Labs

The library has three computer locations: two labs are on Floor 3 (hosting 24 computers) and the third area consists of designated large computer carrels on Floor 4 (hosting 18 computers). Lab computers are both Pentium IVs and Celeron machines. Several of the computers on Floor 4 are Macs. All of the computers in the labs and carrels are connected to the law school's network.

Access

All lab and carrel computers are restricted to Catholic University Law School students, faculty and staff.  A CUA login and password are required to access the University and Law School network.  To obtain a login, students should go to the Computer Services Department in room 315 or to the office of the Computer Services Librarian (room 322 inside the library).  Computers are available on a first come, first served basis. All computer printouts must be completed by 11:30 p.m.

Assistance

Courtesy phones are available in the large lab to request assistance from the Computer Services Librarian and the Computer Services Department. The large lab also has courtesy phones to contact Westlaw and Lexis for assistance using each system.

Printing

There are printers on each floor of the library, in the following rooms: 228, 323, 426. Please note that the law school presently does not assess a separate fee for printing, but the library can continue this practice only if students act wisely when requesting printing. This is especially true when printing from Lexis or Westlaw; these prints should always be directed to the Lexis and Westlaw high-speed printers. Please print sparingly; it is environmentally proper and avoids wasting other resources as well.

University Computing

Computers are connected to a university wide network. As a registered CUA student, you are eligible for a University computing account. This account includes e-mail, see CUA's Center for Information and Planning Technology.

Computer Applications

The law school network contains a variety of applications, including Microsoft Word, Corel Word Perfect, Netscape, Internet Explorer, Lexis/Nexis, Westlaw and Computer Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) exercises.

The library web page also provides links to popular web sites and subscriptions databases. A link to the University's online catalog, Aladin, is also available. As a member of the Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC), Aladin also provides links to more than 80 additional research databases, all of which are available to Catholic University law students.

Laptops

Laptop Network Access
Laptop Use Policy
Laptop Printing

• Laptop Network Access

  The library has a wireless network, students should go to Computer Services (room 315) for access.

• Laptop Use Policy

  Laptops are not permitted on the west end (carrel/table/collection side) of Floor 3, where many students wish to study without the noise of laptops. Please turn off your laptop sound feature when in the library.

• Laptop Printing

  There are laptop printers on each floor of the library, in the following rooms: 228, 323, 426. 

Computer Assisted Legal Research

Lexis-Nexis and Westlaw are online databases which include computer-searchable, full-text court opinions, statutes, regulations and journal articles.  Lexis and Westlaw both also have extensive collections of newspaper, magazine, and newsletter articles, indexes, and other reference sources.  Use of these systems is limited to current Catholic University law students, law school faculty and library personnel.

Classes on the use of both systems are offered throughout the year. Information on these classes will be given to first year students through their Lawyering Skills class. As a refresher, there are self-paced tutorials available on both WESTLAW and LEXIS.  Both systems provide student representatives who can provide assistance.  The representatives sit at tables outside of the large computer lab (room 318).

High-speed LEXIS and WESTLAW printers are available for student use.  When ordering a print job during a research session, direct your printout to go to the stand-alone printer.  The LEXIS and WESTLAW stand-alone printers are located in room 229.

Computer Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI)

CALI is a group of over 600 legal (course work) electronic learning exercises. All exercises are available on CALI's web page: http://www2.cali.org/. To get started, you must first register with a membership authorization code. Please contact Frances Brillantine (brillantine@law.edu) or contact the Circulation Desk (202-319-5156) for the code. Access to CALI exercises is limited to current CUA Law students only.

Please note that some lessons must be downloaded in order to use. If you do not want to download a lesson onto your computer, you may check a CALI cd out from the Circulation Desk for 48 hours.

Public Use Computers

The library has one public access computers that do not require a login to use. These computers provide access to to the library's subscription databases and limited access to the Internet. Commercial sites cannot be accessed from these computers. There is also a computer available to research government documents (Floor 3, Room 330). These computers may be used for 30-minute sessions only. Monopolizing of these computers is not permitted.

Computer Use Policy

• Adding additional software or tampering with library computer configuration is not permitted.
• Library software is protected by copyright. Computer users are prohibited by federal law from unauthorized copying of any copyrighted program.
• Viewing, sending or making available offensive explicit materials is not permitted. This includes materials which would tend to create a hostile environment.
• See CUA policies for further information.