What's That Country?

How much do you know about Chad, India, Sudan, or the United Arab Emirates? Yes, all have been in the news recently. But beyond current affairs, law students and attorneys dealing with corporate, trade, finance or copyright issues--not to mention immigration clients--know that finding reliable information about foreign countries is critical. CountryWatch, a database provided to all Hofstra students through the Axinn Library, is a great place to start for up-to-date information about 192 countries. Along with news coverage, CountryWatch’s team of international business and academic experts provide CountryReviews (demographic, political, economic, cultural and environmental information), CountryWatch Map Gallery, and CountryWatch Data (a statistical set of economic, health, demographic and environmental data searchable by country or region across a 10-year span). On campus, you can link to CountryWatch from the “Research Databases” list on the “Libraries” page of the Hofstra web site. For off-campus access, a network user name and password is required.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Notes - the good kind

Albert Schweitzer is reported to have said - " There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." Well, I have already got one down. For the other, I go to the Naxos Music Library - a subscription database courtesy of the Axinn Library which provides not only textual information, but the ability to listen to samples of the music as well.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

21st Century Library Workshops

The 21st Century Library will hold a series of workshops the week of March 13th in the lower level computer lab. Attend all or just the workshops that interest you. These 50 minute workshops will demonstrate how to extend your legal research skills in specific subject areas. The following workshops are offered.

Monday: March 13th: 12:10 PM: Health Law Research Online: An Introduction

This workshop will introduce the fundamentals of researching health law online. Participants will learn how to find the major federal statutes and regulations pertinent to health law, to research federal health agencies, and to find such relevant secondary sources as medical journal articles, medical dictionaries, and newsletters.

Monday: March 13^th: 5:10 PM: Congress Surfing in the 21^st Century

No, those terms are not mutually exclusive - if you need Congressional documents, the Web is one of the best places to go. So, if you are struggling to find documents for source gathering, need to do some legislative history research, or just want to see where some of your tax dollars are going.

Wednesday: March 15^th: 12:10 PM: Litigation Resources via Lexis & Westlaw

Lexis and Westlaw offer vast resources for all phases of litigation. Learn what these services have to offer, and how to efficiently make use of them. Topics will include accessing briefs, injury valuation, jury instructions, locating and evaluating expert witnesses, obtaining information regarding opposing counsel, locating forms and checklists. Attendance is guaranteed to save you time in the future!

Wednesday: March 15^th: 1:10 PM: History Research Online

Online history research?? Not how to dig through old, dusty books and use tricky microfiche? Of course not! For research papers, citation checking, and uncovering the historical background of legal issues in class or at work, many finding tools and full-text materials for historical research are online and easy to use. This workshop will show you where to begin and how to find reliable and authoritative online sources. We'll focus on a basic research strategy that you can apply to any history or legal history topic.

Hope to see many of you! If would like us to give a workshop on any topic, please let us know. Stop by the reference desk or drop a comment in the Suggestion Box.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Freemuse: Freedom of Musical Expression

Based in Copenhagen, Freemuse (The World Forum on Music and
Censorship) is an independent international organization that advocates freedom of expression for musicians and composers. Freemuse brings together such individuals as musicians, journalists, researchers, record industry professionals, and human rights activists to examine, discuss, and document varieties of censorship and other abuses. The Web site offers a partial list of artists who have been censored in their native countries. It also offers an analysis of music censorship, as well as links for further reading.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Ms or Ms.?

Here's an interesting question. I hope most of you know that when you write "Mr." or "Mrs." you should include the period. But what if you want to address someone as "Ms"? Is there a period in there, or not? What do you think?

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Science Blog

Current articles on the Science Blog: To Learn Something, Testing beats Studying (probably not what you want to hear); Mouse Moms that Run have Brainer Pups (so go run or jog already); It's Official, Organic Farming is Good for Ecology (well, yes one would think so); Mental Stress Effects on Heart more Common than Previously Known (so go run or jog already); How to Grow a Bigger Brain (is about fish, but still); and more.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

More law cartoons

If you enjoy law cartoons, you should also take a look at Stu's views, a website of law and lawyer cartoons. You can browse through different categories of cartoons such as types of law or lawyers, current events, recent cases, or long hours and billing. There is also a search box if you don't want to browse. In addition to cartooning, Stu, a Harvard law school graduate, is an entertainment lawyer. He represents cartoonists in negotiations with newspaper comic strip syndicates.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat