Services @ the Jacob Burns Law Library

The GW Law Library's catalog is JACOB, which includes books and journals. For help searching JACOB and the Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC), please visit https://law.gwu.libguides.com/jacobhelp.

All of our books may be used in the library.  However, some books cannot be checked out, such as reporters and digests.  For more information, see our Borrowing @ Jacob Burns Law Library LibGuide.

Loans:  You may borrow books from our circulating collection for one semester.  Reserve books circulate for two hours and must be used in the library.  Books borrowed through WRLC circulate for six weeks; books may be renewed and are subject to recall.

Recalls:  If a book is checked out, we encourage you to request it on interlibrary loan.  However, students may recall a book that is checked out.  Please be advised that a recall takes a minimum of seven days before the book is due back in the library; the time period varies depending on when the book was first checked out.  

Renewals:  Renew your books before they are overdue.  An item may be renewed one time.  Overdue books may not be renewed.

Fines and fees:  Replacement fees for lost or damaged books are determined on a case-by-case basis.  Fines will be assessed for overdue books.

The library places course books for both 1Ls and upper level courses in its collection on course reserve.  To locate textbooks on course reserve, search JACOB, the library's catalog.  Click on the button for "Course Reserves" and then search by your professor's last name.  Write down the call number of the book (e.g. KF1250. B46 2018) and bring it to the Circulation Desk along with your GWorld card.  Course reserve materials may be checked out for two hours and cannot leave the library.

We lend chargers for laptops, phones, and other electronic devices to GW Law students.  Chargers are available for check-out at the circulation desk.

• Only GW Law students may borrow these items.  Items may not be borrowed by GW students or by visitors.
• Due to high demand, loan periods are limited and there is no renewal.
• The loan period for chargers is 4 hours.  Fines will be imposed for each overdue item checked out.
• Students are asked to select the appropriate charger and may test their device before leaving the circulation desk with the equipment.
• Contact the library's circulation desk with any questions.

To request your ID for access to these services, send an email to electronicservices@law.gwu.libanswers.com.  Your email must include your first and last names, your @law.gwu.edu email address, your GWid, your class year, and the service for which you are requesting an ID.

IDs are provided to currently enrolled law students for the period of their studies at GW Law.  Non-law students enrolled in a course at GW Law and those enrolled in Continuous Enrollment through the Records Office are eligible for an ID, limited to their periods of enrollment.

Interlibrary loan services are only available to GW Law students.

Items not owned by the Burns Law Library:  Submit an ILL request via the library catalog or WorldCat.  

Items owned by the Burns Law Library:  If you would like the staff to pull books and/or make copies, submit an ILL request.  See Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery for more information. 

Status of Request:  You may check the status of your request by logging in to your interlibrary loan account.  You'll receive an email when your request is received; you must pick up the book within 5 days.  Any restrictions on using a book from another library are included in the email. 

Articles are usually sent as an attachment to your @law.gwu.edu email account.