Military Tribunals--Online Resources

Walking softly on cat feet around the Library computers, I’ve noticed that the use of military tribunals is a hot topic these days, even at the Supreme Court. Would you like some reliable background information on this confusing subject at the intersection of military and constitutional law? Try the “Military Tribunals” page at JURIST, which offers news highlights, links to government and other web sites, and recent primary documents in a user-friendly format. The Council of Foreign Relations answers most frequently asked questions about military tribunals. The Pentagon Library offers a resource guide to the relevant law. For introductory background information and research guidance, a good place to start is "United States Military Commissions: A Quick Guide to Available Resources,"by law librarian Stephen Young. "Terrorism and the Law of War: Trying Terrorists as War Criminals Before Military Commissions," a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report for Congress, provides an objective and authoritative overview of the subject.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Copy Cards

Per University Card Services, this library can no longer sell copy cards to Hofstra students at the circulation desk. All Hofstra students should add money to their Hofstra ID and use the ID for copying. You can add value to your card by (a) using the Card Services machine in the library's lower level copier room or (b) going to My Portal, Selecting the Hofstra Online Tab, and adding value under Card ServicesMake Deposit.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Quiet Areas in the Library

As end of the semester madness begins to set in, more and more students are seeking quiet study areas. As this is a working library (with faculty and staff offices), we know that even the designated "quiet" areas are not (and cannot be) entirely quiet.

Therefore, we just want to remind all users that there are still three areas of the law library that are not ringed by offices, and therefore, should be quieter than most.

(1) Lower level, below the main reading room
(2) Lower level, 038 area (new study room area)
(3) Lower level, southmost room


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

New Study Room Policy

After assessing trends in the use of the library study rooms, the library has modified the existing policy to better match use. Effective Monday, November 14, 2005, the policies regarding use of the library's study rooms will be as follows.

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Study rooms are only available for use by currently enrolled Hofstra Law School students. Reservations for study rooms may be made in person at the Circulation Desk, where a sign-up book is available, or by phone at x3-5898.

Rooms may be reserved in advance for one three-hour time period per day, with no renewals.

Only one room reservation (per group or individual) is permitted each day. Each reservation will be for a maximum of three hours, with no renewals permitted.

In a group reservation, all members of the group must be currently enrolled Hofstra Law School students, and the names of group members should be listed when the reservation is made. At the reserved time, groups are to pick up the key to the group study room at the Circulation Desk. The study room key will be charged to one of the members of the group.

The key must be returned at the end of the loan period to the Circulation Desk.

If a study room key is not picked up within 15 minutes from the start of the reserved time, the room may be given to another group or student upon request.

Anyone leaving any items in a study room beyond the reserved time will have these items put aside in the room, and the group or student having reserved the room will be let into the room.

The Library takes no responsibility for any items left in a study room.

The following additional rules apply to the use of all study rooms:
1. Food is not permitted anywhere in the Law Library, including the study rooms.
2. Please cancel your reservation if you find you no longer need it.
3. When leaving the room, please turn off the light and close the door.
4. Study rooms are to be left neat and clean when the group is finished. Any library materials used in the study rooms must be reshelved.
5. Abuse of study room privileges may result in the loss of the use of the study rooms.
6. Reservations may be canceled if the needs of the law school require use of the room. (As an example, for exam takers.)

If you have any questions about this policy, please contact Dominick Grillo, Assistant Director for Technology and Collection Services (lawdjg@hofstra.edu).

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Repeats

The Reference Librarian I am currently purring next to has just had two questions about finding journal articles on HeinOnline. HeinOnline is available from the Law Library's Research Databases page. It provides full-text of many law review articles in .pdf format and, for many journals, covers much earlier dates than either Lexis or Westlaw. Try it out.

Another repeat of something I have mentioned before - THIS IS A BLOG!!! This means you get to post your thoughts or questions. If you have suggestions for the Library, comments on events or just want to tap in to the Law School community post a comment. I am getting kind of lonely here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

AARC: the Assassination Archives and Research Center

Founded in 1994, the Assassination Archives and Research Center ("AARC")
provides a permanent organization dedicated to acquiring, preserving, and
disseminating information regarding political assassinations. The AARC is the largest
private archive and library of its kind. It contains hundreds of thousands of pages of government records, the release of many of which has been long awaited. The "AARC Public Library" offers visitors reports, transcripts, and documents relating to political assassination that are accessible via browsing or searching.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

After Election Day

I hope you all not only remembered to vote, but did in fact vote. Besides the local elections here in Nassau, there's lots of other election/voting news. For NYC, Bloomberg was re-elected. In NJ, a new governor was picked. In England, PM Tony Blair lost a parliamentary vote. And in Egypt, the first of three stages of voting occured.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

November 8th - Election Day

Today is an Election Day. Have you voted? Remember that the New York polls are open until 9 PM. Local elections are important too. Vote!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

New York Legal Research Sites

The Law Library Association of Greater New York (LLAGNY) has a page on their web site devoted to New York Legal Research. There are links to primary material such as the state Constitution, legislative material, legal opinions and court rules. There are also many other links of both secondary legal information and some non-legal information that could be of interest to a New York legal researcher. You can find links to New York's Education department, Worker's Compensation Board, Court System and State Library among the many links on the page.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

FBI Electronic Reading Room

The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) webpage has a most engaging section. The Electronic Reading Room has electronic files compiled by the bureau that have been released via Freedom of Information Act requests. These files can be browsed alphabetically, or via categories such as "famous persons", "historical interest" or "violent crime". Take a look. The National Enquirer has got nothing on the Feds!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat