Library Policies

The Santa Clara University Law Library is a private library. Access is limited to Santa Clara University faculty, staff, law school students, along with law alumni who purchase a library card.

Non-Law SCU students have restricted access to the library collection upon presenting a valid pass from the University Library staff to Law Library staff. 

The Access Policy for Law School Graduates can be found on the Law Library Policies LibGuide.

Licensed SCU Alumni Attorney Courtesy Card

• $100.00 per year
• Includes borrowing privileges 
• Access to the library during library hours (https://law.scu.edu/library/library-hours/)
• Library VIP Card

This rate allows alumni courtesy card holders to designate one full time employee to use their account and use the same card. An additional card for a designated employee is $25. To designate more than one employee, you must purchase a courtesy card for each additional user at the applicable courtesy card rate. The attorney who purchased the original courtesy card remains responsible for all overdue fines and replacement charges incurred by the designated employee.

Patrons with borrowing privileges must present a valid Access Card/Mobile Credential or Law Library Courtesy Card to borrow materials. Not all patrons have the same borrowing privileges or access to material. Generally, patrons with borrowing privileges may check out circulating material from the stacks for 3 weeks, from the California Collection for 3 days, and from the Reserve Collection for either 2 or 24 hours. Most periodicals, statutes, case reporters, and reference material cannot be checked out. If you have questions, please contact the Library Services Desk at (408) 554-4072.

Patrons may renew checked-out materials in person at the Library Services Desk, by phone at (408) 554-4072, or online. Renewals on some materials may be limited or restricted. Material that has reached the maximum number of renewals must be physically returned to the library.

Interlibrary Loan is a service which provides materials not available in the Santa Clara University Law Library or on the Santa Clara campus. This service is available to law students, faculty, and staff. ILL staff will attempt to borrow books, or obtain copies of journal articles needed for scholarly research. Besides books and articles, selected dissertations, theses, and microforms may also be obtained through Interlibrary Loan.

Further details on Inter-Library Loan can be found on the Law Library Policies LibGuide.

Patrons with borrowing privileges may place a hold at the law library circulation desk on materials currently checked out to another patron. A hold prevents renewals of this material. When the item is returned to the library, law library staff will place the item on the hold shelf for a limited number of days and notify the patron who placed the hold. If the patron who placed the hold does not pick up the item by the deadline specified by law library staff, the library will either reshelve the item or check it out to the next patron who requested the item. Material designated for Course Reserve, processing or updates will be recalled by library staff. A recall may reduce the due date for checked-out materials. Every effort will be made by staff to contact the patron by phone and email. The library may impose additional fines if patrons do not return hold or recall items by the due date.

Library material is considered overdue the day or hour after the due date, depending on the type of loan period. The library imposes fines of 25 cents per day (or 25 cents per hour) on overdue materials. Overdue material with a hold is also assessed a one time $2.00 “In Demand” fee in addition to the regular overdue fines. The library imposes a fine of $2.25 per day or hour for overdue materials that are also subject to a hold. Patrons who lose library material will be charged the list price of the item (or $100) and a $20 processing fee. Patrons with SCU library fines that exceed $10 may not renew or borrow materials until they pay outstanding fines. The library may restrict patrons’ library privileges and/or place a hold on patrons’ library or academic records if patrons have not paid all fines in full by the end of the semester in which fines were assessed. Patrons pay fines at the law library circulation Desk; the library accepts cash, checks, or flex account funds. For more information please review our Library Regulations & Fine Schedule. Food, Drink, and Smoking Policies

Food, Drink, and Smoking Policies

Food, drink and smoking are strictly prohibited in the library. However, patrons may bring drinks in approved spill-proof mugs into the library. Bottled drinks and cardboard coffee cups, even with a cover, do not qualify as an approved, spill-proof container. Patrons will be asked to enjoy their food and drink outside the library if they are found to have them inside the library.

Noise and Cell Phone Policy

The primary purpose of the library is to create a quiet and stress-free environment for patrons to study and do research. Please be considerate and keep conversation and noise down while using the library. Cell phone use is not permitted in the library — please make and take calls outside the library.

Theft Policy

The Santa Clara University Law Library is not responsible for any lost or stolen items. We highly discourage patrons from leaving personal items unattended in the library. Additional information can be found on the Law Library Policies LibGuide.

Policy Regarding Patrons with Disabilities 

The law library makes every attempt to meet the needs of patrons with disabilities. All areas of the law library are wheelchair accessible, including several carrels and computer stations. If you require accommodations in order to access the library, please contact the law library circulation or Research Services staff. Additional resources for patrons with disabilities are available at the Office of Accessible Education. 

Non-Disclosure Policy

Library patron records are considered strictly confidential and protected by state and federal law. The library will not disclose the contents of a patron’s record to any third party unless the library is required to do so by federal or state law.