Policies on Library Use
I. Hours
Service is provided from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding
public holidays. The Library closes at 4:00 p.m. Friday in July and August.
The collection is available for use by Judges and staff located in the Supreme
Court building, twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week.
II. Users
A. The Library serves the following users:
Judges and staff of the Supreme Court of Canada
Counsel appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada and the
Federal Court of Canada sitting in the Supreme Court of Canada building
Guests sponsored by the Judges and officers of the Supreme Court
of Canada
On the day(s) of their hearing, litigants before the Supreme
Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Canada sitting in the Supreme Court
of Canada building upon presentation to Court Security of their notice of hearing
or other documentation establishing that their case is before either Court.
B. The following persons are permitted to use the Library upon presentation
of proof of identity and obtaining of a visitor's pass from Court Security which
must be worn at all times while on the Library's premises:
Judges of any other Court
Members of the bar and their representatives
Faculty Members and students in good standing of Faculties of
Law.
C. Other individuals wishing to use the Library must apply in advance of their
visit for permission. Provided that their research requirements can be accommodated,
permission may be granted for a specified period of time. Such individuals will
be required to present their letter of permission to Court Security where a
visitor's pass will be issued. Permission will be granted to those who have
demonstrated a legitimate need to use the Library and permission may not be
granted if resources to be consulted are readily accessible elsewhere. If permission
is refused, the reasons for refusal will be provided upon request.
D. The Supreme Court of Canada reserves the right to refuse to admit any individual
to the Library and to remove from the Library any individual whose behaviour
is not in keeping with the dignity of the Court.
III. Visitors' Register
Users of the Library, other than Judges and staff located in the Supreme Court
building, are requested to sign the Register provided at the Reference Desk
indicating their affiliation and time of arrival. Upon leaving the Library,
they are requested to indicate the time of their departure.
IV. Circulation Policy and Procedures
A. Policies:
Staff located in the Supreme Court of Canada may borrow material from the Library
subject to the following limitations:
(i) Material designated "Reference" must be returned
on the day it is borrowed
(ii) Material held at the Reference Desk including current periodicals and law
reports, new acquisitions, and a small number of books in constant demand are
circulated for a limited time only and must be returned when due
(iii) CD-ROMs may not be removed from the Library.
Out of town counsel appearing before the Supreme Court or Federal
Court of Canada, members of the local bar and their representatives, and others,
at the discretion of Library staff, may borrow material for a twenty-four-hour
period except those listed below which must be consulted in the Library:
(i) Reference books
(ii) Rare books and books published before 1900
(iii) Current periodicals and books reserved for library use
(iv) Loose leaf services
(v) CD-ROMs
(vi) Any other item in the collection, if in the opinion of the staff, such
loan would result in adverse service to the Court.
B. Procedures:
Material removed from the Library must be charged out according
to current procedures.
Borrowers other than Supreme Court of Canada Judges or staff
must provide the name or their employer and information as to how they can be
reached.
C. Inter-Library Loan:
Material will be lent to other libraries according to the following
schedule of loan periods:
Item |
Loan Period |
Renewal |
Statutes and Regulations |
1 week |
none |
Law Reports |
1 week |
none |
General collection |
2 weeks |
1 week |
Periodicals |
1 week |
none |
Microforms |
1 week |
none |
The following material is not available through inter- library
loan:
(i) Reference books
(ii) Rare books and books published before 1900
(iii) Current periodicals, books appearing on the current acquisition list and
books reserved for Library use
(iv) Loose leaf services
(v) CD-ROMs
(vi) Any other item in the collection, if in the opinion of the staff, such
loan would result in adverse service to the Court.
The Library will photocopy and fax or mail a limited number
of pages to a requesting library subject to current copyright laws and regulations.
Periodicals and books will not be forwarded by regular mail.
Charges for delivery of documents other than by mail are to
be borne by the borrowing library.
V. Services
The Library provides a full range of library and information services to the
Judges and staff of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Service to external users is limited to assistance in the location and use
of library materials including the use of the online catalogue and a limited
number of electronic research services.
Library staff will reshelve library material. Users are requested to leave
books on the tables. A signed and dated note should be left with any unattended
volume that is still in use: such books will be reshelved within 3 days.
A card operated photocopier is available in the Library and cards for their
use are sold in a variety of denominations. Receipts for the value of the cards
are available at the Reference Desk upon request.
A public telephone is available for the convenience of visitors.
Other than charges mentioned above, services are provided free of charge. The
Library reserves the right to charge for services in future, but will not do
so before giving its users adequate notice.
VI. Miscellaneous
Eating and drinking are not permitted in the library reading rooms and stacks.
Library users are requested to maintain silence in the Library as a courtesy
to other users.
Smoking is not permitted in any federal government building.
VII. Adoption and Review
This policy is adopted by the Registrar on the recommendation of the Director
of the Library and the approval of the Library Advisory Committee. The policy
will be reviewed periodically to ensure its currency and recommended changes
will be provided by the Director to the Committee for approval.
Adopted by the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada and approved by the
Library Advisory Committee,
November 14, 2000. Revised, May 12, 2007.
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