Law Library Guide 2007-2008
Table of Contents
- Library Hours
- Telephone Numbers
- General Information and Library Access
- Reference and Other Services
- Audio-Visual Services, Holdings, and Equipment
- Circulating and Reserve Materials
- Rules and Regulations
- Locating Materials
- Topical Index to Selected Materials
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Library Hours, August 20, 2007 – May 26, 2008
| Monday - Friday | 7:30 AM - 11:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM |
Please note the following exceptions; any further exceptions will be posted:
| Mon., Nov. 12 - Tues., Nov. 20 (Extended Hours) |
7:30 AM - 11:50 PM (Mon. - Fri.) 9:00 AM - 11:50 PM (Sat.) 10:00 AM - 11:50 PM (Sun.) |
| Wed., Nov. 21 | 7:30 AM - 6:30 PM |
| Thurs., Nov. 22 | Closed (Thanksgiving) |
| Fri., Nov. 23 - Fri., Dec. 7 (Extended Hours) |
7:30 AM - 11:50 PM (Mon. - Fri.) 9:00 AM - 11:50 PM (Sat.) 10:00 AM - 11:50 PM (Sun.) |
| Sat., Dec. 8 - Thurs., Dec. 20 | 7:30 AM - 11:50 PM (Mon. - Sun.) |
| Fri., Dec. 21 | 7:30 AM - 11:50 PM (Last Exam) |
| Sat., Dec. 22 | 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Sun., Dec. 23 | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Mon., Dec. 24 | 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Tues., Dec. 25 | Closed (Christmas) |
| Wed., Dec. 26 - Mon., Dec. 31 | 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Mon. - Fri.) 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Sat. - Sun.) |
| Tues., Jan. 1 | Closed (New Year) |
| Wed., Jan. 2 - Fri., Jan. 4 | 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM (Intersession) |
| Sat., Jan. 5 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
| Sun., Jan. 6 | 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM |
| Mon., Jan. 7 | Resume regular hours. |
| Sat., March 1 | 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Winter Recess) |
| Sun., March 2 | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Winter Recess) |
| Mon., March 3 - Fri., March 7 | 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM (Winter Recess) |
| Sat., March 8 | Resume regular hours. |
| Mon., Mar. 31 - Fri., April 25 (Extended Hours) |
7:30 AM - 11:50 PM (Mon. - Fri.) 9:00 AM - 11:50 PM (Sat.) 10:00 AM - 11:50 PM (Sun.) |
| Sat., April 26 - Thurs., May 15 | 7:30 AM - 11:50 PM (Mon. - Sun.) |
| Fri., May 16 | 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM (Last Exam) |
| Sat., May 17 | 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM |
| Sun., May 18 | 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM |
| Mon., May 19 - Thurs., May 22 | 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM |
| Fri.., May 23 | Closed (Commencement) |
| Sat., May 24 - Mon., May 26 | Closed (Memorial Day Weekend) |
During reading and exam periods, these hours are available to NESL students, faculty, alumni, and staff only.
Telephone Numbers
| Circulation Desk: | (617) 422-7288 |
| Main Reference Desk: | (617) 422-7299 |
| Interlibrary Loan: | (617) 422-7307 |
| TTY: | (800) 439-0183 |
| Library Offices: | (617) 422-7282 |
| Fax: | (617) 422-7303 |
Library Staff
|
Administration
|
Anne M. Acton | Director of the Law Library | 7290 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kristin McCarthy | Associate Director of the Law Library | 7418 | |
| Deirdre Yelverton | Administrative Assistant | 7282 | |
|
Cataloging
|
Kyle Kelly | Technical Services Librarian | 7214 |
| Beth Willis | Cataloging and Preservation Librarian | 7420 | |
|
Circulation
| Anita Chase | Circulation and Interlibrary Loan Specialist | 7307 |
| Amy Rice | Evening Circulation/Interlibrary Loan Assistant | 7289 | |
|
Government Documents
| Anne Lynch | Acquisitions and Collection Management Librarian | 7293 |
| Sharon Wade | Acquisitions Assistant | TTY*7306 | |
| James Gage | Government Documents Specialist | 7310 | |
|
Periodicals
| Mary Jane Gadbois | Periodicals Specialist | 7202 |
|
Reference
| Barry Stearms | Senior Reference Librarian | 7332 |
| Sandra Lamar | Computer Services Reference Librarian | 7331 | |
| Helen Litwack | Collection Development and Reference Librarian | 7436 | |
| Brian Flaherty | Reference Librarian | 7462 | |
General
The Law Library's mission is to support and enhance the research and educational endeavors of the NESL faculty, students, staff, and alumni. The library is an essential and integral component in the educational life of the school; it supports the school's curriculum and fosters an atmosphere that is conducive to research and learning. The library's knowledgeable and service-oriented staff provides instruction and assistance in both online and traditional methods of research, and provides an excellent accessible collection for library users. The library's collection of over 355,000 volumes contains all standard legal research and reference materials, most of which are on open shelving for easy access. Documents are available in printed form, electronically, and on microform.
We also have an extensive collection of audio and video tapes, DVDs, CD-ROMs, and other computer materials as well as Internet access. The library occupies five levels on three floors, and seats 420. Group study rooms are available to NESL students. Reservations for rooms may be made online from the library's web page. The NESL library has nine reservable carrels, three located on each floor of the library. These carrels may be reserved for current research projects using checked out library material for no longer than 30 days. To reserve a carrel, sign up at the library Circulation Desk or online from the library web page.
Library Jobs
Students may obtain library employment applications at the Circulation Desk or via the library web page: www.nesl.edu/library/libraryjobs.cfm. Work-study is preferred, but all are welcome to apply. The library is an equal opportunity employer.
Access
The library is open to New England School of Law students; NESL faculty, staff, and alumni; local law students; members of the Massachusetts Bar; Tufts Health and Sciences faculty, students, and staff; Wentworth faculty, students, and staff; and NESL library permit holders. Current NESL students must bring their valid NESL ID with them in order to access the library. A current NESL student may bring one guest into the library on an occasional basis. Guests must sign the visitor's log. Other qualified users must present proper identification to security and sign the visitor's log prior to entering the library. If you have special needs and require assistance, please see a librarian or desk assistant.
Rules and Regulations
Quiet, please! Soft conversation is acceptable only in study rooms. When in other areas, please cooperate in maintaining a silent environment. Use of cellular phones is prohibited in all areas of the library. Library materials must not be removed from the library without having been checked out; abuse or mutilation of any library materials will not be tolerated. The library reserves the right to check bags upon exiting. Eating is prohibited in the library. Beverages are permitted in "spill-proof" mugs and screwtop bottles only (except near computers). NESL is smoke-free, and the use of all tobacco products is prohibited in the law school. Violation of library regulations may result in referral to the school disciplinary committee and/or loss of library privileges. Graduating seniors must return all library books to be eligible for graduation.
Reference Librarians
Reference Librarians, all of whom possess a J.D., MLS, or both, are available to assist you with research techniques, questions about our collection, and interlibrary loans. For assistance, please ask at the reference desk, or dial (617) 422-7299. Reference Librarians are available Monday through Thursday until 9:00 PM; and until 5:00 PM on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Live chat or IM reference and email reference service are available via the links following "Ask Reference" on the library web page.
Interlibrary Loans, Holds, and Retrieve Requests
Materials not in our collection may be borrowed from other libraries. Current students, faculty and staff can order an interlibrary loan via First Search or by filling out a form via the library web page. Forms for interlibrary loans are also at the Circulation Desk. New England School of Law is a member of the New England Law Library Consortium and the Boston Regional Library Network, which gives the library expedited interlibrary loan service. If you require access to materials which are in our collection but checked out to another patron, or in offsite storage, you may request the title online or at the Circulation Desk. If the library does not own the title or it is missing, we will do our best to find that material for you.
Announcements, Exhibits, and Library Newsletter
Current information about library hours, special programs, and announcements are posted on the library web page; exhibits of interest to our academic community are maintained by the library staff as well. The library publishes a newsletter twice a year, available online and in the library. A list of current acquisitions is posted monthly online.
Suggestions
The library's online catalog will accept patron input. Suggestions and comments regarding our library collection and administration may also be submitted in writing and deposited in the Suggestion Box at the Circulation Desk or given to a librarian.
Online Information Access and Instruction
WESTLAW and LEXIS/NEXIS are available to NESL faculty, staff, and students. Basic training in these services is given to all first year law students, and further training is offered on a continuous basis. These services are strictly limited by our contract to educational users; neither system may be used for any other purpose or by anyone who is not a current student, faculty member or staff member.
Many other online databases are available to NESL students. Internet and electronic database access is provided at workstations throughout the library. Training classes are offered as posted, and other classes may be arranged with the Reference Librarians. Most of these databases are licensed for access from home. Databases in CD-ROM format are also available on reserve for use on a stand-alone station. The 2007/2008 CD of 675 lessons from the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) is available at the reference desk. Students may pick up a copy of the current CD at the reference desk as well as the authorization code for the CALI website.
Portia, the library's web-based online catalog (OPAC), is accessible from terminals on all levels of the library, and on the Internet. It includes records of materials currently available as well as items on order. Many titles cataloged in Portia are linked directly to the full text online version.
Computer workstations are available for student use in all three of the library's computer labs (rooms 014, 115, and the Computer Media Center). Alumni are requested to use only the two public workstations in the main reading room of the first floor. These workstations offer alumni access to Westlaw and Lexis.
Audio-Visual Services, Holdings, and Equipment
A great many audio and video tapes and DVDs on a wide variety of subjects are available on reserve. Cassette players and portable DVD players are available at the Circulation Desk. The Computer and Media Center (CMC) and basement level group study rooms house VCRs/DVD players (one equipped for closed-caption viewing) for group viewing.
Microform materials include U.S. Supreme Court Records and Briefs, the Records and Briefs of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial and Appeals Courts, Congressional Record, Federal Register, federal legislative history materials, pre-National Reporter state reports, state session laws, state Attorney General opinions, Massachusetts legislative documents, state bar journals, state bar exams, UN treaties, International Court of Justice opinions, and various legal newspapers. Microform reader/printers are located on the basement level outside the Computer Media Center and outside room 014. One reader/printer is set up to scan microform images. Copies are free.
Computer Workstations are available in three labs for student use. Laser printers are available and accept copy cards. Students must provide their own storage media; student materials stored on hard drives will be removed. Technical assistance is available from computer staff at the Help Desk. Students who have signed a NESL Internet Use Agreement may access the World Wide Web and e-mail from most library workstations. In addition, 16 laptops, two of which are Mac I-Books, are available for checkout at the Circulation Desk for use in the library. Students must sign a Laptop User Policy Agreement in order to borrow a laptop for a maximum of 3 hours. Laptops are due back 1/2 hour before the library closes. Wireless access and security loops are available for laptop use on all 3 levels of the library.
A typewriter is located in room 018 on the basement level of the library. Tape and DVD players with headphones and laptop computers may be used throughout the library.
Photocopiers, located throughout the library, are available for library users; copiers, which accept $1 and $5 bills, will give change. Copy card vending machines are located on the first floor near the restrooms and in the basement near the elevator. Conway owns and maintains the photocopiers. Malfunctions should be reported at the Circulation Desk. Computer print stations located on the basement and first floor levels of the library operate using the same copy card. Report any printer problems to the Help Desk.
Non-Circulating Materials
Government Documents: Administrative reports of federal agencies, related looseleaf services, and federal legislative research materials are housed in the basement stacks 150-172. The Congressional Information Service (CIS), legislative documents, and Federal Index are located in the basement microfiche collection.
Periodicals: Law reviews and other periodicals are housed in the compact shelving on the basement level and are arranged alphabetically by title. Various indexes to the collection are available in print at Stack 196 and on the web.
Statutes: |
U.S. codes | First floor |
|---|---|---|
| State codes | Basement | |
| Massachusetts | Basement (stack 232), first floor (stack 103), and reference | |
Regulations: |
CFR | First floor |
| CMR | Circulation desk | |
Court Reports: |
Federal Courts | Second floor |
| West's Regional Reporters (2nd) | Second floor | |
| West's regional reporters (1st) | First floor and basement (in microfiche) | |
| State reporters | Basement | |
| Massachusetts courts | Basement (stacks 232-235) and stack 103 | |
| International Courts | Basement (stack 250) and microfiche (near room 014) | |
| Foreign Courts | Basement (stacks 247-248) | |
Citators: |
Federal citators | Second floor |
| Regional citators | Second floor | |
| Massachusetts citators | Reserve and basement | |
Digests: |
Federal digests | Second floor |
| American digests | Basement (room 008) | |
| Regional digests | Second floor | |
| State digests | Basement | |
| Massachusetts digests | First floor (stack 103) and basement |
Reference: Legal encyclopedias, Words and Phrases, ALR, and other major titles are located on the first and second floors. A Ready Reference Collection containing Massachusetts Practice Series, the Massachusetts General Laws Annotated, directories, and guidebooks is located across from the Circulation Desk. Many other helpful reference materials are available online.
Special Collections - The Archives: The historical archives housed in Room 209A contain materials from Portia Law School, founded in 1908 and rechartered as New England School of Law in 1969. Also represented are catalogs from the affiliated Calvin Coolidge College of Liberal Arts (1936-1968) and a collection of some personal papers of the school's founder, Arthur W. MacLean. A guide to the collection is available off the library web page; please contact the Director of the Law Library for access to this collection. The Dean's office of Portia Law School maintained scrapbooks of newspaper clippings about Portia and affiliated institutions. These are available in digital and microfilm format, and a partial searchable database is available. A collection of Calvin Coolidge College theses is also available on microfilm. In addition, NESL yearbooks and alumni newsletters are archived and available upon request. The Mary Joe Frug Women and the Law Collection is housed in room 007.
Newspapers and Magazines: The latest issues of daily Boston and national newspapers are located near the circulation desk; earlier issues of most are on reserve. Current issues of legal newspapers (and a few nonlegal) are located on reserve; other newspapers and popular magazines are located in the basement. Past issues of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly are kept in binders on reserve. Past issues of many other newspapers are retained in paper copy on the basement level. Microform editions of selected newspapers, mainly legal, are stored in Cabinets 36-43 in Stack 249, also located on the basement level.
Circulating Materials
Most treatises, hornbooks, general reading materials (items with Library of Congress call numbers) and some videotapes and DVDs may be checked out of the library. Currently enrolled NESL students, faculty, and staff, as well as alumni with library cards, may check out circulating books for approximately thirty days. Circulation transactions require a barcoded ID. You may be fined for overdue materials; please take note of the time or date due on materials. Please limit checkouts to no more than five (5) books in any given subject area. Circulating materials may be returned by dropping them into the book return bin at the end of the Circulation Desk; all are due by May 15. Materials may be renewed once if no other user has requested the book. Renewals may be made in person, by phone, or online. You may view your record of borrowed materials off of the Portia catalog web page. Graduating seniors must return all library books to be eligible for graduation. Library privileges may be suspended for borrowers who fail to return materials. For lost or damaged items the borrower will be charged the cost of replacement plus a $25.00 processing fee per title.
Reserve Materials
The following materials are on reserve behind the Circulation Desk: course materials, study aids, practice materials, legal newspapers, DVDs of classes, general videos, CD-ROMs and laptops for current NESL students. Frequently used Massachusetts sources, such as the Code of Massachusetts Regulations, are also located at the circulation desk. The NESL exams for the past five years are maintained by the library. They are passworded on the NESL web page. Various Boston museum passes are available for checkout after signing up and leaving a $10 refundable deposit. Most reserve materials may be used in the library for two hours. Permission for overnight checkout of some reserve materials may occasionally be granted by a Reference Librarian provided that the following conditions are met: multiple copies are available; the material is checked out before 9:00 PM, Monday - Thursday, and before 5:00 PM, Friday, Saturdays, and Sundays; and the material is returned within the first hour the library is open the next day. Only current students, faculty, and staff are eligible for this privilege.
Locating Materials
Most of the collection is on open shelving and is freely accessible for in-library use. Please reshelve these materials promptly and properly as a courtesy to other library users. Holdings may be easily identified and located as follows:
1. PORTIA, the library's online catalog, can be searched by author, title, subject, and keywords, and will provide call numbers and locations for all materials.
2. Portia's home page integrates a number of different ways of searching for either print or electronic materials. Metafind permits searches of more than one database at a time, including subscription databases (e.g. Index to Legal Periodicals) and library catalogs. An E-Journal search allows the user to find journals which the library has access to either online or in our print collection.
The new home page also highlights our special collections, special bibliographies like the Mary Joe Frug Collection, and links to popular library resources.
3. Maps are posted throughout the library.
| Stack Number | Level | Color Code | General Description of Holdings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-36 | Two | Blue | Federal Collection, Regional Reporters |
| 50-69 | Upper Mez. | Red | Legal treatises (KF3650 - Z) |
| 75-81 | One | Brown | Federal Statutes & Regulations |
| 82-82 | One | Brown | Legal Encyclopedias, ALRs |
| 84-102 | One | Brown | Legal Treatises (A - K230) |
| 103 | One | Brown | Massachusetts Collection |
| 125-144 | Lower Mez. | Orange | Legal Treatises (K231 - KF3649) |
| 150-172 | Basement | Green | Government Documents |
| 173-223 | Basement | Green | Periodicals |
| 224-246 | Basement | Green | State |
| 247-248 | Basement | Green | Foreign |
| 250 | Basement | Green | International |
| Cab. 1-47 | Basement | Microforms |
Topical Index to Selected Call Numbers
| Administrative Law | KF5401-5425 | Legal Research and Writing | KF240-251 |
| Admiralty | KF1096-1114 | Legal History | KF350-374 |
| Agency | KF1345 | The Legal Profession | KF297-334 |
| Antitrust | KF1631-1657 | Legislative Process | KF4945-4952 |
| Appellate Practice and Procedure | KF9056-9058 | Legal Aid | KF336-337 |
| Banking | KF966-1032 | Local Government/Municipal Law | KF5300-5332 |
| Bankruptcy | KF1501-1548 | Marital Relationships and Divorce | KF501-553 |
| Business Associations | KF1355-1488 | Mental Health Law | KF3828 |
| Business Tax Planning | KF6450-6499 | Medical Legislation | KF3828-3829 |
| Children and Law | KF479, 540-550 | Negotiation | KF9084 |
| Child Abuse | KF9323 | Office Practice | KF318-320 |
| Civil and Political Rights | KF4741-4788 | Patents and Trademarks | KF3091-3193 |
| Civil Procedure | KF8810-9075 | Products Liability | KF1296-1297 |
| Commerical Transactions | KF871-962 | Professional Responsibility | KF305-310 |
| Comparative Law | K520-5582 | Real Property | KF566-698 |
| Computers and the Law | KF390.5.C6 | Remedies | KF9010 |
| Computer Contracts | KF905.C6 | (See also Contracts, Remedies) | KF836-839 |
| Conflict of Laws | KF410-418 | Secured Transactions | KF1046-1062 |
| Constitutional Law | KF4501-5130 | Securities Regulation | KF1428-1457 |
| Contracts | KF801-1241 | Sports Law | KF3989 |
| Contracts, Quasi-Contract | KF1244 | Supreme Court History, biography | KF8741-8748 |
| Copyright | KF2968-3080 | Taxation (general) | KF6271-6645 |
| Corporations | KF1384-1480 | Income Taxation | KF6351-6499 |
| Criminal Law | KF9201-9479 | Taxation of Business Corporations | KF6450-6499 |
| Criminal Procedure | KF9601-9763 | Taxation of Estates and Gifts | KF6571-6594 |
| Education Policy and Law | KF4101-4257 | Taxation of Real Estate | KF6525-6540 |
| Employment Discrimination | KF3464-3469 | Torts | KF1246-1327 |
| Energy Law | KF2120-2140 | Trial Advocacy | KF8911-8925 |
| Entertainment and the Law | KF390.E57 | Water Law in Real Property | KF641-646 |
| Environmental Law | KF3775-3816 | Water Resources | KF5551-5590 |
| Estate Planning | KF746-750 | Wills, Estates, and Trusts | KF726-780 |
| Estate and Gift Taxation | KF65571-6594 | ||
| Evidence (civil cases) | KF8931-8969 | Massachusetts: | |
| Evidence (criminal cases) | KF9660-6977 | Business Associations | KFM2602-2618 |
| Family Law | KF501-553 | Civil Procedure | KFM2928-2943 |
| Federal Courts | KF8700-8807 | Contracts, Quasi-Contracts | KFM2550-2594 |
| First Amendment | KF4558, 4741-4783 | Criminal Law and Procedure | KFM2961-2993 |
| Foreign Relations | KF4650-4694 | Evidence | KFM2940-2941 |
| Freedom of Religion | KF4783 | Family | KFM2494-2506 |
| (also Church and State) | KF4865 | Real Property | KFM2510-2530 |
| Freedom of the Press | KF4774-4775 | Torts | KFM2595-2599 |
| Government Reg. of Entertainment | KF2932-2933 | ||
| Government Reg. of the Press | KF2750 | Foreign Law: | |
| Immigration Law | KF4801-4848 | Arranged by country or region | |
| Insurance Law | KF1146-1238 | Old World | KJ-KWX |
| International Law | KZ | New World | KG-KH |
| Jurisprudence | KF379-382 | UK | KD |
| Juvenile Justice | KF9771-9827 | Americas | KDZ |
| Labor Law | KF3301-3580 | Canada | KE |
| Land-Use Planning | KF5691-5710 | European Union | KJE |
