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

Library Web Site Orientations

Last week we offered some Law Library Walking Tours. If you missed those, there's still time to join a walking tour on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of the coming week. Check your Orientation packet or flyers at the Reference Desk for all the times.

Just as important for new law students is knowing their way around the Library's web site and the array of resources there. How do you find what you need in LEXICAT, the Library catalog? What are the most important databases for law students (other than Lexis and Westlaw)? What research guides and links should 1Ls know about?

Come to a Library Web Resources Orientation and find out! Join one of the 45 minute virtual tours of the web site in the Library's Lower Level Computer Lab: Tuesday, August 16 - 3:00 PM and Wednesday, August 17 - 2:10 PM.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Library Tips for New Law Students

What do you really need to know about the Law Library during your first week of Law School?

1. Ask the Reference Librarians . . . ANYTHING

The Reference Librarians have been to Law School, so we know what you are going through. If we can't answer your question we will point to someone who can.

2. Use the same info to log into Westlaw as you use for TWEN. Use the same info to log into Lexis as you use for WebCourses.

3. You can reach a Reference Librarian using chat, telephone and text. Come visit to find out how, since this is top secret info for Hofstra Law students ONLY.

4. You can get into the Library 24/7 (Hofstra Law students ONLY). Take a Library Tour to find out how.

5. Read this Blog regularly for tips, tricks, Library info, cool web sites and the occasional penguin video.

6. Check out the Library's web site for more info.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Welcome To Our Incoming First-Years

Welcome on orientation day to our incoming first-year law students!

Beginning today, you'll be inundated with law- and academic-related information. During the year, and throughout your time at Hofstra Law, you will also find our blog to be a useful resource for law library news and information about legal research.

And that is why, as a change of pace, we now offer you a link to a video of a shopping penguin.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Online Resources: Industrial & Labor Relations Review

If you are looking for a journal that discusses work and employment issues, try the Industrial & Labor Relations Review. Relevant topics in this publication include the organization of work, the nature of employment contracts, human resource management, employment relations, conflict management and dispute resolution, labor market dynamics and policies, labor and employment law, and employee attitudes and behaviors at work.

This site contains the full text of articles and book reviews dating from April 2003 (Vol. 56, No. 3). You can view and download recent and current articles, download (a) any book review archived and (b) any archived article that is at least 18 months old.

To access Industrial & Labor Relations Review:

• Go to the Library's home page, click "Online Resources"
• Click the "Labor and Employment Law" link
• Scroll down to "Industrial & Labor Relations Review"

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Congressional Twitter Directory

Twitter may not be your medium, but it is another to contact your U.S. Senator or Representative as it seems that many of them have established accounts. Of course you need to know their handle so a blog decided to put together a Congressional Twitter Directory.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Online Resources: CCH Financial Reform News Center

If you are looking for a source that will provide access to in-depth coverage of the current financial crisis and emerging financial and regulatory reforms, try the CCH Financial Reform News Center. This database provides major ongoing developments in financial reform by lawmakers and regulatory agencies, issues in consumer protection regulation as well as banking and securities updates, and more.

To access CCH Financial Reform News Center:

• Go to the Library's home page, click "Online Resources"
• Click the "Consumer Law" link
• Scroll down to "CCH Financial Reform News Center"

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat