Shelving Construction Update

Those worker humans have been busy lately. Almost like bees. Two of the three areas of compact shelving (in the lower lever rear of the Library) are mostly done, with only minor work still to occur. The shelving unit in the State Room is the one still under construction and looks to be around half finished to my eyes.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Interlibrary Loan

If you need a book or article that is not owned by Hofstra's libraries, there is an easy alternative for you to obtain what you need. Libraries, in their never-ending quest to help people, have developed interlibrary loan as a way of helping each others patrons out. Therefore, if you need a book and we don't have it, another library will mail it to us to lend you.

All you need do if you need a book or article is go to the Deane Law Library web page and click the link for Interlibrary Loan. The first time you enter you must set up an account. Then each time you request a book or an article you just go online, fill in the required information such as title, author, etc. and a week or two later when we receive your materials we will email you to come pick them up from the library. Its as easy as that.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Tour the world!

We started our in Brussels, Belgium for a whirlwind overview of European Union research, and next Tuesday we are in Washington, D.C. for a workshop on U.S. Treaties. Is the treaty in force? Is the treaty signed, but not ratified? How do we find out? All workshops will be held on Tuesday evenings in the lower level computer lab from 5:10 PM to no later than 6 PM.

Attendees were taking notes which is usually a sign that the workshop is helpful. Each workshop stands alone so it is not necessary to attend one in order to understand another.

It has come to our attention that there is interest in international legal research, but students are unable to attend the workshops. Please see Tricia in the Government Documents (lower level) of the Library, or give her a call at x35905. She likes this stuff and is glad to help.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

A9 search engine

Check out A9 a relatively new search engine from Amazon.com. One of the features that sets A9 apart from all the rest is the inclusion of "Search Inside the Book" results from Amazon.com - the program that allows you to search the full text of over 100,000 current books.

One of the most obvious distinctions of A9 is that search results are displayed in five columns: Web Results, Book Results, Image Results, Movie Results, and Reference Results (links to ready-reference results from guruNet, including several dictionaries, a thesaurus, lexicon and translations of the search term into 14 languages).

A9 is really a hybrid: part general-purpose search engine, part specialized search tool, part web resource management tool. Note that many of the features of A9 are only available if you sign in, using your Amazon.com log in. Click here for more about these special features. You will be glad you did!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

More Power to You

You asked for more power outlets only a few weeks ago and through hours of dedicated napping, I (o.k., the Library folks) have delivered. You will now find outlets for your laptops under each of the tables in the Reading Room. It would definitely be in your interest to use the new outlets rather than the old ones in the walls or pillars. We felines are graceful enough not to trip over wires, but I have heard that some humans do, with the results being lost data, not to mention twisted ankles and knees.

Happy laptop computing!!
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Let us know what you think --- library survey

Your opinion counts! Please let us know know about your needs, concerns and thoughts about the library by participating in an electronic survey. Sample responses indicate it takes an average of 10 minutes to complete the form, and this small investment of time now will permit us to better understand your perceptions and expectations. The survey period runs from February 15 to March 4, and all law student participants' names will be entered automatically into a raffle. On March 7th, ten names will be randomly drawn from this pool, and each will receive a $25 gift certificate to Amazon. Both the prize winners and answers to selected survey questions will be posted on this blog.

This survey is part of a North American effort led by the Association of Research Libraries to measure library service quality and identify best practices. Your response will be confidential. Although we will receive your name for raffle purposes, names are electronically separated from the survey response before this receipt. We appreciate your assistance and time! If you have any questions
about the survey itself, please email us.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Beware the Ides of April ??

I know, it is two whole months until your taxes are due. But, if you are due a refund, if you file earlier, you get your $$ earlier. $$ earlier are definitely better. My furry counterpart spent the weekend doing his best to create havoc by jumping amongst tax papers. To avoid this fate, try getting the forms online. At http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/formspubs/index.html, you can download pdf tax forms which you can fill in on your computer. Just click on Forms and Instructions, scroll down and choose your form in the box.

For New York forms, go to http://www.tax.state.ny.us/forms/
For other states, go to http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/link/forms.html

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

If it's Tuesday, this must be .... Brussels!

Our travel starts Tuesday, Feb. 15 where we will visit Brussels, Belgium for an overview of European Union research. Join us in the lower level computer lab at 5:10 PM for a whirlwind tour of EU electronic resources. Fasten your seat belt as our series of workshops take off!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat