Policies

Pursuant to Section 6343 of the Business and Professions Code, the Board of Law Library Trustees hereby establishes the following rules for the use of the Santa Clara County Law Library premises.

Areas of the Law Library open to patrons are the reading room, copier room, restrooms and the three book stack levels. Access and enjoyment of the Library is for use of the Library’s legal information resources and services. Patrons may not use the Law Library in lieu of an office or as a reading room for materials other than Law Library materials.
Patrons shall respect the rights of other Library patrons and Library staff. Soliciting, harassing, offending, filming/recording, intimidating or disturbing Library patrons or staff is strictly prohibited. California Penal Code 602.1(b).
Theft, abuse, vandalism, mutilation, marring, marking, defacing, or otherwise damaging of the books, building, equipment, furniture or other objects in the Library is prohibited. California Penal Code 490.5 & 594; Education Code 19910 & 19911.
Reasonable quiet is expected throughout the Library. Personal photocopiers/scanners or other noisy equipment are not permitted, except at areas designated for their use. Cell phone users are expected to answer their phone promptly and vacate the library before starting conversations. Personal photocopiers/scanners can be used in the copier room, provided that they are not noisier than library’s copiers. Patrons may engage in quiet conversation so long as other patrons or staff are not disturbed.
Briefcases, backpacks, packages, and outer garments may be subject to inspection. Large objects such as carts, luggage, bicycles or parcels are prohibited in the Library, with the exception of wheelchairs and standard, collapsible luggage carriers. Bicycles and large baggage must be left at the bike rack only and cannot be left in front of the entrance of the library. Items non-essential to legal research must not exceed 26″x19″x9″. Walkways, aisles, table tops, and front entrance shall be kept clear and unobstructed by personal effects.
Persons under the influence of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs are not permitted in the Library.
Shirts or other covering of the upper body and shoes must be worn in the Library. Patrons who violate California Penal Code 314, indecent exposure, will be ask to leave the Law Library and/or reported to law enforcement.
For the protection of Law Library materials, beverages and food are not permitted, except screw capped water bottles. No food shall be consumed in the area open to the patrons of the Law Library.
Weapons are not permitted in the Library unless excepted by statute.
Patrons whose parcels or bodily hygiene or odor is so offensive as to constitute a nuisance or disrupt others’ ability to work shall be required to leave the Library.
Bathing, hair washing, extended time usage, shaving or washing clothes in the Law Library restrooms, sleeping, lying on the floor or furniture, feet on library furniture, and loitering are prohibited in the Law Library.
The Law Library is not responsible for, nor shall it have any liability with regards to, the personal effects that patrons bring into the Library. Personal property that staff determines is continually and/or intentionally abandoned will be removed without any warning.
Children must be under the control and supervision of a responsible adult. If the child’s behavior disturbs Law Library Users or staff, or results in damage to Law Library property, staff may seek the removal of the adult and child from the Law Library.
Smoking or vaping inside the Law Library and within 20 feet of exits and windows are prohibited.
Animals, other than service animals assisting persons with disabilities, are not permitted in the Law Library.
Accessing the Library computer system, programs or data without authorization is prohibited. Peripheral devices (printers, CD-ROM drives, keyboards, scanners, etc.) may not be attached to the PCs without prior permission. Thumb USB drives can only be attached to terminals designated for use with legal information services that allow downloading.
Patrons may use battery-powered laptop or notebook computers in the Library, provided their use is quiet enough not to disturb others. Patrons shall not use electrical outlets not designated for patrons use or unplug Library equipment without library staff’s permission. Patrons need to be mindful not to create a tripping hazard when plugging in their equipment. Patrons use library electrical outlet at their own risk. The Law Library is not responsible for any damages to patron equipment due to electrical surge/spike, etc.
Conference room use will be governed by separate rules to be adopted.
Law Library patrons may not occupy more than one space if the library is full. Library staff may enforce this rule at their discretion. Priority for carrel use is given to those individuals with computers. Patrons may not occupy more than one study carrel at a time.
The teaching of classes, lecturing of students or otherwise verbally instructing students within the Law Library is not permitted unless advance permission is obtained from the Law Librarian. Instructors may accompany their students to the Law Library as a resource person, advise their students on an individual basis, and answer their questions as they arise on a one-to-one basis, provided that reasonable quiet is maintained during the course of such activity.
Opening emergency exits except in emergency situation, entering unauthorized or off-limit areas of the Law Library, remaining in the Law Library after closing or during emergency drills or evacuations is prohibited and may result in immediate suspension of the Law Library privileges.
Patrons shall not conceal or hide Law Library materials for their exclusive use. Pocket parts or loose-leaf pages may be removed from books briefly to be photocopied on the Law Library’s copiers and shall be returned by the patron to the book promptly.
Law Library’s computer terminals, wifi, circulation and reference function will shutdown 15 minutes before closing. Law Library copier room will shutdown 10 minutes before closing. Patrons shall leave computer terminals and/or evacuate copiers’ room promptly at those times.
Back garden doors are locked 15 minutes prior to the library closing. All books from the circulation desk must be returned 10 minutes prior to the library closing. The front doors are locked 5 minutes before the library closes.
No materials shall be removed from the Law Library unless they have been checked out to the patron by Law Library staff; and all material must be returned when due. Failure to do so can result in loss of Law Library privileges and/or payment of replacement and administrative costs.
Failure to obey all law, comply with Law Library rules, the directive of Law Library staff, or to cooperate with staff in their enforcement of these rules may result in the loss or suspension of Law Library privileges. Repeated failures to comply with Law Library rules or staff directives will result in the loss or suspension of Law Library privileges for longer periods.

Circulation and Renewal of Library Materials

Circulation
1. Library books and tapes circulate to registered borrowers for seven days
2. Reserve books do not circulate. Reserve books bear a “RESERVE” sticker, generally on the lower part of the spine of the book, and are generally stamped “DOES NOT CIRCULATE.”
Renewal of Library Materials
1. All CEB and MCLE materials are nonrenewable. They must be returned to the library at the conclusion of the seven-day check out period, and be available for check out to others for at least 24 hours
2. If someone has placed a hold on materials that you have checked out, those materials cannot be renewed.
3. Renewable materials can be renewed on or before the original due date. Renewed items are due 7 days from the date of renewal and cannot be renewed a second time. Renewed items, when due, must be returned to the Library, and be available for check out to others for at least 24 hours.
4. The above renewal rules apply equally not only to in-person renewals, but also to telephone renewals.
Time of Day for Checking Out or Renewing Books
1. The Library staff will check out or renew materials, according to the above rules, during its regular hours of operation, except as listed under III(2) below.
2. All materials must be checked out or renewed at least fifteen (15) minutes before closing time.
Library Fines for Overdue, Lost, or Damaged Materials
1. A fine of $1.00 per day per item is assessed for overdue items. MCLE audios are $2.00 per day per item for overdue items. Items returned in the outside bookdrop must be returned by MIDNIGHT of the due date. If not, they will be considered late. Payment is due within fourteen (14) days of billing date. Failure to satisfy charges within the appropriate time period results in suspension of circulation privileges.
2. If a book is lost, the charge assessed is its current price (if still in publication), sales tax, and a $25.00 processing fee. If the lost item is no longer published for sale, then the charge is based on the reasonable value of the item. Charges for damaged materials are based on the extent of the damage and the cost involved in repair, such as bindery and processing fees. Failure to satisfy charges within 14 days of billing results in suspension of circulation privileges.
Circulation Penalties
1. The Law Librarian or designate is authorized to suspend the circulation privileges of any person detained, arrested or cited for theft or mutilation of library materials, or for whom they have reasonable cause to believe has mutilated or stolen library materials. Should such individual not yet be a borrower, they are authorized to not grant circulation privileges to such individual.
Review of Circulation Fines or Penalties
1. A patron may review overdue circulation charges and/or suspension of borrowing privileges under Rule IV above with the Circulation Manager. After review with the Circulation Manager, the patron may send a written request for review of the Circulation Manager’s decision to the Director of the Law Library. After the Director of the Law Library has reviewed the request, the patron may request in writing a review by the Board of Law Library trustees.
2. A patron whose circulation privileges have been suspended under Rule V above may request in writing a review by the Board of Law Library Trustees.

Internet and Computer Aided Legal Research Rules and Guidelines

Internet services available for legal research ONLY:

The Law Library makes the Internet available to its patrons for legal research ONLY. The Law Library’s Internet service is NOT available for any other uses or purposes, including, but not limited to, games, videos, instant messaging, email, and chat rooms. Persistent violators will be banned from using library electronic resources.

Limited free usage and charges for additional usage:

Patrons are granted one session up to one hour of continuous free internet computer usage per day.
Free session must be taken in one sitting (no splitting time).
If no one else is waiting to use the computers, additional usage may be purchased for $2.00 each additional half hour, or any part thereof.
The person who signs in to use the terminal must use it. Patrons may not sign up for free time and then transfer their time to another patron.

One user for each terminal:

Use of the terminals is for individual and is not intended for more than one person at a time. The public terminal is located in an area that requires quiet research. Noisy or disruptive patrons will be asked to quit the terminal, without refund.

Downloading and Printing:

Printing is 20 cents per page for 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper. For legal size (8 1/2″ x 14″), copies are 25 cents per page. Patrons are responsible for all pages that they print. Online computer terminals support downloading to a USB flash drive.

Library staff assistance is LIMITED:

The small size of the library staff does not permit individual assistance on searching the Internet for patrons. The Law Library staff does not perform research for patrons, nor does the staff train patrons on how to use the Internet. The Law Library does maintain lists of URLs for major legal websites and may be able to provide some suggestions as to which URLs may assist the patron in their legal research. The Law Library assumes no liability for any assistance rendered.