About the Hunter Law Library

Library Hours

During Fall and Winter Semesters, the Law Library is open from 6:00am until 12:00 midnight, Monday through Friday; and 8:00am until 11:00pm on Saturday.  The Fall Semester Schedule begins on the first day of 1L Orientation, which occurs each year on Wednesday of the 3rd full week in August.

For Spring/Summer, the Law Library is open from 8:00am until 8:00pm, Monday through Saturday.  The Spring/Summer Schedule begins the last Saturday in April.

The Law Library is closed on Sunday.

Holidays the Law Library is Open (8:00 am until 5:00pm):

• Labor Day
• Martin Luther King Day
• Presidents' Day

Holidays the Law Library is Closed:

• Memorial Day
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas Day
• New Year's Eve
• New Year's Day
• Independence Day Observed (3 July)
• Independence Day (4 July)
• Pioneer Day (24 July)

Other Exceptions to the Schedule:

• Day before Thanksgiving, November 25^th (8:00am to 8:00pm)
• Day after Thanksgiving, November 27^th (8:00am to 11:00pm)
• Last day of Final Exams; Thursday, December 17^th (6:00am to 8:00pm)
• Christmas Break, December 18^th - January 2^nd (8:00am to 6:00pm, generally)
• Saturday after Christmas, December 26^th (CLOSED)
• Saturday after New Year's, January 2^nd (8:00am to 6:00pm)

Brigham Young University Winter Semester 2010 will begin on January 4^th.

Reference

Reference librarians are available to help direct patrons to information that may answer their questions or aid in their research. Be advised that library policy prohibits reference librarians from doing research for patrons or answering specific legal questions; however, librarians can direct patrons to relevant sources and give instruction on their use. The full-time reference librarians are also responsible for teaching and conducting the legal research classes offered at the law school.

Reference desks are located on the main floor and the third floor of the Library.   The Reference Department is staffed by both full-time and part-time reference librarians. When school is in session, reference assistance is available Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. to 9 p.m and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. During the summer months, reference assistance is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday thru Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Reference librarians are also available for additional assistance by appointment and may be contacted by telephone at (801) 422-6658.

Maps and Directions

The J. Reuben Clark Building (JRCB) is located on the east side of the BYU Campus, near the Wilkinson Student Center, between Campus Drive and 900 East, and south of Heritage Drive. The Law Library occupies the north wing of the building. The BYU website provides directions (p. 2 of pdf) and maps to the campus.

BYU Campus Map (pdf)

Library Maps

First Floor (basement)

 

Second Floor (main)

 

Third Floor 

 

Borrowing Privileges

All patrons who have a BYU library card may borrow Law Library materials. Students should use their university identification card. Non-students may obtain a BYU Library Card through the Harold B. Lee Library Friends Program. Law school alumni and local attorneys may check materials out from the Law Library using their bar membership card. In general, members of the public may borrow items for three weeks. The Circulation Desk can provide information about specific check-out periods and policies for various types of materials: (801) 422-3593.

Lost and Found

The Circulation Desk receives lost & found items from the J. Reuben Clark Building. These items are collected by the BYU Lost & Found Department once or twice a week. Be aware that it often takes a few days for items to be turned in. In addition, some "finders" of lost items take them directly to the campus lost & found.

Individuals who who have lost items in the JRCB are encouraged to check several times with the Circulation staff to see if the items have been turned in, and also with the BYU Lost & Found Department (1055 WSC, (801) 422-3024).

Gifts and Donations

The Howard W. Hunter Law Library gratefully accepts gifts of books and other materials.  Gifts are accepted with the understanding that the law library retains discretion to utilize or dispose of the items as warranted by library needs.  Gifts not added to the library collection will be returned to the donor upon written request at the time of donation.  Unless requested otherwise, a letter of acknowledgement will be sent to the donor of each gift.  The library does not assign a value to gift materials. All gifts should be directed to Andrea Howard in 260A JRCB.

For Attorneys

Library Use Privileges

The Law Library provides borrowing privileges to law school alumni and members of the Utah Bar at no charge. Attorneys who wish to arrange for circulation privileges at the Harold B. Lee Library as well should contact the Circulation Desk at (801) 422-3593 for instructions.

Attorneys can also request copies of library material by contacting the Reference Desk at (801) 422-6658. The research fee for locating a citation is $2.00. Copies are $.20/page plus shipping costs if mailed, and $2.00/page if faxed or emailed.

Self-Study CLE Materials

The following titles are preapproved by the Utah State Bar for self-study CLE credit for 2009 and 2010:

These materials are available at the law library circulation desk at BYU (801-422-3593). Please call ahead to determine availability and check-out periods.

Once you have listened to the recording, please contact Steve Averett (byulawschool@gmail.com) to have credit posted.

Hunter Law Library Directory

Additional staff information is available here.

Collection Description

The J. Reuben Clark Law Library has a strong collection of Anglo-American primary and secondary sources, and is particularly strong in Utah primary and secondary sources. The Library also collects foreign, international, and comparative law materials and maintains a very good state and federal government documents collection.

As of Fall 2005, the Library reported total holdings of 477,601 volumes and volume equivalents: 329,676 volumes in hard copy and 147,925 volume equivalents in other formats. The Library reports a monograph title count of 168,256 and an active serials subscription count of 4,155.

The Library receives selected Utah state documents, including bills, administrative rules and regulations, legislative reports, and agency materials. Ninety-nine percent of the Library’s holdings are accessible through the integrated online system.

Online Resources available in the Library for Public Use

The Law Library subscribes to a number of online legal research resources. The most frequently used of these are Lexis Academic and Westlaw KeyCite.

How to Use LexisNexis Academic

LexisNexis Academic provides worldwide access to full text cases, codes, and other legal research materials to the BYU community (BYU netid/password required). After entering LexisNexis Academic, choose the appropriate database. Then enter the terms to search for in the database into the search box. Additional assistance in using LexisNexis Academic Universe is available at the Law Library reference desk.

How to Use Westlaw KeyCite Access

Westlaw KeyCite Access is available to the public only within the Library. It is accessed by clicking on the appropriate icon on designated computers near the reference desk. After agreeing to Westlaw’s “terms and conditions,” enter your citation in the KeyCite search box and your KeyCite report will be generated. This service does not provide the full-text of any cases, only citations. Additional assistance in using KeyCite is available at the Law Library reference desk.

Additional online resources are available through the Quicklinks menu on the home page and the various subject pages.

Tours

Library tours may be scheduled through GaeLynn Kuchar: (801) 422-4277.

Undergraduate Class Lectures

Legal research lectures may be arranged for undergraduate classes. To make lecture arrangements, contact Dennis Sears: (801) 422-7472.

Contact Us

256 JRCB
Provo, UT 84602

Tel. (801) 422-3593
Fax. (801) 422-0404