World Bank Launches Open Repository

Earlier this week, the World Bank announced that it is making more than 2,000 of its books, articles, reports, and research papers freely available to the public for use and distribution in a searchable Open Knowledge Repository.  This promises to be a wonderful resource for law students and faculty interested in transnational law, economic development, and human rights issues.  Browse through the diverse World Bank collections here, or search for "law" and law-related topics.  A fuller explanation of the repository, its new open access policy, and its expected impact, is presented in the World Bank's official announcement.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

More useful Google tools

iGoogle and Google Reader pull together useful and fun tools in one space.

iGoogle is the more flexible, serving really as a customizable homepage.  You can pull in tools, such as movie locations, your gmail account and stock prices.  You can also read headlines from your favorite online newspapers and blog posts.

Google Reader is more specialized.  Known as an "RSS reader" you subscribe to the RSS feeds of blogs
and newspapers to pull together your favorite information sources in one spot.  Look for the

icon usually at the bottom of the page.  (Scroll down on the right to see mine).    Once you click, you will frequently be given the option to add to Google Reader.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

SuDoc Classification System Explained

Have you ever wondered how to decipher the Federal government's Superintendent of Documents classification system for government documents? Courtesy of the Federal Depository Library Program Desktop, a lucid explanation awaits you here.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Library Study Tips

Knowing where to find helpful study guides and archived exams may prove helpful when preparing for final exams.

Click here to access a helpful  list of Study Guides available at the Law Library. Our most current study guides are located in our Reserve collection and can be charged out for three hour periods.

To access the Exam Archive:

Go to Hofstra Law School Library home page http://law.hofstra.edu/Library.
In the middle column under "Resources," click “Exam Archive.”
You will be prompted to log in to the Hofstra University Portal using your Novell Username and Password.
Click on “OK”
Click the professor’s folder to access the exams.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

No Copyright Protection for Pi Music

According to the Pi Day website, Pi is "an irrational number, meaning it will continue infinitely without repeating."  If you want to see the first million digits of Pi and more information about Pi, visit their website HERE.

Pi has long been thought to be a mystical number and movies have been dedicated to finding the Meaning of Pi.  (See Pi, (1998), where "A paranoid mathematician searches for a key number that will unlock the universal patterns found in nature." http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138704/)

Recent litigation explores whether the music of Pi is copyrightable.  An Oregon court recently said no in the ruling of "Erickson v. Blake, 2012 WL 847327 (D. Oregon March 14, 2012). The complaint. A prior ruling in the case transferring it from Nebraska to Oregon for jurisdictional reasons. Techdirt's coverage (1, 2)." (Read more here)

Eric Goldman of the Technology and Marketing Law Blog says, "[t]his case could be an instant copyright law classic. It provides a textbook illustration of a critical copyright doctrine (the idea-expression dichotomy), it involves musical principles that everyone--especially students--can relate to, its facts could be easily adapted to a law school exam, and the subject matter provides endless punning opportunities." (Read more here)

Investigate the subject of the litigation on Lars Erickson's Pi Symphony page, as well as a performance on YouTube.  New Scientist also has a video of Pi Music that is not to be missed.

And NOT to be copyrighted.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Think Strategically

Tough research question?  Get some tips on how to approach it and to map out an effective and efficient research strategy.  In coordination with OCS, the Library will present the final workshop - Research Strategy 101 - in the Cost Effective and Efficient Research series on Wednesday, 12:10-1pm in Room 014.  Free lunch AND a free surprise for all attendees.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Statistical Abstract of the United States to be published commercially

The Statistical Abstract of the United States is often the starting point for U.S. statistical research. Published since 1878 it is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political and economic organization of the United States. Due to budget cuts the U.S. Census Bureau had to make painful decisions on programs to cut and this publication was one of them.  Fortunately, this title has been saved by a commercial publisher. Bernan Press will continue the publication starting with the 2013 edition.  ProQuest will aggregate the content and provide editorial services.

Hat tip to Law Librarian blog.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat