Welcome to the WMU-Cooley Law Libraries. The librarians in Lansing, Grand Rapids and Auburn Hills, Michigan and Tampa Bay, Florida are ready to assist you in your legal research needs. A combined collection of over 700,000 volumes and nearly 10 miles of shelving serve as a treasure trove for the legal researcher.
Access
To gain admittance to the libraries, show your state's bar card at the Access Control Desk upon entering the building.
Borrowing Privileges
The WMU-Cooley Law Libraries circulate materials to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of any state bar association. Some materials do not circulate and all items are subject to recall. Please see the policies page for more information regarding our circulation policies.
Online Catalog
CoolCat, the WMU-Cooley Law Llibraries' catalog where you will be able to search for books, journals, recordings, videos, websites and newspapers. CoolCat allows you to conduct keyword, title, author, subject, call number, and advance searches. Computer terminals are located throughout the libraries. If you need assistance with the catalog, do not hesitate to request assistance from a reference librarian. Search CoolCat now.
Document Delivery
For a nominal fee, the Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law Libraries provide a document delivery service for members of the Bar. When you use this service, be sure to supply us with a complete citation. You must also agree to comply with federal copyright laws in making these requests. For additional information or to place an order, please visit our Document Delivery page.
Electronic Resources
The library subscribes to a variety of online resources and databases. Most sources are IP based and available only from a WMU-Cooley networked PC. To view a list and description of the electronic resources available to you, please visit our Electronic Resources page.
Food and Drink
Food is not permitted inside the libraries and may be confiscated along with beverages in non-approved containers. Please see the policies page for more information.
Reference
The WMU-Cooley Law Libraries' reference staff is available to offer assistance to you in your research by locating or identifying new sources of interest to you. Professional librarians are available to assist you seven days a week at any location. Please see our Ask A Librarian's page for hours and methods of contacting us.
Research Guides
To further assist you in your research, the WMU-Cooley Librarians have created and maintain a number of research guides on a variety of legal topics. The annotated research guides assist researchers in identifying useful print, electronic and internet sources pertinent to their legal issue. List of Research Guides.