Hours & Policies

These are the hours when Reference Librarians and Circulation Desk staff will be available to help you. Our tentative hours for 2026 - 2027 have been added to the list. The hours listed below are for University of Pittsburgh students, faculty and staff. Public patrons who wish to use any Federal Depository Library materials (government documents) should contact us at barcoref@pitt.edu with information about what specific federal materials you wish to use and what you are researching. When a librarian is available to help, we can schedule a time for you to come in and use the government documents. Many of these federal materials are now readily available at the GovInfo website: https://www.govinfo.gov/. We can help you locate them if you send us an email. 

 

Academic Year 2026-2027 Hours

Fall 2026 Regular Hours   (Monday, Aug. 17, 2026 – Weds. Dec. 9, 2026)
Classes begin Monday August 17, 2026 and end Tuesday Nov. 17, 2026
Reading Period Weds. 11/18 - Monday 11/23

Monday - Friday
8 am - 5 pm   
SaturdayCLOSED
SundayCLOSED

Labor Day Weekend

Fri. Sept. 4 8 am - 12 pm                       
Saturday Sept. 5- Monday Sept. 7CLOSED       

Thanksgiving Holiday
(Tues 11/24/26 - Sun. 11/29/26)

Mon - Tues,  11/23 - 24  8 am - 5 pm              
Weds. 11/25   8 am - 12 pm
Thurs. 11/26 - Sunday 11/30  CLOSED

Fall 2026 Exam Period   (Mon. Nov. 30 – Weds. Dec. 9, 2026)

Monday - Friday              8 am - 5 pm                       
SaturdayCLOSED
SundayCLOSED

Semester Break 2026 
(Thursday Dec. 10 – Wednesday December 23)

Monday - Friday9 am - 5 pm
Saturday & SundayCLOSED    
Wednesday Dec. 239 am - 12 pm

Winter Recess 2026 - 2027

Thursday. Dec. 24 2025 - Sunday Jan. 3, 2027  CLOSED                  
Mon. Jan. 4, 2026 - Fri. Jan. 89 am - 5 pm
Sat. 1/9 - Sun. 1/10CLOSED

Spring 2027 Regular Hours   (Mon. Jan. 11 – Fri. May 7, 2027)
Spring 2027 Classes begin Monday, Jan. 11, 2027

Monday - Friday8 am - 5 pm
SaturdayCLOSED
SundayCLOSED 

Martin Luther King Day Weekend 2027  (Friday 1/16 - Monday 1/19)

Friday Jan. 158 am - 12 pm
Sat., Sun., Mon. 1/16 - 1/18CLOSED                

Spring Break Hours 2027 (Monday March 8 - Friday March 12)

Monday March 8 - Weds. March 10             9 am - 5 pm                       
Thursday March 119 am - 12 pm
Friday March 12 Spring HolidayCLOSED

Monday, April 19, 2027 Last day of classes

Spring Reading & Exam Period 2027 
(Tues, April 20  - Weds. May 5, 2027)

Monday - Friday8 am - 5 pm
SaturdayCLOSED
SundayCLOSED            

Law School Graduation is May 7, 2027

Summer Hours 2027  (Thurs, May 6 - Sunday, August 15)

Mon. - Friday 9 am - 5 pm
SaturdayCLOSED             
SundayCLOSED

Memorial Day Weekend 2027

Friday, May 289 am - 12 pm
Monday May 31            CLOSED - Holiday          

Juneteenth 2027

Thursday,. June 179 am - 12 pm
Friday,  June 18          CLOSED                     

Independence Day 2027

Friday, July 2, 20279 am - 12 pm
Monday, July 5           CLOSED   - holiday                 
A person searches content on a smartphone.
Interlibrary Loan & Delivery

Use of the Library

The Barco Law Library and its collection of legal research resources primarily serves the faculty and students of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Other Pitt patrons are welcome to use the library during our regular hours. 

As a Federal Depository Library, our Government Document collection (legislative, regulatory and judicial primary law)  is available for use by the public but we ask users to make an appointment by emailing Ask a Librarian, so we can assign a librarian to let you into the library and help you find the government documents you are seeking. Appointments are for one hour. 

Pitt library patrons can also all the ref. desk (412 648-1325), email Ask a Librarian or e-mail barcoref@pitt.edu for assistance. 

Additional Policies

Borrowing

Non-Law University of Pittsburgh faculty, students (both undergraduate and graduate) and staff can borrow circulating books for two weeks using their Pitt IDs. Videos, CD's and books in the law library's Commons Collection do not circulate to non-law patrons. Patrons can use the ULS GetIt form to request materials from the law library. 

Instruction: The library does not permit any type of instruction by non-University of Pittsburgh instructors on its premises. 

Reshelving Materials

Patrons are expected to use books within the general area where they are shelved and are requested to reshelve books without classification numbers after use.

Scanners

The library has several scanners available for Pitt Law users. Ask at the desk.

Eating

Beverages are allowed in the library as long as they are contained in spill-proof cups or bottles, but food is not allowed. No food or drinks are allowed in the computer labs.

Smoking

Smoking in the library is prohibited.