Patrons are welcome to use these materials in the library. In order to check out materials, patrons must present a current USD Torero ID card at the Circulation Desk or use a self-check kiosk. California Bar Members with offices in San Diego County and all USD Law School Alumni may apply for a Visitor Card. Alumni/Visitor Information USD IDs and visitor cards may only be used by the person to whom they are issued; no one else may check out materials on their behalf.
You may renew all library materials by visiting the library catalog, logging in with your USDOne Login in the top right.
Old exams are available electronically via online catalog.
Patrons may request library materials to be put on hold for them if the items are currently available in the stacks or checked out to another patron. To request a hold, find the item in the online catalog and click on the "Request" button. You will be prompted to log in to your MySandiego account. Your request will be processed in 1-2 business days (not including weekends and holidays). You will be notified by email a when the item is available on the hold shelf. If we are unable to fulfill your hold request or your hold request is canceled, you can also request the items through the San Diego Circuit or interlibrary loan.
Please note: You have 7 days to pick up your materials. After that, the materials will be returned to the shelves or circulate to the next patron.
As a federal depository since 1967, we accept the responsibility to make documents selected for the collection available to the public. The LRC receives a variety of government documents from the U.S. Government Printing Office.
Items selected are approximately 11% of the materials distributed by the U.S. Government Printing Office. Collection strengths include: law and jurisprudence, legislative and regulatory materials, court and judicial administration, international trade, public finance and taxation. In addition to receiving U.S. documents, the LRC collects state documents as a California selective depository library. The LRC is open to the public for the use of the federal and California documents. Documents chosen for the LRC are cataloged and integrated into the general collection.
| Format | Loan Period | Renewals |
|---|---|---|
| Books | 2 weeks | twice |
|
Open Reserves Faculty Current Semester Reserves Faculty Previous Semester Reserves Paralegal Reserves Bar Prep Law in a Flash (located at the Circulation desk) Study Aids |
3 hours 24 hours 3 hours 24 hours 24 hours 2 weeks |
no once no no yes yes |
| Accessories (e.g. iPhone chargers, headphones, standing desks, bocce ball, small whiteboards, etc.) | 4 hours | twice |
| Laptops (Apple and Dell) | 5 hours | no |
| Circuit | 28 days | twice |
| VHS / DVD / CD-ROM | 7 days | twice |
| Format | Loan Period | Renewals |
|---|---|---|
| Books | 4 months | yes |
|
Open Reserves Faculty Current Semester Reserves Faculty Previous Semester Reserves Paralegal Reserves Bar Prep Law in a Flash (located at the Circulation desk) Study Aids |
2 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks |
yes yes yes yes yes yes |
| Accessories (e.g. iPhone chargers, headphones, standing desks, bocce ball, small whiteboards, etc.) | no | no |
| Laptops (Apple and Dell) | no | no |
| Circuit | 28 days | yes |
| VHS / DVD / CD-ROM | 7 days | twice |
| Format | Loan Period | Renewals |
|---|---|---|
| Books | 2 weeks | twice |
|
Open Reserves Faculty Current Semester Reserves Faculty Previous Semester Reserves Paralegal Reserves Bar Prep Law in a Flash (located at the Circulation desk) Study Aids |
2 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks |
no no no no no no |
| Accessories (e.g. iPhone chargers, headphones, standing desks, bocce ball, small whiteboards, etc.) | no | no |
| Laptops (Apple and Dell) | no | no |
| Circuit | 28 days | yes |
| VHS / DVD / CD-ROM | 7 days | yes |
The Open Reserves section of the library is located on the first floor across from the Circulation desk.
Open Reserve materials include:
Reserve materials must be checked out, even if you only plan to use an item for a few minutes. Please bring all reserve materials to the circulation desk to be checked out.
These materials, including LWR materials, circulate for a period of 3 hours.
Previous Faculty course reserve materials from the previous semester circulate for a period of 24 hours.
The Study Aid collection is located on the Open Reserves shelving. These materials circulate for 2 weeks and can be renewed twice.
You may use a self-checkout kiosk or bring an item to the Circulation desk to check it out.
Bar prep materials are located on the Open Reserves shelving and circulate for 24 hours.
We have several bar prep games to aid in your learning, as well!
Paralegal course reserve materials are located on the Open Reserve shelving. These items circulate for a period of 3 hours.
| Format | Loan Period | Renewals | Fine | Minimum Replacement Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| book, dissertation, thesis, CD, CD-ROM | 14 days | twice | $1.00 a day | $100.00 |
| VHS, DVD, DVD-ROM | 7 days | twice | $2.00 a day | $50.00 |
| current course reserves | 3 hours | no | $5.00 hour | $100.00 |
| circuit item | 28 days | twice | $1.00 a day | $125.00 |
| interlibrary loan item | varies | varies | $1.00 a day | $100.00 |
| laptop | 5 hours | no | $20.00 hour | $1,800.00 |
| circulation accessory | 4 hours | twice | $5.00 hour | $10.00 |
Library fines may be paid in person at LRC via cash, check or campus cash. Fines totaling five dollars or more are transferred to Student Accounts at the end of each month. If your fines total five dollars or more, you may wait until they are transferred to Student Accounts.
The following circulation items circulate for 4 hours and can be renewed twice.
Circulation Accessories
Laptops, Computer and Phone chargers
The Legal Research Center has Apple and Dell laptops available for check-out by USD students only. The loan period, shown in the table below, may be extended once for an additional 5 hours if no other patron is waiting to use a laptop. Patrons must come to the circulation desk with the laptop to request an extension. Laptops may not be taken off campus nor may they be checked out overnight. Laptops will be due 30 minutes before closing.
Please note these laptops are not usable for final exams or for any other use that requires other software installation.
| Item | Loan Period | Renewals |
|---|---|---|
| Laptops | 5 hours | 1 |
To avoid fines, items checked out must be renewed or returned by the borrower on or before the due date and time.
| Item | Fines | Minimum Replacement Cost | Service Charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laptops (Computer, Bag, and Power Accessory) | $20.00 an hour |
$1800.00 |
$200.00 |
Borrowers who do not return laptops and/or accessories to the LRC will be billed at least the default replacement cost listed in the table above. If the replacement of the item costs more than the default amount, the borrower will be billed the full replacement cost. If the item is returned to the LRC in good condition after payment is made, the borrower will be refunded 85% of the amount paid.
Charges may be appealed in writing or by email within 30 days from the date of the billing notice. We will review the appeal, and inform you of our decision by email to your USD email address.
The following conditions are NOT valid reasons for appealing a fine:
Address the appeal letter to:
Judith Lihosit, Assistant Dean and Director
Legal Research Center
University of San Diego
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110
Email Judith Lihosit with your fines appeal.
