Talk About Fireworks!

It’s Summer, astronomically as well as unofficially, and we never know what we might happen to see when we cast our gazes upward. A giant fireball, perhaps?

(Click after following the link to view the video).

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Mobile app: Stitcher

The mobile app Stitcher lets you stream radio shows and sync and download podcasts for offline listening. The Front Page lets you quickly find breaking news and the latest episodes of favorite shows. If you are at a loss as to what to listen to next, Stitcher makes recommendations based upon your listening habits.

Read more about Stitcher here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

SCOTUS decides Hobby Lobby / Conestoga Wood this morning

Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Burwell presented the question:  Whether the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000bb et seq., which provides that the government “shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion” unless that burden is the least restrictive means to further a compelling governmental interest, allows a for-profit corporation to deny its employees the health coverage of contraceptives to which the employees are otherwise entitled by federal law, based on the religious objections of the corporation’s owners.

In a 5 - 4 decision the court held that as applied to closely held corporations, the HHS regulations imposing the contraceptive mandate violate RFRA. 

SCOTUSblog has an overview and analysis of the issues and links to many documents including amicus briefs.

The opinion of the court is here.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Virtual Exhibit: The History of Case Reporting

It's not easy to cover the development of case reporting from the beginnings in England to the first West regional reporters, clearly and enjoyably, in one digital page. But "A Brief History of Anglo-American Case Reporting, 1272-1885," a virtual exhibit of the Boston College Law Library, has done it. Created by Karen Beck, Curator of Rare Books, the exhibit is both brief and clear in describing how today's case reporting came to be--from the Year Books hand written in the back of court rooms by medieval law students to the modern reporters we now use online. The story is illustrated with wonderful examples from the Boston College Law rare book collection. Take a break from your books and outlines to check it out. 

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Looking toward the 4th

I will be celebrating July 4th next Friday by finding a nice quiet place hiding from fireworks.

The Library will also be closed.

In my nice quiet spot, I will observe the 4th as I always do by reading the Declaration of Independence .  Sometimes, I also  like to visit the Library of Congress for more information on the Declaration.  For those of you more auditory historian/patriots try this YouTube video of actors reading the declaration (or for  NPR geeks).

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Unusual Government Documents: A Reprise

Last Summer, we offered a weekly series that featured some government documents that are unusual, to say the least.

In a brief reprise of that theme, here is a link to illustrations (scroll down) of a few interesting, perhaps even slightly peculiar, government documents titles held at the libraries of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Digital Public Library

·        Digital Public Library   The Digital Public Library of America has over 2.5 million items from libraries, archives, and museums.  The site provides ways to search and scan through the entire collection  by timeline, map, virtual bookshelf, format, subject, and partner.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

New Book: Yoga for Lawyers

The book Yoga for Lawyers: Mind-Body Techniques to Feel Better All the Time by Hallie N. Love and Nathalie Martin is written by lawyers and can be practiced at home, in the office and during court breaks.  "Yoga for Lawyers is a gentle introductory approach grounded in scientific studies, scholarly research, and clear instructions." (Front cover, Yoga for Lawyers)

 

Check out Yoga for Lawyers at the Hofstra Law Library's New Book Table. (KF310 .A43 L68 2014) 

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Image Collections

Need an image that is not under copyright?  There are some little known free high quality and high resolution collections.  The Open Education Database (OEDb) iLibrarian blog has a list of collections with brief descriptions of each collection.

The Image Collections include:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Getty Open Content Images
LIFE Photo Archive
NOAA Photo Library

And more.  Even if you do not need an image, it is a pleasure to browse the collections and view some extraordinary photos.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Online Research Resources: Corporate Compliance Library (BNA)

If you are interested in a corporate compliance source that provides case law, legislation, guidance, and primary source materials, then take a look at BNA's Corporate Compliance Library. The Library also provides the latest news and analysis relating to corporate compliance.  Dates of coverage vary according to the contents of the individual database.

To access the Corporate Compliance Library  (BNA):

• Click the "Online Resources Subject List" link
• Then, click "Commercial and Corporate Law" link
• Scroll down to "Corporate Compliance Library (BNA)"

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat