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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: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday - Friday
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Modified access to the law library for researchers and tourists.
Phase 2: in effect until further notice.
The Law Library is open to the public in a limited area when visitors are accompanied by an official Capitol Tour Guide and/or when library staff are in the office and available to unlock the doors. Most of the library is roped off. Visitors are able to view, but not walk in the 
roped off areas. Face masks and social distancing of visitors are encouraged, but not enforced.
Photography
Photography in the Law Library is allowed but only from within the accessible visitor space. Photo shooting sessions in other 
areas of the library are not allowed at this time.
Westlaw
The Law Library's Westlaw service is available by appointment only, during the hours of M-F, 8:00am - 4:30pm. Make an appointment by calling 515-281-4102 or send an email request to <information.services@iowa.gov>
Print Collection
The Law Library's print collection is closed to the public at this time. Search, find, and place a hold on items from within the State Library's online catalog. Items will be retrieved by staff. Call 515-281-4102 or send an email request for an item to <information.services@iowa.gov>
Ask a Librarian, Legal information and general reference services are available by phone, chat or e-mail. Walk-in visitors may submit questions or comments in the question box located within the accessible visitor space.
The front desk of the Law Library will not be staffed. Librarians are working in offices in the Law Library, but may not be visible to visitors.
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.