Browse
Since call numbers group books by subject, you can browse the shelves and see books on similar subjects shelved together.
A Browser's Guide to the Reference Area bookmark shows approximate call numbers for lots of common topics. Since the call number system is the same throughout the library, you can use the bookmark to browse call numbers in the Classified Stacks too.
Or use this list of call numbers for study aids.
If you know the call numbers of a couple of relevant books, you can look at the shelves around them to see what's there.
Limits of browsing:
- You won't see books that are currently checked out or in use.
- You might miss books that focus on a different jurisdiction. If you browse KFW, you'll see books on Washington State law, but you'll miss the nationally focused books on the same subject in KF.
- You won't see the general sets (encyclopedias, American Law Reports) that could have something on your topic.
Georgetown's Treatise Finder
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Georgetown Law Library Treatise FindersThe law librarians at Georgetown have put together web pages listing treatises and study aids by topic.
Icons mark whether a title is a "preeminent treatise" or a study aid and whether it's on one of the major online systems (Bloomberg Law, LexisNexis, or Westlaw).
This library might not have all the works listed, but we'll have most. The call numbers might not be exactly the same, but they will generally be close.
West Academic Study Aids
The law library subscribes to a database of study aids and commercial outlines via West Academic with both electronic and audio options.
Topics include 1L courses and common upper class law school courses. The subscription includes popular series such as:
- Nutshells
- Flash Cards
- Legalines
- Concise Hornbooks
- Black Letter Outlines
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West Academic Study AidsA collection of popular law school study aids and materials, including nutshells and outlines.
Library Catalog
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Law Library CatalogYou can search the catalog by author, title, subject, or keywords.
Tips:- Consider limiting by date.
- When you find something, note its call number AND location.
- Try more than one search.
Online Services: Bloomberg, Lexis, Westlaw
Bloomberg Law 
, LexisNexis 
, and Westlaw 
all have treatises and practice materials.
- Look for a general listing (e.g., under Secondary Sources).
- Look for secondary sources listed under a topic (e.g., Criminal Law or Labor & Employment Law) or a jurisdiction (e.g., Washington).
Publishers generally license their treatises to only one of these systems.
Bloomberg Law has books from Bloomberg BNA and the Practising Law Institute.
LexisNexis has books from Lexis Publishing and Matthew Bender.
Westlaw has books from Thomson Reuters and some other publishers owned by that group.
Research Guides
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Law Library Research Guides
Use the law library's research guides to find major works in their areas.
For example, the Copyright Law Guide says that Nimmer on Copyright is a leading treatise. It includes the call number (KF2991.5.N5 1978) and location (Reference Area) and says that it's also available on Lexis.