Library Services — General Information
Borrowing Information
All visitors are free to use materials in the library. Most materials are available in open stacks and are available for browsing. Reserve materials are kept in closed stacks and may be obtained at the Circulation Desk.
All current faculty, staff, and students of the University of Missouri system may check out circulating library materials by presenting their University ID.
Visitors who are not currently affiliated with the University of Missouri may apply for a borrower’s card at the Circulation Desk. To obtain a MU Law Borrower’s card, you must present a current picture ID, with a local address.
Copicard
Use of all photocopiers in the library requires a copicard. The Law Library maintains a faculty copicard for use by all MU Law School Faculty [and administrative staff], free of charge. You may check this card out at the circulation desk.
Feature Film Collection
The Library maintains a fairly extensive collection of feature films [classic and modern] that involve legal issues or situations. The videos are available to law school faculty and students for leisure viewing, or in conjunction with classroom study. The circulation period for these videos is 48 hours.
You can view a list of the films at the circulation desk, or feel free to go into the reserve room and browse the shelves. You can also access a list of the films from the MERLIN catalog, under course reserve listing "video collection -- MU LAW".
Interlibrary Loan
To get materials that the law library does not own:
Check Online Databases and Internet Resources
Visit the Legal Research section of this site.
Request Books from MERLIN/MOBIUS Member Libraries
What is MERLIN?
MERLIN is a consortium of libraries that includes all four campuses of the University of Missouri, and Saint Louis University.
What is MOBIUS?
MOBIUS is a consortium of academic libraries in the state of Missouri designed to allow direct patron-initiated borrowing from member library collections. The MOBIUS central catalog currently contains records for items held by the four campuses of the University of Missouri and Saint Louis University [the MERLIN Libraries], as well as the Washington University libraries, including their law library, and a variety of smaller Missouri colleges. The holdings of other member libraries will be added over the next few years.
How Do I Request Books?
Start your search in the MERLIN Library Catalog. Choose to search ALL MERLIN Library Collections. Perform your search, and look for an item whose status is "NOT CHECKED OUT". Select "REQUEST THIS ITEM" at the bottom or top of the screen. Fill out the form that appears on the screen, and submit your request.
If the title that you want is not available in any of the MERLIN Libraries, transfer your search request to the MOBIUS Central Catalog by clicking on the appropriate button at the top or bottom of the screen. When you find the item you want, you will be able to view the libraries that have this item, and request the item.
When you make a request, you will be asked to identify your institution [MERLIN], enter your name and your social security number. You must also identify the pickup location where you want the item delivered. Submit the request, and it will be forwarded to the appropriate library.
How Will I Know When the Items I Requested Have Arrived?
The Library that you choose as your pickup location will notify you when the item you requested has arrived. You can also use the "View Your Own Record" function in the MERLIN catalog to check the status of your requests.
Request an Interlibrary Loan for Books or Journal Articles
Interlibrary Loan is a service through which you may request books that are not owned by a MERLIN/MOBIUS library member, or journal articles that are not available from a MU campus library. All current University of Missouri-Columbia Law students, Law Faculty, and Law staff are eligible to use this service. Interlibrary Loan requests can be made by filling out a paper form at the Circulation Desk. We are generally able to provide books and/or photocopies of articles within a week to ten working days.
For assistance please contact the Interlibrary Loan Assistant by e-mail or (573) 882-1918.
