Parking and Building Access Information

Parking

You may find on-street parking on James Madison Blvd and Courthouse Drive. Also, there is a parking area behind the Police Department at the corner of Courthouse Drive and James Madison Blvd.

Building Access/Security

Everyone entering the Judicial Center will be screened by security and must pass through a metal detector. Cell phones (all types of communication devices), cameras, laptops, and all types of recorders are not allowed in the building. All items brought into the Judicial Center are subject to search. If you are a frequent visitor to the Law Library, you can apply to the Circuit Court Clerk’s office for a permit (for a fee) to bring a laptop into the building. You must carry your permit along with a photo ID when you do bring your laptop into the Law Library.

About the Law Library

History

The Wahab Public Law Library is named for the late Circuit Court Judge, the Honorable Robert S. Wahab, Jr., and was officially dedicated in 1979. The Law Library has been a part of the Virginia Beach Public Library since 1971 and opened at its current location in June 1993.

Mission

The Mission of Wahab Public Law Library is to ensure:

• Free access to current legal and law-related information for research and the practice of law, and
• Well-trained professional staff to provide quality customer service to the general public, government agency employees, the judiciary, and members of the legal profession

Funding

Funding for the Wahab Public Law Library is provided by Code of Virginia §42.1-70 which permits assessments for a public law library as part of costs in civil actions filed in the Circuit and General District Courts.

Donations in support of our continuing operations are gladly accepted and are tax deductible.

Staff

Volunteers

Our volunteers provide an invaluable service to both library customers and staff. They repair and preserve our books, maintain our brochure collection, file supplements, and assist with special projects.

Two of our volunteers, Chris Watson and Mary Stewart Darden, have each donated over 1,000 hours.

If you are interested in becoming a Law Library volunteer, please contact us at llstaff@vbgov.com.

Library Collection
The Law Library maintains a strong Virginia-specific collection of primary and secondary resources needed for practice in the state courts as well as some federal primary materials and national treatises. We have form books which provide guides for drafting legal forms and documents on a variety of subjects. The materials in the Law Library are considered reference and do not circulate.

The Law Library staff has assembled an extensive collection of brochures on a wide range of topics, including titles published by various government agencies as well as resource guides created by the staff. Some resource guides are available through this web site. See the 'Related Documents' links on many of our Web pages.

The following electronic resources are available in the Computer Lab:

• Geronimo’s CaseFinder – Virginia and Federal primary materials
• Westlaw Patron Access – All state and federal statutes and cases, including many unpublished cases, federal regulations in Code of Federal Regulations and Federal Register , KeyCite (West’s answer to Shepard’s Citators) and a variety of other resources

Law Library Services

Computer Lab

• Five public access computers with Internet access, Microsoft Office, and legal research software. Printing is available for .15 per page, payable by cash and check
• A typewriter is available for public use at no charge
• Microsoft Office is available on all workstations in the computer room
• Microform reader printer
• Customers who wish to save their work should supply their own storage devices or they may purchase either 3.5" disks for .50 or 1 GB flash drives for $7
• If all computers are in use and people are waiting, customers will be limited to thirty-minute sessions

Photocopiers

Two photocopy machines and a shredder are available in the copy room The print/copy fee is .15 per page. Please pay for your copies with cash or a check at the Information Desk.

Tours and Instruction

The staff will provide tours or introductory training on the print and electronic resources for groups on a scheduled basis. An individual may request a tour of the library or introductory training on our print and electronic resources at any time.