Real and Virtual Tours rolled into One

Did you miss our Library Walking tours in the excitement of Orientation? Would you like a refresher of where to find what in the Library now that you will be doing research for a paper? Check out our Online Library Audio Tour on the Library's webcasts page. There are 7 mp3 files. You can download just the parts that interest you or the whole tour and then take the tour on your favorite mp3 player or phone (with headphones, of course).

You will also find an Online Tour of the Library's web site, which will give you good tips for databases to use for paper research.

Enjoy your travels!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Michigan Lawmakers Introduce Anti-Foreign Law Legislation

Michigan’s House of Representatives recently introduced a bill that would ban any laws deemed "foreign." The bill seeks to limit the enforcement and application of "foreign laws that would impair constitutional rights." Read more here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Library Raffle Winners To Be Announced

Lots of students entered their names in the Library Welcome Raffle at the Welcome BBQ and Organization Fair yesterday. Look for an email tomorrow announcing the three winners!

Winners will be able to pick up their prizes--Starbucks gift card, white T-shirt and black T-shirt--through Friday August 26, from Dianne Kaplan in Room 102B, the Law Library Director's office.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Zap! Bang! Bing!--Has Google Lost Its . . . Pow?

I wanted to share an interesting InfoTip from Mary Ellen Bate of Bates Information Services:

"Most people have assumed that Google will always be their go-to search engine. In fact, the verb "to Google" suggests that, for most of us, Google defines what a search engine is. I'm reminded of Velcro, Kleenex and Escalator, all brands that have come to represent the generic product because they were the first and the best in their field. (OK, Google wasn't the first search engine, but it was the first to use link analysis to calculate relevance.)

I recently saw a press release from Hitwise, a firm that studies web market share and consumer activity. According to Hitwise, Google's share of the search engine market is down to 66%, from 71% a year ago, with Bing its nearest competitor at 28%, up from 25% last year. Even more interesting to me was that, based on Hitwise's analysis, the "success rate" of searches was significantly higher for Bing (80%) than Google (68%). Wow! [cue the music from "Jaws"]"

Hat tip to Bates Information Services www.BatesInfo.com/tips

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

3 Passwords

You are requested to create usernames and passwords during orientation. You will end up with three usernames/passwords.

1. Login to Hofstra University's portal: you are given a username and password and asked to change the password. You will be asked to change your password from time to time.

2. Lexis password: a Lexis card with an access code is in the 1L Library orientation packet. You must create a Lexis username and password. Instructions on using the access code to create your username/password are on the card. A few faculty do use Lexis web courses but it is also necessary when you are taught Lexis and Westlaw.

3. Westlaw password: you should have received the Westlaw password in the mail earlier this system. Instructions on how to create your unique username/password are on the card. Many professors use TWEN in their classes so access is required for this as well as for legal research.

It is a good idea to hold onto the Lexis card with the access code and the Westlaw card with the password. You may forget your unique username/password and the information on these cards assist with re-setting both.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

30 Books Every Lawyer Should Read

The ABA Journal recently published an article highlighting 30 books that every lawyer should read during their career. The journal compiled the list by asking 30 lawyers to pick a book they would recommend to other lawyers. Titles include My Life in Court by Louis Nizer, Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, Leadership on the Federal Bench: The Craft and Activism of Jack Weinstein by Jeffrey B. Morris and more. See the complete list of recommended books here.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat