Law Library Hours and Location

The David C. Shapiro Memorial Law Library, located on the second floor of Swen Parson Hall, houses a collection of over 250,000 volumes and volume equivalents. The library's primary function is serving the needs of the students and faculty of the College of Law.

The law library also offers legal research orientation programs, legal research classes, and comprehensive legal research guides. We look forward to welcoming you.

Parking

Visitors may park in the Visitor Lot on Carroll Ave. or you may use AIMS Mobile Pay to park in one of the designated timed parking areas.

You can also purchase a daily or weekly visitor permit, which allows you to park in any lot.

Directions to the Law Library

From the Visitor's Lot

  1. From the Visitor's Lot, go east one block to Normal Road (passing either north or south of Founder's Library).
  2. Swen Parson Hall is the stone building connected to the east side of Founders Library by a brown bridge.
  3. From Normal Road, look for the door into Swen Parson with the accessible ramp (door #25). Enter the door and turn right at the first hallway.
  4. Follow the blue "Elevator to the College of Law" signs, turning left at the next hallway.
  5. Take the elevator to the 2nd floor.
  6. After exiting the elevator make two left turns.
  7. The entrance to the Law Library will be on your left, across the hall from the Dean's Office.

From the East Side of Campus

  1. From the east side of Swen Parson Hall (the side facing Altgeld Hall & Lowden Hall), go up the external stairs and enter the building. You will be in the Marshall Gallery.
  2. Turn left (south) out of the Gallery.
  3. The entrance to the Law Library will be on your right, across the hall from the Dean's Office.

Additional Library Collections

Further research support is available through Founders Memorial Library, the university's main library, which is across Normal Road from the College of Law. Founders Memorial Library contains over two million volumes and an additional 1.2 million federal, state and international government documents.

Fall 2025 Hours (August 18 - December 18)

The Law Library will be open to the public:

Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Closed


Extended Hours

Current law students can access the Law Library using their OneCards during extended hours:

Monday - Sunday: 6 a.m. - midnight


University Holidays and Closures

During the following university holidays and administrative closures, the library will be closed:

  • Labor Day Holiday: Mon. Sept. 1, 2025
  • Thanksgiving Break: Thurs. Nov. 27 - Sat. Nov. 29, 2025
  • Winter Break: Mon. Dec. 22 - Wed. Dec. 31, 2025
  • New Year's Day Holiday: Thu. Jan. 1 - Fri. Jan. 2, 2025

Contact Us

David C. Shapiro Memorial Law Library
Swen Parson, second floor
lawreference@niu.edu

Book an online appointment with a law librarian (College of Law students, faculty and staff only)

Law Library faculty and staff directory