In general, treatises, monographs, DVDs, and documents may be checked out by Georgetown University students, faculty, and staff. Materials that do not circulate include:

  • Reading Room and Reference materials (except from the William’s Popular Reading Collection)
  • Primary materials (e.g., statutes, treaties, court reports)
  • Periodicals
  • Microforms
  • Looseleaf services
  • Materials labeled “Library Use”

Georgetown Law students may check out books from the general collection for six weeks; reserve materials for three hours; and videotapes/DVDs for three days.

Georgetown Law students, faculty and staff can also borrow books from Georgetown’s main campus Lauinger Library,the Dahlgren Medical Library, and from several local academic libraries that are part of the Washington Research Libraries Consortium. You can request and have main campus and WRLC books delivered to the Law Library through the library catalog or you may visit the main campus library to borrow their books. You may submit a consortium request by first finding the book via a (Georgetown U. + Local Academic Libraries). Once you find consortium owned material that you wish to have routed to the Law Library, log into the library catalog with your NetID and Password, and click on “Request From a Local Academic Library” under How to Get It. Complete the form and Send Request once done.

Students from Main Campus and the Medical Center also have circulation privileges here at the Law Center. A valid Georgetown GOCard must be presented at the time of check-out for all patrons.

If we don’t own the materials that you need and the desired material is not available through the consortium, try Interlibrary Loan. If a Law Library book is checked out, missing, lost or at bindery, you may also request it through the consortium, if available. If unavailable through the consortium, try Interlibrary Loan. ILL requests are made through the ILLiad system.

Members of the Law Library Membership Program and students from other law schools do not have borrowing privileges.

Reserves & Course Reserves

  • Reserve Collection & Cool Stuff is held at the Williams Circulation Desk. Reserve materials may be checked out by Law Center faculty, staff, and students for a period of three hours and renewed only if a hold request has not been placed on the item.
  • Course Reserves are held only at the Williams Circulation Desk and can be checked out for three hours.
  • Reference materials, recent Study Aids, and all federal and state materials located in the Williams Reading Room cannot be checked out and must be used in the Reading Room.

Paging Service

While searching the catalog, if you see a general collection title that is ‘Available,’ click on ‘Place hold for pickup.’ Submit the form and the item will be retrieved from the stacks for you in one to two days. You will be notified when the item is available for pick-up and which library will be holding the material for you. A paged book is held for about 7 days before it is returned to the stacks.

Search Requests

Can’t find the book on the shelf? Go into the online catalog, search for the book title and confirm the location, call number and status. If the book is listed as “Williams Stacks” or “INTL” with a status of “available” and you can’t locate the item in the stacks, submit a missing book search request. The Library staff will search for the item over the next few weeks and will let you know via email if we find it. In the meantime, you should request the title from Interlibrary Loan. Please contact the Williams Circulation Desk if you have any questions about the location of an item.

Renewals and Recalls

Renewing Your Checked-Out Items

  • Heed all courtesy reminder notices that are emailed to you.
  • Renew your Law Library materials online through the Library Account to avoid fines.
  • Renew materials checked out from local academic libraries (consortium libraries) to avoid fines.
  • Visit or call the circulation desk for questions or assistance.
  • Most materials can be renewed three times, unless requested by another patron.
  • Note: Items borrowed through Interlibrary Loan must be renewed through your ILLiad account.

Recalling Item That Someone Else Has Checked Out

  • Georgetown faculty, students, and staff can recall materials that are checked out to another patron.
  • Recalls do not apply to course reserves, videos, and some other materials.
  • Search for the title in the catalog and click “Place hold for pickup.”
  • The library will contact the other patron to return the item. Once it is returned, you will be notified by email.
  • Each patron has a guaranteed two-week period of possession of a general collection item, after which the item can be recalled by another patron. The patron has a one week grace period to return a recalled item. If you need the material sooner, you can request through a local academic library. If no library in the consortium has the material you need, you can also submit an  Interlibrary Loan.

Receiving a Recall Notice

  • Each patron has a guaranteed two-week period of possession of a general collection item, after which the item can be recalled by another patron.
  • The due date of a recalled item will be revised to an earlier date than the one provided to you at the time of check-out.
  • You will receive an email if your borrowed item is recalled and you will be provided the new due date.
  • If a recalled item is not returned by the revised due date, fines will be charged.