HLS home > library > services
Library

Computer Services

The Library has nearly a hundred workstations, thirty laser printers, and five hundred high speed internet jacks for use by patrons. WiFi wireless connectivity is also available in most areas of the library.

All the public computers are configured for Library searching, general law research through online databases Lexis and Westlaw, Law School email functionality, and web browsing. In addition, more than half of the terminals are configured for Word Processing.

This page provides more detailed information on these and other computer services available in the library. The menu at right provides an overview of the topic presented.

Locations of Public Terminals

(All computers are word processing-enabled unless otherwise indicated.)

2nd Floor (main entrance level) [view map]

3rd Floor [view map]

4th Floor [view map]

ILS [view map]

(These machines are not word processing-enabled.)

Available Software

Visit the HLS Student IT Services page for detailed software information.

Printing

Printers are available throughout the Library. These printers are configured to print jobs from the public computer workstations in their immediate vicinity. They do not print jobs from laptop computers. Laptop output can be routed only to two printers set aside specifically for this purpose. (Click here to see where the two laptop printers are located.) Additional printers, including a color printer, can be found in the computer lab in the basement of Hauser Hall.

Print copies are 5 cents per page. (HOLLIS catalog Web pages are free.) In order to print from one of the library's printers, you need a print account. For HLS students, print accounts are set up automatically at registration and maintained throughout the duration of their degree programs. Patrons who don't have an academic print account, can set up a cash account. To set up a cash account, go to Information Technology Services (ITS) in Hauser 030 or come to the library administration office on the fifth floor.

For students, their academic print account will track print costs incurred at all public printers. During the first week of every month (from October through May), Term Billing will be sent any amounts accrued over the course of the previous month for billing to students. Students may, if they wish, pay down these monthly accruals (before they are sent to Term Billing) or pay against future accruals via cash transactions at Information Technology Services (ITS) in Hauser 030.

All students are given a initial, free-printing allowance of $50 for the year (which amounts to 1000 printed pages) to start off. Printing beyond this amount will be billed to the student.

For more detailed information, please go to HLS public print system contents page.

Printing News & Notes:

Using a Laptop in the Library

The Library has roughly 500 network jacks and electrical outlets for use with laptop computers. These jacks provide high speed connectivity to the Internet for use in web browsing, email, and Lexis/Westlaw searching. WiFi wireless connectivity is also available in most areas of the library.

Before connecting to either the wired or wireless network, however, you need to register and configure your laptop so it will be recognized on the network. Additional configuration, the installation of a print client, is also necessary if you want to print from your laptop. Below is an overview of the configuration steps necessary. For the most complete and up-to-date information, please refer to the ITS Community Website.

Connecting Your Laptop:

If You Live in an HLS Dorm, you must:

  1. Live in Ames, Dane, Hastings, Holmes, North, Shaw, Story, or Wyeth;
  2. Have a laptop running Windows 95/98, or MacOS running OpenTransport;
  3. Have an HLS-approved Ethernet card or adapter, and it must be registered via NetConnect;
  4. Prepare your computer's network settings according to the instructions in the HLS Information Technology Services Handbook.

Once your NetConnect request is approved, bring your computer, Ethernet card/adapter, and cables to a roaming jack to test the connection.

If You Do Not Live in an HLS Dorm, you must:

  1. Have a valid Harvard Law School identification card;
  2. Have a laptop running Windows 95/98 or MacOS running OpenTransport;
  3. Have an HLS-approved Ethernet card or adapter, and it must be registered via NetConnect;
  4. Prepare your computer's network settings according to the instructions in the HLS Information Technology Services Handbook.

Register the Ethernet card/adapter in NetConnect indicating NONE for Building, room, and jack number. Once your NetConnect request is approved, bring your computer, Ethernet card/adapter, and cables to a roaming jack to test the connection.

More information about connecting your laptop to the HLS network can be found on the Network FAQ of the ITS Community Website.

Printing From Your Laptop

It is now possible to print directly from your laptop to two specifically designated printers in the library. [view map] (Other laptop output printers are located in the Hark, Austin and the Pound computer lab.) This printing is billed through the same print account system already in use in the library. In order to print from a laptop, you must install the appropriate print client software on your laptop.

More About WiFi Wireless Service in the Library

Wireless internet service is available at select locations throughout the library. Areas of coverage were selected to best facilitate student use, however, physical constraints within building (such as the library stacks themselves) prevent complete coverage in all areas of the library. The following areas have guaranteed coverage:

Other areas of the building may also support wireless use as a result of signal bleed-through from the above node points, however, reception may be spotty in these areas and is not officially supported.

Computer Classroom Use

The library has a large computer classroom equipped with 24 computers and central projection equipment, located on level two.

When classes are not using the room, these computers are available for use as public workstations. During most training sessions, however, the computer classroom is closed to patrons. Be sure to check the schedule, posted on on the wall next to the classroom's door and also on the bulletin board by the turnstiles, before entering to make sure no class is in session.

During crunch times, such as exam periods, the number of classes held in the classroom is reduced to accommodate increased demand for the workstations.

Technical Support

The Harvard Law School Library employs a team of law students called Tech RAs who are available almost every hour the Library is open to assist patrons using the Library's public terminals.

The Tech RA can assist students with and answer questions about HLSL network applications, including printing accounts, HOLLIS, LegalTrac and OpenMail, as well as printing and downloading from HLSL network applications, including Westlaw and Lexis. Tech RAs can assist students with basic Lexis and Westlaw questions, troubleshoot simple computer problems, add toner and paper to printers and refer other problems to the Library's computer specialists. Tech RAs will direct more complicated research questions to the Reference staff.

The Tech RA on duty, when not making rounds to check the Library's public terminals, is located in the Langdell Computer Classroom (Langdell 233, 2nd floor, North) or can be reached by e-mail at librtech@law.harvard.edu.

If you have questions about the Tech RAs, please contact Remy Prevost, Computer Specialist, at rprevost@law.harvard.edu.