Law Library COVID-19 Response: Access During COVID-19

Library Access During COVID-19

Check the status of library buildings, and learn about our approach to reentry and how to get updates.

Summer 2021

• Access to the Reading Room is restricted during this time. 
• Please see this page for further information: https://reservations.law.umich.edu/

Course Materials During COVID-19

Find course materials online and learn about purchasing your course texts.

1. You can find selected Course Reserves by professor and course through the law library catalog. If a professor has shared the first few weeks assignments with us and asked it to be listed in their course reserves, you will find PDF scans of the materials there. 
2. Many professors have worked to make the materials available on their Canvas sites.
3. The law school hosts a First Day Reading Assignments page where some professors post the assignments. In some cases, the professors have chosen to scan the entire reading to make available; in others they merely post the page numbers of the reading assignment. 

Research Help During COVID-19

Get the help you need from our Ask a Law Librarian service, offering expert legal research advice from our librarians

  Call us at 734-764-9324

 Text us at 734-329-5606

 Tweet @ us!

  Email us at askalawlibrarian@umich.edu. Emails are answered by Librarians during standard business hours, Monday-Friday. Patrons may expect a response within 1-2 business days for most emails.

  Consult with us. Schedule an appointment to meet with a Reference Librarian.

  Visit us at the Information Desk on Sub-1 for immediate in-person assistance. Open 8 am - midnight, Sunday-Thursday, and 8am - 10pm, Friday-Saturday*

The chat service is available to all of our patrons but is designed to meet the legal research needs of U-M students, staff, and faculty.

Chat is monitored from 1-6 pm Monday-Wednesday and 1-5 pm Thursday-Friday on days when class is in session.

*Excluding University holidays and semester breaks--check library hours for more information. The Building and library are available to law school community ONLY after 6 pm, and are closed to all but law school community on home football Saturdays.

Research Guides

• Library Resources for Michigan Law Students 
• Study Guides by Course 
• Exam Prep Resources
• Treatise Finder 
• All Guides 

Borrowing and Access to Collections During COVID-19

Maximize your access to our online resources and learn how to request things that aren’t available online.

Digital Resources

• Browse our extensive collection of e-resources on our e-resources page.
• Find digital items by title using our Treatise Finder. 
• Search our Catalog for a wide range of ebooks and other digital materials. 
• Also, check out the huge package of non-legal and interdisciplinary resources provided by the University Library. 

Contactless Delivery

The Law Library is a non-circulating library (books are for use in-building only). However, it is possible for Michigan Law students to view books in the library building (underground).

To request an item from our library:

1. Find the book in the library catalog, then use the "Request" button at the top of the catalog record for the book. You will be prompted to log in if you have not already done so.
2. Once that book has been pulled by our staff, we will be in touch when the book is available to arrange delivery to a carrel in the library.
3. You will be given a link to reserve the carrel for a period of time to review the book.
4. When you have reviewed the book, you will have the option to request scans of portions of it online using the "Request Scan" button also found in the catalog record. As long as it does not violate copyright we will be able to assist in scanning. 

Scanning: 

Scanning services are also available to the Michigan Law community, including students, faculty and staff.

1. To request a scan of an item in the law library:
   1. Find the book in the library catalog, then use the "Request a Scan" button. You will be prompted to log in if you have not already done so.
   2. Provide as much detail as possible about the portions you would like scanned.
   3. Note that we are limited by U.S. Copyright law, so be judicious in your request. Our staff will contact you if the request exceeds the limits.
2. To scan an item yourself:
   1. There are scanners located in several locations in the library for a self-service option, including several xerox photocopier/scanners and an overhead KIC scanner.
   2. The overhead KIC scanner will be available by reservation only for up to 90 minutes at a time.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

If you would like to borrow an item or request a scan of an item that is not held in the law library or another campus library, Michigan Law Students may submit and ILL request.  PLEASE NOTE: ILL cannot yet borrow physical items (print books, etc.) from other libraries, but we will endeavor to request a scan of items. Additionally, we cannot obtain copies of casebooks and other course materials via ILL.

1. From the main library homepage, select "My ILL Account" from the dropdown under "My Accounts" in the top navigation bar.
2. You will be prompted to log in with your uniquename and UMID number.
3. Choose the appropriate "New Request" option from the lefthand menu, and provide as much citation information as you have before submitting your request.
4. Our staff will be in touch when the item arrives and email a link to the item.