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The Law Library collects documents published by the U.S., Illinois, and
state governments. Many titles used in basic legal research are government
documents, including the Congressional Record, the Code of Federal Regulations,
the United States Code, and the Code of Illinois Rules. The Law Library has
been a partial U.S. government depository since 1965, an Illinois depository
since 1970, and has been collecting state documents since the mid-70s.
The Law Library also maintains a comprehensive collection of primary
legal materials published as government documents.
U.S. government documents are divided between the LC collection (main floor)
and the Superintendent of Documents (SuDoc) collection (lower level).
Shelved on the main floor are primary legal materials (e.g., U.S. Code and U.S. Reports),
periodicals (e.g., Army Lawyer and Federal Probation), administrative agency
decisions and rulings (e.g., Decisions and Orders of the National Labor Relations
Board and Agriculture Decisions), and compiled legislative histories. These
titles are found in the online catalog.
The remaining U.S. documents are arranged by SuDoc numbers, a government
classification scheme, that brings together material published by the
same agency; for example, documents published by the U.S. Department of Justice
have call numbers beginning with "J." Many of these documents will appear
in the online catalog with call numbers beginning "Doc.".
The Law Library also purchases specialized indexes and catalogs for
finding U.S. documents by title and subject:
- Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications, 1987-date (reference alcove, Z1223.A18)
(older editions are in compact stacks)
- CIS Index/Abstracts, 1970-date (for Congressional documents only)
(reference alcove, index table)
- Congressional Universe (1789-date)
Illinois documents (lower level) bear SuDoc-like call numbers
(with a "Doc.Ill" prefix). Some Illinois documents important for legal
research (e.g., Attorney General opinions and House and Senate journals)
are shelved with the Illinois material in the north reference area (main floor),
and other Illinois reference works are found in the reference collections.
All Illinois documents are listed in the online catalog.
Briefs of the Illinois Supreme Court and the Seventh Circuit Court
of Appeals are located on the lower level. Microform copies of U.S.
Supreme Court briefs are also available. The briefs are arranged by
docket number. The Law Library receives most, but not all, briefs filed
with the Illinois Supreme Court and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Documents in microfilm and microfiche are kept in the metal cabinets in
the microforms room (lower level). A coin-operated reader/printer is
available (microforms room); copies cost fifteen cents per page; the
machine only accepts exact change. Circulation staff can add paper to the
microform printer. For functional printer problems, please see a reference librarian.
The Library acquires other States' documents (lower level) on legal
and high-interest subjects (such as AIDS, drunk driving, homelessness,
and tort reform) on a title-by-title basis and assigns to them SuDoc-like
call numbers. Most state documents are listed in the online catalog.
Most documents may be checked out. Periodicals and reference material
may be checked out only with the permission of a reference librarian.
If you need assistance in identifying or locating a government document,
see the reference librarian. For additional information about government
documents, see these specific library guides: Federal Legislative History,
and Illinois Legislative History.
Many federal government documents are now available via the Internet
and on CD-ROM. The CD-ROM station is located in the reference area. Links
to government document websites appear on the Law Library
under the Research the Web menu selection.
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