Library Tour
Map Key
First Floor
Jacob Burns Law Library Main Entrance
The Library is located on 20th Street between G & H Streets, NW.
Hours of operation are posted on the Services @ the Jacob Burns Law Library.
The Law Library provides information assistance to the GW Law faculty, students and staff as well as students, faculty and staff of the University who need to use the Law Library's resources to conduct legal research. We also encourage GW Law alumni and Friends of the Jacob Burns Law Library to use our services. Please ask us if you have a question about legal research or about library services and operations. The Law Library's access policy is available on the Services @ the Jacob Burns Law Library guide.
The Jacob Burns Law Library follows University policies on wearing masks. Masks are optional but remain strongly recommended in all University facilities. Please see the University's Onward GW and Campus Health web pages for more information on University policies.
Food is permitted only on Lower Level 1 (LL 1) in Burns and in the Burns Reading Room on the 2nd floor. Beverages are permitted throughout the library.
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Circulation/Reserve Desk
Circulation staff are available to assist patrons with obtaining Course Reserve materials and checking out Mac and PC chargers, chargers for phones and iPads, bike locks, and study aids, including Nutshells and Examples and Explanations. Staplers, an electric three-hole punch, and electric pencil sharpener also are available.
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Stairwell to Stockton Cellar
Stairs located to the right as you come through the 1st floor Library turnstiles take you to the Stockton Cellar.
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Hallway to Reference Commons
From the Circulation/Reserve Desk, a short hallway displays rare books and current faculty publications, and leads to the Reference Commons and Reference Services Desk.
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Printing Station
A WEPA printing station is located in a small alcove to the right as you enter through the Library turnstiles. A 3-hole punch and paper cutter also are available in the alcove.
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Reference Services
Librarians are available to provide assistance to patrons in-person, by phone, chat, or email.
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Reference Commons
Research computers in the Reference Commons are used for searching legal research databases and JACOB, the Law Library's catalog. Please sanitize the computer keyboard and mouse before using.
Located in the far corner of the Reference Commons is a WEPA printing station. A small reference collection includes legal encyclopedias and dictionaries, thesauri, manuals, and legal biographical directories.
Masks must be worn at all times. The library does not permit food/eating in the library; beverages are permitted but masks may only be removed briefly to drink. Prolonged periods of mask removal to drink are not permitted.
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Tasher Reading Room
Quiet study space. Masks must be worn at all times. The library does not permit food/eating in the library; beverages are permitted but masks may only be removed briefly to drink. Prolonged periods of mask removal to drink are not permitted. Hand sanitizers and wipes are located throughout the Library. Please make use of them!
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Rare Book Room
The Rare Book Room displays only a small portion of the Library's more than 35,000 rare books, incunabula, manuscripts, and archival material. The collection's original foundation of early Anglo-American legal works and international materials acquired from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace has expanded in recent times thanks to donations, major purchases at international auctions, and continuing selection of materials from antiquarian booksellers worldwide. Today the collection is noted especially for its Continental materials, with particular strength in French legal history.
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