Party and/or Nap time!

CONGRATS!!!!  First years, you made it through your first semester of Law School.  It gets easier (somewhat) from here.   Second, third years, another semester in the books (in a virtual world, I guess that would be cloud??)

On an informational note, the Library will be CLOSED Dec 24 - Jan 1.  There will be no swipe card access during this time.

Enjoy your well-deserved break and parties.  I am off for my well-earned naps.

See you in 2014.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Ten Unusual Diversions Found In “Cool” Companies

No doubt you’ve heard of Google’s “play rooms”, as well as other interesting diversions built into otherwise humdrum corporate headquarters or offices in the U.S. Have a look here at a few less well-known, but equally interesting and offbeat examples from the UK.

Interspersed with the photographs are some interesting observations about what does and does not promote creative thinking in the workplace.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

New on LLRX: Give Open a Chance in Law

Click here to read Sarah Glassmeyer's commentary on legal information

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Google Tips

Google has created a site called Google Tips that will help you find the information you need for all kinds of Google apps and services made easy.

Read more about it here.  Check out the Google Tips page here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Happy Holidays!

Congratulations most of you have finished the Fall 2013 semester!  Enjoy your break and have a safe and happy holiday season.  We look forward to seeing all of you in January 2014.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Best Holiday Apps

Finals are almost over and the holidays are just around the corner.  But you can begin to relax and start enjoying some holiday apps!  Legal Technology News just released their recommended holiday apps.  On the list is the Holiday Time Machine, this cool app provides 2,500 holiday-themed and seasonal videos including TV clips, old ads, songs, even full-length films dating as far back as 1898.  Others apps include Cycloramic, Olympic Athletes Hub and more.  Read the full list of recommendations here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Seriously???

I hate to get serious, especially on a Friday, but when I learn that people have been smoking inside the Library (in Study Rooms), I feel compelled to meow (speak) out.  These are the real cigarettes people are smoking - the kind that cause fires, especially in places with lots of flammable material, like a Library!  Not to mention the lingering smoke smell, carcinogenic second-hand smoke and disgusting butts and ashes.

I know it's cold outside and you are stressed, but if you really need to smoke, you really need to go outside.

O.K., I'm done now.  Back to looking for a warm sunny (smoke-free) place to contemplate the meaning of life.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

U.S. Supreme Court Ruling On Fifth Amendment Issue

With criminal defendants’ psychological fitness much in the news of late, the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the introduction into evidence of a court-ordered mental evaluation of a criminal defendant to rebut that defendant's presentation of expert testimony seems timely. Read more here.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

FTC.gov: New Federal Trade Commission Website

The Federal Trade Commission "launched a redesigned FTC.gov website that’s easier to use and reader friendly on tablets and smart phones. Users can now sort FTC cases, early termination notices for merger investigations, advocacy filings and other documents by date, type, and more."

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Charging Your Device in a Bag!

A new crop of purses and bags (for men and women) are trying to fix the endless worries we can all have about keeping our mobile phones, music players and laptops charged up.

For some options in bag chargers, read more here.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Office of the Law Revision Counsel - United States Code

The United States Code is a consolidation and codification by subject matter of the general and permanent laws of the United States. It is prepared by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the United States House of Representatives. 

This site has browse, basic and advanced search options with a "search tips" page for guidelines on constructing an effective search query.

It also has the Popular Name Table; Other Tables and Tools; Classification Tables; and Currency & Updating information. 

There are sections for "Understanding the Code" and "Positive Law Codification".

You can download each title in 4 different formats.

There are links to FDsys and Thomas.

This is a free comprehensive site for the United States Code.  The search functionality and all of the tools/tables make it a one-stop place for USC research.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Online Research Resources: Occupational Safety & Health Reporter (BNA)

If you are interested in a weekly publication that provides federal/state occupational safety and health program documentation, then take a look at BNA's Occupational Safety & Health Reporter. The Reporter also provides industry news, standards, legislation, regulations, court/agency decisions and more.  Dates of coverage are from February 7, 1996 to the present.

To access the Occupational Safety & Health Reporter (BNA) :

• Click the "Online Resources Subject List" link
• Then, click "Health Law/Medicine" link
• Scroll down to "Occupational Safety & Health Reporter (BNA) "

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Rockefeller Tree Lighting Ceremony

The Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center will be ceremonially lit at 8:55pm on Dec. 4, 2013. 

If exams don't let you have a minute to travel to mid-town Manhattan for the occassion, TV stations carry the tree lighting around the world.

Read here for more information on where to watch it live.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Geek Trivia

Geek Trivia offered by How to Geek is a fun game testing your knowledge of all things geek.  What counts as "geek" is pretty broad so the questions are too.  Most are computer related but not quite sure how the soft drink question fits.  Take a quick break from studying law and find out how much of a geek you are.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

ABA Journal Best 100 Blawgs

Blogs are a great tool to keep up-to-date on the latest legal news and events.  Recently, the ABA Journal published the seventh annual best 100 blawgs that every lawyer should read (or be familiar with) to keep apprise on the latest legal information. You can also vote for your favorite blog in each category which includes courts, IP, torts and more. Click here for the entire list.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Library Hours During Holiday Break

If you want to stop by the Library during the holiday break, we are open during the following hours:

Wednesday, November 27   8:00 A.M.  -  6:00 P.M.**

Thursday, November 28 (Thanksgiving)           CLOSED**

Friday, November 29                                       CLOSED** 

   

**CLOSED-NO SWIPE CARD ACCESS

 Wed., Nov. 27, 6:00 P.M.–Sat., Nov. 30, 10:00A.M. 

 

Exam Period Hours resume on Saturday, November 30, at 10A.M.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

iPad Gestures: Customization at Your Fingertips

If you get tired of hitting the home button on your iPad, stop it!  You can create faster, easier ways to command your iPad with customizable gestures.

Multi-Touch lets you navigate through your iPad with 3, 4, or 5 finger swipes.  Assistive Touch lets you adapt multi-touch features to your own use and create custom gestures for your own touch controls.

Legal Productivity has an article on Multi-Touch and Assistive Touch here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Computer Chronicles

Exams are coming, but things could be worse.  For example, it could be 1987, when law students were handwriting all of their exams with pens for three solid hours.  The "portable computer" or laptop of the day, as this amusing You Tube video from the TV series Computer Chronicles (broadcast on PBS stations from 1983 to 2002) clearly demonstrates, would have been a hopeless hindrance, not a help. The Computer Chronicles episodes, while seriously documenting twenty years of impressive progress and innovation, today provide a very entertaining window as well on the earliest years of browsers, laptops, email and video games.  They also make great short study breaks.  Enjoy, and be grateful for the blessings of 2013 technology!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Help with studying

Study Guides handout has been updated - both in print and online.  We have your favorite series, such as Examples and Explanations, Questions & Answers and Understanding . . .  We also list guides by subject and class, such as Contracts and Evidence .

Print Study Guide copies, for easy reference, are located by the Reference desk.  The Study Guide texts are kept on Reserve.

Good luck !!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Warren Commission Report Available On FDsys

On the occasion of the quinquagenary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, the U.S. Government Printing Office has made the official digital version of the Warren Commission Report [opens PDF] available on the agency’s Federal Digital System (FDsys). The Commission was created by President Lyndon Johnson and chaired by Chief Justice Earl Warren to investigate President Kennedy’s assassination.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Helpful Tips During Exam Period

Knowing where to find helpful study guides, the archived exam, and study room policies may prove helpful when preparing for final exams.

Study Guides:

Click here to access helpful study guides. Most current study guides are located in our Reserve collection and can be charged out for three hour periods.

Exam Archive

Knowing the archived exam and study room policies may prove helpful also. To access the Exam Archive:

• Click here to access the exam bank.
• You will be prompted to enter the password (contact the reference or circulation desk for the password).
• Click on “Accept”
• Click the professor’s folder to access the exams.

Library Study Rooms
Click here to access the Library’s study room policy
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

10 Trials that Changed the World

The ABA Journal requested 10 lawyers from around the world to identify and describe one historic trial each.  It is an interesting list and the comments are worth reading for their observations and suggestions. 

This is a thought provoking series of articles.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Lexis Case Law Games for Exam Preparation

Lexis recently re-released Case Law Game by popular demand.  The game is designed to help law students spot and analyze issues in preparation for exams. This free fun tool allows students to compete against their friends and compare scores against other law schools.  It includes games for 1L's, upper level courses as well as the bar exam.  Click here to play.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Google's New Transparency Report

Last Thursday Google released the latest of its semi-annual Transparency Reports. The Report, covering the first half of 2013, provides an overview of the requests Google received from governments, including the United States government, for personal data gathered from the online activities of its users. The latest Transparency Report shows not only an increase in government requests over the previous six-month period, but also a rise in the number of requests rejected by Google.

An interesting overview of the report by the Associated Press is available here at the ABC News website. See my earlier post on the recent transparency report by Yahoo and ongoing data disclosure litigation.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Google Books Decision Is Out

The Google Books decision has been rendered in favor of Google.

"Judge Denny Chin, formerly of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, dismissed the author advocacy group’s 8-year-old copyright lawsuit against Google on Thursday. Google’s Books project is protected by U.S. fair use doctrine, Chin ruled."

Read more here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Exam Study - Library Extended Hours

Starting Monday, November 18, I'll have some extra prowling time. The Library will be open extended hours so that you late night owls have a place to study. Our Exam hours are:

EXAM PERIOD SCHEDULE- 

Monday, November 18 – Tuesday, December 17 

Monday-Friday                   8:00 A.M. – 11:00 P.M.

Saturday & Sunday            10:00 A.M. – 11:00 P.M.

EXCEPTIONS:

Wednesday, November 27   8:00 A.M.  -  6:00 P.M.**

Thursday, November 28 (Thanksgiving)           CLOSED**

Friday, November 29                                       CLOSED** 

Tuesday, December 17         8:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.

   

**CLOSED-NO SWIPE CARD ACCESS

 Wed., Nov. 27, 6:00 P.M.–Sat., Nov. 30, 10:00A.M. 

Exam Period Hours resume November 30, 10A.M.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat