Library

Visitor Guide

The Law Library is only open to current NYU Law students, faculty and staff (subject to the exceptions listed below). Should an exception be applicable, kindly submit a request for access no less than three business days prior to your desired visit dates. We cannot accommodate walk-in visitors. Furthermore, please be advised that visitor passes for the Law Library are not issued on weekends.

Please note: Sponsored guests to NYU Law School buildings and facilities also need a visitor's pass to access the Law Library (See Sponsored Guests of NYU Law Students, Faculty or Staff below).

Columbia & Fordham Law School Students

As a part of our reciprocal access arrangement, current Columbia Law and Fordham Law School students can access the Law Library for study and/or research during non-restricted periods after completing the following steps:

  1. Email lawlib-access@nyu.edu
    • include a photo of your current law school ID
    • state how long you would like to access the Law Library (no access during reading and finals periods).
  2. Wait 3 business days for an email that will include your visitor’s pass to the Law Library.
  3. Show the access pass to ID desk personnel in order to gain entry to the Law Library.

NOTE: Visitor’s passes to the Law Library granted under this reciprocal agreement are issued on a semester basis and must be renewed each semester. Reciprocal access is limited to Fall and Spring semesters.

NYU Non-Law Students

Current NYU students (non-law) may use the Law Library for course-related legal research. Please use this form to arrange short term access. Non-law NYU students requiring long-term access (more than 3 days) should provide a letter from a faculty member indicating the name of the course and the type of library material needed to lawlib-access@nyu.edu. Unfortunately, there is no general-purpose access to the Law Library not related to course-related legal research.

Sponsored Guests of NYU Law Students, Faculty or Staff
All Law Library visitors must be sponsored by a current and active NYU faculty member, employee or student before their visit, as per the University’s visitor policy. After that process is complete, NYU law sponsors should email lawlib-access@nyu.edu to request a visitor’s pass to the Law Library. In that email, please provide your NYU Law School affiliation, the name of your visitor, and the length of visit requested. If your guest requires Wi-Fi access please read this page for more information.
NYU Law Alumni
NYU Law School alumni wishing to access the Law Library should contact the NYU Law School Alumni Office to arrange visitor sponsorship. The Alumni Office will coordinate access to the Law Library on your behalf.
Visitors to the Government Documents Collection (FDLP)

The Law Library is a United States Federal Depository Library. Those who wish to use government documents in our collection may do so by making a pre-arranged appointment. Please email lawlib-access@nyu.edu 3 days prior to your arrival. Access for members of the public are governed by NYU University policies.

METRO Referral Card
The Law Library honors Metropolitan New York Library Council (METRO) card referrals. A METRO referral card allows an individual a one-time-only visit to a library to use a specified item in the Law Library. METRO Card users should make arrangements by sending an email (include photo of your metro card) to lawlib-access@nyu.edu.
OCLC Shares Members Students and Faculty
Faculty, students and professional staff at SHARES member institutions outside the New York metropolitan region are allowed access for extended periods. A librarian from your home institution should send an email to lawlib-access@nyu.edu to make arrangements.
Tri-state Area Law Students
NYC-area law students who need access to an item not available at their institutional library can apply for a single-day pass to access the item. From your law school account, please email lawlib-access@nyu.edu, and provide the title of the material you wish to use and the preferred date of your visit.
Bar Study Guest Passes
NYU Law School graduates (summer immediately following graduation only) are welcome to use the Law Library to study for the July bar exam. This privilege is for the graduate only and does not extend to guests of the graduate. Graduates of other law schools may purchase a pass for $100. Email lawlib-access@nyu.edu to set up an in-person appointment to purchase a pass (cash or check only). Passes are valid from June 2 to July 30 and go on sale the last week of May. Students must bring their Law School ID and proof of registration for the July bar exam.
General Public
Access to the public is restricted and is governed by NYU University policies. The Law Library is generally not open to the public at this time, please visit the NY Courts website to find a publicly accessible law library near you.
Periods of Restricted Access

Notwithstanding the access guidelines outlined above, during exam periods (and for several weeks before) library access is restricted to NYU Law students, faculty and staff, with the following exceptions:

  1. NYU non-law students (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm only)
  2. NYU Law Alumni
  3. Metro Referral Passes (one day passes only)
  4. OCLC Shares Members
  5. Government Document patrons

The following categories of guests will not be permitted access during periods of restricted access:

  1. Tri-state areas law students ( including Columbia & Fordham Law students)
  2. Guests of NYU law students
Directions

The Law Library is located in Vanderbilt Hall. For directions to the NYU School of Law, please visit the Visitor Information page.