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Cite-Checking Information for Student Publications: Pulling Law Library Items

Pulling, Using and Reshelving Law Library Materials

Pulling Materials from the Shelves.
When you pull an item without a barcode from the shelves, please leave a shelf dummy in its place. A shelf dummy is essentially a place holder. In this case, they are empty boxes that have a note on them directing patrons seeking the item at that shelf location to go to the Information Desk. The intent is to help library staff quickly ascertain whether we should check the Law Review or Journal offices for a given item. We will provide a supply of shelf dummies for you to keep in your office and bring into the stacks when you go to pull materials. If you need additional shelf dummies, please let a full-time library staff member know.

Checking Out Materials.
All items with barcodes need to be checked out. A law review or journal staff member should bring materials to be checked out to the Information Desk. Most items without barcodes may be taken to staff offices without being checked out (leaving a shelf dummy in its place, as described above), with the exception of the following items, which need to be used in the library:

  • Ready Reference
  • Reference
  • Indexes
  • Reserve

As always, never take just the pocket part of an item. 

Recalls.
If another user needs an item you have pulled, library staff may borrow it from you and then return it to you. In some cases (e.g., the resource is needed for a student assignment), the material may have to be checked back in and reshelved. When possible we will talk to you about this. At times we may just leave a note.

Using Materials.
Please make sure to mark needed pages or passages with Post-Its. Please do not dog-ear pages or write in the books, even in pencil.

Old Pocket Parts.
Sometimes we receive a new pocket part for an item you have checked out. Because you may prefer to cite to either the old or the new item and to make sure the item is promptly updated, law library staff will place the new pocket part in the back of the book and rubber-band the older pocket part to the book, with a note on it indicating that there is a more current pocket part. Please do not remove the latest pocket part from the back of the book. When you return the book, give the outdated pocket part to Information Desk staff and ask that they pass it on to Joe Stouffer. 

Returning and Reshelving Materials.
Materials checked out must be checked in at the Information Desk when you are through with them. A law review or journal staff member should bring materials to be checked in to the staff working the Information Desk to have materials checked in. 

Please remember to

  • Remove all Post-It notes from the books before returning them.
  • Give any old pocket parts rubber-banded to the item to Information Desk staff and ask that they pass it on to Joe Stouffer.

Library staff will reshelve all barcoded books upon their return. A law review or journal staff member should reshelve the non-barcoded books that had been borrowed. Please be sure to remove any shelf dummies you had left in place of these books.

Thank you for your assistance.

Missing Items

If Drake owns a needed item but you cannot find it on the shelf:

Hunt a Bit.
The item could be slightly mis-shelved. Check the shelves before and after the location where the item should be located. Look on the nearby tables and carrels, the areas near the photocopy machines on both first and second floor, and the reshelving cart by the Information Desk.

Talk to Each Other.
Check to see if someone else on your staff has a needed item. If not, check with the staff of the other publication to see if they have it.

Ask at the Desk.
If you still can’t find the item you need on the shelf, please notify staff at the Information Desk. We can put a hold on the item if it is checked out or start a search process and an interlibrary loan request if it is simply missing. If the item you need is supposed to be on the shelves at Cowles and you cannot find it, ask for help at the Cowles Circulation Desk. If needed, they will fill out a search request and contact you in a few days with the results. If Cowles personnel cannot find the missing item, then submit an interlibrary loan request.

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Drake University Law Library • 2604 Forest Ave. • Des Moines, Iowa 50311-3014