Policies and Information

The primary mission of the Law Library is to support the learning and research needs of Baylor Law School students and faculty. The wider Baylor University community and the general public are welcome to use the library to conduct legal research. However, Baylor undergraduate and graduate students are not permitted to study in the Law Library and may be asked to leave the premises at the discretion of the library staff.

Borrowing privileges are limited to Baylor Law students and faculty, and may be extended to local attorneys. Please see the Borrowing and Interlibrary Loan FAQ for more information.

Use of the computers in the Library is limited to Baylor Law students; a password is required to log in. Baylor University users may access the Airbear Wi-Fi network, Non-Baylor affiliated users may request a Wi-Fi password from the Dean's Office reception desk. All library users may use the coin-operated photocopier.

Members of the general public should consult the Public Building Hours schedule as well as the Library Hours schedule to determine when they may access the library. A Baylor ID is required to enter the Law Library outside of public building hours.

Borrowing Policies

Generally, the Law Library is a non-circulating library. In other words, most of the materials are designed for legal research in the library. However, checking out selected library materials for up to three weeks is possible. Materials in the Reserve Room that may be borrowed are available for shorter periods, varying from 3 hours to one week, depending on the title.

Fines are imposed on all overdue materials. All library fines must be paid before receiving a diploma or registering for a new quarter.

Library borrowing privileges are available to Baylor students, faculty, and staff. Members of the State Bar of Texas who maintain offices in the Waco area may also be granted borrowing privileges on a case-by-case basis. If you are a local Waco attorney and wish to apply for a patron loan card, please contact the circulation desk to obtain an application. We will need a copy of your driver's license and your State Bar card.

For more information about library borrowing policies, contact the circulation desk at 254.710.2168.

Interlibrary Loan

If a law student or faculty member needs a title not available in the Law Library collection, he or she may request it through interlibrary loan. Please contact the Reference Librarian at 254.710.4587 or the circulation desk at 254.710.2168 for assistance with interlibrary loan requests. Users requesting items will be responsible for any applicable fees.

Copyright Policy

The Law Library follows U.S. copyright law and the institutional copyright policy that Baylor University has developed. Patron questions concerning specific copyright issues may be directed to the University copyright guidelines website or the University's Office of the General Counsel at 254.710.3821.

Tobacco products of any kind are prohibited on campus and in the Law Library, including in study rooms. Food is also prohibited in the Law Library and study rooms. Beverages are permitted if they are in a sealed container, such as a travel mug or a water bottle.

Please keep noise to a minimum while in the library. This is especially important during final exams. Please take all cell phone conversations outside the library.

Anonymously report Law Library noise here.

The library security includes a set of sensors at the entrance to the library, as well as another set at the entrance to the Reserve Room. The alarm will sound when materials have not been checked out properly and pass through the system.

If the alarm sounds, step away from the entrance and return to the circulation desk to have the materials properly processed.

The security system does not interfere with pacemakers, hearing aids, or other electronic or computer equipment. However, individuals wearing headphones are advised to remove them when approaching the system.

The Law Library maintains various written collection development policies which are intended to support the educational and research mission of the broader law school community. These policies cover the general collection, the government documents collection, and the library's electronic collection. For further information about these policies, please contact Brandon Quarles, the Law Library Director, at 254.710.4916.

The Law Library follows U.S. copyright law and the institutional copyright policy that Baylor University has developed. Patron questions concerning specific copyright issues may be directed to the University copyright guidelines website or the University's Office of the General Counsel at 254.710.3821.