The Harry and Diane Rinker Law Library

The Harry and Diane Rinker Law Library is considered one of the major highlights of the Law School. This modern library facility is located on the first, second and third floors on the north side of the law school on the Chapman University Orange campus. The library provides seating for over 300 patrons and contains over 293,000 volumes and volume equivalents. Legal research is an integral and important part of any legal practice, and, therefore, of any legal education.

The library utilizes INNOPAC, a state-of-the-art automated library system used by most major law libraries. The INNOPAC system consists of an on-line public access catalog, including other modules used for various library functions. Several public access on-line terminals are located in the library.

In the coming years, the collection will continue to grow to support the needs of an ABA accredited institution and its curriculum. The library collection currently includes all basic research materials for American law, including primary materials for all United States and territories. Also, there are numerous law reviews, and a large treatise collection is being developed to support the research needs of the faculty and students.

On the third floor of the library, a computer lab is equipped with 18 personal computers, including IBM compatible and one Macintosh. Students will have use of both Lexis and Westlaw after their first term of school. Students will be provided with individual passwords for the use of both data bases. Home or office access is available via a personal computer equipped with a modem. A computer-assisted legal research program (CALI), consisting of exercises in the substantive areas of law, is available for students' use in the computer lab. Also, word processing is available; WordPerfect and Microsoft Word are the systems used in the lab. Each student is provided with an Internet account which enables them to access a world network of both databases.

The library is staffed with professionals who are trained to meet the demands of the faculty, student body and practicing attorneys.

QUICK FACTS:

• Collection includes approximately 348,000 volumes in print and microform equivalencies.
• Computer programs include WESTLAW, LEXIS, HeinOnLine, BNA Electronic Subscriptions, RIA Checkpoint, and Computer Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI).
• Six librarians on staff; all possess a master’s degree and four also have a J.D.
• 37,000 square feet.
• Book stacks on first and second floors. Library administration and offices on third floor.
• Open over 100 hours per week. Reference service provided 64 hours per week.
• Seating for 300 at tables and study carrels.
• Microform Room on first floor.
• Current Awareness Room offers popular reading material, legal newspapers, and films with legal themes.
• Ten group study rooms are available.
• Online Study Room Reservation System available at this link.
• Power / data access is available.
• Front facade of Kennedy Hall, Law School building, is a registered historical monument and was part of the old Orange Unified School District Administration Building.
• Rinker Law Library is in north (right) side of Kennedy Hall.
• Library homepage: www.chapman.edu/law/library