Access and Other Policies

Access Policy

The Taylor Law Library is a privately-funded research facility with the primary mission of supporting the study and research needs of Southwestern students and faculty. The library is open to the following groups:

• Southwestern students, faculty and staff
• Southwestern alumni (Please note: policy suspended until further notice due to COVID-19 pandemic.)
• Students and faculty from other ABA-approved law schools with current ID from their law school, so long as Southwestern students and faculty receive reciprocal access at the visitor's law school (Please note: policy suspended until further notice due to COVID-19 pandemic.)
• Members of the legal community who have purchased a Southwestern Law Library Membership. (Please note: program suspended until further notice due to COVID-19 pandemic.)
• Graduates of other ABA-approved law schools who are studying for the bar exam and have purchased a bar study access card. Cards are available during the 7 weeks preceding the February and July California bar examinations. (Please note: Program suspended until further notice due to COVID-19 pandemic.)

Southwestern students, faculty, staff and library members must have a Southwestern identification card to enter the library. Southwestern alumni may use their old student ID or complete the Alumni Card Application Form (PDF) to purchase a new card. Children under the age of 14 years who enter the library with an authorized user may not be left unattended in the library.

Patrons with Disabilities

Patrons with disabilities should park on the upper deck of the parking lot behind the building. The law library is fully wheelchair accessible. Please ask any member of the library staff for assistance in reaching materials on the upper shelves and to provide such other services as may be needed. House phones are located on the first floor in the Computer Lab, on the second floor near the online catalog and in the photocopy room and on the lower level near the online catalog in front of the photocopy room. Please call Reference at 6725 or Circulation at 5771 for assistance. Students with disabilities are encouraged to communicate their access needs and concerns to library staff.

Food and Drink

No food or drinks are allowed anywhere in the Library, including Study Rooms.

(Please note: policy suspended until further notice due to COVID-19 pandemic.) Beverages in secure lidded containers and small snack items that are not messy, noisy or strong-smelling are permitted in the library. Please dispose of all trash in trash receptacles located throughout the library and leave all spaces clean for the next person.

Smoking

Smoking, e-cigarettes, and vaping are not permitted in any area of the library, including restrooms, stairwells, and group study rooms.

Noise and Cell Phones

Noise from conversations is the most frequent source of complaint from library users. Conversation and other unnecessary noise should be kept to a minimum. Cell phone usage is not permitted in the library. As a courtesy to others, please mute your phone when entering and return calls outside of the library.

Emergencies and General Security

Evacuation plans are posted at the main library stairwell, the elevator, and at all emergency exits. Please take a few minutes to walk around the library to become familiar with emergency exit locations. Intercoms for communicating with the security station at the building entrance are located in each restroom and throughout the library. If you notice anything suspicious, please report it to Security or library staff. It is better to err on the side of reporting the problem. Please do not leave your valuables, study materials, and especially, laptop computers unattended. Remember that your valuables can be taken in a matter of minutes.

Group Study Rooms

The library's 21 group study rooms are reserved for the exclusive use of currently-enrolled Southwestern students. The Study Room policies are listed on the booking landing page and on the MySWLAW Portal (log-in required).  To book a group study room, click here

Non-Compliance with Library Policies

Users who refuse to comply with library policies will be required to leave the library.