Borrowing Items

Since the UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law Library is a research library, the books and items owned by the library must be available for immediate use. For this reason, most items cannot leave the library. However, some items may be borrowed. Those items vary depending on the category of patron.

In addition, if an item is not available in the library, there may be options for requesting the item elsewhere.


For Students

Items that cannot be borrowed: Reserve materials, Special Collection materials, frequently updated looseleaf services, periodicals, reporters, statutes, digests, citators, encyclopedias, encyclopedic treatises, ALRs, form books, and reference materials cannot leave the library.

Items that can be borrowed: Most other books, government documents, and audio and video items may be checked out for two weeks and renewed for an additional two weeks. Materials can be renewed in person or by phone. All borrowed materials are subject to recall if needed by another patron.

The following students may borrow materials:

  • Bowen students can borrow circulating materials and remove them from the library.
  • Bowen students who have reserved carrels or can borrow circulating materials, periodicals, case reporters, and ALRs to the carrel through the end of the current semester. Students are responsible for any items they have borrowed and left in their carrels.
  • Students from other University of Arkansas systems schools may borrow circulating materials under these provisions.
  • Students from ARKLink affiliates may borrow circulating materials under these provisions.

To borrow an item: Take the item and your library card to the Circulation Desk. If you do not have a library card, you may apply for one at the Circulation Desk.

How long can you keep the item? Two Weeks. You may renew them for an additional two weeks. You may renew by visiting the Circulation Desk or by phone at 501-916-5453.

Is there a limit on how many items you can borrow at one time? No.

For Faculty

Items that cannot be borrowed: Reference materials cannot leave the library.

Items that can be borrowed: Most other books, government documents, and audio and video cassettes may be checked out until the end of the academic year. However, library staff may retrieve books if they are needed by another patron.

The following faculty may borrow items:

  • Bowen full-time faculty can borrow any materials.
  • Adjunct law faculty can borrow circulating materials until the end of the semester. “Circulating materials” means anything except reserve materials, CD-Rom discs, Special Collection materials, frequently updated looseleaf services, periodicals, reporters, statutes, digests, citators, encyclopedias, encyclopedic treatises, ALRs, form books, and reference materials.
  • Faculty from ARKLink affiliates.

To borrow an item: Take the item and your library card to the Circulation Desk.

How long can you keep the item? If you are not a Bowen full-time faculty member or adjunct faculty member, you may borrow the item for two weeks. You may renew them for an additional two weeks. Renewals may be done in person or by phone. Call the Circulation Desk at 501-916-5453.

Is there a limit on how many items you can borrow at one time? No.

For Attorneys

Arkansas attorneys and judges can borrow circulating materials.

“Circulating materials” means anything except reserve materials, CD-Rom discs, Special Collection materials, frequently updated looseleaf services, periodicals, reporters, statutes, digests, citators, encyclopedias, encyclopedic treatises, ALRs, form books, and reference materials.

Items that cannot be borrowed: Reserve materials, CD-Rom discs, Special Collection materials, frequently updated looseleaf services, periodicals, reporters, statutes, digests, citators, encyclopedias, encyclopedic treatises, ALRs, form books, and reference materials cannot leave the library.

Items that can be borrowed: Most other books, government documents, and audio and video cassettes may be checked out for two weeks and renewed for an additional two weeks. Materials can be renewed in person or by phone. All borrowed materials are subject to recall if needed by another patron.

To borrow an item: Take the item and your library card to the Circulation Desk. You can get a library card by completing an application and supplying your Arkansas Bar number.

How long can you keep the item? Two weeks. You may renew them for an additional two weeks. Call the Circulation Desk at 501-916-5453.

Is there a limit on how many items you can borrow at one time? Yes. The limit is 25 items.

For the Public

Since the law library is a research library, the books and items owned by the library must be available for immediate use. For this reason, the general public cannot borrow items from the library.

However:

  • You can review items while remaining in the library
  • You may purchase a copy card and use copiers in the library.
  • You may scan documents.
  • You may visit with the Reference Desk to see if the material you need is available online from another source.
  • You may view instructional CDs, listen to audio tapes, or watch instructional videos. We have rooms and equipment available for your use. Visit the Circulation Desk regarding room reservations

Request an item

Check with the Reference Desk to see if the item is available from another source (perhaps online, or another print publication). You may visit the Reference Desk in the library or you may call 501-916-5496.

Place a hold on the item

If the library owns the item, and it is already borrowed by someone else, you may request the item by placing a hold on it. You may do that by:

  • Visiting the Circulation Desk in the library
  • Calling the Circulation Desk at 501-916-5453

Recall the item

If you need the item immediately, you may place a recall on the item. Once the lending period has ended, the library will request that the item be returned within a week. Place a recall by visiting the Circulation Desk or by calling 501-916-5453.

Interlibrary Loan

Contact Professor Jeff B. Woodmansee for assistance in borrowing items from other libraries. Email jbwoomansee@ualr.edu | Phone: 501-916-5470.

When you make a request, please provide as much information about the item as possible. This includes: type of item (book, journal, article, etc.), title, author, publication date, edition, and ISBN. If you need a specific article from a journal, please provide the title of the article and the name of the journal in which it appears. The more complete the information, the quicker the processing.

Interlibrary Loan Services are available to:

  • Bowen faculty & staff
  • Bowen students
  • local attorneys with a current library card.

Interlibrary Loan Services are not available to:

  • Members of the public. However, you may contact your local public library for assistance.
  • Students who do not attend Bowen.However, you may contact your university’s library for assistance.