Source Collection Information for Research Assistants

A manual to assist a Faculty Research Assistant in collecting citations.

Print Session Laws & Codes

Federal Session Laws

Check the Law Library's U.S. Primary Sources & Topical Reporters Guide to find access options for print formats and online versions.

Print Equivalent in PDF
Official Print: United States Statutes at Large (Stat.)
  • Law Library Call Number: Reading Room KF50 .U5 for current edition.
  • Law Library Call Number: Superseded Law KF50 .U5 for superseded editions located in closed stacks. Consult Circulation Desk for access.
Unofficial Print: United States Code Congressional and Administrative News
  • Law LIbrary Call Number: Reading Room KF48 .U54

Federal Codes

Check the Law Library's U.S. Primary Sources & Topical Reporters Guide to find access options for print formats and online versions.

Print Equivalent in PDF
Official Print: United States Code (U.S.C.)
  • Law Library Call Number: Reading Room KF62 2018 for current edition.
  • Law Library Call Number: Superseded Law KF62 [Year] for superseded editions (1946 - ) located in closed stacks. Consult Circulation Desk for access.
  • Law Library Call Number: Media 1st Floor Microfiched Row B, Cabinet 18 (1940 - 2013).
Unofficial Print: United States Code Annotated (U.S.C.A.)
  • Law Library Call Number: Reading Room KF62 1927 .A3
Unofficial Print: United States Code Service (U.S.C.S.)
  • Law Library Call Number: Reading Room KF62 1972 .U5

Interlibrary Loan: Federal Session Laws and Federal Codes

There should be enough PDF and print collection options available at the Law Library that an ILL request for a federal session law or code would not be necessary. Please contact Reference Services should you need more help.

State Session Laws

Print Equivalent in PDF

State Codes

Print Equivalent in PDF HeinOnline: State Statutes: A Historical Archive
In Print at Law Library The Law Library still updates in print the following states: •District of Columbia, •Maryland, •Virginia, •California, •New York.
Print Statutes Options Check the Statues & Legislation page within an individual State Research Guide to learn what local print options may be available.

Interlibrary Loan: State Session Laws & Codes

If the Law Library does not have the state code publication edition that you need in print, then submit an ILLiad PDF Request form. Follow these tips:

For the Publication Title  (required) field
  • Enter the full official title or official / Bluebook abbreviation of the publication, including the publisher. Check Bluebook's T1 for this information.
  • Example: "Baldwin's Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated (West)," but not "KY Statutes."
  • Example: "Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. (West)," but not "KY Statutes."
  • Example: "Acts of Kentucky," but not "unofficial or uncodified law for KY."
For the Article Title, Chapter Title, Sect. No. field
  • For statute update only: enter "YYYY update to § xxx," e.g., 2016 update to § 431.220. For this request, a copy of the 2016 pocket part / supplement will be obtained.
  • For statute text from the latest main volume and an update: enter "§ xxx in main volume & YYYY update," e.g. § 431.220 in main volume & 2016 update. A copy from the main volume, e.g. 2010, and the 2016 pocket part/supplement will be obtained.
  • For statute from superseded edition: enter "§ xxx as it appeared in YYYY [main volume, pocket part/supplement]", e.g. § 431.220 as it appeared in 2008 volume. A copy out of the 2008 main volume will be obtained.
  • For session law: enter the citation as found in your article, e.g. 2014 N.C. Sess. Laws 767; also provide other available information, e.g. chapter number, name of act, etc.
For Year and/or Edition field
  • For statute update only: "YYYY."
  • For statute text from the latest main (hardcover) volume and an update: "main+YYYY," e.g. main+2016.
  • For superseded statute: "YYYY."
  • For session law: "YYYY."
For Exact Pages field (Numbers, punctuations & symbols only) (30 characters limit)
  • For statute: enter "§ xxx," e.g. § 432.220.
  • For session law: enter page number or chapter number, e.g. 767.
  • Please enter only numbers, punctuation (e.g., - ) and symbols (e.g., §).
  • There is a 30 character limit to this field.
  • Any worded information entered in this field will be ignored.
For Purpose of Material (required) field
  • Enter "RA for [faculty name]."
  • In addition to the usual expected information, re-enter any lengthy citation information in this field if you like.
  • Ambiguous or undecipherable legislation citations submitted into ILLiad may be returned to you for clarification.
  • Before submitting an ILL request for a current or recent printed session law or code, please consult the faculty if that is required. It would be a rare necessity to resort to a print version of more recent statutes.

Need More Help?

Ask for assistance from Reference Services.

Need Help Submitting an ILL Request?

If you're unsure how best to fill out an ILLiad form, please contact ILL Services at law-ill@georgetown.edu.