The Law Library is open to the public daily from opening time until 6 p.m. Refer to the information below for daily business hours. Access to the College of Law and the Law Library after 6 p.m. is restricted to law students, law faculty, members of the Bar, and patrons who need to use the Law Library collection. For access to the Law Library after 6 p.m., please call the Law Library Circulation Desk at (405) 325-5493.
Library staff cannot provide legal advice. Information on obtaining legal assistance can be found below.
OU Law students, faculty and staff serve the local community through the OU Legal Clinic. The clinic provides pro bono services for economically eligible clients primarily in Cleveland and McClain counties in both civil and criminal issues. Some exceptions can be made in the event a case proves to be of educational significance to students. The clinic can only take on a limited number of cases, and new cases are only added at specific times of the year. Contact the Legal Clinic at (405) 325-3702 for additional information.
Since the clinic cannot represent all persons needing legal assistance, other resources may be options for you:.
- If you need legal advice or assistance on a civil matter within Oklahoma, contact Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma at www.legalaidok.org (opens in a new window) or call 1 (888) 534-5243.
- If you need legal advice or assistance on a criminal matter within Oklahoma, contact the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System at www.state.ok.us/~oids/ (opens in a new window).
- To find an attorney in Oklahoma, reference the "Finding a Lawyer" page on the Oklahoma Bar Association website at www.okbar.org (opens in a new window).
- If you are not in Oklahoma, check your state's Bar Association's website for resources. You can look for your state at the American Bar Association's directory at www.americanbar.org/directories/bar-associations.html (opens in a new window).
- If none of these can help you, you will need to seek legal counsel locally. You can normally check the Yellow Pages of your local phone book under the section Attorneys, or you can check the website of your state's Bar Association (see above).
- If you need assistance in your own Legal Research, you can visit the Donald E. Pray Law Library at the OU Law Center or call reference desk at (405) 325-4311. Library staff cannot provide legal advice.
- Norman Campus Faculty Handbook: See Section 3.29.4.
- University of Oklahoma Libraries
- United States Copyright Office
- TEACH Act
Food and drink are permitted in all areas of the library, except the Chapman Reading Room and the computer labs. However, please use common sense when eating in the library and throw away trash. Please use lids on all drinks. For those wishing to consume larger meals, the Amicus Cafe (1st floor) is available to all patrons.
Please respect the needs of those who wish to study quietly. Keep conversations and other unnecessary noise to a minimum. Use of cell phones is prohibited in the library. Headphones and ear plugs are available at the Circulation Desk.
Study rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Multimedia Study Rooms and CLC Study Rooms may only be reserved by law students and law faculty. Reservations for Multimedia Study Rooms and CLC Study Rooms can be made on the College of Law intranet. Law students have priority for use of the study rooms over all other patrons. Groups have priority over individual students.
The library closes at the times listed in the library hours section. No one is allowed to stay in the library after the library is closed. After 6:00 p.m. daily, only law students, law faculty, and patrons who need to use the Law Library collection are permitted to enter the College of Law. Law faculty and students may use their electronic key to access the building after 6:00 p.m.
- 60 day check out (books) - $0.10/day, $10 maximum
- 7 day check out (bound periodicals) - $0.25/day, $10 maximum
- 4 hour check out (reserve materials) - $1/hour, $25 maximum
Overdue notices are emailed to the student's OU e-mail account as a reminder. If this is not the student's primary email address, the OU account can be forwarded to the primary account. Please see the computer lab attendant for assistance in this procedure. Failure to receive an overdue notice is not grounds for reduction or cancelation of fines.
The cost for replacement of a lost book, which includes a reacquisition/re-cataloging fee, is a minimum $80.00 per item plus a $10.00 nonrefundable replacement fee. If the item is returned within one year, the reacquisition/re-cataloging fee of $80.00 will be refunded. However, the replacement fee and overdue fines are not refundable.
All fines and lost book charges are sent to the Bursar's office for collection. If you do not pay the fines or fees, you will not be able to enroll in classes or obtain transcripts, grades or a diploma. If your enrollment is on hold due to library fines, please contact the billing department at (405) 325-1856.
Use of tobacco products including cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and vaping devices is not permitted on university property beginning July 1, 2012. The policy applies to every person on any University of Oklahoma campus, including visitors, faculty, staff, volunteers, students, alumni, contractors, and service representatives. The policy includes all OU-owned, leased, rented, or maintained property including, but not limited to: buildings, facilities, sidewalks, roadways, parking lots, and grounds. The policy also includes all university-owned, leased, or rented vehicles.
In cases of exceptional or repeated violation of library policies, the Law Library reserves the right to revoke or refuse access to our facilities.
21 Okl.St.Ann. § 1739
§ 1739. Library theft
1. “Library facility” means any:
b. library of an educational, historical or eleemosynary institution, organization, or society; or
d. repository of public or institutional records.
2. “Library material” means any book, plate, picture, photograph, engraving, painting, drawing, map, newspaper, magazine, pamphlet, broadside, manuscript, document, letter, record, microform, sound recording, audiovisual materials in any format, magnetic or other tapes, catalog cards or catalog records, electronic data processing records, computer software, artifacts, or other documentary, written or printed materials regardless of physical form or characteristics, belonging or on loan to, or otherwise in the custody of a library facility.
3. “Demand” means either actual notice to the possessor of any library materials or the mailing of written notice to the possessor at the last address of record which the library facility has for said person, demanding the return of designated library materials. If demand is made by mail it shall be deemed to have been given as of the date the notice is mailed by the library facility.
B. Any person shall be guilty, upon conviction, of library theft who willfully:
1. Removes or attempts to remove any library material from the premises of a library facility without authority; or
2. Mutilates, destroys, alters or otherwise damages, in whole or in part, any library materials; or
3. Fails to return any library materials which have been lent to said person by the library facility, within seven (7) days after demand has been made for the return of the library materials.
C. A person convicted of library theft shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to the fine and restitution provisions of this subsection but shall not be subject to imprisonment. The punishment for conviction of library theft shall be:
1. If the aggregate value of the library material is Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or less, by fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or the offender shall make restitution to the library facility, including payment of all related expenses incurred by the library facility as a result of the actions of the offender, or both such fine and restitution; or
2. If the aggregate value of the library material is greater than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), by fine not exceeding Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or the offender shall make restitution to the library facility, including payment of all expenses incurred by the library facility as a result of the actions of the offender, or both such fine and restitution.
D. Copies of the provisions of this section shall be posted on the premises of each library facility.
Credits
Laws 1988, c. 112, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1988.
21 Okl. St. Ann. § 1739, OK ST T. 21 § 1739
Current with legislation of the First Regular Session of the 56th Legislature (2017) effective through August 25, 2017
Purpose
The primary purpose of the Donald E. Pray Law Library is to provide a working space for legal study and research. At its core is the Chapman Reading Room, which reflects the significance of the legal profession and legal work and provides a solemn space for students and researchers to conduct their work. In recognition of the role that special events, marketing opportunities, and distinguished guests play at the College of Law, the Law Library and the Chapman Reading Room is available to be reserved on a limited basis for certain occasions that maintain and combine the significance of the Law Library with the vibrancy of the College of Law.
Use and Reservation Policy
The Law Library’s primary and presumptive use is for all library patrons during regular library hours for study and research. The Law Library may be reserved for those special events or uses that exceptionally and significantly contribute to the College of Law or University’s mission subject to this policy. The following are illustrative of the types of events that may receive approval:
Important formal College of Law sponsored events, such as meals or receptions that are not accommodated by existing College of Law facilities in stature or quality; and,
Alumni dinners and events, seated meals for other distinguished guests, and limited marketing efforts to assist with fundraising campaigns for the College of Law.
Reservation Process
All reservation requests must be submitted in this form to the Law Library Director at least two weeks in advance of the proposed event describing the nature of the event, the hours the event is proposed to take place, the number of expected attendance, and any special accommodations. Requested events should be limited in time and scope to minimize the disruption of the primary use of the Law Library during the Fall and Spring semesters and any requests made to use the Law Library during the final four weeks of the Fall or Spring semesters will only be granted in the most extraordinary circumstances. The Law Library Director will review all requests and has the sole discretion in approving any requests.
The following policies also apply for any event that includes photography or filming in the Law Library:
(1) You must provide your own actors or models, audio/visual equipment, and support personnel;
(2) You will not film or photograph any patrons using the library without their written consent;
(3) You will not film artwork in the Law Library for commercial uses without prior approval from the rights holder of that artwork;
(4) Any filming for advertisements, promotional materials, or other commercial purposes must be approved of by the Law Library Director and OU Marketing and Communications; and,
(5) All filming or photography shall be done to minimize distraction and noise in the Law Library.
To request permission to film or take photos inside the Donald E. Pray Law Library, please click on link below and fill out the online form.