Municipal Codes: Municode Library

Municode Library is an alternative source for finding municipal codes and ordinances online. Just click the state on the map, and then the link to the municipal code you are seeking.

New York offerings on Municode are a little thin, but the site remains a worthwhile alternative source for municipal codes and local law.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Daily Chart

While prowling the Web I came across a blog that is both fun and enlightening while providing key facts and statistics that illustrate current world issues. The Economist blog, Daily Chart, is true to its name and provides a graph or chart to illustrate the topic of the day. It also cites the sources behind the graphics, many of which are useful for law student seminar papers. Recent posts have offered a graphical view of subjects as diverse as the distribution of corporate wealth, world population growth, trends in U.S. city murder rates, and the world's leaning buildings. Of course, a few minutes with Daily Chart also makes a great study break.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Civil war: a Marvel Comics event

Exam period is near. Take a study break to consider the legal issues that arise in Marvel Universe when Capital Hill proposes that all costumed heroes unmask themselves before the government! In Civil war: a Marvel Comics event, superheroes clash with one other as they struggle towards a decision that will change the Marvel Universe ... forever!

Civil war is located in the library's reserve collection, ask for it at the the circulation desk.





Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Message from Hofstra Law IT

This is the text of an email sent from Dean Moore earlier today:

Attention All Students;

It has come to our attention that some of you may not know how to access your class podcasts. This week, we will be promoting our iTunesU podcast site. Today, Monday November 14 and Wednesday, November 16 from 12:00 to 2:00 PM, we will have a table in the Student Lounge showing students how to access the Law School’s iTunesU podcast site.

We will also have a display in the Law Library, featuring our iTunesU site complete with a QR code that you can scan. It will take you to our iTunesU instructions page. We also have the iTunesU site advertisement on the display screens throughout the Law School.

Finally, attached are easy to follow instructions on how to access your class podcasts. If you have any questions about accessing podcasts, please stop by our Podcast table on the aforementioned days and times. You can also contact us at lawhelp@hofstra.edu or visit our Information Systems Help Desk located in Room 221 of the Law School.

Dean Moore

Please look for your email for the attached instructions on how to access your class podcasts.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Online Resources: BNA Employment Discrimination Report

If you are looking for a source that reviews legislative, regulatory, and judicial developments in key areas of equal employment opportunity from across the country, try Employment Discrimination Report (BNA).

The Report provides cases from all courts, summaries of briefs filed by the EEOC, up-to-date coverage of news and legal developments, reports from experts in various areas, and more.

To access the Employment Discrimination Report:

• Go to the Library's home page, click "Online Resources"
• Click the "Labor and Employment Law" link
• Scroll down to "Employment Discrimination Report (BNA)"

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Legal Research App

Continuing with my explorations of HeinOnline, you can take advantage of the advantage of the One-Box Search feature and other HeinOnline resources on you iPhone or iPad using the relatively new (and free) app.

To access HeinOnline from your device you either must get the username and password from the Reference Desk librarian or you can access HeinOnline while on campus through a wireless connection. If you access via wireless on campus (authenticate) , you will be able to access HeinOnline on your device from anywhere for 30 days. After 30 days, you must return to campus authenticate your app again.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Mississippi Voters Reject “Personhood” Amendment

Mississippi voters recently rejected a ballot measure that would have amended the state constitution to define the word person or persons to include "every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the functional equivalent thereof." Read more here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

GPS Surveillance Case Argued Yesterday

One of the most closely watched cases of this Supreme Court term, for both its Constitutional and criminal law implications, was argued yesterday before the nine Justices. The case of United States v. Jones presents a simple but profoundly important question related to individual privacy, Fourth Amendment, and new technology: Does the installation of a tracking device on a vehicle by police, without either a warrant or the suspect's consent, violate a suspect's Constitutional rights? The attorneys sparred about the Orwellian implications (or not) of permitting this practice with the Justices. SCOTUSblog has a recap of the argument. The official transcript at the Supreme Court web site also makes for interesting reading.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Research Resources: Justis

Justis is a full text online legal library of UK, Irish and EU case law dating back to 1163 and legislation from 1235.

Justis offers access to a wide variety of authoritative legal sources. The Justis legal library provides up-to-date case law, legislation, and EU information. Case law is available as a printable PDF, replicating the pagination of the hard copies exactly.

To access Justis:

Go to the Library's home page, click "Online Resources"
Then, click on the "International Organizations" link
Scroll down, click the "Justis" link


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

New HeinOnline One-Box Search Feature

HeinOnline has recently introduced a new enhancement called the One-Box Search option. It appears on the HeinOnline welcome page and was created to begin research when users are not sure which collection would be the correct option to start researching in. The One-Box search allows users to search across all of the subscribed libraries at the same time and also acts as an advanced search box. Click here to access the advanced search guidelines brochure and click here to begin using this feature.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat