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Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Animal Law

As the holiday season continues alongside the stress of examinations, let us not forget goodwill to our four-legged friends (including yours truly). Those who are interested in animal law will find the Animal Legal & Historical Web Center from the Michigan State University College of Law to be of value. There are, at present, over 700 full-text cases (U.S., historical, and U.K.) and 975 U.S. statutes available on the site. There are also more than thirty-eight topics that offer the searcher information regarding some of the more interesting issues in the animal area. In addition, one will find numerous legal articles that address a wide variety of animal law topics.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Words of Wisdom from the Blogosphere

Now that you have Ernster’s advice on being in great condition to face those exams, you might gain some momentum from a just-posted compendium of helpful tips from law professors, students and experts on confronting exam questions. Brought to you by CALI’s Pre-Law Blog, the “Law School Exam Advice Post” lets you focus quickly on what concerns you—issue spotting, essays, multiple choice questions, what not to do on law school exams, and more—and link directly to the source. And don’t overlook CALI lessons in the study process. These computer-based review lessons keyed to typical law school courses and texts are available online from the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction. For more about using CALI lessons, check out our post of November 26, 2005, or ask a reference librarian.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

More exam week suggestions

Create a schedule and pace yourself. Most of your time will be spent studying but breaks are needed.

Go for a walk or do your preferred exercise. Just remind yourself how much better one usually feels after a good workout. Helps to clear the mind and re-energize the body.

Eat properly. You will be better off eating balanced meals than relying on caffeine, sugar and nicotine (for those who smoke) to see you through exams. On the other hand, now is not the time to give up cigarettes if you do smoke. Give them up after exams.

Get a good nights rest before exams. Cramming will not do any good if you are so tired and the brain foggy.

OK, you already know all of this, but it doesn't hurt to be reminded.

Good luck with exams!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

study break

Long hours sitting and studying can be rough on your bod. Take a break with these pilates moves which can be done at your desk.

1. Spine Twist
Cross arms in front of chest, hands resting on opposite shoulder. Inhale, legnthen the spine. Exhale, rotate to the left keeping shoulders down and arms in front of chest. Inhale, Exhale to deepen the twist. On the next exhale return to center. Repeat on the right. 4-6 reps.

2. Single Leg Stretch
Inhale, legnthen the spine. Exhale, lift your right knee, place your left hand on your shin, right hand to your ankle. Bring your knee into your chest, and your forehead to your knee. Keep your elbows folded in and your shoulders down. Inhale, and on your next exhale, release to starting position. Repeat to the other side, 6-8 reps each leg.

You are now relaxed and refreshed! Please stop by the reference desk if there is anything else we can do to ease your mind!
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Library Exam Hours

At the risk of using that four letter "e" word, to help you study for exams, the Library will extend our hours for the early birds and night owls.

As of Monday, December 4, the Library hours will be:
Monday - Friday 7am - 2am
Saturday & Sunday 10am- 2am

On Thursday, December 21, we will be open 7am - 10pm

Good luck.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

The Freedom of Information Act

For those who are curious about the process of unearthing declassified material and other federal government information, there is an excellent guide to the Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA") available at The George Washington University's National Security Archive's Web page. The page contains the text of FOIA, several guides to aspects of FOIA, including an explanation of how FOIA requests work, and news pertaining to FOIA.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

National Academies Discovery Engine

The Discovery Engine, at the National Academies Press web site, is a real discovery for law students researching issues at the intersection of law and health, international policy, science or technology. By entering simple search terms in the Discovery Engine box on the site’s home page, users can immediately search more than 3,600 authoritative books and reports issued by the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine, the National Research Council, and the National Academy of Engineering. Web site documents such as testimony and press releases from the National Academies are also searched. Powerful tools such as “Find more like this” and “one-click searches” on key terms derived from results save the searcher valuable time and effort. Best of all, most books and reports retrieved are freely available online for browsing, printing individual PDF pages, and searching within the document on key terms.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Directorate of Legal Research Reports

The mission of the Directorate of Legal Research is to provide high quality, timely, and innovative research, analysis, and reference services on issues of international, and foreign and comparative law to the United States Congress, as well as to the Supreme Court, other courts, executive agencies, the legal profession, academic community, and the general public, based on the strength of the world’s largest and most complete collection of international, foreign, and national legal resources.

Unfortunately not many are released to the public and the reports available are difficult to locate. However, a recent research guide gives a good analysis of the value of these reports and some tips on how they might be found. The Directorate of Legal Research at the Library of Congress: A Treasure Hidden under a Bushel Basket by Michael Ravnitzky.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Summer Associates Survey 2006

The American Lawyer's Annual Summer Associate Survey is now online for 2006. You can read the article The Real World According to Summer Associates by Tamara Loomis at Law.com. To read the National Rankings and the Results by City you must sign up for a free subscription first.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat