The libraries at Duke have resources beyond books and treatises. They also provide study carrels, rooms available on reserve, dedicated interview pods, technology support, and a convenient place to meet up with friends and get to work.
J. Michael Goodson Law Library
Odds are, you will visit the law library most frequently. The entrance is located on the third floor of the law school, with the library itself taking up four floors and nearly the entire northwest corner of the building. Your Duke ID provides 24-hour access, and the tours offered during orientation will give you a basic outline of the library’s layout and the different resources available.
In all, there are 7 group study rooms, 180 individual study carrels, and table seating for roughly 300 throughout the library. The group study rooms and the 55 individual carrels on the fourth floor are available for reserve, with the remainder operating on a first-come, first-served basis. During the exam period, use of the library is restricted to law students.
The upper two floors have large windows and no noise restrictions, and are an ideal place for collaborative work and socializing. The atrium on Level 3 houses the circulation desk, offices for legal research professors, and the Cox Legal Fiction collection (in case you weren’t getting enough law in your day-to-day life). The bottom two floors are quiet spaces and best suited for individual work—Level 1, in particular, is often the quietest place in the entire building.
Computers are available for use on Level 2 and Level 3. Each floor has at least two printers available, while the Document Production Room on Level 3 offers printers, copiers, and a scanner. There is also a student media lab for specialized projects. The offices for every student publication other than the Duke Law Journal are located in a secure, dedicated space on Level 1. Restrooms are on Levels 2 and 4.
Perkins/Bostock Library
The main library on campus is divided into the Perkins and Bostock Buildings. On some occasions, the main library may have books and documents that are not available in the law library. It is easy to request books through the catalog for delivery to the law school, though searching through the stacks in person is likely faster if you need the book immediately. The Perkins Library has both group and individual study spaces, including the Gothic Reading Room, and a small café in the glass-walled Von der Heyden Pavilion. Perkins and Bostock are located north of the Duke Chapel on West Campus.
Other Campus Libraries
The recently-renovated Lilly Library is located on East Campus and holds many books focused on art and aesthetics, in addition to other materials. Lilly has beautiful study areas such as the Thomas Reading Room, and carries a large selection of movies that you can borrow for free. Just ask for the movie binder at the front desk!
There are a number of smaller libraries throughout the Duke campus. The Fuqua School of Business has its own library, as does the Divinity School, and there is a music library in the Mary Duke Biddle Music Building from which you can borrow CDs. There are several other collections that can be explored on the library website.