New Westlaw and Lexis Platforms

Both Westlaw and Lexis plan to unveil new platforms this year (Westlaw's will appear first). Both have been designed to be easier to use. This marks a big change for both systems, and it is partially a response to newer competitors like Fastcase and Bloomberg. This ABA Journal article does a good job of explaining this situation.

Hopefully the new Westlaw and Lexis platforms will not be much more expensive to use than the current systems.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

The States after Citizens United

You are probably aware that one of the most important U.S. Supreme Court cases of this term, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, was decided last month and has generated much discussion, analysis and controversy. In the wake of the Court's ruling that the federal government may not prohibit direct spending in advertising by corporations and unions in candidate elections, questions remain about how this will impact laws in at least 23 states that ban or limit this kind of spending. The National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL) has compiled a useful chart summarizing these state laws, linked to an expert overview of the kinds of campaign finance regulation states have adopted.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Electronics Recycling

Wondering what to do with those old cellphones, mp3 players, laptops or other electronic equipment? Recycle at YouRenew.com . They will send a pre-paid shipping label and, for those devices with value, may even pay you for it - or give you the option to donate to a green organization.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Paper Writing Resources Workshops

The librarians will be repeating the Paper Writing Resources workshop next week on the following dates:

Monday, 2/8: Room 206 from 5:10 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 2/10: Room 205 from 1:10 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The workshop is an overview of resources that you may want to consider when you are researching a scholarly paper. The workshops focus both on specific resources and on how you can create a comprehensive research strategy.

No pre-registration is necessary. Just choose the date and time that is most convenient for you.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Although Appellate Advocacy students are welcome, this workshop is not designed for the first-year Appellate Advocacy course, nor is it a requirement for that course.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

The International Civil Rights Center and Museum

The New York Times has an informative article on the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The museum opened on February 1, 2010 and is housed in the former Woolworth's building where the original Greensboro lunch counter sit-ins took place. The museum is an archival center and teaching facility dedicated to civil and human rights. Its website has some great information including a time-line of of the Greensboro sit-ins and a biographical page detailing the people who participated in the first lunch counter sit-in.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Regulations.gov update

Regulations.gov has added features suggested by users.

1. Search and subscribe (RSS) by topic.
2. Dashboards on regulations: a preview of summary statistics and a graphic view of site content.
3. Customize regulations.gov

If you are working with federal administrative law, you will be working with regulations. This is a site you want to know especially as they work with users to improve content and access.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Legal Research in the Palm of Your Hand

According the the Law Librarian Blog, legal publisher Fastcase released a legal research app available for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. Click here to read more.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat