Plan Your Visit to the State Law Library

The Main Reading Room at the Temple of Justice is scheduled to open to the public on Monday, October 28. Our hours are Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Security screening is required to enter the building.

Before you visit the library, we encourage you to check our website, library catalog, Facebook page or LinkedIn page for unexpected changes to our hours and services.

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Please note that as we move back into the Temple of Justice,
some books will remain in off-site storage until early 2025.

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Hours

The Main Reading Room at the Temple of Justice is open to the public Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The law library is closed on all state and federal holidays.

Location

The library is located in the Temple of Justice on the West Capitol Campus in Olympia, Washington, at 415 12th Ave SW Olympia, WA 98504. (Map)

Security screening is required for everyone entering the building.

The main entrance to the building is on the south side facing the Legislative Building (the dome). As you enter the building, the library will be to your right. For assisted entrance to the building, please ring the bell at the east entrance. Detailed directions can be found here.

Parking

Paid parking is available on the diagonals just east of our building ($2/hour).

Parking for visitors displaying a current license plate, license tab or placard for persons with disabilities is available near the building.

Reference Services

For in-depth reference requests, please consider calling in advance or submitting your question by email.

Legal Research in Printed Materials

Please note that some books will remain in off-site storage until early 2025.

Patrons may browse the shelves in the Main Reading Room on the main level of the Temple of Justice. For books located on our lower level, please go to the reference desk in the Main Reading Room. The librarians will retrieve books from the lower level shelves for you.

To save time, reserve books before you arrive. You can call (360) 357-2136 or email the library, or log in to your account to place holds.

Legal Research Online

The law library has two computers in our Main Reading Room available for legal research only. Patrons can access Westlaw, LexisNexis, Fastcase, HeinOnline and Lexis eBooks.

When patrons are waiting, time is limited to 60 minutes.

You can call or email the library in advance to reserve time to use the research computer.

We do not offer access to personal email or word processing software.

Westlaw, LexisNexis, and Fastcase allow patrons to deliver results to their own email address. To save other documents, please bring a USB drive for downloads.

Patrons are limited to printing no more than 200 pages per day.

Research Appointments

To make the most of your visit, we recommend that you reserve a research computer in advance by phone at (360) 357-2136 or email. You can also phone or email us with your reference request.

Printing / Scanning / Copying

Patrons using the research computers can print from legal resources only. There is one scanner/copier available for legal resources in the library's Research Room. Patrons may scan to their own USB drive. The machine will not print from a USB drive. Patrons are limited to no more than 200 pages printed or copied each day.

Book Lending

Patrons with an active account can check out up to ten items from the Law Library. See our Borrowing policy for details.

Book Drop

Patrons can return books using the book drop box, located just inside the north doors (facing the water), between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Please do not return historical or delicate materials in the book drop.

Health and Safety

Security screening is required for everyone entering the building.

Library staff may wear masks while interacting with patrons. Masks are available for patrons and we encourage their use. Hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes are available at our computer work stations.

Building issues should be reported to the Supreme Court bailiffs.

Services

Learn more about available services here.