Policies

Who Can Use the Westminster Law Library

• Current students, faculty & staff of Sturm College of Law
• Current students, faculty & staff of the University of Denver

ID Required

All individuals must present a valid ID when entering the Law Library. All University of Denver students, faculty, and staff with a current Pioneer ID card can access the law library’s main doors electronically by tapping their ID card on the keypad by the entrance. 

Temporary Access Restrictions

Campus visitors, including licensed attorneys and Sturm College of Law alumni, do not currently have access privileges to the Law Library. Exceptions to this policy may be sought by contacting the Assistant Law Library Director, Madeline Cohen, at mcohen@law.du.edu.  

Sturm College of Law alumni may also request materials for curbside pickup pursuant to the Law Library’s normal circulation policy. To make a request for curbside pickup, please fill out the Material Request Form.

For individuals seeking access to legal resources who do not have access to the Westminster Law Library, we recommend contacting the Colorado Supreme Court Library. Located on the first floor of the Ralph L. Carr Judicial Center in downtown Denver, the Colorado Supreme Court Library is open to the public from Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm.   

Colorado Supreme Court Library 
2 East 14th Ave., Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 720-625-5100
Fax: 720-625-5110
E-Mail:  library@judicial.state.co.is

Statement of Appropriate Use and Conduct

The Westminster Law Library is a private research facility that exists primarily to support the educational and research needs of the Sturm College of Law faculty, staff, and students. Secondarily, the Law Library supports the needs of the University of Denver community, and the local bar. We are committed to fostering an atmosphere that is conducive to the pursuit of a multi-faceted legal education; and sustaining an environment that encourages research, learning, and the preservation of the library’s collection to ensure ongoing access to legal resources.

Users admitted to the Law Library are thereby expected to follow the rules and regulations for the use of Law Library materials and to behave appropriately. All users are expected to comport themselves in a manner that is polite, professional, and respectful. The Westminster Law Library promotes an attitude and atmosphere of mutual respect, cooperation, and consideration among librarians and staff, and we expect the same from our library users.

Every user of the Law Library has a responsibility to:

• communicate and behave in a professional manner
• safeguard the integrity of library resources
• respect the restrictions placed on access to and the use of those resources
• report to library officers the theft, destruction, or misuse of library resources by others
• respect the rights of others and the use of the library according to current noise policy
• respect the authority of the librarians and staff whose job it is to protect library resources

The following are prohibited:

• illegal copying
• the systematic exploitation for profit of library resources or materials, including databases and electronic resources.
• unauthorized removal of materials or property from the library
• students or other affiliates using their library privileges for reasons other than their personal academic pursuits
• destruction, defacement, or abuse of library materials or property
• possession of alcohol or other controlled substances
• possession of weapons of any kind including but not limited to firearms, knives, razor blades, mace, or pepper spray.
• animals, with the exception of service animals.

Students, faculty, staff, alumni, members of the Bar, and/or any other users who fail to comply with rules and regulations are subject to revocation of library privileges, disciplinary action, and/or legal prosecution. All Law Library users are subject to the fines and penalties of the University of Denver as well as the laws of the State of Colorado.

 
Appropriate Use: Library & Law School Spaces

Attorney Use of Library Space

The Westminster Law Library maintains its space and collection primarily to support the research and educational needs of the faculty and students of the Sturm College of Law. To support the local legal community, the Law Library and its resources are available to licensed attorneys for legal research purposes.

*Meetings with clients or conducting other business are not permitted in the Law Library. * Any person who does not comply with this policy will be asked to leave and may be prohibited from using the Law Library in the future.

Hughes Rare Book Room

The Hughes Rare Book Room is a clean, quiet place for study. Food, beverage, and tobacco consumption is strictly prohibited. All technology use, including cell phones, is also prohibited. Students caught violating this policy may be asked to leave the Law Library.

If you are interested in accessing one of the volumes while in the Hughes Rare Book Room, please check with Law Library staff at the circulation desk.

University offices or groups interested in conducting a photo shoot, video recording, or video interview in the Hughes Rare Book Room must be coordinated and approved in advance. Please contact Madeline Cohen, Assistant Director, at mcohen@law.du.edu  for more information and room reservation requests.

Study Rooms

Study rooms in the Law Library and throughout the law school are, at all times, reserved only for Sturm College of Law students, faculty, and staff. Groups who are not affiliated with the Sturm College of Law may not use these rooms.

The Law Library contains five study rooms that are located along the north side of the 3rd floor, including four 4-person study rooms and one 10-person room. Students may reserve a study room in the Law Library or throughout the law school using the online reservation system. The Study Room Guidelines govern the usage of all study rooms in the Sturm College of Law, including those located in the Law Library.

General College of Law Space Policy

The Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver only allows after-hours use of its building by University of Denver students, faculty, and staff. All others will be required to leave the premises when the Westminster Law Library closes.

Additionally, at all times, use of the study rooms and classrooms are reserved for Sturm College of Law students, faculty, staff, and other programs housed in or approved in advance by the Sturm College of Law.

All cell phone noise is prohibited in the Law Library. Please silence your ringer upon entering the library. All cell phones must operate in vibrate mode only. If you must place or receive a call, please exit the Law Library. Cell phone use in the stairwell, study rooms, or copy rooms is strictly prohibited. If Law Library staff observes this behavior, you will be asked to leave. Cell phones MAY NOT be plugged into or attached to any Law Library computing or printing hardware, or into the campus network.

Please be aware that Lexis+, Westlaw, and Bloomberg Law have strict usage guidelines that govern terms of use and access.  These access credentials are for academic use only. Students and faculty who use their Lexis+, Westlaw, and Bloomberg Law IDs in an inappropriate manner or for commercial purposes outside of permitted use policies risk forfeiture of their IDs and access privileges, as well as any other penalties set forth in the licensing agreement.

Please also be aware:

• Searches must be conducted within the scope of university business activity. No personal searches should be conducted unless they are directly related to the university.
• Public Record searching is prohibited without prior permission from the Law Library administration. Please contact Professor Madeline Cohen at mcohen@law.du.edu for access to public records.
• The sharing of Westlaw, Lexis+, and Bloomberg Law passwords with others violate the licensing agreements with these services.

For more information, these restrictions on the use of Lexis+, Westlaw, and Bloomberg Law passwords are explained in the contracts you entered into with these vendors by activating and using your accounts.

• Westlaw Terms of Use License
• Lexis Terms of Use
• Bloomberg Terms of Service

Please be aware that all of our databases have specific terms of use. If you have any questions about the appropriate use of these resources, please contact Professor Madeline Cohen at mcohen@law.du.edu. Please visit our Use Policy guide for more information at https://libguides.law.du.edu/studentaccess.

WESTMINSTER LAW LIBRARY GIFT DONATION POLICY

Gifts are accepted with the understanding that donations become the property of the Law Library. The Law Library will determine the processing, location and access of all gift items.  The Law Library retains the right to dispose of gifts at any time.

The Law Library reserves the right to refuse an offer of material due to limited storage space, appropriateness of subject matter or duplication of materials already held in the collection.  In the case of a donation of a large number of items, the Law Library may request an inventory of gift materials.

The Law Library is prohibited from giving appraisals or estimates of value for tax purposes, therefore it is the responsibility of the donor to seek a valuation of the gift, if necessary, prior to its donation.  The Law Library will provide a receipt to the donor acknowledging the gift.

If you would like to donate a gift to the library, please fill out the Westminster Law Library Gift Donation Form below and email to Madeline Cohen at mcohen@law.du.edu.

Drink Policy

Non-alcoholic drinks may be consumed in covered containers in the Law Library. A covered container is any container that has a watertight lid and is resistant to spills.

Law Library staff are the sole arbiters of permissible beverages.

Food Policy

Food may not be consumed in the Westminster Law Library. No food or beverage is permitted in the Hughes Rare Book Room.

Enforcement of Food and Drink Policy

Anyone consuming food or prohibited drinks in the Law Library will be reminded of the food and drink policy and asked to relocate outside of the Law Library.  

Flagrant and continued violations may result in sanctions or revoked library privileges. 

Acceptable Use and Law Library Behavior

Law Library users are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of their study spaces. Trash and recyclables must be placed in the appropriate containers, and spills must be cleaned immediately. Paper towels are available at the Circulation Desk if needed. Please report any spills involving books, furniture, or carpets to the library staff. 

Law Library users who refuse to comply with the Food & Drink Policy are considered in violation of the Law Library’s Appropriate Use Policy.

Computer Workstations

The Westminster Law Library’s workstations are in public areas. Since others may be involuntarily exposed to such screens, the Law Library expects each user to exercise good judgment and be considerate of others. The display or transmission of sexually explicit or graphic material, obscenity or disruptive text, files or images harmful to minors is inappropriate and prohibited. If Law Library staff becomes aware of the use of electronic subject matter that would interfere with the maintenance of a safe, welcoming, and comfortable environment, the user will be banned from the library, and access privileges will be revoked.

Westminster Law Library Network Access Policy

A) Patrons must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including laws governing the transmission and dissemination of information while accessing the Internet, copyright law, and all Library policies and procedures.

B) Patrons are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette as well as the posted policies of the University of Denver and shall not use Law Library equipment, the network, or the Internet for antisocial activities. Such activities include but are not limited to hate mail, harassment, bullying, profanity, obscenity, misrepresentation, and impersonation.

C) The Law Library maintains websites for use by all patrons to help guide them to sources that are accurate, complete, and current. However, not all information found on the Internet is accurate, complete, up-to-date, or otherwise acceptable to all individuals. The Law Library is not responsible for the content of the Internet, content revisions to external resources listed on the Law Library’s website, nor the content of sources accessed through secondary links.

The Westminster Law Library has designated noise zones to accommodate patron needs for silent study, group collaboration, and the necessary work of the library. Law Library users are expected to adhere to the noise levels deemed acceptable for each floor.

Law Library Noise Zones

Green Zone: Second Floor – Quiet Conversational Noise

The Law Library’s main entrance is located on the second floor, and it is the library’s busiest level. The circulation and reference desks are located on this floor, so users can expect to hear a low to moderate level of conversational noise necessary for assisting library patrons. Three DUNet printers are also on this floor — including one color printer — as well as the LexisNexis printer.

Study groups in the Law Library are strongly encouraged to meet in one of the group study rooms. Please reserve a study room online in advance of group study sessions.

Yellow Zone: Third Floor – Quiet Study

The Law Library’s third floor is for quiet individual study, with minimal whispered conversation. Any extended conversations and unnecessary noise must be kept to a minimum.

Cite & Source workshops are held by the various law journals throughout the semester on this floor, which will impact its noise level. Signs for the Cite & Source events are displayed the week preceding a workshop to inform patrons. Please visit the first floor for a quiet study environment during these times.

Red Zone: First Floor – Silent Study

The Law Library’s first floor is a silent study floor and conversation is strictly prohibited.