Library Terms
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is compiled by a group of law review editors. It sets forth standards of citation and style to be used throughout legal writing. It also tells you which authorities to cite and how to abbreviate properly. All law students must follow "bluebook form" when writing briefs or research papers. Copies of the Bluebook are available at the Circulation Desk in Langdell, in the ILS Reading Room and at the ILS Reference Desk.
Many items in a library are shelved by a code called a CALL NUMBER.
An example of a Library of Congress call number: JX 171.R63 1983
An example of a Moody call number: GER 914.3 NEU
An example of an Olivart call number: 51 13.3.9.7.2
CARRELS are desks in the stacks. Some are assigned to individual researchers but may be used by the general public. Individuals with carrels may check out materials to the carrels. See the Circulation Desk in Langdell for details.
A library CATALOG is a list of the contents of a library. You search catalog by author, title, subject, or other information. From your search, you will get a Call Number and the approximate location of your book or item. The Law School Library uses an online catalog called HOLLIS catalog. A UNION CATALOG unites the catalogs of two or more libraries.
The CIRCULATION DESK is where you check out books that may be borrowed from the library. These books are CIRCULATING; books that must stay in the library are NON-CIRCULATING. Reference books, looseleafs, periodicals, and primary legal materials do not circulate.
Dawson, John P. Legal realism and legal scholarship. 33 Journal of Legal Education 406 (1983). This is a CITATION (or CITE)--also called a REFERENCE--to a journal article. Citations refer you to books, journal articles, research reports, and documents, among many other resources.
HARVARD DEPOSITORY (HD) is a remote storage facility for Harvard University Libraries located in Southboro, MA. Items can be retrieved from HD by submitting a Search & Storage Request Form at the circulation desk or by using the "Request" command in HOLLIS.
HOLDINGS refer to everything in a library's collection. For example: the Harvard Law School Library's HOLDINGS include books, journals, films, manuscripts, and microfiche. HOLDINGS may also refer to the parts of a particular serial in a library. For example: issues of the weekly publication Jeune Afrique are held from 1980 to the present at Widener but only the current issue is held at ILS. Click on "Holdings" or "Availability" in HOLLIS.
An INDEX contains a list of subjects, names, titles, etc., which refers you to sources of information; it is most commonly used for periodicals and journals. For example, if you looked up "Right to Education" in the Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals, you find references to journal articles on this subject.
If the Harvard libraries do not have a publication you need, the INTERLIBRARY LOAN (ILL) Assistant can usually borrow it from an outside library for students or faculty members of Harvard Law School. ILL is located at the Circulation Desk in Langdell.
JOURNALS and PERIODICALS tend to be scholarly publications; MAGAZINES are more popular. An ANNUAL is published once every year. A SERIAL refers to anything published in parts (for example, the New York Times Index, which is published every 15 days). LAW REVIEWS contain articles by noted legal scholars, as well as comments and case notes, which are usually written by law school students. These terms all refer to materials published regularly--weekly, monthly, or yearly. The first three can be used interchangeably.
LOCATORS indicate the shelving locations of materials. For example, if a HOLLIS record gives a call number that is preceded by ILS RR, the ILS RR is a locator that tells you the book is shelved in the International Legal Studies Reading Room. A complete list of locators is on the back of the guide, ILS Reading Room & Stacks.
LOOSELEAF refers to a book or set of books that is updated so frequently by the publisher that the books are in binders that allow pages to be replaced easily. Some services are updated on a weekly basis. Because it is important to keep current in legal research, many of the most valuable publications are looseleaf services.
To save space in libraries, some publications are photographed onto MICROFICHE (FICHE) or MICROFILM--together these are called MICROFORMS. FICHE (pronounced "feesh") are small transparent cards that contain many reduced pages. MICROFILM is a long strip of film that contains a varying number of reduced pages. The MICROFICHE and MICROFILM collections are kept in the MICROFORM ROOM in Langdell, 2nd floor, room L221.
OPAC or Online Public Access Catalog is a computer workstation used to search a library's catalog. OPAC can refer to either the actual workstation in the library, or to an interface provided by the library that is accessible from anywhere. Courtesy: http://www.sirsi.com/gloassary.html.
The READING ROOM is on the fourth floor of Langdell. Reference is adjacent, on the fourth floor of Areeda. The ILS Reading Room (ILS RR) is on the second floor (entrance level) of Lewis and includes a Circulation Desk and the ILS Reference Desk.
REFERENCE has three meanings in the Library:
1. The REFERENCE Desk, Department, Staff, and Collection answer questions you have about your research, this Library, and other libraries.
2. A REFERENCE refers the reader elsewhere. For example, a REFERENCE at the end of a journal article may refer to an article on a related topic. See also CITATION, CITE.
3. REFERENCE (or Ref or Ref Desk) are also used as location codes (see also LOCATOR) to help you find items in the library. Most Reference materials are kept near the Reference Desk.
The RESERVE DESK, within the Circulation Department, handles readings reserved by faculty for their courses.
A SEARCH is the process of checking available indexes, catalogs, and other resources in your field to see what research has been done on your topic. An ONLINE or COMPUTER SEARCH is a way of checking these sources on a computer.
STACKS are groups of bookshelves where most of the books in the library are kept. ILS STACKS are in the basement and on the first, third and fourth floors. In Langdell, the STACKS are on levels B, 1, 2, and 3.
Many of the Law School Library's holdings are in STORAGE. These areas are not open to the public; storage may be in another building or far from campus. You may have items retrieved from storage by submitting a Search & Storage Request Form at the Circulation Desk.
When an item on HOLLIS is indicated as "Ordered-received" without a call number, this means the book is waiting to be cataloged. If you need the item, fill out a Search & Storage Request Form at the Circulation Desk and a RUSH CATALOG will be performed. The item will be processed as quickly as possible and held for you at the Circulation Desk in Langdell.
If you cannot find a book in the stacks and have verified that it has not been charged out, you may make a SEARCH REQUEST by filling out a Search & Storage Request Form at the Circulation Desk in Langdell and staff will search the collections for you. A member of the Library staff will contact you when the item is found.
If you need a book that has been charged out by someone, the Circulation staff can ask the person to return the book to the Library. When the book is returned it will be held for you at the Circulation Desk. Also, use this link in HOLLIS to request delivery for materials that are stored at the Harvard Depository (HD). Use the "Request" link from an "Availability" screen in HOLLIS.