Underwood Law Library

The mission of the Underwood Law Library is to support the research and computing needs of law faculty, students, and administrators and to prepare students to conduct legal research as legal professionals. Southern Methodist University’s Underwood Law Library is the largest private academic law library west of the Mississippi. Although the library collects resources relating to a multitude of legal subjects, it houses an eminent collection in the areas of international law, commercial law, oil and gas, securities, taxation, air and space law, and jurisprudence.

Collection

• Number of volumes and volume equivalents:  645,854 (as of 5-31-11)
• Materials expenditures
  • All materials:  $1,393,308 (2009-2010)
    2009-2010 ABA ranking:  59th of 200 law schools (29½th percentile)
  • Electronic materials: $450,031 (2009-2010); 32% of all materials
• Oldest book in the library:  Niccolo` de' Tudeschi, Lectura Super V Libros Decretalium (Basel, Johann Besicken 1481)

Building

• Square feet:  100,000
• Seating:  716
• Shelving:  85,719 linear feet (16.2 miles)
• Hours open each week when classes are in session:  104

Technology

• Student computers in library:  48 (40 lab computers, plus 8 notebook computers)
• Wireless network:  802.11b/g

Employees

• Full-time library employees:  17 (includes director, excludes IT staff)
• Librarians with a law degree, library degree, and bachelor’s degree:  6
• Librarians with a library degree:  8

Reference

• Reference questions answered:  3326 (2010-2011)