Legal Research Engine

From my cozy spot near the Reference Desk, I've noticed that paper writing research and challenging source gathering assignments are taking up lots of law student time these days. This is a good time for a reminder about Legal Research Engine, one of my favorite online resources that can provide quick help. Developed by Cornell University Law Library, Legal Research Engine searches through a select group of web sites that are sources of authoritative research guides. It comes up with a focused list of guides with direct links to the web sites you need for that specialized and unfamiliar paper topic, or even for tracking down that elusive foreign law. The next time you don't know where to start, or need trustworthy online resources for an unfamiliar topic, check out Legal Research Engine.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Finding articles online

The Reference Librarians have sent me prowling for journal articles online. Accessing articles from a great number of journals requires a subscription. So what to you do if you get asked for login information?

First, see if Hofstra subscribes. Especially if it is a non-legal journal, to find out if Hofstra subscribes, check Journal Finder . Remember to type in the journal name, not the article name. Journal Finder will also let you know if your article can be found in HeinOnline .

If your journal is available through one of Hofstra's many subscriptions, you will get links to it from the Journal Finder results page.

As always, do not hesitate to ask a Reference Librarian.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

The Morgan Library

If you plan to go sightseeing in the city one of these days, you might want to check out the Morgan Library and Museum. The library has some interesting exhibits on display including illuminated manuscripts from the Netherlands (through May 2, 2010) and an exhibit on the life of Jane Austen (through March 14, 2010)

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Deep Web Research 2010

Deep Web Research 2010 is an updated guide on how to find information on the deep or invisible web. These are sites that current search engines cannot find or have trouble accessing. The guide is divided into the following sections:

Articles, papers, forums, audio and videos
Presentations
Cross Database articles
Resources - Deep Web Research
Cross Database Search Services
Resources - Semantic Web Research
Cross Database Search Tools
BOT Research, Resources and Sites
Peer to Peer, File Sharing, Grid/Matrix search engines
Subject Tracer Information blogs

There is even more on the web than you find with casual searching. Go for it!



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Westlaw Points for Haiti

On Jan. 17, we pointed out that students can donate Lexis points to the Red Cross to assist with the relief effort in Haiti. Well, this can also be done with Westlaw points--donating to the Red Cross is an option in the Westlaw Rewards catalog.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat