Television News Archive

While prowling the web, I came across the Vanderbilt Television News Archive at Vanderbilt University, self-described as "the world's most extensive and complete archive of television news." This unique website offers detailed summaries of every national nightly news broadcast of ABC, NBC and CBS since August 1968, CNN news programs and specials since 2000, and Fox news broadcasts since 2004. Searchable and browseable by date, it also describes the photo coverage for each broadcast (for example, from Vietnam or the World Trade Center on 9/11), and includes the actual time spent on coverage of each topic and the commercial sponsors. A goldmine of information, including background on landmark court decisions, trials, elections, and legislation, the site also recaptures the news of a particular night in your life or the lives of family members. All features are free with registration. Video of the actual broadcasts and custom compilations may be loaned from the Archive.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Thanksgiving Holiday Hours

In recognition of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Deane Law Library will operate under the following schedule:

• Wednesday, November 21: 8AM – 5PM
• Thursday, November 22 - Friday, November 23: CLOSED
• Saturday, November 24: Regular hours resume

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Meet LOUIS

You’ve met Thomas; now, meet LOUIS.

According to its Web site, the aim of the Library of Unified Information Sources (LOUIS; a project of the Sunlight Foundation) is “to create a comprehensive, completely indexed and cross-referenced depository of federal documents from the executive and legislative branches of government”. The site also states that “we are not there yet, but we can now offer these documents organized in a user-friendly interface, with a powerful search engine”. LOUIS also allows users to construct a standing query as an RSS feed, which will then alert them to whatever new documents satisfy their search.

Sources currently include Bills and Resolutions, Congressional Hearings, the Congressional Record, Congressional Reports, the Federal Register, GAO documents, and Presidential documents. Dates of coverage for most databases are from 2001 to the present.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Searching the Deep Web

Did you know that you can search for Deep Web content? Completeplanet is a Deep Web directory that searches “surface” Web sites as well as Deep Web content contained in searchable databases.




Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Historians on America

The U.S. Dept. of State has just released a new publication called Historians on America. This publication is a series of individual essays that selects specific moments, decisions, and intellectual or legislative or legal developments and explains how they altered the course of U.S. history. Much of it deals with important legal principles or important legislative acts. The entire publication is available online.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

A Search Engine for Human Rights Information

If you are looking for information related to human rights, take a look at Hurisearch. Hurisearch is powerful tool that searches over 3,000 human rights web sites for current, in-depth information. By indexing only web pages that focus on human rights information, Hurisearch filters out irrelevant information and increases the visibility of human rights organizations.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Facebook Ad Privacy and Blog "Readability"

The Wall Street Journal's Law Blog gives a synopsis of and links to recent commentary over whether Facebook's plan to link advertisements to user profiles violates a New York privacy law. If Andrew Cuomo actually starts litigation related to this and any Hofstra Law students become involved, I would be curious to learn whether the compensation sought is real or in the form of Facebook "gifts."

And there is a fun site here that judges a blog's "readability," telling you what level of education is necessary to read a particular blog. This blog rated right on target, at the graduate school level. But after the link to the "readability" site was added, it rated at "Genius."



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat