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Due to health concerns and the need to control density in campus buildings, visitors and alumni are asked to make an appointment to visit the law library at this time. Please email reference@law.villanova.edu or call 610-519-7020 and ask to speak to a reference librarian. You may also wish to consult our online research guides such as Free Sites for Legal Research.

 

Alumni & Visitor Information

Welcome to Villanova Law Library!

Access

  • Alumni of the Law School are welcome to use the Law Library during the posted hours (see "Visitor Access Hours" on the right side of this page).
  • Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law's Law Library is open to the general public during the posted hours.
  • All visitors are asked to sign the visitors' log and show photo ID at the Circulation Desk when entering the Law Library.
 

Parking

  • Parking in University lots is by permit only.
  • Daily Parking Passes:
    • Parking day passes for the law school garage are obtained at the Circulation Desk in the Law Library or by calling 610-519-7020 and making arrangements in advance.
    • You will need your licence plate number and state infomation in order to get a pass.
    • Parking is allowed in any space where there is no faculty or staff restricted parking. 
 

Special Needs

  • Every level of the Law School and Law Library is accessible by elevator.
  • The Law Library elevator operates by swipe access.  Access swipe cards are available for borrowing at the Circulation Desk.
  • If other assistance is needed, please ask at Reference or Circulation Desks.
 

Borrowing & Database Access

  • Borrowing privileges are extended to current Villanova Law students, faculty, and staff.  There are no borrowing privileges for law school alumni or visitors.
  • Reserve materials must be used only in the law library.  Requests for reserve materials are made at the Circulation Desk on the first level of the Law Library. 
  • Some of our online databases are only available to current Villanova Law students, faculty, and staff. 
  • See a Reference Librarian for suggestions of resources and databases that can be used.
 

Access to Federal Government Documents

FDLP logo

 

Certain libraries across the country, designated as “federal depository libraries,” receive regular shipments of federal government documents, such as congressional hearings, the Federal Register, agency reports, and the United States Code, among many others. Although some depository libraries receive copies of all government documents (these are known as regional depository libraries), most libraries that participate in the FDLP, including Villanova Law Library, are selective depository libraries, which carry only a selected portion of the full scope of government publications.

Many government documents are also available on the web. See this Basic List of FDLP materials available online or our Federal Court Locator Libguide for more information.

Additional federal government links:

For more information or assistance in using government documents, please call the Circulation Desk at 610-519-7020 and ask to speak to a reference librarian.