About Us
The Leon E. Bloch Law Library is located within the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. Since our beginning, we have served the legal research needs of law students and faculty, the wider UMKC community, local bench and bar, and members of the general public.
The library also supports the pedagogical needs of law school faculty, providing access to resources, research assistance, and in-class research instruction. Spanning three floors, the library’s print and electronic holdings encompass all major areas of legal research and practice. Study tables and carrels are located throughout the library, as are rooms that may be reserved by students.
In 2024, the 2nd floor of the library was renovated and became the Collaborative Study area. This area features beautiful views of campus, as well as whiteboards, monitors, and tables and chairs on wheels which can be configured to support a variety study arrangements. The general book collection is on this level.
On the 1st floor of the library, you will find the Service Desk and librarian offices. This level also contains a computer lab, printers and scanners, study rooms, and a designated silent study area. The collections on this level include the historical Missouri and Kansas collections, reference books, and course reserves.
In 2011, ground floor of the library was remodeled and became the Instruction and Technology Library. This space houses the Technology Classroom, which is used as a classroom and for collaborative work. The collections on this level include Federal Materials for in-library use and specialized collections that circulate such as the Wellness Collection, Career Development Collection, Research & Writing Collection, and 1L Study Aids. The ground floor is a designated quiet study area.
Mission
We facilitate knowledge creation by students, legal scholars, practitioners and the community through developing, preserving, offering and delivering instruction in diverse and necessary legal information resources and technologies.
Vision
We aspire to improve the use of legal information and technology by law students and faculty, enhance the community of professionalism and scholarship at the law school, benefit the local community and develop expertise among its librarians and staff.
Values
We commit to creating a welcoming and productive environment for learning and scholarship and to fostering life-long learning in those we serve.
Key values
We care.
We build community.
We encourage collaboration.
We communicate.
We build competence.
We create.
Library policies
- Library admittance in the evenings, weekends, and during final exams is limited to UMKC law students, faculty, and staff.
- All UMKC students, faculty, and staff who have set up a library account can borrow circulating books.
- Members of the public are not permitted to remove books from the library.
- Library staff are not permitted to give legal advice, answer legal questions, assist with the preparation of legal documents or make legal determinations for public patrons.
- Patrons may not disrupt the work of law students or other patrons by asking legal advice or assistance.
- Patrons who wish to work together may do so in the reference area and on the 1st floor.
- Students may also use the 2nd floor or study rooms for group work. In all other areas of the library, patrons are asked to refrain from activity that might disrupt others.
- Causing a disturbance or engaging in any behavior that interferes with the quiet and safe enjoyment of the library’s facilities and services is prohibited.
- Patrons should not reshelve materials after use. Please place materials on a nearby book cart so the library staff may reshelve them.
Availability
The UMKC Law Library welcomes the public to use the library during posted hours of operation to access legal materials and perform legal research. During final exams, the library may be unavailable to the public.
Guests may request permission to use the computers from Circulation at any time up to 30 minutes before the Library closes to the public. Two workstations on the 1st floor are available to guests.
Patrons under 16 will not be logged on unless closely supervised by a parent or guardian. Guests and UMKC users are expected to respect others in the public access computer area. This includes, but is not limited to, treating computer equipment appropriately and limiting noise and disruption. Guest users will not be allowed to change computer settings.
Time Limits
We reserve the right to set time limits for use of the computers. Computers log off automatically after two hours with a five-minute warning. Computers automatically lock the screen after 10 minutes of inactivity. If no one is waiting to use the computer, a guest may be logged on again after the two-hour expiration period.
Resources
Guest users have access to the library's print collection, open access resources available online, and selected databases. No printing or copying is available at the UMKC Law Library, but you may scan and email documents or save them to a USB drive.
- Drinks with lids are permitted
- Packaged snacks are permitted
- All other food items are prohibited
Adults who bring children to the library are responsible for the behavior of those children, including any resulting damage or disturbance.
Patrons are expected to take reasonable precautions for any personal property they bring in to the library (i.e., do not leave personal property unattended).
The library maintains a lost and found in the Circulation area. Nevertheless, the library is not responsible for lost or stolen goods.