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Access to Computers & Computing in the Law Library

 

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. Use of the 4 legal research only PCs (in the Reference Area) is 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, below.

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 Net ID 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 Net ID 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 Net ID.

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 the Odegaard Undergraduate Library Computing Commons or the Mary Gates Hall Computing Resource Center.

Laptop users who want to print will need to download software to access the Library's Pharos printers (using the pay-to-print system). See 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:

Other local libraries that offer wireless networks include:

For a list of libraries around the country with wireless networks, see the Wireless Library, Libraries with Wireless Networks.

Printing

Computers in the Law Library are connected to a printing service system called Pharos. Any document that a user can view on a computer screen -- from websites, library catalogs, and periodical indexes -- can be printed via the Pharos printers.

Print-outs cost 8¢ per side and printing is done on both sides of the paper (duplex). You must pay for your print jobs with a purple UW Copy Services Quick Card. These cards can be purchased from the copy card dispenser in the copy alcove in Room L114. Cards are also available at the Circulation Desk and the Reference Office; you can add value to a card using the copy machines.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Printing from Computers in the Law Library

  1. Display the page or document you want to print on the computer monitor.
  2. Click on the Print icon at the top of the screen OR from the menubar, click on File, then Print.
  3. In the popup window, type your name, or the name by which you will request the document and a title for the document you are printing.
  4. Click on OK.
  5. If you have a UW Copy Services Quick Card, go to the copy alcove in Room L114 or in the Reference Area on L1. Insert your card in the reader next to the Pharos computer.
  6. Select your print job from the list. The cost of the copy will be deducted from the Quick Card

Note: Print requests are stored in the pay-to-print system for 24 hours. If you don't claim your print-out within 24 hours, it will be deleted

Caution: If the website from which you are printing uses frames (such as KeyCite), you must click on the text in the area you want printed BEFORE proceeding with the printing instructions. Alternatives to printing an electronic document include:

Alternatives to printing to the Pharos printers include:

  • sending the document or its Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to your email address
  • downloading the document to a floppy disc or a USB (flash) key

Ask a reference librarian or the Circulation staff for assistance.

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 Law School faculty and staff may request training sessions by contacting the reference librarians at 3-6794.

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.

Please contact the reference librarian on duty for additional information and assistance.
©2008, M.G. Gallagher Law Library, University of Washington