Category Archives: Library Policies

Student Input Needed for 2013 Law Library Survey

The Law Library is conducting a survey of all Georgetown law students. Please take about 10 minutes to give us your feedback on the law library’s collections, services and a related matters. We promise to read every comment submitted, and we’ll do what we can to act on and respond to your feedback.

Take the 2013 Law Library Survey [Georgetown login required]

One lucky student completing the survey will win an 3G Kindle Paperwhite. We will keep the survey open through Sunday, April 21, and plan to announce the student winner by the following Tuesday.

It should only take a few minutes to complete the voluntary survey.  Based on feedback in prior years, we revised the past exam archive, created an online group study reservation system, relocated the reference desk in the Wolff Library and purchased new chairs for the Williams Reading Room and Williams library fifth floor. In addition, we have added book scanners, and we enhanced frequently-used library collections, including our collection of DVD and study aids.

You can review a summary of survey responses from 2007 to 2012 on our website. 

Tools for Audio Learners and Audio Authors

We are pleased to announce the availability of a room in the Williams library where we provide access to assistive technology.

  • Do you learn better by listening or by reading? 
  • Is it easier for you to dictate than to type? 
  • Would it be easier to proofread your documents by listening to them read back to you?

What if you don’t know the answer to any of these questions?

The Law Library and the Office of the Dean of Students are launching a new service to let members of the law center community use two unique productivity tools:

  • Dragon Naturally Speaking: A program that transcribes dictation, reads back your text, and allows users to control the computer using voice commands.
  • Kurzweil Educational System: A web-based program which allows the user to listen to text, either electronic or scanned printed information.

Both products are available in Room 111 of the E.B.Williams Law Library, and installed on a dedicated computer.

To try either system, simply reserve the room online and go to the Williams library circulation desk to borrow the headset and instruction sheet that will help you get started. When not being used for assistive technology, this room, EBW 111, is still available for group study purposes.

Library Open During Inauguration – Access Restricted

Inauguration Photo

On Inauguration Day, January 21st,  Georgetown University Law Library will be open normal hours but will have access restrictions.  The Library is within the secure zone (covering about 1.5 miles from K Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW on the north to Independence Avenue NE & NW on the south, and 2nd Street NE on the east to 23rd Street NW on the west).  To be allowed into this area you must have and show current Law Center identification at security checkpoints.

Here’s information on planning for the Presidential Inauguration.

Photo: An eye to the future / Ian Muir / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

GULLiver’s Believe it or Not: Smoking in the Library?

Student with pipe in Georgetown Law Library

Forget soda cans, noisy snacks, and aromatic carryout in the library – how about a late-night study buddy lighting up a stogie in the carrel behind you?

In 2012, it would be pretty much unthinkable (not to mention illegal*) to allow smoking anywhere inside the Georgetown Law Library. However, a new exhibit in the Williams Library highlights a time when cigarettes, pipes, and other types of tobacco were actually welcome within the library and Law Center, as elsewhere throughout society.

Stop by the Williams atrium display cases for some photos and facts that just might “blow” your mind. And remember, the only smoking allowed (and encouraged!) around here nowadays is of your exams – best of luck!

*D.C. Code § 7-1703(4) (2001).

What We Did at the Library This Summer

Each spring, we conduct a survey of law students to get input on library services and resources. We published a summary of 2012 results soon after the survey closed. Now we’re happy to share some information about what we did this summer, largely in response to comments. In brief: we added a water fountain to Wolff, installed after-hours book drops, overhauled the room reservation system, revamped our touch screen kiosks, and updated our entire website. 

Touch Screen KioskBook Return

We’ve been busy. We’re excited to see students returning, and we’re ready for another productive year. Check out a summary of comments in response to the 2012 survey.

Welcome back to campus, and drop us a note if you have any suggestions before the next annual survey comes around.

Food Policy Reminder

A friendly reminder —

Patrons are permitted to eat in the Williams Library, except in the Reading Room on the second floor.

As we head into finals, the Williams Library Reading Room becomes more popular and much more crowded. Please respect your fellow students and the silence of the Reading Room by eating in other permitted areas of the library.

For more information about the Library's food policy, please read Food & Drink Policies.

Best of luck on finals!

Law Library Response to 2011 Student Survey

Each spring for the last five years, the Law Library has conducted a survey of our students.  In 2011, 403 students responded to our survey, and we published summary charts of the responses back in March. Now we're publishing a survey response, to show examples of changes to library spaces, content and services guided by the useful student input.

Williams lounge furnitureWe just published the Spring 2011 Law Library Survey Response, where you can see highlights of a new exam archive system, information on new lounge seating in the Williams library, as well as highlights to changes to our collection of reserve materials.

You can view all survey materials on the Annual Law Library Survey page.

We appreciate student input. Throughout the year, we hope to continue this dialog through our Law Library Feedback Blog, a place where we post answers to your student questions. You can send comments and suggestions through our suggestion page.  The library will use the Feedback Blog to respond.

Extended Library Hours and Access Restrictions During Exams

Limited Public AccessGeorgetown Law Library limited public access period is in effect through May 17, 2011 for Spring Exams.

The Williams Library Reading Room will remain open 24 hours through the exam period, April 25th through May 17th.

For the benefit of Georgetown students studying for exams, only Georgetown University students, faculty, staff, alumni, members of the Friends of the Library program, and public patron card holders will be admitted through the end of exams.

Students from other law schools will not be admitted during the exam period.

Details about hours and reference availability is found on our Library Hours Calendar.
The hours for today are always current on our Home Page.

How to Get the Most out of Your Library: Ten Resources for Exam Prep and Summer Employment

With exams and the summer approaching, we would like to let you know about some of our services and resources that can be particularly useful during this time of year. A Georgetown Law Librarian will discuss materials that can be used for exam preparation, reference assistance we can provide during the summer, and many more library resources you may not be aware of. We are offering two sessions, and space will be limited, so please register online.

There will be coffee and snacks, so please take a break from studying and join us!

Sessions will be held on:

Tuesday April 26th at 5:00 PM in McDonough 110
Sunday, May 1st at 5:00 PM in McDonough 110

Take the Law Library Student Survey – 2011 [survey closed]

Update: Survey closed Sunday, March 20.  Updates will be posted to the Georgetown Law Library website, including news on a winner of the Apple iPod Touch.

The Law Library is currently conducting a survey of all Georgetown law students. Please take about 10 minutes to give us your feedback about our reference services and research collections. We’re also looking for your thoughts about our facilities and a few other library-related items. We promise to read every comment submitted, and we’ll do what we can to act on and respond to your feedback.

Take the 2011 Law Library Survey [Georgetown login required]

One lucky student completing the survey will win an Apple iPod Touch (32 GB). We will keep the survey open through Sunday, March 20, and plan to announce the student winner during March after the survey closes.

It should only take a few minutes to complete the voluntary survey.  Based on feedback in prior years, we created an online group study reservation system, relocated the reference desk in the Wolff Library and purchased new chairs for the Williams Reading Room and Williams library fifth floor. In addition, we have added library book scanners, and we enhanced frequently-used library collections, including our collection of DVD and study aids.

Read a summary of survey results from the last four years, together with our response each year: Annual Law Library Student Survey

Here’s a profile of the 607 students who replied last year. We hope to you’ll take the time to help us get at least this many responses this time around.
Graphic showing 2010 survey responses