The library of Penn State Dickinson Law is part of a state-wide network of Penn State libraries referred to as “University Libraries” which offers the students, faculty, and staff of Penn State access to a vast collection of world-class academic print resources.
The law library contains a collection focused on legal materials to support the law school’s curriculum. The main floor contains the reference collection as well as print course reserves which are shelved behind the circulation desk and can be checked for 2 hours. This short check-out period ensures that many people have access to the highly sought-after resources. The main floor also includes a display of items published by faculty, the new book collection and the new browsing collection of popular titles on wellness and current events. The second floor of the library contains the Pennsylvania collection as well as Pennsylvania and United States statutes and regulations as well as some print journals.
The lower level of the library houses the bulk of our treatise collection. In the library catalog, the location for these books is Dickinson Law (Carlisle) – Lower level. We keep these materials on the lower level because so many books requires the solid concrete foundation of the lower level to support the weight of the collection. And, we need to keep the books on moveable shelving to maximize the number of books we can keep in this space. You may retrieve your books by locating the correct aisle using the call numbers listed on the stack ends – just press the arrow and all of the stacks will move to open the aisle you need. Or, you may ask for assistance at the circulation desk.
If the book is not on the shelf, place a hold on the book in the library catalog by clicking “I Want It” on the record. You will be notified when the item is available whether the book is from our collection or from another Penn State campus.
When I Want It cannot supply the resource from a Penn State library, print resources may be obtained through other lending resources databases like PALCI E-ZBorrow, Uborrow and OCLCWorldcat, found on the Inter-Library loan services page where you will find information on creating an ILL account and how to manage your account as well as ILL FAQs to expedite your borrowing experience.
- The PALCI E-ZBorrow database is a regional source for borrowers with 60 academic library catalogs available in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and West Virginia.
- Uborrow searches the catalogs of the Big Ten’ libraries such as Ohio State, Michigan State, and the University of Chicago at the same time.
- WorldCat searches libraries world-wide for materials for researchers.
If you need assistance finding materials or if it is difficult for you to come to the library to pick up your items, please contact the library at DickinsonLawLib@psu.edu.