound issues are on reserve.

9th Floor
This floor contains regional digests and treatises.

10th Floor
This floor contains more treatises and our state collection.

Copy machines are available on every floor of the library, except 6M and 7M.

Services

Circulation
All circulating Library materials may be checked out with a  JMLS i.d. at the Circulation Desk on the 6th floor.
Most materials, including CD ROMs circulate for one week, with two possible renewals.

Some materials are on reserve at Circulation. Reserve materials can be checked out for either 3-hour or 24-hour increments with two renewals. However, 3-hour materials cannot be kept overnight.

Fines for overdue materials are:

$1 per hour overdue for 3-hour reserve items,

$2 per day for 24-hour items, and

$1 per day for weekly items.

You may renew your materials over the phone, as long as they are not overdue. Call x710 or direct dial (312)987-1413 to renew.

Online Catalog

Web address: http://catalog.jmls.edu   You can access the Library’s online catalog from any Internet browser or via terminals throughout the Library.

You can look up materials by keyword or exact author, title, or subject. Once you find the item you want, the record will give you the location (such as 10th Floor) and the call number (such as KF 5050).

However, there are exceptions:

Reserve - at the 6th Floor Circulation Desk

Research - on 6 or 6M

Ref/Reference - on 6 in the Reference section

CBA - 7M

If you are looking for a recent journal published in the last year it will be on reserve. Otherwise it will generally be on the 8th floor in alphabetical order.

Electronic Resources

Access to electronic resources, as well as general internet access, is available only at the internet kiosks on 6. It is possible to print and download from these kiosks.

Please check the Library’s website periodically for new listings.

Reference & ILL

Reference Librarians are available to assist patrons with finding and using print and electronic resources in the library.

The Reference Librarians have dual degrees in law and information science. You may call the Reference Desk at x729. 

The interlibrary loan (ILL) system allows us to borrow items from other libraries on your behalf, if such items circulate. The easiest way to find books or articles at other libraries is to use First Search, including Worldcat. If you need assistance, please contact a Reference Librarian. Please note that turnaround of ILL materials is not immediate and depends upon response time of other libraries, mail or messenger service and other factors beyond our Library’s control. 

For a fee, CBA patrons may request that Library materials be copied, faxed or mailed to them. Requests may be made at the Reference Desk, x729. An exact citation must be provided. A schedule of fees is available at the Circulation Desk.