Dedicated in 1989, the Law Center’s library is currently one of the largest academic law libraries in the nation.

The Williams Library was dedicated in 1989 for alumnus Edward Bennett Williams (L’44). Williams was one of the founding partners of the prestigious law firm Williams and Connolly. Additionally, Williams headed President Reagan’s first term transition team, and he was also the owner of the Baltimore Orioles.

In its collections, the library maintains vast resources that reflect the diverse interests of the Law Center faculty and the student body. The library team are leaders in law librarianship and are frequent speakers at the national, regional, and local level on a wide variety of topics. Taken altogether, the library is a key part of the life of the Law Center, and its staff works closely and collectively with students and faculty throughout their time at Georgetown.

The library is organized around a large atrium that lets natural light into the heart of the building. The atrium also contains the Circulation Desk and the Reference Desk. The Oakley Reading Room and the Computer Learning Center are located off the atrium on the second floor, and there is a main lounge area on the fifth floor above the atrium.

The Reading Room

The Reading Room is the iconic center to the Williams Library. Fans of the 1993 legal thriller The Pelican Brief may find that the Reading Room looks familiar — that’s because The Pelican Brief was filmed at Georgetown Law, and the Reading Room is prominently featured in the film.