21st Century Library - So many workshops, so little time

21st Century Library has the lower level computer labs during the Common
Hours next week, so we are taking this opportunity to offer you a
selection of workshops. Come to one or come to all; the choice is
yours.

Monday, February 28, 2005

12:10 - 1:00 PM: The topic is government websites including United
States, New York and other states. Government sites offer a wealth of
information and some of the resources available on these sites are part
of the invisible web that you will not find using Google.

5:10 - 6:00 PM: Congressional Universe is a wonderful tool U.S.
Congressional research. Need to find a federal legislative history,
what an expert has to say about a subject or trace the development of
the debate on a topic over the years? This is the database for you!

Tuesday, March 1, 2005

5:10 - 6:00 PM: A whirlwind tour of France and legal research (in
English) and the idea of comparative law. France is a Civil Law nation
so discover how the French think about law and their legal system.

Wednesday, March 2, 2005

11:10 -12:00 PM: Congressional Universe for those who missed it on
Monday.

12:10 - 1:00 PM: Statistics on the Web: the focus will be on
government sources but others may be shown. Don't rely on a newspaper
article for your statistics, go to the source. Discover the statistics
on labor, income, demographics and much more.
Take advantage of the opportunities and join us in the lower level
computer lab on these dates and times for specialized research tips!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Jurist - Legal News and Research

Jurist is an excellent site for law students and professors to keep up with all the up-to-the minute legal news, including a separate page for law school news. In addition, Jurist provides documents and video of judicial decisions, legislation, testimony, reports and releases that are occurring now. You can find commentary on current legal events written by law professors and you can research cases and statutes.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

If it's Tuesday, this must be... Nice, France!

Next stop is France for a whirlwind tour of French legal materials available on the web. Don't worry I will not subject you to my French as my accent, c'est horrible! The resources and documents reviewed are in English :-) This tour also has some comparative law aspects as we explore how the French Civil Law differs from the U.S. common law approach.

Tour takes off next Tuesday (March 1st) at 5:10 PM in the lower level computer lab.

Laizzez les bons temps rouler!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Napping area (for your favorite Virtual Library Cat)???

Some very considerate student concerned with my getting my requisite 18 hours of napping has placed a suggestion in the Suggestion Box that we designate a room where quiet prevails. This would mean no talking AND NO LAPTOPS. The only feasible place for this in the Library would be in the side room - off of the Periodicals area (where Profs Silverman, Galler, Bush and Lane have offices). Unfortunately, this arrangement would mean that the outlets in that area could not be utilized for laptops.

In truth, I can nap just about anywhere, so I have no opinion on the matter. Let me know what you think by posting a comment to this posting. The prevailing comments will make the decision. Opportunity to comment will last until next Monday evening (Feb. 28).

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

From Brussels to Paris, France

We will have another tour of Brussels, then it is off to Paris, France for our next two workshops in international and foreign legal research this Tuesday, Feb. 22. It has been requested that last Tuesday's workshop (European Union) be repeated for students who were unable to attend the evening session. Therefore, I have started the Tuesday Daily Double. On Tuesdays at 4:10 PM I will repeat the workshop from the prior week's evening workshop and hold a new workshop at 5:10 PM. OK, not much difference in time, but scheduling is difficult! May play around with the day and time of the repeat workshop. Sorry, it will be like a TV show that the networks keep moving to a new time slot :-)

What does this mean? For now:

Coming Tuesday, Feb. 22:
4:10 PM European Union workshop
5:10 PM U.S. Treaty Research workshop

Tuesday, March 1:
4:10 PM U.S. Treaty Research workshop
5:10 PM French/Comparative law research workshop

Come join us in our whirlwind travel!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Smoking Gun

Want to take a break which entertains, while still exploring our legal system? Check out the Smoking Gun website. Over the last eight years, this celebrity driven website has found and posted original documents about the missteps of the rich and famous. One standing feature, "Mug Shot Mania," is a gallery featuring stars at their lowest moments. Another feature "Backstage" reproduces the legal contracts showing the peculiar demands of musical and stage acts. You can search the site, or just browse the archive!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat