About the Law Library

Collection | Accessing the Collection | Use of the Collection | Facilities & Services |

Welcome to the website of the University of British Columbia Law Library. This page provides a general introduction to the Law Library, its policies and services. For further assistance, please contact a member of the Law Library staff.
The Law Library is part of the UBC Library System, and is located on three floors in the Faculty of Law complex. It supports the study, reference, and research needs of the students and faculty of the Faculty of Law, and other members of the University community. As well, any person may use library resources for study and research in the Library.

The Library is committed to providing a learning environment that meets the intellectual and physical needs of users who are frequently in the library for extended periods of time. You may drink from spill proof containers but you may not eat in the Law Library. Please help us to preserve the library and collections for future generations of scholars.

THE COLLECTION

The Law Library has a comprehensive research collection. Primary and secondary legal materials are acquired from the major common law jurisdictions of the world: Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, as well as materials from other selected jurisdictions such as the European Community and the Pacific Rim. While the emphasis is on English language materials from common law jurisdictions, civil law materials from Quebec, in both English and French are collected, as well as comparative and international law materials.
Several factors determine the emphasis in areas of collection development: curriculum; research interests of the Faculty and its associated institutes; and current trends in society. Present areas of research support include Aboriginal Law, Asian Law, Business Law, Criminal Law, Dispute Resolution, Environmental Law, Legal History, Tax Law, and Women and the Law. A specialized Asian law collection comprises resources in English and in the vernacular. The current focus is on materials pertaining to the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea.
Traditional research materials are supplemented by electronic databases. Students and faculty members have access to the internet, e-mail, and electronic books, journals and legal databases.

For materials that are not available at UBC, the Law Library relies on its network of Canadian academic law libraries for photocopies and the loan of materials, and on the UBC Library’s interlibrary loan service.

ACCESSING THE COLLECTION

Online Catalogue
The Library catalogue contains information on almost all of the materials housed in the Law Library. To find journal articles, legal periodical indexes must be used. Library workstations require users to log in using their library card barcode and PIN or with their Campus Wide Logins (CWL). Our location code under the heading "Holdings" is LAW LIBRARY . Suffixes added to this code indicate specific locations in the Law Library.
Most of the books will be in one of three locations: Reference Room on Level 2, Level 3 (books and Canadian federal and provincial legislative materials), and Level 4 (mainly journals, law reports, non-Canadian legislation).
Abbreviations
Many law reports and statutes can be searched by their abbreviations (i.e., their cited forms) in the online catalogue. For those not in the catalogue, consult the Cardiff Index to Legal Abbreviations or books containing lists of abbreviations, located on the shelves in the Learning Commons (Level 2).

USE OF THE COLLECTION

Borrowing Privileges
You must have a valid UBCcard to borrow any book. Only UBC students and faculty can sign out course reserve materials.

Loan Periods & Fines for Overdue Books

Loan periods vary, depending on the type of material and category of borrower. Generally, the loan period for books is 2 weeks and journals circulate for 2 days. Most reserve materials circulate for 2 hours and may be borrowed for overnight use 2 hours before closing. They are due 1 hour after opening the following day. The Library system imposes fines automatically from the first day a book is overdue (from the first hour that a Reserve book is overdue). For further information, refer to UBC Library Loan Regulations.
Non Circulating Materials
Primary legal materials (law reports, statutes, regulations, legislative materials) generally do not circulate because it is important that they always be available for study and research. Materials labelled "Reference" and materials in Special Collections do not circulate and it may be necessary, on occasion, to restrict other materials.
Reference Room
The Reference Room contains both reference and reserve materials. Course readings and high-demand materials are shelved in the Reference Room. Materials that a professor has put "on reserve" may be found in the Online Catalogue by doing a "Course Reserve search". Other types of material in the Reference Room include statutes and regulations for British Columbia, and recent texts on subjects taught at this law school.

FACILITIES AND SERVICES

Disabled Library Users
The Law Library staff will try to accommodate the special needs of its users. For further information, refer to the Access Guide.
E-Mail
All UBC Students are eligible for a free email account. Click here for more information.
Food & Drink Policy
You may not eat in any public space in the UBC Law Library. You may drink from closed, spillproof containers. You may drink water from any container that is closed when not in use. No other drink containers are allowed. For more information see the Food & Drink Policy.
Group Study Rooms

Interlibrary Loans
Students, Staff and Faculty
Fee-for Service Clients
Internet Access for Laptops
For wireless access in the Law Library, refer to UBC Wireless.

Lost and Found
Personal possessions found in the Law Library are turned in at the Circulation Desk.
Printing and Copying
There are printers/copiers in the Copy Rooms on Levels 2 and 3 as well as in the Reference Room. All printers/copiers require the use of a UBC Library photocopy/printing card. A copy card dispenser and a change machine are located in the Copy Room on Level 2. Black and white copies are 7 cents per exposure and colour copies are 40 cents per exposure. For more information refer to Photocopying and Printing.
There is information on How to Print from laptops and library computers. Ask a library staff member for help if you encounter any problems.
Reference Services
Reference Hours, Staff and Services
Use of Law Library Facilities
All personal belongings must be removed from carrels and tables by closing time each day. The Library assumes no responsibility for notes or other personal belongings, and all personal property is left unattended at the user's risk.
Thefts do occur in the Library. Please keep your valuables with you.

Last modified: Oct 12, 2011

The University of British Columbia