Access / Eligible Patrons

Access Policy: Overview

The University of San Francisco is a private, Jesuit institution, and the Dorraine Zief Law Library is a private research and reference library for the University of San Francisco community. As a private institution, the Zief Library is not open to the general public, and it may restrict access to the facility and change its access policy when deemed necessary.

The Zief Library's primary clientele — USF Law School faculty, USF Law School staff and currently-enrolled USF Law students — have priority access to the collection and library services.

Persons not currently enrolled in or employed by the University of San Francisco (those who are not current USF students, faculty, or staff) will be admitted to the library only if they belong to one of the following groups:

1. Law school students, faculty, or staff visiting from other California ABA-accredited institutions, provided that they have a current student, faculty, or staff ID card;

2. Faculty, students, or staff from other out-of-state, ABA-accredited or non-US institutions, provided that they have obtained pre-approval prior to their visit from the Circulation Services Librarian or the Library Director;

3. USF Law School alumni, with a USF Law School alumni card;
   
4. Practicing California attorneys, provided that they have their current California Bar card;
   
5. Persons needing to consult federal or state depository documents.

Access for persons in Categories 1-5 above does not include circulation privileges; all materials must be used in the library. The Zief Library does not provide access to anyone who is not in the above categories (such as students from non-USF undergraduate or graduate programs, paralegal programs, or law schools not accredited by the ABA.)

In order to gain access to Zief Law Library, individuals who are seeking federal or state depository documents must discuss their research needs with a reference librarian to ensure that the library has the materials that they are seeking. If a reference librarian is unavailable, individuals seeking depository documents must discuss their research needs with the Circulation Supervisor on duty. Zief Law Library reserves the right to bar or remove any individual who poses a threat to library staff, other patrons, or the security of the library's collections.

All users of the Zief Law Library must show appropriate identification in order to enter the library. All visitors not currently affiliated with USF must register at the Circulation Desk in addition to showing the required form of ID. This policy applies whenever the library is open.

USF students, faculty and staff must swipe their current USF ID; USF Law School alumni must show a Bar card or a USF alumni card. Law students, faculty or staff members from other California ABA-accredited law schools must show a current school or university ID. California attorneys must show a current California Bar card. Federal or state depository document users must sign in at the Circulation Desk and, as discussed above, such users must discuss their research needs with the appropriate library staff.

This Access⁄ID Policy is intended to help ensure the safety of our patrons and the security of the building and its contents.

Evening Access: Notice to Library Users Who Do Not Possess a USF ID Card

The Zief Law Library entrance doors lock at 5 p.m. Persons who have a USF ID card may enter the library after 5 p.m. by swiping the ID card through the release mechanism just outside the door.

Persons not possessing a USF ID card who are otherwise authorized to use the Zief Law Library should buzz the Circulation Desk, using the buzzer to the right of the entrance doors. Such patrons will still need to satisfy the above access requirements in order to use the law library.

Exam Period Access

During exam periods, access to the Zief Law Library is further restricted to make more room available for USF law students. During exam periods, only the following groups may use the law library:

• Current USF faculty and staff;
• Current USF law students;
• USF Law School alumni;
• USF graduate and undergraduate students doing legal research;
• Members of the Bar;
• Persons needing to consult federal or state depository documents.

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