The Collection
The George R. Farmer, Jr. Law Library at the West Virginia University College of Law Library is the largest law library in the state of West Virginia. The Library provides materials in all areas of American law, selected areas of foreign and international law, and an extensive interdisciplinary collection. The Library produces a monthly list of Selected Acquisitions, which consists of a subject arrangement of newly received books and audio/video materials. Although intended chiefly to serve the Law School community, the Library is open to all members of the University and general public.
- Reserve
The Reserve collection exists to equalize access to heavily used materials. This collection includes materials that the faculty require as resource reading for their classes, as well as faculty recommended books, hornbooks, nutshells, WVU Law School Examinations since 1981, unbound law periodicals, audio and video tapes, and a variety of other materials.
- Rare Books
The Library’s rare book collection is located in the Andrew J. Colborn and Harry B. Colborn Rare Book Room. Librarians must retrieve rare books for researchers. Rare books do not circulate.
- Government Documents Collection
The WVU College of Law Library has received over 11,000 government document titles through the U.S. Government Documents Depository Program. Although many documents are cataloged and shelved in the regular collection, some documents are located on the Library’s ground floor. Some of these government documents can be borrowed from the Library.
- Media Services
The Library’s audio and video collection consists of selected titles covering various legal topics. Bibliographic information for audio and video titles can be found in MountainLynx, the online catalog. Tapes may be checked out of the Library or viewed in the Library study rooms.
- Microfiche
The Microfiche Collection primarily contains U.S. Supreme Court Records and Briefs, the National Law Journal, the Code of Federal Regulations, the Federal Register, state session laws, selected government documents, selected international law publications, bar journals, and multistate bar examinations.
There is a microfiche reader located near the microfiche cabinets on the top and ground floors. A microfiche/microfilm copier is located in the Circulation Desk area. There is no charge for microform copies.
- Stored Collection
o 1st series of West’s National Reporter System
o Fragile books
o Superseded materials
o The Library staff must retrieve material from the stored collection. These materials do not circulate.