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Law Library
State Capitol Building, Rm 200
1007 E. Grand Ave.
Des Moines, IA. 50319
Phone: 800-248-4483 or
515-281-5124
E-mail: Law.Library@iowa.gov
Hours: Contact a librarian Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
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Visit the Law Library
The Law library is located in the State Capitol building, on the second floor. The library is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. We are a public library and welcome all patrons and visitors.
Ask a Librarian
Legal reference services are available at 515-281-5124 or law.library@iowa.gov; and general reference services are available at 515-281-4102 or 1-866-248-4483, email at information.services@iowa.gov or chat with a librarian by clicking on the red chat bubble in the lower left hand corner of our webpage.
Westlaw
The Law Library offers public access computers connected to Westlaw for access to current legal materials. Westlaw services are available during regular business hours: M-F, 8:00am - 4:30pm.
Print Collection
The Law Library's print collection accessible on the ground floor level to the public, if you need assistanc with an item that is in the upper stacks a librarian will assist you in retrieving it. Search, find, and place a hold on items from within the State Library's online catalog or inquire about our holdings with a librarian at 515-281-4102 or email a request for an item to information.services@iowa.gov.
About the Law Library
The State Law Library of Iowa has been called one of the most impressive and beautiful libraries in the world. The law library moved to its current location on the second floor of the State Capitol Building in 1886.
The "Victorian styled" grand hall of the library is adorned with an intricately decorated tile floor which is paralleled by its ornately painted ceiling and stained glass inserts. Towering 45 feet in height, the entire library is flanked with book-lined alcoves. Two lacy wrought iron spiral staircases at opposite ends of the library connect the four tiers lined with shelves full of books; about 105,000 volumes in total.
The space continues to be a functioning library, providing Iowa lawmakers, government employees, the legal community, and the general public with a highly specialized legal collection of treatises, as well as state and federal statutory, regulatory, and case law. The collection also contains the abstracts and arguments of the Iowa Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, legal periodicals, and materials produced by the Iowa legislature. Research assistance is available.