A Better Article Finder

Many of you have started your research for papers and notes. You all know to search Lexis and Westlaw for law review articles. But how many of you get results with your search terms that have nothing to do with your topic??? (I know there have been a few, since I have overheard you at the Reference desk.)

Yes, there is an alternative which can sometimes be a better way. Try an index. For law related topics, try Index to Legal Periodicals-Wilson or LegalTrac. Both of these databases are available from the Article Finding page of the Library's Online Resources.

With an index, you enter your search terms, and get articles which have those terms in the title or subject descriptors. Frequently, this retrieves articles more on your topic and fewer irrelevant results.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

DOJ Reports Reduction In Violent Crime During 2010

The U.S. Department of Justice announced recently that the national rate of violent crime decreased by thirteen percent during 2010. The basis for the announcement comes from statistics in the annual National Crime Victimization Survey . Read more here.

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Article Finding--Law and Psychology

Important legal research is carried on at the intersection of law and human behavior. Where can you find authoritative articles from a psychological perspective on topics such as jury bias, false confessions, negotiation dynamics, domestic violence, and informed consent? Two great resources are PsychINFO and PsycARTICLES, databases made available by the Axinn Library to all Hofstra students. Both are products of the American Psychological Association. PsycINFO is broader in scope, with citations and summaries for over 3 million articles and comprehensive coverage from the 1880's to the present. Many are available in full-text PDF, and others can be accessed by "Journal Finder" links leading to the full-text article in other Hofstra databases. PsycARTICLES provides full-text PDF articles from 78 landmark journals in behavioral science and related fields, including all American Psychological Association journals, with coverage from 1894 to the present.

To access these databases, click on "Research Databases" at this Hofstra University libraries web page. You will be directed to the Hofstra portal login page. PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES are listed under Psychology/Health/Medicine in the subject list of databases.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Online Resources: The Tax and Accounting Center (BNA)

The Tax and Accounting Center offers analysis, news, primary sources, and practice tools covering federal, international, and state tax issues and financial accounting.

The Tax and Accounting Center is organized by subject or “Practice Area,” accessible via the tabs located at the top of any of the “home” pages. Practice areas include: Compensation Planning; Estate Planning; Real Estate; Sales and Use Taxes; Tax-Exempt Organizations; and Transfer Pricing.

To access The Tax and Accounting Center:

• Go to the Library's home page, click "Online Resources"
• Click the "Tax and Estate Planning" link
• Scroll down to " The Tax and Accounting Center (BNA)"

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a google a day

a google a day is the new daily puzzle from Google. There is no right way to solve it, but there's only one right answer. Find the answer with your creativity and clever searching. They do provide hints and the answer under a link. This is a fun way to learn "advanced google" and improve your search techniques.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Online Resources: Mergers & Acquisitions Law Report

If you are looking for federal, state, and international coverage of M&A news in litigation, legislation, and regulation, check out BNA's Mergers & Acquisitions Law Report. The Report focuses on various areas including securities, contracts, partnership, tax, corporations, intellectual property law and more. It also provides access to the latest M&A developments in a wide range of industries, including banking and financial services, telecommunications, health care, accounting and more.

To access the Mergers & Acquisitions Law Report:

• Go to the Library's home page, click "Online Resources"
• Click the "Commercial and Corporate Law" link
• Scroll down to "Mergers & Acquisitions Law Report (BNA)"

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat