Our policies help us maintain quality collections, services and safe environments.
The Judge Ben C. Green Law Library serves the education and research needs of its students, faculty and staff. Visitors with research needs are permitted to use the library's collections, providing the use does not conflict with its primary responsibility to members of the CWRU community. As a federal depository library, the Law Library is open to the public to use federal documents and online information.
Library Access: The primary responsibility of the Law Library is to support the teaching and research functions of the CWRU School of Law and other Case Western Reserve University researchers who need to use legal materials. Members of the CWRU community and the general public may use the library during normal library hours. During Law School Final exams, the access policy will change and non-law users with legal research needs must request access at the security desk. The Law Library hours will change occasionally, extending during final exams periods and shortening during intersessions, between semesters and over holidays. Information about the Law Library's hours and scheduled closures are available on the library hours page.
Reference: Reference librarians are available within the library to help you locate specific titles and identify and use appropriate legal sources, as well as provide a general overview of the law library's information systems, services, and collection. In addition, they can often advise you on appropriate research strategies, including advice on the use of electronic resources, such as the Internet and any of the databases subscribed to by the Library.
Members of the public and law alumni may ask for assistance with research or federal depository materials via email -- lawref@case.edu -- or phone at 216.368.5206. Ohio law does not allow library staff to give patrons legal advice, including interpretation of statutory or case law. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney. You may find an attorney by using a directory, such as Martindale.com or Avvo.com. If you cannot afford a lawyer, the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland may be able to assist you.
Noise and conversation: Many students use the Law Library for quiet study and reading. As a courtesy to them, please keep conversations to a minimum. The Richey Reading Room (basement) is a designated quiet zone. The First floor, where many services are offered, can be noisy.
The Library knows you "want to stay in touch," but ringing phones and loud cell phone conversations add unnecessary noise making it difficult for many people to study and work. Be considerate to others: turn off the cell phone ringer or switch to silent-vibrate mode in the library. Put the call on hold and move outside the gates to talk.
The library has a policy on food and drinks. You may bring beverages in spill-proof containers with secure lids, such as soda bottles with screw-off tops, travel mugs and water bottles. Candy, chips and small snacks are also allowed. However, please clean up after yourself to keep the library clean and tidy. Anyone not following this policy may be asked to leave the library until they finish their food or drink.
Study Rooms: Third floor study rooms are for CWRU Law students only.
Borrowing: To borrow materials, users must present a current CWRU ID card.
Loan periods/ Fines: Loan periods and fines vary depending on the status of the borrower and the type of material checked out.
Renewals: You may renew books by contacting Circulation in person, by phone (216.368.2792) or by using the My Library Account found on the catalog home page. To renew books in person or by phone, you will need your CWRU ID. Materials from Course Reserve and the Reference Area cannot be renewed. These materials should be returned to the Circulation Desk
Fines Overdue: Case Law Library monographs accrue fines at the rate of 0.25/day. Other fines for special loans, recalled items, etc. may apply. OhioLINK overdue fines (0.50/day for monographs) cannot be waived for any users. Interlibrary Loan Materials fines accrue at a rate of 0.50/day. For lost Case Law Library Materials, patrons will be charged $110.00 for each lost item.
Reserves: Frequently used legal materials, including nutshells, treatises, hornbooks, practice guides and other miscellaneous materials are located on the first floor of the library and to the right of the circulation desk. These items do not circulate. Only Law Faculty may check them out. Frequently used legal materials, including nutshells, treatises, hornbooks, practice guides and other miscellaneous materials are located on the first floor of the library and to the right of the circulation desk. These items do not circulate. Only the Law Faculty may check them out.
DVD Collection: The Judge Ben C. Green Law Library DVD collection is available for 7 day check out to those with a current CWRU ID card.
Damaged Books: You are responsible for any damage that occurs to an item while it is checked out to you. A book is considered “damaged” if it is returned to the library in a condition that requires extensive repair OR is unable to be repaired and cannot be returned to circulation. Examples of damaged books include, but are not limited to, those with water damage, mold, writing on the inside of the book, torn or missing pages, and/or damage to the outside of the book. Damage will be assessed by the Library Staff, who will determine if the book can be repaired. Fines will be assessed according to the severity of the damage and range from $10.00 up to the replacement cost of the book or the total repair costs if the book cannot be replaced. If you wish to check out a book that is already damaged, please show the damage to the circulation desk staff. We will make a note in the record, so as not to hold you responsible when the book is returned.
Guests can print up to ten pages for free on public computer terminals. Guests can save documents to their USB drives and purchases additional printouts at a Wepa kiosk using a credit card.
Students enrolled in the Law School receive a printing allowance— $20 for Fall and Spring, and $10 for Summer. Please see the Wēpa printing guide for how to send print jobs to the printer. The circulation desk has USB drives for temporary use.