Access For All: Berkeley Law Library's Inclusive Study Policy

can non law students study at berkeley law library

The Berkeley Law Library is located in the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, which is considered one of the premier law schools in the United States. The library is home to one of the finest law collections in the world, including renowned collections in legal history, common law, and comparative law. While the library primarily serves UC Berkeley law students and faculty, it is also open to the general public. Beginning in January 2025, weekend access will be restricted to Berkeley Law students, faculty, and staff. The library offers a variety of resources, including extensive online databases, computer labs, spacious reading rooms, and photocopying services. Students can also reserve study rooms and classrooms, with reservations being managed by the Room Planning staff. Non-law student organizations are not permitted to make reservations.

Characteristics Values
Who is the library's primary clientele? UC Berkeley law students and law faculty
Who else does the library seek to meet the needs of? UC Berkeley students, faculty and staff, judges and attorneys, and the general public
Is the library wheelchair accessible? Yes
What does the library's collection include? Legal history, common law material, comparative law, international and human rights law, civil law, ecclesiastical law, foreign law, environmental law, US documents, UN documents, EU documents
What services does the library provide? Access to extensive online databases, three computer labs, four spacious reading rooms, photocopying services, high-speed wireless access
Who can reserve study rooms? Individual Berkeley Law students, Berkeley Law student groups
Who can request classrooms? Student organizations or journals
Who can have alcohol at events? Only Berkeley Law students, faculty, centers, and departments

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Who can use the library?

The Berkeley Law Library is open to the public and serves the legal research needs of its primary clientele (UC Berkeley law students and law faculty) and also seeks to meet the needs of UC Berkeley students, faculty and staff, judges and attorneys, and the general public. The library has one of the finest law collections in the world, with extensive holdings including the Robbins Religious and Civil Law Collection with titles in ecclesiastical, civil, comparative, and international law, and extensive collections of foreign, comparative, human rights, and environmental law titles.

Beginning in January 2025, weekend access to the Law Library will be restricted to Berkeley Law students, faculty, and staff. The library comprises three adjoining buildings, with classrooms, seminar rooms, auditoriums, a lounge, a reception room, a café, dining and study areas, and offices. The ground floor includes state-of-the-art classrooms, a full-service café, and a large commons area that opens onto an outdoor courtyard, which can be used for studying and socializing. The two lower levels house the law library’s renowned collection in efficient, compact shelving, and four glass-enclosed reading rooms that are bathed in natural light.

Individual Berkeley Law Students may register to reserve time in seven student meeting rooms on the law campus. These include Rooms 31 and 37 in the Student Center, Rooms 239D and 239E on the second floor, and Rooms LL135, LL137, LL139, and LL163 in the Law Library. There are also three small group study rooms (LL135, LL137, and LL139) and a conference room (LL163) in the Law Library that are available for student reservations. The computer lab is open to Berkeley Law students only whenever the Law Library is open.

Room reservations are for the student group making the request and cannot be made on behalf of non-law student organizations or organizations outside the law school. Only Berkeley Law students, faculty, centers, and departments are permitted to have alcohol at events.

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What are the opening times?

The Berkeley Law Library is open to the public, serving the needs of not only UC Berkeley law students and faculty but also UC Berkeley students, faculty and staff, judges, attorneys, and the general public. The library is open whenever the computer lab is open, except during the Main Reading Room-only hours. The regular business hours of the law school are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. From January 2025, weekend access will be restricted to Berkeley Law students, faculty, and staff.

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What are the library's holdings?

The Berkeley Law Library has one of the finest law collections in the world. Its extensive holdings include the Robbins Religious and Civil Law Collection, with titles in ecclesiastical, civil, comparative, and international law, as well as extensive collections of foreign, human rights, and environmental law titles. The Robbins Collection Research Center, part of the Robbins Religious and Civil Law Collection, holds over 300 rare manuscripts, some dating back to the 12th century. The collection comprises over 300,000 holdings, including books, incunabula, microfilm, and periodicals related to religious and civil law.

The library is also a depository for US, UN, and EU documents and is linked to the university system's holdings of more than seven million volumes. It provides students with access to extensive online databases, three computer labs, four spacious reading rooms, and photocopying services. The two lower levels of the library house the renowned collection in efficient, compact shelving, and four glass-enclosed reading rooms that are bathed in natural light.

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Can non-law students reserve rooms?

The Berkeley Law Library is part of the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, which is one of the premier law schools in the United States. The library has an extensive collection of legal history and common law material, including one of the finest collections of comparative law, international and human rights law, and civil law in the world. While the library primarily serves the needs of UC Berkeley law students and faculty, it is also open to the general public.

Regarding room reservations, the library has a few options available. There are three small group study rooms (LL135, LL137, and LL139) and a conference room (LL163) in the Law Library that can be reserved by students. To reserve these rooms, students must have a @berkeley.edu email address and log in with their CalNet credentials. It is important to note that reservations are only held for a maximum of 2 hours at a time, and no food is allowed in the Law Library. Additionally, there are other rooms throughout the law school that can be reserved using the same website.

However, it is important to note that the room reservation system is not managed by the Law Library itself. Any issues or problems with reservations must be directed to the room planning staff at [email protected]. The library is also not responsible for setting up the room or providing AV equipment, which must be requested from Building Services and Media Services, respectively.

While the library is generally open to the public, it is important to note that beginning in January 2025, weekend access to the Law Library will be restricted to Berkeley Law students, faculty, and staff only. This change may impact the availability of rooms for reservation by non-law students during the weekends.

In conclusion, while it is not explicitly stated that non-law students cannot reserve rooms, the information suggests that priority is given to law students and organizations. The room reservation system also requires a @berkeley.edu email address, which may not be available to non-law students. Therefore, it is likely that only Berkeley Law students and faculty are able to reserve rooms in the Law Library.

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What are the rules for events?

The Berkeley Law Library serves the legal research needs of its primary clientele, UC Berkeley law students and law faculty, but it is also open to UC Berkeley students, faculty and staff, judges and attorneys, and the general public. From January 2025, weekend access to the Law Library will be restricted to Berkeley Law students, faculty, and staff.

The following rules apply to events at Berkeley Law:

Room Reservations

  • Only Berkeley Law registered student groups and journals may reserve space for events.
  • Reservations cannot be made on behalf of non-law student organizations or organizations outside the law school.
  • Reservations must be made a minimum of two weeks in advance of the weekend requested.
  • Requests for rooms on a weekend day must be placed at least two weeks in advance.
  • Weekend room openings must be arranged with other Campus units and the request must be processed by them.
  • Media Services does not support events taking place in the Goldberg Room or any Non-Berkeley Law event.
  • The law school building is not staffed after 5:00 pm and is unable to support events taking place outside of regular business hours (8:00 am to 5:00 pm).
  • Events that are staged by Berkeley Law Centers or departments and are staffed by their employees will be allowed after 5:00 pm, with the understanding that employees will be present for the entire event and be responsible for clean-up.
  • The law school is not able to accommodate requests for after-hours events that are not staged by a Berkeley Law Center or department; the law school does not have the staff to support this.
  • Student event planners should seek assistance from ASUC to host an after-hours event.
  • Student groups seeking to host a campus-wide/public event should contact ASUC or the campus Dean of Students.
  • A confirmed reservation is required to use a room at Berkeley Law for any non-class event.
  • Space cannot be reserved during the Review Period or Final Exams.
  • Usage is limited to the confirmed space in the facility and to the group that reserved it.
  • Inclement weather does not automatically guarantee space indoors. A back-up space should be reserved in advance if necessary.

Alcohol

  • A completed alcohol permit is required by UCPD for every alcohol event.
  • The person submitting the alcohol permit must be the same person who made the room request.
  • You must have your completed permit, including the Senior Assistant Deans' signature, in the hands of Gar Russell, Director of Operations, a minimum of ten working days before the event.
  • Alcohol permits are good for the designated space only. Alcoholic beverages cannot be taken to other parts of the building not specifically listed on the permit.
  • All persons consuming alcohol must be carded in advance and then issued a wristband; wristbands are available from Student Services.

Behavior

  • Berkeley Law facilities must be used in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws, including ADA regulations, as well as in accordance with University policies and procedures.
  • Furniture must never block exit paths, including hallways, lobbies, and doorways.
  • Do not take furniture, including tables and chairs, from one space to use in another. This applies to both indoor and outdoor furniture.
  • Do not leave behind food mess, spills, sticky table tops, pizza boxes, etc.
  • There is no filming or photography in the library without advanced permission.
  • Do not remove or attempt to remove Library materials, equipment, or property without proper checkout or other official Library authorization.
  • Do not mutilate or damage Library materials by marking, underlining, removing pages or portions of pages, removing or defacing bindings, removing electronic theft devices, improperly using Post-Its and paper clips (e.g., in fragile materials), or in any other way damaging or defacing Library materials.
  • No eating and drinking in the Library except according to the specific policies pertaining to particular areas of the Library.
  • No smoking in buildings or near entrances and exits.
  • Do not fail to adhere to copyright laws, including systematically downloading, printing, or disseminating content from UCB-licensed electronic resources in violation of copyright laws.
  • Do not remain in the Library after closing or when requested to leave during emergency situations or drills.
  • Do not open emergency exits except in emergency situations.
  • Do not vandalize or deface the Library building, furniture, or equipment.
  • Do not maliciously access, alter, delete, damage, or destroy any computer system, computer program, or data.
  • Do not fail to have respectful and civil behavior towards library staff and other library patrons.
  • Do not wear improper attire. Bare feet, bare chests, transparent or see-through clothing, and bathing suits are examples of improper attire.
  • Maintain personal hygiene so as not to constitute a nuisance to other patrons or staff and to interfere with their use of the Library.
  • Do not sleep or otherwise inappropriately use Library furniture and facilities.
  • Do not cause a disturbance or engage in any behavior that interferes with Library activities.
  • Do not carry weapons in the Library unless authorized by law.

Frequently asked questions

The Berkeley Law Library is open to the public. However, beginning in January 2025, weekend access to the library will be restricted to Berkeley Law students, faculty, and staff.

No, only Berkeley Law students, faculty, and staff are permitted to reserve rooms in the library.

No, the computer lab is only open to Berkeley Law students.

No, only Berkeley Law students, faculty, centers, and departments are permitted to have alcohol at events.

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