Reference Desk
The Reference Desk, located to your immediate right as you enter the law library next to the Circulation Desk, is your main contact for information about the library's collection. The telephone number at the Reference Desk is 313-3758.
The Reference Desk is staffed by professional librarians and trained reference assistants. The job of the reference staff is to help patrons find materials in the library and to use materials in the collection. Reference staff is available during many of the hours that the library is open, although not at all times. Should you find the Reference Desk unstaffed, please inquire at the Circulation Desk.
What We Do
Reference staff can help you to use the library's catalog, point you to where materials are located in the library, suggest resources to consult for your legal research, and instruct you in the use of the library's electronic resources and databases. We cannot give you legal advice or answer specific legal questions for you. We can tell you if the library has a particular title or item, and we will check to see if an item is checked out.
Besides in-person reference, we also provide telephone reference. You may reach us by calling 313-3758. Telephone inquiries are by necessity shorter than in-person inquiries. Should your question or research project require a more detailed response, we will suggest that you visit the library to conduct your research and consult with our reference staff.
GU law students and faculty may submit reference questions to us. E-mail reference service is not available outside of the GU law community.
Throughout the school year, reference staff conduct formal training sessions for students on the use of library resources. Watch your e-mail for library announcements and look for postings in the library of upcoming events.
Reference and Research Guides
The Reference staff produces reference and research guides to assist you in locating materials in the library.
Assistance with Legal Research and Giving Legal Advice
Except for faculty research, our reference staff is not able to conduct legal research for library patrons. We are also unable to offer legal advice. While we do make the library's resources available to the general public, it is the responsibility of library users to conduct their own legal research, to read and interpret the law, and to reach their own conclusions about their legal situations.
If you feel you that need an attorney to assist you, we can offer you telephone numbers to various legal clinics and services agencies as well as to attorney referral services. For more information, call the Reference Desk at 313-3758.
