Good Luck on the Bar Exam!

This is the week for state bar exams.  You have studied and worked hard to reach this point and are as prepared as you can be.  Now take a deep breathe and release it slowly.  Do this again.  We are keeping you in our thoughts and wish you the best.

After the exam, we hope you take some time off to relax and unwind.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Research Resources: Computer Technology Law Report (BNA)

If you are interested in a semi-monthly publication that provides legal developments in liability and insurance coverage issues relating to computers, try the Computer Technology Law Report. The report also offers coverage of computer technology issues on the federal, state and international levels.  Dates of coverage are from May 5, 2000 to the present.
To access the Computer Technology Law Report (BNA):

• Go to the Library's home page, click "Online Resources"
• Then, click "Intellectual Property" link
• Scroll down, click the " Computer Technology Law Report(BNA)" link

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Time for a Break..

From my spot near the Reference Desk, this Virtual Library feline is witnessing the true meaning of intensity this weekend, as recent law school graduates spend their last few days preparing for the New York State bar exam.  When it's time to take a break and take your mind somewhere far, far away for a few minutes, I always recommend outer space.  Here, from the NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Picture of the Day page, you can browse through the Astronomy Picture of the Day Archive.  Then check out the exquisite photos of the universe, like this one, in NASA's HubbleSite Gallery Picture Album.  Be inspired.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Unusual U.S. Government Publications, Part Eight: Anthropometry

The U.S Department of Agriculture once housed a bureau known as the Bureau of Home Economics. Founded in 1923, the principal aim of this bureau was to aid the American housewife in managing her household.

One helpful publication was designed to improve the fit of one’s clothing. See for yourself, here, and note the quite interesting thumbnail history of human body measurement, or anthropometry.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Are You Social Reading?

"The term “social reading” can mean different things depending on its context. Social reading can be the kind of work that happens in a literature class where a group of participants all read the same novel (or short story or poem or play) at roughly the same pace and work together .... It could also mean the kind of reading that happens for book groups ....“social reading” has recently also taken on a technological turn as more and more people embrace e-reading technologies: Kindles, Nooks, iPads and iPhones, ...

"Social Kindling,” [is] Amazon’s practice of sharing your highlighted passages and/or annotations with other users. ... even if you do not decide to share ... reading on a Kindle is inevitably a social experience because the default setting on most of the devices is to have “Popular Highlights” enabled. This feature is not unlike buying a used book that has been highlighted by a previous reader–the difference is that instead of a single reader, your e-book will have highlights from hundreds maybe thousands of other readers." Read more here.

Social Reading.  Try it this summer!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Schumpeter Blog Talks Business

Are you interested in business, management, finance and entrepreneurship?  Or do you need to get up to speed on the global corporate picture for that summer job?  A good place for well-chosen and succinct posts covering corporate and business news and trends is Schumpeter, the business and management blog of The Economist.  Named after Joseph Schumpeter, an influential economist praised at its launch as a "champion of innovation and entrepreneurship," the Schumpeter blog offers intelligent takes on major corporate giants, on company finance, failures, and public relations, and on technology, hot products, and industry-related issues of the day.  All posts are written by Economist correspondents from around the world, providing an on-the-scene as well as a global perspective on developments.  Non-subscribers to The Economist can register to view up to six articles per week.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Unusual U.S. Government Publications, Part Seven: Lasagna???

It's not what you might think, actually. Learn more here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Unusual U.S. Government Publications, Part Six: The Golden Age of Bathing

Not to be confused with Monty Python’s Golden Age of Ballooning, it seems that there actually was such a thing as a golden age of bathing, at least according the National Park Service. See an example here, and, if you really want to know more, then click here to find a freely downloadable copy of the document in various formats.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

On This Day in 1929: Small-Size Currency

On July 10, 1929, the first small-sized and newly designed U.S. currency notes were placed into circulation.  The reduced size notes replaced paper notes issued since 1861. 

 Adopted in part to cut paper costs, the notes enabled the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to convert from 8 to 12 notes per sheet. However, before the small-currency could be issued, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing had to prepare for the new design by developing new procedures, engraving new plates and altering old or installing new equipment.

  Federal Reserve banks and branches were authorized to 
make available to commercial banking institutions of their respective districts limited amounts of the new small-size currency.  

Introducing the new currency required the development of a marketing plan.  The Treasury Department Circular 415, together with a statement fixing July 10, 1929, as the date for the initial issue of new small-size currency, Federal Reserve banks were authorized to offer exhibit sets of the new currency to banks in their districts, and Undersecretary Mills delivered a radio address describing the initiative

Bureau of Engraving and Printing images are from the Library of Congress' National Photo Company Collection.  Click here for additional images and descriptions.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

50 Ways to Market Your Practice

The ABA Journal recently published an interesting article entitled "50 Simple Ways You Can Market Your Practice."  The article was compiled from strategies straight from successful lawyers and consultants who who have focused on a marketing plan to increase their practice.  Some tips include volunteering at various organizations, taking advantage of Google tools, increasing social media and more.  For the full article, click here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat