General Policy and Guide
Welcome! The Thomas M. Cooley Law Libraries, located on the Lansing, Auburn Hills, and Grand Rapids campuses are open to all Thomas M. Cooley students, faculty, and staff, alumni, members of the bar and law students from other schools with valid school identification. Members of the public, including the Oakland and Western Michigan community, conducting legal research and/or needing access to government documents (at the Lansing campus) are welcome. All visitors must register upon entering. Please consult your campus's library for specific access requirements and procedures.
We welcome your suggestions and questions about the Library collection, services, and policies. Suggestions may be input on the main menu screen of COOLCAT our online catalog, by clicking on "Patron Suggestions."
Please do not leave personal property, especially valuables such as purses, wallets, brief cases or laptops unattended in the Library. The Library assumes no responsibility for patrons' personal property.
Patrons may be asked to disclose the contents of their briefcases, portfolios, book carriers, etc. by a library attendant .
Library telephones are for staff use only.
To maintain a quiet study atmosphere for all students, turn off cell phones or set to vibrate when you are in the library. Lobbies may be used for calls.
Do not write, underline, mark in or mutilate Library materials. Damage to volumes requires replacement or rebinding which reduces the number of new works purchased. As a courtesy to others, please re-shelve library materials used.
Bare feet are not allowed in the Library. Feet are not allowed on Library furniture.
In order to create a pleasant and conducive learning environment, we request that all noise be kept to a minimum and discussions limited to essential matters .
Smoking or the use of any tobacco product is not permitted in the Library.
Copies may be purchased with the use of your student ID or copy card. Machines accept only cards. Value may then be added to the card. Copies cost $0.08 cents. Additional value may be added to your ID via machines located in the copy rooms. Cards can also be used to make photocopies on the microform reader-printers located next to the microform cabinets.
For problems with copies, or loss of money, contact Postal and Printing Services in Lansing: pps@cooley.edu or dial (517) 371-5140 ext. 2162. In Lansing, direct dial phones are located in each photocopy room for your convenience. The Library is not responsible for maintaining and servicing machines.
Group study rooms may be reserved by currently enrolled Cooley students or by Cooley graduates who are registered in a Cooley sponsored bar preparatory course or other special program.
- Group study rooms are for the use of at least 2 or more persons. Only a group, or representative of a group, may sign out a room. The first and last names of all members of the group must be entered into the sign-up book. Room/group reservations are kept confidential.
- Individuals may take vacant rooms on a "first come, first served" basis, but individuals must always vacate for groups.
- Reservations may be made for up to three hours per day per group. However you may be assigned shorter times during high use times and/or at the discretion of library staff.
- Reservations will be held until ten minutes past the hour the reservation is to begin. After that time, the room may be taken by another group.
- All students using a group study room must leave their current student identification card at the Circulation Desk when arriving for their scheduled room reservation.
- Do not move furniture from other areas of the Library into these rooms, or switch chairs among them.
- During weeks 14 and 15, currently enrolled students take priority over other categories of patrons.
- Laptops may be used anywhere in the Library.
- Unless using a laptop at a wired carrel or table, laptops must be powered with a battery pack.
- Extension cords may not be used across walkways. There will be no exceptions to this rule. Cords strung across the floor may cause accidents.
Please help us preserve the Cooley Library collections and facilities.
Eating is not allowed in the Library except in posted areas. Violators will be asked to dispose of their food immediately or leave the library. Repeat offenders will be reported to the Associate Dean of Students and/or have their library privileges revoked.
You may drink from any covered containers with a cap or lid.
Types of containers not allowed include:
- Cans, or
- Open cups or mugs
The Library staff reserves the right to approve or disapprove of any questionable beverage container.
If you observe a spill, please notify a Library staff member.
Alcoholic beverages are not allowed, even in approved containers.
It is the policy of the Cooley Libraries that study carrels and/or tables may not be "reserved" by leaving one’s belongings unattended on them. This includes times when you are in class or out of the building.
The Library reserves the right to remove your belongings if we believe they have been left unattended for an extended period of time.
Persons failing to comply with Library rules and policies may be subject to disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, the loss of library privileges.
The Library reserves the right to rescind this policy at any time.
Persons failing to comply with Library rules and policies may be asked to leave the Library.
These rules are subject to change without notice.
