Overview of the Belmont Law Library
Established in 1990, the Belmont Law Library is a cutting-edge facility designed to support the ongoing scholarship of the Nashville School of Law. While the library serves as primarily as a foundational resource for students, it is also open to legal scholars from the greater Nashville area. With an extensive selection of both digital and print research material, the library provides a peaceful escape from the noise of the outside world that is perfect for focused study.
The resource hub of the Nashville School of Law, the Belmont Law Library is situated in a prime location at the heart of the campus. Visitors to the library can enjoy a full slate of computer stations, a quiet reading room, group study spaces, and spacious study carrels that provide a restful environment.
For researchers , the physical and digital resources of the Belmont Law Library are second to none, allowing for seamless access to a wealth of relevant sources. For quick searches, the library’s online catalog offers a sleek interface that makes finding specific titles a breeze.
In addition, the library’s research librarian provides expert assistance to students and scholars alike. Whether you’re performing an in-depth analysis for an important project or simply reading up on an interesting topic, you’ll find the comprehensive information you need.
Ultimately, the Belmont Law Library serves as the perfect complement to the academic offerings of the Nashville School of Law, while also supporting legal research and education across the city of Nashville.
Collections and Resources Provided
The collections and resources available at the Belmont Law Library are designed to meet the diverse needs of its patrons. The library houses a wide variety of print materials, including legal treatises, state and federal court reports, reporters of decisions from various courts, legal periodicals, encyclopedias, and legal directories and forms. For example, the library has a strong collection of administrative and bankruptcy filings, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the Federal Rules of Evidence.
The library also boasts a relatively small, yet fairly comprehensive, collection of state and federal statutes. While access to these codes is available online, the library maintains these statutes in printed form, as well. In addition to federal statutes, the library has a large collection devoted to Tennessee law, with a set of compiled statutes that is published every 10 years, as well as the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure, the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the Tennessee Rules of Evidence.
Research tool facilities are also on hand in the library. The Library maintains computers for reference assistance, guidance, and access to the Internet. Printers, microwaves, and a copier are available for patrons to utilize, along with a microfiche reader for research into older governmental documents and publications. The library also offers a color printer, a business center with fax and scanning capabilities, and specialty printing through a Colorquick All-In-One Printer. A 3-D printer is also available for faculty and student use. Security cameras monitor browsing areas, computers, and scanners to promote appropriate use of the library’s collection.
A variety of databases are offered through the library, including case law databases Lexis+ and Westlaw Edge, Westlaw Checkpoint, Westlaw Practical Law, and Westlaw Drafting Assistant. Also available from the library are Westlaw, Westlaw Insurance, Westlaw Financial Services, and the Legal Analytics tool LegiScan. The library also makes available the service Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions, which combines the services Cheetah, Global Research Navigator, IntelliConnect, and Tax Authority into one platform.
Access to Bloomberg Law, FastCase, and Lexis-Nexis is also provided from the Belmont Law Library.
The library provides access to a vast array of print and digital research tools for its patrons. The library also hosts three conference rooms for in-person meetings and interviews. Additional video conference facilities outfitted with high-definition TV screens and Endpoints are available for faculty and students to use remotely.
Library Facilities and Access Information
Access to Belmont Law Library is generally limited to members of the Vanderbilt community and those with special permission by a law librarian. Though it is not open to the general public, the library is available to visiting legal scholars, scholars on sabbatical, VLS alumni, and attorneys on short-term visits as they research Vanderbilt’s library’s collection of more than 400,000 volumes.
By being on Interlibrary Loan (ILL), all VLS students have access to the library’s resources. ILL is a reciprocal service with all libraries in the state, as well as Nashville libraries. It gives VLS students access to just about any book we would need that is not available in our own library.
Per CILECT guidelines, access to the library is more restricted for non-CILECT students and faculty. Those who are currently enrolled at a member school can receive a CILECT card from their home institution, and then have access to the library for a minimum of one month.
Non-CILECT students and faculty must apply through their home institutions in order to get access to Vanderbilt’s library. However, unfortunately, they cannot borrow books or check out any other legal information materials during their visit.
Visiting scholars, including those on sabbatical, and resident scholars must, however, apply directly to the library for access. Resident scholars are individuals who are currently employed at other, non-CILECT institutions.
Alumni do not need to apply for access when they wish to use the library’s resources.
The library implements fees for various services that are provided. When that happens, public access to the library is charged a fee to cover the cost of maintaining the library collection. Regardless of who receives the fees, they are all used for maintaining library resources.
The library does not charge fees to Vanderbilt students or faculty, faculty from other CILECT member libraries, or those who are visiting the library as a guest.
Research Support and Tutorial Sessions Offered
The Belmont Law Library doesn’t just help you find and interpret those resources; it will continue the process through study aids, research consultations, and workshops for all of your legal research skills. All materials recommended by the library for a specific class in our Law Reading Room are also available for check out, in addition to the library catalog, other books in our collection, and study aids , plus our access to Lexis, Westlaw, and and the Bloomberg platform through Internet Explorer. Consultations are available for any student or faculty member who is having an issue with a legal research assignment such as finding a statute, or other primary source, a secondary source for a law review paper, and locating information about a regulation. Workshops can be scheduled for a classroom or group.
Technology and Study Space Provisions
The library maintains a computer lab and several study rooms outfitted with computers or interactive displays. The library can also reserve rooms with interactive displays to be used for studying, classes, or group meetings. Some may be surprised to learn that library has many of the monographs and texts from your first-year courses. These are available for study or for copying (no more than 2 pages at a time, please!) by current law students. The library is also home to the law school’s e-Blackboard and digital holdings. If you require special equipment or software for completing course assignments, be sure to check out the catalog of equipment and options made available to law students by the Academic Technology department. For VPN access instructions for off-campus computer use, see the link above.
Community Involvement and Activities
Community engagement is a part of the mission of the Belmont Law Library. The library frequently assists in events sponsored by the law school. Recently, one of the two Nashville bar association’s major CLE events occurred at the law school after-hours. Faculty from the law school presented lectures and panel discussions at the event, and the law library staff assisted in resolving the technology concerns that occurred when the large lecture hall projectors unexpectedly quit working. Other community outreach sponsored by the law school and library includes including symposiums focused on issues such as family law , healthcare, and immigration. Across the hall from the library, the law school has hosted nationally recognized speakers such as Howard Dean and former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson.
The law library also engages the public directly by sponsoring events. One of the most expensive and important events for the Nashville Bar is the new admittees ceremony. Although that event is sponsored by the Nashville Bar, the event is held at the law school auditorium, and the law library’s participation includes buying drinks for the attendees and hosting a briefing session before the event begins.