Lucille Stewart Beeson Law Library

Access Policy

Access to the Lucille Stewart Beeson Law Library is limited to:

Samford faculty, students, and staff -- please show Samford I.D. to Circulation Desk Attendant.

Graduates of the Cumberland School of Law -- please register at desk.

Attorneys and members of their support staffs -- please show identification (e.g. bar card, business card) and register at the desk.

Visiting scholars -- Persons who need access to materials in our collection for scholarly or academic purposes should request permission in writing in advance by completing the form available at the circulation desk or sending a letter to Professor Laurel R. Clapp, Law Librarian, Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama 35229. Academics and scholars from outside the state of Alabama may be allowed access for the duration of their stay in the Birmingham area; others who need to examine materials in our collection that are not available elsewhere in the Birmingham area may be allowed access for that purpose. Those needing access to examine U.S. Depository items in our collection will also be allowed entry for that purpose. Visitors must register at desk.

Effective 4/26/1997

Please read A Letter to Our Patrons for more information.

Circulation Materials

To check out 7-day or reserve materials from the library, you must present your Samford I.D. card for checkout.

Treatises (7-day check-out): A Cumberland student may check out a treatise for one week, and renew it if there is no other demand for it. These books must be returned to the Circulation Desk.
Reserve Books (3-hour check-out): A Cumberland student may check out a reserve book and other reserve materials for three hours. These materials are to be used within the Law Library and must be returned to the Circulation Desk.
Overnight checkout: Cumberland students may check out reserve books overnight within three hours of closing (Monday-Friday and Sunday after 9:00 p.m. and Saturday after 7:00 p.m.) for use outside the Law Library. The books are due back the next morning within one hour after opening (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m., and Sunday 2:00 p.m.). Special reserve materials, reserve folders, and newspapers do not go out overnight.

Fines and Penalties

It is the student's responsibility to observe due date obligations and return all borrowed library materials to the Circulation Desk on time. The prompt return of the materials is crucial to provide for the needs of the entire student population.

When library materials become overdue, the circulation department will mail a notice to the student's local address. No further reminder will be attempted.

The Law Library will impose a fine for overdue books and other materials. Fines are $1.00 per day for each day the Library is open for 7-day books, and $1.00 per hour for 3-hour materials. For an item damaged or lost, the Library will charge a $10.00 replacement fee, plus the cost of the book, in addition to any outstanding fines on that book. Fines continue to accrue until the book is returned or reported lost by the student. There is no "maximum fine". Students are reponsible for all the library material they check out.

Food, Beverages, and Tobacco Products

Drinks are permitted in the public areas of the Law Library building, which include reading rooms, conference rooms, and computer labs, provided they are in covered, spill resistant containers (examples: travel mugs with lids, plastic bottles with screw tops). Spills should be reported, as soon as possible, to the Law Library staff at the Circulation Desk. Unapproved drink containers are prohibited (examples: disposable coffee cups with plastic lids, soda cans, vending machine cups, containers with or without lids from fast-food restaurants, and mugs or glasses without lids). Food and tobacco products are prohibited in the public areas of the Law Library building.

Interlibrary Loans

It is not possible for any one library to contain all materials that a researcher may need. See a Reference Librarian to request books or articles on interlibrary loan which the library does not hold and are needed for course work.

When requesting a journal through interlibrary loan, please provide a Reference Librarian with the journal's name, volume, number, article title and author's name. Also, provide the location of the citation (i.e., page and volume number of Index to Legal Periodicals). When requesting treatises, the full title, edition and author are needed as well as the location of where you found the information about the book. Notification of arrival of requested interlibrary loans will be left in your mail box.

Laptop Computers

While laptop computers are permitted in the Law Library, they should be used in the carrels of the Law Library for the convenience of electrical outlets and the potential for noise problems in other locations.

Laptops are available for checkout at the Circulation Desk for three hours (no overnight checkout); use is restricted to the Law Library building. Laptops may only be checked out by currently enrolled Cumberland law students.

LEXIS and WESTLAW

Because of contract restrictions, LEXIS and WESTLAW are available only to faculty and currently enrolled and trained Cumberland law students for research related to the school's educational function. Use for other purposes is strictly prohibited.

Training sessions will be announced on the Law Library bulletin boards. In the fall semester, training is limited to second and third year students.

Library Closing

All persons must leave the library and computer labs by closing time. Regardless of circumstances, students must sign off the computer terminals before closing time. Additional time for printing will not be allowed. A student's refusal to leave may result in disciplinary action being taken.

Microfiche Readers and Reader/Printers

Microfiche readers are available in Room 031B of the Lower Level (map) during Library office hours (if unattended, pleases go to the Circulation Desk). Four reader-printers area available which will print copies for 10¢ per page; it is important to know that dimes or nickels are necessary to photocopy. For assistance, please see a Reference Librarian.

Missing Materials

If you find that materials are missing from the library shelves, you may request a search at the Circulation Desk by filling out a missing item form. Please fill out the form completely as all information is necessary for an effective search of the needed item.

Photocopying

There are photocopy rooms to the right of the elevator (east end) on the Lower Level, First Floor and Second Floor. You may bring any books in the Law Library to the photocopiers provided that you return them to the proper shelf after copying. The photocopy machines are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please extend professional courtesy to other patrons when using these machines. Should any of the machines break down or need supplies, notify the Circulation Desk Attendant. The charge is 10 cents per copy. None of the copiers take cash; they all take a Samford I.D. card programmed with money.

Patrons outside the Samford community can purchase an empty cash card from the Card Value Center unit in the First Floor photocopy room for $1 (dollar bills only). Like the Samford I.D., you may scan this cash card in the Card Value Center and input $1, $5, $10 and $20 bills to program it with cash for use in the photocopiers. In addition, patrons may purchase a card at the Samford University Bookstore using cash, check, VISA, DISCOVER, or MasterCard.

Reserve Materials

Commonly, professors will keep certain reading assignments on reserve at the Circulation Desk. Reserve folders and books may be checked out for three hours.

Reshelving

All reporters, digests, codes, encyclopedias, adminstrative rules and regulations, citators, indexes, and law reviews must be returned to their proper shelf location after use. Do not, however, shelve treatises. Leave them on nearby tables. Be sure to return reserve books and materials to the Circulation Desk.

Telephones

Courtesy telephones are available for public use in each of the photocopy rooms (Lower Lever, First Floor and Second Floor [map]). Only local calls may be placed on this phone. Obtain a dial tone by dialing 9.

Due to the possible disturbances involved, cellular telephone use is not permitted in the library reading areas. They may be used in the passageway between the Law Library and the Law School.