Resources for Faculty Research Assistants  

Congratulations! You've been hired by a faculty member at the Georgia State University College of Law as a research assistant! This guide is intended to help you navigate the world of resources available to you from both the Law and University Libraries. If at any time you need any assistance or help, please let me know. 

If you're looking for a specific book, article, or other resource and you can't find it at GSU, don't worry! We can often get what you need from another library, sometimes in just a few days. If you're having trouble finding something, follow these steps: 

Your research will always start with a question or assignment from your faculty member. How specific this request depends on a number of variables, such as personality, mood, weather, etc. It's always a good idea to write down as many specifics about the request as possible, and don't be afraid to ask questions to get the answers that you need. More often than not, your faculty member has a specific goal in mind, and you may need to ask questions to properly understand that goal.

At the Law Library, we've developed a research worksheet that you can use to help organize the information you've been given and develop a plan for your research. Feel free to make copies and use it as you're given research assignments.

If you need to check out books or other materials from the Law Library for your faculty member, you can do so at the Circulation Desk. When you are ready to check out, just tell the Circulation staff that the materials are to be checked out in the faculty member's name and show your GSU ID.

To check books out from the University Library for your faculty member, first see the Law Library Circulation Desk. Tell them that you need to check out materials at the University Library for your faculty member and present your GSU ID; they will give you a card which you can use to check out the materials. This card must be returned to the Law Library Circulation Desk as soon as you are finished using it.

At the University Library, present the card at Circulation and tell them the name of the faculty member to whom the materials should be charged.

The Circulation Desk has a copy card that you may use to pay for copies or printing done on behalf of your faculty member. To use the card, ask at the Circulation Desk; you should identify yourself as a GRA and present your GSU ID. This card may only be used to pay for materials printed or copied for your faculty member, and must be returned as soon as you are finished using it.