WE'RE FINISHED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have all survived either our first, or another, set of exams. Congratulations!! I will have a good long purr in everyone's honor.

I don't know about you, but I have earned not one, not several, but many, many catnaps. And I will have ample time, over the next 11 days - starting at 11pm Thursday, December 22 - while the Library is closed. We will reopen rested and refreshed on Tuesday, January 3rd at 9am.

So, enjoy your break and the holidays and . . .
a Happy New Year to all and to all a GOOD NIGHT !

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Winter Solstice

Today is the Winter Solstice. Here in the Northern Hemisphere that means it is the shortest day of the year, with the least amount of sunlight. But don't fret. With the school semester almost over, each day will start to get longer and longer. You can say there's a light at teh end of the tunnel even.

Happy Holidays!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Reminder - Access to Other Academic Libraries During a Strike

Most of the law school libraries in the New York City metro area have expressed their willingness to let each others' students into their libraries in order to study for exams during the transit strike. Participating institutions include Columbia, CUNY, Hofstra, NY Law School, Pace, Rutgers, St. John's, Touro, and Cardozo.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

2005:Year in Review

It's that time of year again. All of the "best of" lists and "year in review" stories get published now. Almost every day a new one comes out. If you'd like to go to one website that compiles links to many of these lists and stories on one page and continually updates it as they come out, then see Refdesk.com 2005 Year in Review.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Now, for a little perspective...

A Virtual Library Cat knows that exams can make law students wish for a quick escape to another planet, or at least to a galaxy far, far away. Well, there is a way to clear your mind for a few minutes, and place yourself in a universe without the law at the center of gravity. Try taking a study break with the thematically arranged breathtaking space photos at the National Space Science Data Center Photo Gallery. Select from views of the planets, of the earth and moon, and of galaxies and comets, collected from the NASA space missions. This site is worth book marking for return visits throughout the year.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Travel to, from and in NYC

For those of you traveling to, from or within the City, here are some sources of information regarding any NYC transit strike. As of this writing the two formerly private bus lines - Jamaica and Triborough have plans to strike, but a city-wide transit strike is delayed until at least 12:01am Tuesday. For more up-to-date information and contingency plans, go to:

nyc.gov Alternative Transportation Information Center
MTA Strike Contingency Plan
TWU Local 100 (Transport Workers Union)
constantly updated news websites - New York Times , Newsday

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Pepys Diary In Blog Form

As a break from all things law- and exam-related, perhaps you'd like to escape into 17th-Century London for a little while. The famous diary of man-about-town Samuel Pepys (pronounced "peeps") has been cleverly posted in Web log format for your enjoyment.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Puzzle

If you have not noticed a puzzle is set out on a table outside the Main Level Computer Lab. Completion of the puzzle is a community effort. Take a few minutes to work on the puzzle whenever you get a chance. It is an easy way to get a quick break and clear your mind of studies for a little while.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Revised Library Hours for Fall 2005 Exam Period

Due to this year's increased early morning traffic, we will open
the library one hour early, Monday - Friday, for the remainder of the
exam period. During the 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. hour, there will be
access only; no services (e.g. circulation, reference) will be
available. Please remember that you need to show your Hofstra ID to
enter.

Wednesday, December 14 - Wednesday, December 21
Monday - Friday: 7 A.M. - 2 A.M.
Saturday & Sunday: 10 A.M. - 2 A.M.

Thursday, December 22 : 7 A.M. - 11 P.M.

Again, good luck on exams!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Refdesk.com

If you are looking for a website that you can use as a portal for almost everything that you do on the web, refdesk.com might be it. Although it is a very busy page, if you are willing to look around you will find some of everything. There are links to search engines, reference resources, news sources, facts sites, help and advice, reference tools, and much more including fun links such as Letterman's Top Ten, Addicting Games.com and Astronomy Picture of the Day.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat