Access to Computers & Computing in the Law Library
Updated July 1, 2009.
The Law Library subscribes to many online services for legal research and the Law Library catalog is also online. This guide describes hardware and computing services in the Law Library.
See also the Gallagher guides on:
Public Computers
The Law Library has approximately 20 Dell desktop computers available to users. Most of the computers are located on the main floor, L1. Several computers are located on L2.
Use of the public PCs is limited to 1 hour per day, except for the 3
legal research-
only PCs in the Reference Area, which are limited to 2 hours per day. A
software program monitors usage and users are automatically alerted when
their time is about to expire.
University of Washington faculty, students, and staff should sign in with their UW NetIDs. Other users who have registered to check out books from the Gallagher Law Library should sign in with their barcode number. Users who have not yet registered may may obtain a temporary barcode at the Circulation Desk upon presentation of identification.
Users are responsible for stopping their own work sessions if they want to use the remaining portion of their daily allotment. To stop your session, click on the Home icon and then the Stop Session button.
For information on printing from the public computers, see Printing.
Wireless Network
All users with laptop or notebook computers may access the wireless network. See the Law School's page on wireless for specifications.
The wireless network is set up to require a UW NetID to access websites outside of the UW domain. For instance, the Law Library's catalog is in the UW domain; Google is not. If the URL does not include "washington.edu" it is a site outside of the UW domain. UW faculty, students, and staff should sign in with their UW NetIDs.
Visitors who want to access non-UW websites through the Law School's wireless network may obtain a temporary UW NetID at the Circulation Desk. Present your card with the Law Library's barcode. If you have not registered as a Law Library borrower before, you will need to do so to obtain a temporary UW NetID.
Neither the Law Library nor the Law School have staff to help visitors configure or trouble-shoot problems with their computers and the wireless network. UW students, faculty, and staff should seek assistance at one of the University's Computing Centers.
Laptop users who want to print will need to download software to access the Library's Pharos printers (using the pay-to-print system). Visit the Law School's page on Printing on the Wireless Network to download the necessary software.
Laptops that are infected with computer viruses or worms will be denied access to the wireless network.
Guests may find useful the following information:
- UW School of Law, Wireless in Gates Hall
- UW Computing, Using Wireless at the UW
- Webopedia, Wireless Networking Standards
- How Stuff Works, How WiFi Works
Other local libraries that offer wireless networks include:
- King County Law Library, Wireless Internet Access
- King County Library System, Wireless Internet Access
- Seattle Public Library, Wireless Access
Legal Research Training Center
The Legal Research Training Center, located in Rooms L201 and L202, is equipped with 24 Dell desktop computers and two trainer's stations. This facility is used for hands-on training for scheduled sessions.
UW School of Law faculty and staff may request training sessions via the Room Scheduler or by contacting the reference librarians.
Online Legal Research Services
The Law Library and the UW Libraries subscribe to many online services for legal, government, general, and interdisciplinary research. The Legal Databases & Indexes page identifies sources that are often used by legal researchers, including legal periodical indexes, online law reviews, and government and subject-specific resources.
Connecting to Online Library Resources describes which services are available to which users. CALR Access by UW Law Students, Faculty, Staff & Librarians covers LexisNexis, Westlaw, VersusLaw, and LoisLaw. Computer-Assisted Legal Research identifies databases available to all users and specific categories of users.
Please contact a reference librarian for additional information and assistance.